Alone

Chapter 19

                                                                                         Anna

    When Abigail stated that we were going to a safe house I had expected a cabin of some kind. But I should have known Abigail does not do anything average. The Mansion, more like it, could be seen from a mile away. The house looked more like a fortress-like castle than any other home I had ever seen. There was only one way one can enter onto the grounds, and it was a long winding road to the front of the castle. On all other sides a cliff assured no one would be able to assess the home unwelcomed. A wide river with raging rapids blanketed the bottom of the cliff. On the other side of the river. Farms and rolling hills as far as the eye could see created a picturesque view from my rooms balcony on the second story.

    I breathed a sigh, as a weight, that I had not realized had been there, was lifted off my shoulders. I turned back into my room. It was full of creams and greens. It gave it a more natural appeal. I had instantly fallen in love with it. A four-poster bed lay in the middle of the room with two nightstands on either side. On the left were the French doors leading to the balcony. On the right lay the walk-in closet, even though I only had the cloths on my back sense we didn’t want to take the chance to be followed. In the corner sat a vanity and chair for my own use. There were no paintings, only flowers and plants scattered throughout the room, and it felt like home.

    When we had arrived, Abigail had escorted us inside, where a dozen servants and guards stood in a straight line to be introduced to us. We were informed that they were all werecats, all with different abilities. I recalled the dispute between Abigail and William, with a smirk.

    “Now that all the pleasantries are over, we need to discuss the biggest problem.” Abigail turned towards me. I had gone to stand as close as was decent to William because I had felt alone, being as I was the only human in the room. “As was reported ahead of time, Anna’s father until recently was thought to have been dead, but not only is he very much alive, he is also a member of the Hunters. And if my sources are correct, which they are, he is the current head of the Hunters. Which means he will stop at nothing to get Anna back and he will be looking for her. Because of this I will be assigning a guard to watch Anna, until we eliminate this threat.” Up until this point William had been shaking his head in agreement with al that Abigail had said. He had grabbed my hand and squeezed it to reassure me. His eyes staring into my own with something I couldn’t describe. But as soon as Abigail suggested someone else guard me, he readily spoke up.

    “I am the only one guarding her, Abby.” I had never heard William call Abigail anything other than her full name. He must be serious, I muse to myself. “I am her mate and I do not need anyone else watching her.”

    “You know as well as I do that our powers would be much more useful to keep her alive.” She countered. It must have struck a nerve because Williams jaw clenched, and his hands tightened into fists. Abigail must not have felt threatened because she remained in her relaxed stance, but the staff noticeably had stiffened. It made me realize, werewolves and werecats did not get along well.

    William ground out, “I will keep her alive, even if it costs me my life.” I was taken aback by this declaration. I would never allow it.

    I stepped forward. “Well sense no one has cared to ask me what I wanted. I will have to speak up. I do not require a guard. If you had not noticed Abigail, I had taken care of myself when we infiltrated the Hunters warehouse and I was the one who found William. And William, you need to stop acting like I would allow you to die for me. Although I do not require a guard, if and when I leave this estate I will allow a guard to come with me, only for you to breathe easier. Whether it be William or personnel from your staff, Abigail, I do not care. But while I remain here I do not want, nor need one. Is that something you can both agree on?”

    William remained silent, almost as if he could not believe I had stood up for myself. Abigail on the other hand had a smirk, it looked like she would grow to respect me as someone who can care for herself. A laugh bursts out of James, who until now had remained silent. He walks over to William and pats him hard on his back.

    “Looks like you have a firecracker on your hands William. Great choice in mate, brother.” A bubble of warmth grew in my chest. I hadn’t realized I wanted approval from James, until then.

                                                                                            ~

    I make my way downstairs after I finished exploring my room and part of the upstairs. Williams had insisted in taking the room adjacent to my own. Butterflies had formed in my stomach when William came through a door linking our rooms together. He had only wanted to tell me that dinner was being served early, but a fire in his eyes had belied what he really was doing in my room. He had left soon after, allowing me to roam my room for a bit longer.

    The grand staircase lead down into the high ceiling foyer. The ground floor was an open floor plan with two sitting rooms on either side of the stairs. Hallways on either side lead further back. A door blocks the way into the dining hall. As I enter the dining hall the first thing I notice is the giant table. The wooden dining table could easily sit twenty people. Although it was still daylight the table housed a number of candles along the middle. The table was highly polished and gleamed against the candlelight. I notice everyone is already seated, with food already arranged in front of them. I quickly make my way over to the right where William sits, with Abigail and James sitting across.

