Chapter 3
2279 Words
~Willow~
Willow “Could have fooled me.”
I cross my arms, but I don’t have any resistance when it comes to him.
Radagast “I promise. Once we have your sisters in the dungeons so I can feed off their energy, you and I can finally work on us. I just need their energy, that is all.”
I search his eyes for the truth, but I know that what he thinks and what the real truth will be in the end, will probably be complete opposites. Pulling me closer to him, he kisses me.
Unable to resist, I return his kiss.
Willow “Fine. Dinner, just the two of us tonight?”
I hope, especially after the tension that has sprung up between the two of us in the last couple of days.
Radagast “Sure.”
He says starting to walk out of the office, turning back inside the door.
Radagast “Wear that little black see-through thing you bought last week.”
Then he disappears. I bought them two months ago! UGH!!! I call the kitchen to tell them what to put on the menu for dinner. At least I will have his full attention tonight for a change. It’s been a while since…
~Glinda~
Lowella “I can get used to being called Princess… especially if it’s Gareth.”
She almost drools.
Glinda “You are kidding me right now!”
Lowella “No! He’s cute.”
Glinda “I think we need a mani-pedi. At least there he won’t join us in the shop.”
I walk into the spa ready to book at the reception when Gareth leans against the desk right behind me. Checking out his nails.
Gareth “What a great idea! Make that two.”
He waves at the receptionist… even us boys need to look good… he winks at the receptionist.
She shows us to seats and I look at him as if he has just lost the plot. Gareth of all people getting a mani-pedi and here I was getting ready for some alone time!
Glinda “What are you doing?”
I whisper through gritted teeth.
Gareth “Protecting you, with the added bonus of some treatment.”
He grins at me.
Glinda “URG!!”
If my fingers and toes weren’t already soaked in the treatment oils, I would jump up and leave him right there! Deciding not to let him spoil my treat, I close my eyes and lean back into the chair.
Gareth “Hi girls. Just a little around the edges. Yeah! Thank you. I know.”
Are they honestly complimenting him on his damn cuticles!! I sit upright, looking his way, my face slowly turning red with fury.
Gareth “Glinda? Are you okay? You look a little parched. Will one of you please get my friend some water.”
He grins from ear to ear and I am about to explode! Taking a deep breath, I lay back down, this time, not without putting my earphones in my ears. Two can play at that game.
I feel someone shaking my shoulder and open my eyes, looking right into his. I hear bells playing and wonder when he turned into an angel…
Gareth “Glinda! You fell asleep.”
He pulls the earphones out of my ears.
Glinda “Oh, how long have I been sleeping?”
Gareth “Not long. They just finished our nails. Anything else you want to do at the spa?”
He is laughing at me and the girls are snickering. What happened? What did I miss?
I stand up and pull him down to my level.
Glinda “Why is everyone laughing?”
Gareth “Oh that… Don’t worry about it. They are just laughing at a joke I told them.”
He looks around the room and they stop.
Glinda “No, I think I’ve had enough of the spa for today.”
I walk to the change rooms and when I walk out the door, he is ready and waiting, this time holding out his elbow for me to hook into.
Glinda “Isn’t this fraternizing with the boss’s daughter?”
Gareth “Not when she tends trying to escape. Besides, your dad likes me.”
He winks at me and I try and pull my hand out of his grip, but he has me in a tight hold.
Glinda “I can always scream.”
I smile at a couple walking past us.
Gareth “Sure you can go ahead… once you’ve cried wolf once, you won’t be able to come to your favorite mall ever again.”
He walks into the first shop as if knowing where I want to go.
Glinda “This is not where I want to go.”
I say this time sounding upset.
Gareth “Oh? Didn’t you want the boots you have been talking about for the past two days?”
Huh? Did he actually listen to me talking about fashion while we were practicing?
Glinda “Well if you also remember… I told you my dad wouldn’t give me the money to buy them.”
Gareth “Yeah, I know… but I want to buy them for you.”
WHAT?! I look at him wide-eyed. Did he just… we walk up to the sales lady and he points at the boots.
Gareth “What size darling?”
He asks smiling lovingly at me. I give the girl my size and when she returns, I can see the jealous looks she throws my way when Gareth out of the blue kneels in front of me to help me fit the boots. What has gotten into this man?!
Gareth “There, perfect fit. What do you think?”
I decide to play along, to find out what game he is playing at.
Glinda “Oh Gareth! They are perfect! Thank you.”
Jumping up, I jump into his arms the second he stands up, placing an innocent peck on his lips, watching him blush a soft pink.
Gareth “We will take them. Please box them for me.”
He tells the sales girl who is still watching us with jealousy. Gareth hands his card to one of the other guys, who pays for the shoes and takes them back to the car.
Glinda “Why did you do that? You didn’t have to, you know.”
Gareth “Oh, I know.”
He smiles, still holding onto my hand as we walk through the passages of the mall, walking into the photography department. I pay for the new lens that I ordered and can’t wait to get back home and try it, but I can’t let him see how eager I am.
We walk through a couple of stores but finally, my excitement gets the better of me.
Glinda “The Princess wants to leave the building.”
