Chapter 61: Violet

I looked at each of them. Greta had a smile glued on her face. It was the same smile she would use on our parents when we did something we shouldn’t have and were trying to cover it up. I didn’t know Jared well enough to read his facial expressions. And Simon just had a small smile just touching his lips. “Yeah, she can be overly domineering.” I looked back at Greta, her face twitched. She hated it when I would call her that as kids. When I called her that once, she admitted she needed to look up that word to know what it meant. But came back the next day saying she wasn’t domineering.

“How are you liking breakfast?” Simon said, looking at me.

“Very lame attempt to change the subject.” I said.

“But an attempt just the same.” He gave a sexy smirk.

“You know this conversation isn’t over. You all are hiding something, and I will find out. Even if I have to dig into your minds.” With that last statement I looked at Jared. If it was going to affect anyone it would affect Jared, the most. His gaze shifted from me to Simon quickly. Almost as if he was asking for help or protection with his eyes.

“It’s nothing. I promise. As soon as I can tell you, I will. It’s just not the right timing.” Simon calmly said. I could see him being a good Alpha. Not only being big, but his tone could easily calm his pack members.

“Fine.” I stabbed another sausage link and took a bite. “Breakfast is delicious.”

During the rest of breakfast, attempts at small talk happened but nothing really came of it. Greta was quietly sitting there, very out of character. I wondered what Simon told her through their mind link. He probably threatened her or something.

“He didn’t threaten me.” Greta said breaking my train of thought.

“What?” I said to her.

“You just asked if Simon threatened me.”

“No, I didn’t say anything.”

Greta’s eyes went wide and looked over at Simon. Almost as if she were apologizing.

“First, I wouldn’t threaten my pack unless it was deserved. Second, can you read my mind right now?” Simon calmly asked, staring at me. He set down his fork on the tray.

I looked into his eyes and focused. Nothing came through. “No, maybe it comes and goes.” I shrugged. “I guess that’s a power I need to work on.”

He looked at Jared for a moment and he gave a slight nod. Then over to Greta who did the same.

“What did you just tell them?”

“I didn’t tell them anything.”

“Come on, Simon. You told me about the mind link. You obviously said something to them.” I stared at him, waiting for an answer.

He rubbed his hand over his face. “Fine, I just told them not to think of something. Nothing important I promise.” He reached over the tray and touched my arm.

“Why are you keeping something from me?” I had no right to ask that question. I wasn’t part of the pack. I was a virtual stranger, except to Greta. But they were keeping something that pertained to me. I should at least know.

“I told you before, I will tell you when I can. But right now, is not the time.” His eyes were pleading with me, begging me to understand. “Trust me, please.”

I looked at Simon for a moment. I wanted to push it; I wanted him to just tell me what they were keeping from me. It had to be something that involved me. If it weren’t then they wouldn’t be working so hard to hide it. “You promise you will tell me as soon as you can?”

Relief flooded Simon’s face. “Yes, I promise you on the lives of my parents that I will tell you as soon as I can. Just not right now.”

I slouched a little with defeat. “Ok.” I bit my lip thinking. But no answers were coming. Maybe I was making this a bigger thing than it was. Maybe it really had nothing to do with me and it was more about his pack and I’m a stranger so he can’t tell me until he can trust me.

“I promise.” He said again, grabbing my hand and holding it.

“Ok.” Was all I could say again.

Silence filled the room, I picked at the food on the plate with my fork. Greta continued to nibble on her scone. Simon looked almost sad, and Jared had the same serious look on his face. I didn’t know what to tell Simon to make that look on his face go away.

“I unfortunately have guard duty that I have to go to. But seriously Vi, please visit as much as you want. Or I can come to you. I cannot believe you have been alive this whole time.” Greta stood and bent over to hug me. “Don’t make me come hunt you down, because you know I will.”

“Of course, I will.” I hugged her back.

She turned and tugged on Jared’s shirt. “Come on, babe. Let’s go. Your paperwork isn’t going to do itself.”