    “Anna, as we weren’t able to retrieve any of your cloths we shall go shopping tomorrow. Maybe even have our very own girls days. We haven’t been able to just have a quiet day to ourselves.” Abigail suggested.

    “That is a fantastic idea, Abigail. Thank you so much.” I could not even imagine not being in the same gown. But there was only one problem. “I don’t not have anything to pay my gowns with.”

    William stopped eating the, “Anna,” He signed as if exasperated. “You are my mate. Whatever I have is yours.”

    “I can not take your money William. There must be some way I can earn my cloths.” Williams face grows into a glower.

    “I will not allow it, now after everything I have put you through you will allow me at least this to make up for some of the things that have happened. Please?” His eyes plead to me, I feel my resistance lowering.

    “Alright,” William visibly relaxes. “As long as I can repay you when is all over.” William sighs in exasperation and rolls his eyes. 

    “Fine.” He says defeated.

    Excitement wells up inside me. Now that guilt is not gnawing at me I know I will be able to enjoy shopping tomorrow.

    James chuckles. “I see my sister-in-law can convince my brother to do anything.” James tells Abigail. “She definitely reminds me of Mira. She was the only other person who could manipulate William to do whatever she wanted.” William stops eating. Sorrows covers his face as he reminisces on his younger years. My hand involuntarily moves over his, allowing William to come back from his haunting past. A small smile forms on his face.

                                                                                        William

    “William while the girls are out, maybe you could catch me on what you have been doing all these years.”

    I never knew I would see my brother again, let alone be able to talk to him. “I would enjoy that.”

                                                                                            ~

    Once dinner had concluded arrangements were made and the women decided to go into the village early tomorrow morning. Anna had excused herself and made her way upstairs to her room. My heart raced as I imagined sleeping next door to her. I could imagine her slipping her dress off her body. Her breasts slipping out of her dress. Would she dream of me? Would she touch herself to satisfy that urge?

    Without further thought I went upstairs and stood in front of her door. I could hear her moving around in her room and my imagination ran amuck. My hand shook as I raised my fist to the wooden door. Her footsteps could be heard making her way towards the door, towards me. My heart raced as she opened the door.

    Abigail must have giving Anna a nightgown, but unlike Abigail, the nightgown hugged Anna’s body like a second skin. It was so tight it became see-through. Anna must not be aware it’s completely see-through, I thought.

    I clear my throat. “I just wanted to stop by and talk more about the mating topic. I know we haven’t been able to talk more thoroughly about it. Its like we are always interrupted.”

    “Oh, yes. I would love to know more. Please.”  With Anna looking at me in that way I could only imagine ripping that gown off her body and plunging myself inside her warmth. I could feel myself harden, just thinking about it. Anna gestures for me to come in and with little to no sitting Anna directed me to her bed. My mouth is incredibly dry the closer we get. Anna doesn’t seem to notice or even be affected by the situation. If she keeps this up she won’t be wearing those cloths, Roi chimes in after being silent for so long. I chuckle in agreement.

    “What are you laughing about?” Anna asks.

    “My wolf said something funny.”

    “Your wolf? You mean it has its own thoughts? It’s a living thing?” Annas face contort with horror. “Do you mean to tell me it can hear what we are saying right now?”

    Well this isn’t going very well.

    You’re not helping, I chastise him.

    “He has his own thoughts, but he is a part of me and me of him. We share one mind, one body. Roi will be able to bring your wolf to life. And then you will have your own wolf. To share mind and body.” I must have said the wrong thing because the horror only grew.

    Great job now she will never want to mate with you. And I will never get my mate.

    “It’s really not like that Anna. I promise. It is more like having a little voice in the back of your head. It might seem crazy but it’s not as bad as you may be thinking, I promise. Maybe one day I can explain it better. Or maybe you can as Abigail. She is much better at explaining things. Now as for the real reason I came here.”

    Anna sits next to me, waiting for me to continue.  

    “Having a mate is every werewolves quest in life. Without a mate, we are nothing. We live very long lives and we need someone to spend that time with. Believe it or not as soon as a werewolf meets their mate all other werewolves can never touch them. Ones mate is treated with the utmost respect. It is much more than a humans contract into marriage. When someone finds their mate, it is an unbreakable promise that can never be broken. Mates can choose not to be together, but they will always feel a piece of themselves missing. Mates can find their other half, just by following their instincts. Mates feel such strong feelings for each other and no one else. When a mate is away from the other it feels like they can’t breathe without them. I know you might be confused by this because you might not feel like that. The reason you do not feel this way is because mates must consummate the mates promise.”