He bursts out laughing.
Gareth “Oh, she does, does she? Well, I guess we better get her back home then.”
Laughing he calls over the radio and we make our way out of the mall and back into the vehicles.
Just as I’m about to climb into the SUV, I notice a man in a blue beat-up old Mazda with a camera pointed in my direction. Knowing better than to hesitate I climb into the car.
Glinda “Gareth, we are being followed. Blue beat-up Mazda in the parking lot. He got pictures.”
I quickly say before we can even pull away. He must have seen me because he pulls out of the parking area before our guys can even register what I just said.
Gareth “Damn! Don’t worry honey, we will find him. There can’t be many cars like his around. Did you see what he looks like? Can you identify him?”
Glinda “No, it was too fast.”
Gareth “Okay, let’s get you home Princess.”
The car speeds away from the Mall and we drive into the pack grounds, parking in front of the main house. The driver takes out my bag with my new shoes, handing it to me and Gareth follows me inside.
Gareth “Go on upstairs. I will talk to your father.”
Melissa “What happened?”
Gareth “We were followed.”
~Frank~
Frank “What? Already?”
Gareth “No Sir, I believe that they have been watching the girls since before Isobel’s death. This guy must have known Glinda’s routine. The moment he saw us, he drove away. He was parked in a spot where he could keep an eye on the exact exit we used today and he was in no hurry.”
Frank “Are you sure? I don’t want someone from the inside leaking information again.”
I feel uneasy after the information I just heard.
Gareth “I’m sure Sir. All pack protocol was changed after the attack. If they decide to attack here, they will be fighting blind. If it wasn’t for Glinda’s sharp photography eyes, we probably wouldn’t have even seen this guy.”
Melissa “Yes, her sense for detail has always been staggering.”
Frank “Gareth, I don’t want her going out in public again. At least not until we know more about this photographer.”
Glinda “Excuse me? Someone invades my privacy and I have to stay put?! You can’t be serious, dad! I was the one who spotted him!!”
She stomps her foot like she did when she was young. Or at least younger. I can’t help but laugh at the image of a three-year-old Glinda stomping her foot at me when she wanted something.
Glinda “Daddy! It’s not funny!”
Frank “I’m sorry my darling, that is not why I was laughing. I’m sorry. But I have to keep you safe. You are my baby and your mother will never forgive me if anything happened to you. You are to remain within the pack grounds, under the watch of Gareth until further notice.”
Glinda “UGHHH!!!”
She turns on her heel and walks out of my office.
Gareth “Don’t worry Sir. I will keep an eye on her.”
Frank “Thank you Gareth.”
~Glinda~
Dad can’t be serious! I stomp outside, strip behind a tree, and shift, running into the forest.
Glinda “I know you are there Gareth.”
I heard him as soon as I left the house.
Glinda “Can’t I even have privacy around the pack territory?”
His wolf walks up to me. Dark chocolate brown in color and the same size as me. He is big for a normal pack member and because I’m Alpha born; I am bigger than the rest. His glowing amber eyes catching mine.
Gareth “No, you can’t. I’m not going to let anything happen to you on my watch Princess.”
Glinda “Well if you insist on coming with me then let’s go.”
I run towards the river hearing him follow behind me.
Glinda “You better not be checking out my backside!!”
I hear him laugh. We reach the waterfall and I slow down, drinking the fresh cool water. Walking into the water, I shift once inside. This is my hideaway. My spot. I had left my camera on the river bank, crap… Gareth was still in his wolf form calmly laying there keeping an eye around us.
Glinda “I want to take some pictures. Turn around.”
I could swear he was grinning at me. I would have to remember to bring clothes with me from now on. He slowly stands up, stretches on purpose, turning his back to me. I make my way to the edge, grabbing my camera, and walk back into the water. Making sure the waterproof covers are all still tight, I lower my lens into the water mesmerized by the plant life.
Capturing the movement underneath the water is amazing, then a fish swims by and I take a picture with him in it. I lift my camera out of the water, looking at what I caught on camera.
~Gareth~
She is beautiful. My future mate. Frank and Melissa know and have given their approval, but Glinda still has to reach mating age. Until then all I want to do is watch over her and make sure that bastard doesn’t come near her!
I watch her face as she get’s excited over pictures she just took underwater, amazed at how the simple things in life can make her so happy. Photography has always been her passion and her pictures, although simple speak a thousand words.
We have spoken about having a gallery opening when she is finished with school, showcasing her work. But she always blushes not thinking that her pictures are meant for public viewing.
A strange scent captures my attention! Magic! I double-check to make sure it isn’t hers and it definitely isn’t. I know the scent, sniffing the air again.
Gareth “Glinda… someone is here.”
She looks up immediately hanging her camera around her neck, shifting, she sniffs the air.
Glinda “Willow! It’s her magic.”
Gareth “She isn’t that close. Come, I need to get you home. Now.”
She swims to the edge and climbs out of the pool while I check where the scent is coming from. I let her run-in in front of me, making sure we aren’t being followed. Her sister was definitely in the forest. What would she be doing there? I will have to inform Frank. This is not good news.
- Writer
