Awaken the Luna

Chapter 13: E

My eyes eased open, sore from the tears I had shed before falling asleep in Cal’s room, our room. Is it even possible for your eyes to be sore from crying? A soft knitted blanket had been laid carefully on me while I was sleeping. I can probably guess by who. The room was full of dark shadows from the lamp from the side bed table. The windows were filled with the dark sky, I had slept until dark. 

My stomach rumbled, I’m starving from not eating the whole day since breakfast. I slowly took a turn around the room taking in the emerald walls. This room feels like Cal, his energy and demeanor. His scent was everywhere in this room it was inescapable. Wrapping my arms around myself I stood there trying to push him out of my mind. I didn’t want to think of him, I didn’t want to want him in any way but here I was standing in a stranger's room.  

I made my way towards the door, will it even open? He came back at some point to cover me up so maybe he had calmed down from this morning. I took a deep breath in and turned the handle down. Slowly I opened the door to the hallway. It was dark down the long hall, the light from the stairs was glowing at the end. I walked steadily and on guard waiting for something in the shadows to grab out at me. I felt eyes on me and it gave me the creeps.

I made my way down stairs and into the dimly lit kitchen, no one was there. I walked out into the living room area and although a fire was burning into embers. This is odd usually there would be someone stirring about in the house. I should be happy to be alone and not surrounded by strangers. Instead I was filled with a cold chill that something was wrong. I decided to shake it off and make something to eat, maybe putting my mind to work would help me put off this feeling. 

I checked the fridge for any sign of possible meal contenders. Skirt steak meat, broccoli, soy sauce, beef stir fry it is. I began looking for the other ingredients I would need and started to preheat my skillet. Cooking at home for my dad and sister used to fill me with such joy. I smiled at the thought of them living on the freezer meals I left before my trip. They would heat up a home cooked meal and think of me, the old me.  As sudden as it had appeared my smile faded thinking of if I would see them again. 

I looked for a knife to slice up the steak and broccoli, I pulled out a long chopping knife out of the wooden block on the counter. A thought crossed my mind, why would they allow knives in the house with me here? Shouldn’t these be hidden away so that I don’t use them against their precious alpha or to free myself from this nightmare I can’t seem to wake from? 

I pushed the thought back to where it came from and kept cooking. This kitchen was beautiful and full of everything my dream kitchen would be equipped with. The marble counters and stone backsplash were all warm and gave it a mountain home feel just like the rest of the house. Cal must really love the mountains and nature to be surrounded by its elements in every room and outside. 

Dinner was finishing up cooking while I explored the cabinets, my eyes caught a glimpse of a wine rack tucked into one of the taller cabinets. A glass of wine with dinner? Don’t mind if I do! Stretching up on to the counter I reached the tip of the bottle and slowly inched it out with my finger tips. Almost there, and got it! I relaxed my muscles and slid back down to the floor. This looks like a good one. I smirked at the label, it looks expensive. I scoured the drawers until I found a corkscrew to open the bottle. 

As I turned back toward the stove top a tall shadow stepped into the dimly lit kitchen from the doorway. My blood ran cold as I realized it wasn’t Cal or any other wolf I had seen at the house before. His build was tall and strong but he was not as athletically inclined as Cal. He was handsome with dark blonde hair that was tousled and dirty. He was sweating and had blood smeared on his shirt and jeans. He didn’t seem to be  bleeding from anywhere so it must not be his own. His caramel eyes were locked on to me and a smirk formed on his mouth when he saw I was frozen in place. 

“So I see Cal found himself a new toy to play with.” He took slow steps towards me. “Pretty and talented chef it seems. Do you need a hand with your bottle?” He was so close to me the only thing between us was the wine bottle I was holding. He took it slowly out of my hand and ran his other hand down my forearm. My breathing hitched, my pulse raced, but I stayed frozen in place. His hand landed on mine as he took the corkscrew out of my tight grip. He smiled at me, a sickening grin that made me shiver.

He stepped away as he continued to taunt me with his words. “This is a good year, I don’t think Cal would mind us sharing a glass or two.” He looked back at me and ran his eyes up and down my body. I was wearing clothes but he made me feel like I was exposed. “What’s your name?”

“Wr...Wren.” I struggled to get my name out but quickly cleared my throat and repositioned my feet to find my ground. “And yours is?”

“Ezra, hey do you mind grabbing us some glasses?” He smiled as he continued to screw the corkscrew into place. 

I scanned the cabinets wondering where I had seen glasses before I found the wine. I walked over to a few cabinets and opened them, no glasses. I walked to a few more opening them quickly looking for glasses. I heard the cork pop out of the bottle, I began to become flustered. I wanted him to think I belonged here. With the fourth try I opened a cabinet to see the wine glasses neatly aligned on a tall shelf. I stretched up my toes to reach them. 

As soon as my hand touched the glass I felt Ezra’s presence behind me, he placed a hand on my hip and reached up past me and grabbed the two glasses. He pressed his body onto mine. I didn’t get the same sparking feelings from his touch as Cal’s gave me. His touch and closeness made me wish Cal was here to end my fear. When he was around I felt safe even when he was angry with me. 

“Here let me get those for you. Are you okay Wren you look a little flushed?” He backed away from me and began to fill the two glasses with the wine. He handed one to me and I clutched onto it with both hands and backed up to the counter. “Whatever you were cooking seems to be overcooking now.”

“Oh crap!” I ran to the stove and turned off the burners and pulled the skillet from the heat. “Damn it.” I murmured under my breath as I stirred the stirfry around trying to keep it from burning. Ezra was chuckling behind me and took a big gulp of the wine before sitting it down on the counter.  

“Alpha Cal is going to need a new house wife if you keep burning dinner. I’m sure I could always find use for a pretty face like yours.” His carmel eyes turned dark chocolate and he rubbed his hand through his hair. “ I could find all kinds of chores for you in my pack, hard work, like keeping an alpha like myself satisfied.” 

“You're an alpha? I thought Cal was the Alpha?”

“You must be new, a human obviously but usually the humans I encounter on pack lands usually understand basic pack life.” He walked over to the pan and took a piece of meat out and popped it into his mouth. “Mmmmm still juicy.” He licked his fingers and stared at me to watch my reaction to him. He walked over to me and placed his hands both sides of me on the counter keeping me between his arms . He took a deep breath in like he was a predator smelling his prey before he killed it for dinner. His face was only inches away from mine. “I’ll see you again soon Wren.” He backed up quickly and was out of the kitchen in seconds. 

I was still leaning against the counter terrified at what had just happened in the last few minutes. I slowly sank to the floor and wrapped my legs up into my chest. When I heard the front door slam and heard Cal’s voice yelling my name. “Wren! Wren where are you?” I heard him jumping up the stairs probably looking for me in the bedroom. “Wren!” I could hear doors slamming open from upstairs.

“I’m here!” My voice cracked from fear. “I’m here in the kitchen!” 

Seconds later Cal was flying through the doorway, his eyes frantically searching for me. Those dark ocean eyes connected to mine and instantly I felt safe. Cal was at my side in a heartbeat grabbing my face in his hands checking me intently, checking every inch of me to make sure I was okay. 

“What happened Wren?” His voice was demanding and angry but I knew it wasn’t towards me. 

“Ezra.”