Jared stood, “Um, it was nice to meet you.” His eyes shifted a little with the lie he just told.

“You and I both know you don’t mean it.” I laughed at him. Even after we hung out all last night, he was still afraid of me. I looked over at Greta and she mouthed the word sorry and pouted her lips. I just shook my head at her. They both walked out of the room, closing the door behind them.

“Sorry about Jared. I’m sure he will come around sooner or later. His grandma really messed him up about witches.”

“I can see that. I guess it would be a bad idea to scare the shit out of him.”

Simon barked a laugh. “Unless you want him to not be afraid of you, I would suggest to wait to do any of the pranks that you think of until he warms up to you.”

“Damn and dressing up as a scary witch was my Halloween costume.”

“I would say you could dress up as a sexy witch, but you already are.” He winked at me.

I laughed under my breath and shoved his arm. I rolled my eyes at him.

“What? It’s true.”

“Yeah, ok.”

“Ok, how about this, you can dress up as little red riding hood and I’ll go as the big bad wolf?”

“That’s easy for you.” I poked his large bicep. “I have a better idea. Why don’t you dress up as little red riding hood and I’ll dress up as the big bad wolf. Give it a twist.”

“Interesting. Would that mean I would need to wear a dress?” He grabbed his chin to think.

“Oh yes. And a cute little cape to go with it. The whole shebang.” I smirked trying to stifle a laugh.

“I do have to say, I never wore a dress before. This could be interesting.”

“Very.”

“I like it. Deal! I’m glad we could settle our couple costumes.”

“Indeed.”

I looked at the clock next to his bed, it read ten twenty. “I think I should be heading back to my cabin.”

The smile that held his face for a bit now faded into a frown. “You could stay. We have a library you could hang out in while I get through my paperwork. Or you can hang out in my office.”

“Like I said last night, I have a million spells to learn, and I don’t have a lot of time to learn them. And aren’t you sick of my yet?”

“Never.” That single word hung in the air. The look on his face showed how serious he was.

“Sooner or later I’m sure you will.” I stood next to the bed and gave a stretch.

Simon grabbed my hand. “Can I come see you tonight?" His face was still serious.

“If you want.”

A soft smile spread over his lips. He relaxed a little. “Good.”

“I’m going to go change, I’ll be right back so you don’t have to bust in there while I’m half naked, ok?” I gave his hand a squeeze.

“Maybe I will just because of that.” He laughed.

“I wouldn’t put it past you.”

I walked over to his closet and closed the door behind me. I threw on my dress and tights and walked back out. Simon looked at me and smiled.

“Are you going to put on some clothes so you can walk me to the door?” I sat on the bed and pulled on my shoes.

“Yes.” He strode over to the clothes he threw into a pile from last night and pulled on his joggers but didn’t attempt to put on a shirt.

“Do you just walk around half dress all of the time?”

“It is my house.” He shrugged. “We’re wolves, I have pretty much seen everyone naked in the pack. We don’t worry about being naked, it’s a part of life.” The way his joggers hugged low on his hips and his abs exposed it took all that was in me to not run my hands over them.

He offered me his arm and I took it. As we took the steps, the closer we got to the door my stomach began to drop. Like the feeling on a rollercoaster when you finally made it over the initial hill and you’re free falling. But the feeling would go away, this one didn’t.

We reached the door and I just looked at it. I didn’t want to leave. I wished he would ask me to stay, I know he already did but now that I was actually leaving, I didn’t want to go. Simon turned to me and took both of my hands. “I’ll see you in a little bit.” He looked like how I felt.

“Yeah.” I gave him a weak smile. “Get through your paperwork and I’ll get through my studying.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He smiled, showing dimples. I smiled back. He pulled me into a hug. I let his arms swallow me up, the electricity still bouncing between us, causing my core to tighten.

I pulled away from him and looked at him. Why was this so hard? I just met him two days ago and I felt this connection to him. I reached for the door, but he grabbed the knob quickly and pulled it open. “I’ll see you soon.” I gave him a weak smile.

“I’ll count down the hours.” His eyes didn’t leave mine.