Chapter 30 SPIES IN THE WOODS
It has been four days after the marking and I am starting to grow hopeful that Alpha Arthur and his mate were wrong about the side effects of it. Yes, there is s some longing between us, but nothing that can warrant me being locked up over, thankfully. Other than Samuel being more Alpha than human, we are fine and I feel confident it will stay that way.
I wake up with a smile remembering that Doreen is staying with us now and I can't wait to run next door and see her again. We have a lot of time to make up for. We have never been separated for as long as we have been this time. It is unsettling and I am overjoyed to have her back.
I take a shower and get dressed all before ten A.M and I marvel at it, being up before noon, perhaps it is all the excitement of Doreen being here. The news of a new pack member joining us have spread like wildfire since yesterday according to Samuel and the pack is eager to meet with her. Doreen is less enthused though. She is nervous, and is worried that they won't like her. After spending the remainder of the morning assuring her that she is worrying herself for nothing we prepare to go meet the pack in the conference room next to Samuel's office. It is the first time I have been there and apparently they often hold important meetings there, and this one is no exception.
I am excited to give her the lay of the land and house today. I desperately want my new pack to meet her and accept her just as easily as I did when we became friends. I know they wouldn't disappoint. They are my family now and they are the most supporting pack I ever had.
"Well, that was...interesting," Doreen says as we all pour out from the room.
"I've never been in a pack meeting like that before. Everything here just seems more...important. You must feel right at home. You're finally part of a pack. I mean really part of it."
I smile. "I am. I'm very happy here."
"I think I will be too. Except..." She lets the word hang for a moment as she decides how to go on.
"Except what?" I ask.
She shrugs, taking a look around the large hallway where we're traveling through. "I don't know. It's like something is missing. I can't really explain it, but it saddens me." Her serious expression soon turns playful. "Crazy much?"
I laugh at her. "No, just you."
It is nice seeing her a little more at ease.
As we walk in silence my mind travels back to the very professional and spacious conference room when Samuel's eyes never left mine the entire time. He seemed more intense than usual and it caused a stirring somewhere deep within me. Every time his eyes met mine I wanted to shiver in delight. He was changing me.
"What would you like to see first?The house? The land? Oh, I know! How about the pond? You'll love it. Just being there will relax you. It's so peaceful."
"Yeah. That actually sounds kind of perfect."
After all she has been through she can use some peace. I still don't know how she is holding it together after something so traumatic. She is strong.
"Grace," a voice calls after us. We come to a halt and spin around to see who has spoken and I am surprised.
"Yes," I say, slowly with an eyebrow raised.
Dominic comes to a stop in front of Doreen and I, but keeps his eyes trained on me. "Samuel wants to see you. He sent me to get you. He's in the office."
"Okay, but I was getting ready to show Doreen around. Can it wait?"
He shakes his head. "It was an order. He told me not to come back without you. I'll arrange for Kyle to keep her company until you're available."
Well if I can't show her around, I'd want Kyle to do it. She'd like him. He is a very easy going, fun person; just her type. I wonder if they would have hooked up if they met under different circumstances.
Doreen looks at me with a smile and nods her in assurance that she will be fine. I am a bit frustrated that Samuel had to pull me away at one of the most inconvenient times, but it could be important so I push away my annoyance and agree not to let it bother me.
At the office door I meet Dylan walking out wearing the same annoying features mirroring how I have been previously feeling. He closes the door behind him just as I am about to enter.
"Be careful in there," he jokes, but I can hear the slight warning mixed in his tone."It can't be that bad. You're the big, bad beta Dylan. Surely he couldn't have gotten to you," I tease, not being able to keep the silly grin off my face.
"Alpha Mode," he says, making me instantly understand.
I nod but frown. He seemed alright during the meeting. I mean he was all business, but he didn't seem upset or uptight about anything. What could have changed so soon? I wonder.
"Got it. Well, I'll be on guard."
Placing my hand on the door handle Dylan places his on top of mine stopping me. "He's a little high-strung. Just make it easy on yourself and just agree with him."
His smile makes me smile. "I will. Calm down, will you? It's just Samuel."
His smile drops, taking his hand back and nods. "Oh it's him alright." Then in a creepy sing song back he says, "He's back."
I raise an eyebrow at him. "Back?"
"Yes," he confirms. "The Samuel I know. Good luck."
He offers me a light smile before turning on his heel and walking away, leaving me at the door to fend for myself. For a moment I think over possible escape options and finding him when he is a little more of himself.
All thoughts are brought to a sudden stop when the door comes open almost dragging me to the floor with my hand still firmly clasped around the handle. Samuel wraps his arms around me pulling me back against his chest before I can hit the ground.
"Thanks," I mutter, steadying my breath.
His breathing is heavy, his chest moving rapidly against my back. I turn in his arms to face him. I gasp when his dark, almost black, eyes stare back at me.
"It took you long enough," he says eerily.
"I stopped to talk to Dylan at the door. What's wrong? Doreen and I were about to tour the grounds and then get some furniture for her room."
He releases one of his arms around me and reaches out to close the door, giving us some privacy, then wraps it tightly back around me again.
"I sent Dylan to show her around. She'll be fine."
I back up from our closeness and gaze into the dark depths he watches me with. "Yeah, except she doesn't know them very well."
"Now is as good a time as any. They're her pack now too."
He pulls me back into him and tightens his grip around my waist nearly cutting off my air. He buries his nose in my hair and deeply inhales my scent. He doesn't move for minutes, making the time in his arms seem longer than what it really is. Not that I mind, but his actions have me worried. He is acting beyond strange.
When he finally releases me I catch my breath making up for my lack of air from his hold. I lean back into his desk and steady myself.
"Are you going to tell me what's wrong or continue to freak me out a little more?"
He doesn't speak but he goes around me and the desk. My eyes follow him when he picks up something and hands it to me.
I reach out for it and gasp when I see what it is. A picture of Doreen and I, only from yesterday. We were on the balcony in her room talking. The picture must have been taken sometime yesterday evening by someone from the woods. It was a good distance away but it still freaks me out that someone took it."Where did you get this?" I ask warily looking up at him from the photograph.
Why does Samuel have this picture? Is he having me watched? No, that doesn't make sense. I'm on his land. He has eyes and ears everywhere. He doesn't need pictures. But why is he showing it to me then?
"This was sent to me this morning. That's not all. Read the back of it."
Hesitantly I flip it over and examine the white background with a message written in black ink. In beautiful, perfect calligraphy it says, “This is
how easy it is for me to get to her. Release Noah or the next time it won't be a warning. Grog."