??A Howl In The Night??
?(She’s mine) ?
?Chapter 13?
?A Life Without Steak?
“This is your room,” Xavier leads me towards a narrow door, and opens it for me. I look in wonder at the curved ceilings, the gorgeous bed that is three times as big as me…
I narrow my eyes at him, suspicious. “You’re not sleeping in this room too, are you?”
Yi happens to hear my statement as he walks by, and grins. “No,” he answers for the blushing blue-haired idiot beside me, “but it is right next door.” I turn on him, smiling at the redness now spreading through his features.
“There is one other room available,” Xavier plainly explains, “but it’s connected to Wes’s room.”
“Might not be the best idea to take that other room,” Yi laughs, “you might wake up to find your innocence stolen.”
“Yi!” Xavier elbows him, and Yi starts to laugh even harder. Once I examine him, I realize that he really looks the youngest out of all of them. I wonder if that has anything to do with his underdeveloped Talent.
“Hmmm…” I trail off, wandering into the splendor that I can only call heaven. I pretend to be discontent, though actually reveling in happiness. It is all so beautiful… ten times better than my previous room. Guilt floods through at the thought that I owe something to that stalker werewolf.
“I know you like it,” a temptingly low voice murmurs into my ear. I jump to realize that Jake is by my side.
“Who says I do?” I haughtily reply, looking away from Jake’s entrancing form. He smirks, voice teasing.
“Xavier’s not here anymore. You don’t need to act like a spoiled brat,” he nods towards the empty doorway. I gaze at Jake’s all-knowing sneer with bitter contempt, then melt onto the silky comforter of my bed. Closing my eyes, I give my mind a chance to let this all sink in… for my head might explode if any more changes occur.
“Why do you act this way towards Xavier?” he questions, sitting beside me. My eyes flutter open, and I let my gaze drink in Jake’s head of sparkling white hair, his bright emerald eyes.
“He just annoys me,” I shrug slightly, leaning against the headrest. Jake grins, his eyes alight.
“Well, you’re stuck with him now,” he laughs, “since we kidnapped you.”
I groan with irritation. “I thought it was called adoption.”
“You know that’s not true; though I am old enough to be your grandfather many times over,” he points out, his face of mischief, “you really are our prisoner.”
“What?”
“Think about it,” he smiles, “you are surrounded by five incredibly handsome werewolves that could overpower you in under a second, and they all want you to stay in this house. To top it off, you’re my new daughter.”
I frown, my uneasiness blooming under the soft white lights. “You idi0t,” I laugh, turning on my side, away from the monster, “Xavier wouldn’t make me do anything I didn’t want to do.”
“But what about the rest of us?” Jake’s eyes suddenly turn eerie, his voice jesting. “We don’t exactly have the same policy.”
I don’t even shudder as he leans towards me on the plush bed, glaring at me with his now ferocious green eyes. “Xavier will protect me,” I say confidently, trying once again to turn away, but I am caught by his strong arm. “Leave me alone,” I command, my heart finally starting to beat faster with nervousness at our physical contact.
“You have complete faith in Xavier, even though you don’t love him?” The searing question rips through my defenses, introducing more questions that I am not truly prepared to answer. I shove them to the edge of my mind, forcing the matter at hand to surface.
“He has never let me down before,” I shrug, leading Jake to shake his head.
“You just won’t accept it,” he says, his tone matter-of-factly.
“Go away, Daddy.” I twist so I am lying face down on the comfy bed, dwelling in my thoughts. The word Daddy, even though I say it in jest, feels strange on my tongue, almost retreating back inside my mouth. I have not said that word in many, many years.
There are footsteps, then complete and utter silence. I am alone.
Comfort enters me, twisting its way into my heart as I lay on the plush comforter, soothing my soul. It is true that I am a prisoner here, but I can’t help but realize that I am now basking in luxury that far out-shadows my situation at the orphanage. A 3D TV stretches against the left wall, one of the biggest I’ve ever seen, right beside a stack of movies that reaches four feet tall. The bed I’m in is king-size, big enough to swallow about five of me in its gigantic berth. Everything is absolutely luxurious, drenching my eyes with pure splendor. Where do they get all this money?
I crawl further into the bed’s center, pulling back the comforter. I slip under it with ease, gaping at the huge size of the mattress. It is pure heaven, almost like the water from this morning, easing my pain.
Looking to the side, I spot a remote that is nearly as big as my arm. With delight, I grab the board of buttons, examining the temperature controls, the wonder knobs that induce prime massages.
This really isn’t necessary.
Maybe they are using all this to bribe me into submission. I shouldn’t be touching this pleasurable remote, or delving through the flurry of sheets into the colossal mattress.
Closing my eyes, I try not to focus on the ripples of opulence surrounding me. I imagine myself as a fierce warrior battling a bunch of familiar werewolves for freedom. Even the thought brings a smile to my face.
But I have to be honest to myself; is that fantasy really possible? Could I battle those gifted werewolves and have even the smallest chance of winning? Could I take on even one?
I give up on all hope for resistance, and sink into the cushiony depths of heaven.
******
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