Hunted

Chapter 22: Favorite Places

I woke up in my living room which was a complete shock because I did not remember going to the living room.  I could hear loud voices and I was a bit worried. How did I get here? Colton…where was he? If he brought me here…I took a deep breath and got up. What was everyone getting angry about?

I followed the voices to my father’s office. The door wasn’t closed all the way but I could still hear them.

“You have to tell her. This is not the way to do this. She is making progress.” That was Dr. Colleen.

“I’m not telling her.” Colton? Why was he in there…talking to her…

“I think I agree with Colton Colleen… She doesn’t need the added stress.” There was my father.

“Added stress? Imagine you finding out a week…a month..however long later that not only did your friend and your dad hid from you something huge but they lied to you. She will never trust you again.” Colleen sounded very angry. Was I the she they were talking about?

“So what you want me to be like hey, Emmry by the way, that crazy person got into your room..again. This time they destroyed the flowers and left a note basically saying to stay away from me? I’m not going to do that.” Colton’s voice had started to grow angry.

“You’re going to have to.” I could tell Colleen was smirking without even seeing her face. I walked to the doorway and leaned on it lightly. They still hadn’t noticed me which was rather odd.

“And why the hell do you say that.” Colton was gripping a piece of paper tightly. Colleen didn’t answer him she simply nodded towards me and gave me a small wave. Both Dad and Colton’s heads snapped in my direction. My dad sighed and shook his head. “Everything?” He asked raising his eyebrows.

I shrugged. “Enough. So he left another note?” I was trying my best to not freak out and scare everyone again.

“Emmry…” Colton started and  I shook my head.

“What did it say?” I bit my lip wanting very badly to cry and freak out. I wasn’t going to. I was working on being stronger.

“He said you made a mistake being near me and he’d forgive you this once.” Colton was having a hard time looking at me.

“So he’s been watching me?” I wasn’t asking anyone in particular. I didn’t know what to do. Do I leave? Try and save the people who live here from whatever this shifter is going to do? Or do I ask them for their help? Do I stay and rely on the people I’ve grown to trust.

“Emmry. You know this shifter is delusional correct?” Colleen started moving closer to me. “You do not need to listen to his threats. Your father will protect you. It will be okay.” She placed a hand on my shoulder and I started to feel relaxed.

I looked over at my dad. “I’m sorry for causing you trouble.”

“It’s in your genetic code my love. Your mother and now you will be causing me all the best kinds of trouble.” He gave me a big smile and crossed the room bringing me in for a hug. I had been much better at showing him affection. I had learned that my dad really appreciated the small things.

“I don’t want to give up my friends because of this crazy shifter….” I looked over at Colton. “I don’t want to not hang out without just because of him..but I understand if you do not want to be near me.”

Colton sighed and shook his head. “I want to be around you, crazy girl. I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you to push me away because you were trying to protect me.” Colton gave me a look.

“I….okay that thought may have crossed my mind..” I admitted and sighed. I don’t want to lose Colton. He meant a lot to me.

“That’s what I thought. Now we’re just gonna live our lives..but more carefully…right Alpha David?” Colton looked at my dad for support.

“Yes that seems like a good idea. Plus I believe according to Dr. Colleen. She may have some preliminary solutions about your shifting Emmry.” My dad gave me a big smile and then went to his desk.

“Why do you and Colton go hang out downstairs or go to Hope’s house. I have some things to attend to here.” Dad smiled at me and practically waved me out the door.

Colton and I walked out of the house. We couldn’t decide if we were going to go see Hope or just wander around.

“You showed me your favorite place. Would you like to see mine?” Colton finally spoke. We had been walking in eerie silence.

“I would love to.” I nodded and smiled. I loved seeing where people thought was special. They always thought it was special to them for so many different reasons. It was nice to see such excitement in Colton. He usually was a bit more stoic than he has been previously.

“Let’s go then.” Colton grabbed my hand and started taking me towards a building in the middle of town.

I was going to pull my hand away..but I had promised myself I was going to be better with touch and allow more and more people to do the simple actions, like holding my hang giving me a hug…things like that. Once we got into the building we went into the elevator and went to the top floor.

“Where are we?” I asked Colton as he lead me to a stair case.

“Pack Management. Only tall building in town.” He laughed and practically dragged me up the stairs. Finally he opened the door and we walked out onto the roof of the building. Colton walked over to the edge and sat on the wide stone edging.

“Oh my goodness.” I had never been so high before. I felt like I could see everything from here. It was beautiful. The trees looked like an ocean and the town looked magically nestled between them.

“When my dad was having a tough time I would come up here and try and fly away. I wanted to be as high and as close to the clouds as I could possibly go.” Colton looked up at the clouds and finally let go of my hand. He was right about this place being beautiful.

“I can see why it’s your favorite.” I sat down next to him and looked down at the people below. They all looked like they were busy going about their lives and here we were high above watching their every move.

“I don’t want to stay away from you…but if it comes to that. I’d pick your safety over my want to stay your friend. I need you to know that.” Colton’s voice turned serious as he looked at me.

“If you stop being my friend because of this I will be very upset with you.” I gave him a look and he shook his head.

“I’m not going to risk your life because of me.” Colton argued.

“If my life was in danger he would have killed me years ago.” I snapped a little before sighing. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to seem rude..I just..we’ve gotten really close and I don’t want to lose that.”

Colton had become one of my favorite people. The thought of losing him because of…well because of him and I guess because of me….I don’t’ know how well I’d recover.

“I’ll do my best okay?” Colton looked at me and I smiled. In my entire life I didn’t have a friend other than my mom and now I have a best friend and a bunch of very good friends. I guess you could say I was the luckiest girl…well luckiest on this particular roof top.