19

What the officer had said left me in shock and bad, those who went hunting wolves had died and none survived. I thought about last night and how dad had plans to go with them if it wasn't because I begged him not to go, maybe my father would be dead right now. My chest ached at that moment, I remembered what I went through a few days ago and even what Lottie went through. There is more here than just wolves and I have a feeling this is just the tip of the iceberg.

“What's happening?” Lucas's voice made me jump with fright. This one came with messy hair because he just got up.

"Lucas..." I whispered. The officer said goodbye to dad and left “… dad's friends, the ones who went hunting yesterday, died.”

“What?” He frowned.

“The Wolves.”

Lucas got a little nervous and turned to go back to his room. I didn't understand his attitude, really. I went to dad and hugged him.

“Calm down, Eva” he rubbed my back “They were my friends.”

“I'm sorry, dad” I looked at him “to think that you could be one of them...”

“Shhh calm down, but it didn't happen thanks to you. Now I have to go to the crime scene.”

"Please take care of yourself," I asked, "don't go into the woods alone."

“Okay, there will be a lot of us going and also armed so stay calm. What will you do today? It's Saturday and I don't want you to be bored all day.”

"I…I think I'll stay here. It's not safe to be out there.” I replied. My dad just nodded, grabbed his jacket and hat, and left the house. I went up the stairs to go to my room but a noise in Lucas's room caught my attention. I opened the door and went in, he wasn't there, I was sure he was in the bathroom.

"Damn," I heard him snap.

“Lucas?”

“Eve? Get out of my room, why don't you knock before you come in?”

"Lucas, are you okay?"

The door opened, I was surprised to see Lucas sweaty.

"I'm fine now go away" and slammed the door shut. I felt offended by his bad mood today but it's not something that surprises me, I just thought that coming to another city would change him. But I see that it is not so. I left his room with my wounded pride and went into my own. I put a hand to my chest when I saw Kessler Walton sitting on the edge of my bed, waiting for me.

"Kessler, you scared me," I reproached.

He smiled seductively at me.

"Did you miss me?" He got mad and came towards me, he caressed my face and kissed me. "Because I missed you. And a lot.”

I cleared my throat.

“Maybe. Where were you last night?” I wanted to know since I waited for him and he never showed up.

“I had to settle some things with the boys.”

“What things?” I wanted to know because I've never liked mysteries and less with the person I'm supposed to be dating... well, starting to meet.

“Things about my mother, you know, she wanted us to help her with some papers. She doesn't trust anyone else, just me.”

His mother, I still remember that lady and her mysterious look.

“Alright. Did you realize what happened?”

"Yes, honey, the whole town knows that.”

"How could something like this happen?" I asked more to myself. “There were almost eight officers with the necessary equipment to exterminate those beasts and they couldn't. This is terrible. And to think that my father could have been one of them. If he hadn't asked him to stay with me he would be…” I sat up on the bed.

“Calm down, moon, a lot happens in this town, that's why no one is surprised by this one.”

I looked at him.

"How can they be so calm? There are animals killing innocent people,” I raised my voice. Kessler stiffened. "People who haven't done anything to anyone, those animals don't deserve to live," I said angrily. I feel very angry because I hate injustice and they are a defender of animals but I also know when to set limits and those animals are a danger to everyone in town.

“Eva, it's better that you don't say things that you might later regret.”

“What are you taking about?” I laughed, “you know what? I don't want to keep talking about this with you because it's obvious that you and I don't think alike.” I turned around, crossing my arms.

“Eva, please, I don't want to argue with you” he hugged me “you smell very good.”

At that moment my anger went down and I also hugged him.

"You smell so good too," I whispered. I don't like that Kessler has that power over me, that he can control me as much as he wants, that my body is at his mercy and that he can't make me angry with him for long.

“Do you want to do something today?” He proposes to me.

“Like what?”

“Hmm let's go to the lake.”

"Eva, where the hell is the...?!" At that moment Lucas opened the door of my room and looked at Kessler and me.

Oh no.

"So this is what you do when dad's not around…" he murmured.

“Lucas, why don't you knock before you go in?” I recriminated.

“Because you don't do it” he complains “What's up, Kessler.”

“Lucas…”

"Okay, I'll leave you alone.” The door was closing. Wow, he reacted very calm.

"Since when are you two friends?"

"Long story, come here." He took my hand and we left the room.

“Where are we going?”

"You haven't had breakfast. I'll make you something.”

“And so? You amaze me, Kessler Walton, what would they think if your friends saw you? The great Kessler Walton submissive to a girl” I teased him.

"I'm at your feet, Evangeline." He squeezed my hand.

We got to the kitchen and Kessler looked for things to make a breakfast but what he saw didn't convince him much.

"I haven't had time to shop," I excused myself.

“So I see. We'll go later, meanwhile I'll do what I can with these ingredients.” He told me, he began to prepare good ones and bacon, he also made toast with strawberry jelly and a little mango juice. Kessler served me breakfast as well as his, so we both ate quietly in the kitchen. I really felt good, it's the first time I've done this with someone I like... because yes, I can't be denying that I like Kessler because it's the truth.

“And what else do you like to do?” I wanted to know. We are talking about our tastes and when we were children. After all we had to get to know each other better.

"I like to play baseball," he answers, "we usually go to the woods on Sundays and play all afternoon. Do you want to go? Tomorrow we will go.”

"Okay, I'll go." We finished breakfast and began to wash the dishes and get things ready. Lucas was still in his room doing who knows what. We went up to my room making less noise. "Shall we bathe in the lake? It's kind of cold," I said.

“Depends.”

I took a small backpack and put some clothes in case it occurred to me to take a bath. In addition to carrying other necessary things. Kessler and I left the house and we went in his jeep, he went down a dirt road in the woods, there were only huge trees, very green and a bit of fog. It's very beautiful but it's scary, I just hope there are no wolves around here. Now that I remembered that I felt a little terrified.

"What if the wolves come out?" I wanted to know.

"That won't happen, trust me." He took my hand to give me support. When we arrived I was amazed by what my eyes saw.

Is incredible.

There is a lake with clear and calm waters in front of me, the sun shines on this part of the mountain. The sun is shining on the water and it looks so beautiful.

"Kessler," I said getting out of the car, "this is amazing," I muttered.

“I knew that you would like.”

I took the camera from my backpack and went to the lake to photograph everything.

"Are you kidding me? This is a paradise.” I kept taking photos at any angle. It taught me that it wasn't cold here, the sun gave more and you felt the warmth, it's delicious. I took off my shoes and waded into the water up to my knees. You could see my feet in the water because it is crystal clear water. It seems that I am in heaven.

“I know, I come here very often, it's my favorite and safe place. Also private.”

"Private why?"

“All this that you see is property of my family and now also yours.”

I rolled my eyes.

"Don't say crazy things.”

"It's true, Eva Bailey, one day you will be my wife and this will be yours. We can build a huge house right there” he pointed to a place “I know you would love to live in front of this lake.”

I smiled like a fool.

“Yes, but don't talk like that, I mean, we barely know each other.”

"You're my mate, Eva," he murmured to which I frowned.

“What about you? I don't understand.”

“Forget it, it's a way of saying that you're mine and that's why I know you can't separate yourself from me.” Kessler he kissed me passionately, carried me into his arms and carried me out of the water. “I want you” he murmured, getting me into his jeep. I can imagine why we got in here “No one can see us here.” He took off his shirt, letting me see his flat abdomen.