Chapter 279

I bit my lip, “I wish I had my sisters ability,” I finally said, “She can hear thoughts, of everyone. Then I’d be able to tell who you are, or maybe if you are Kieran, you could bark twice to let me know,” I rolled my eyes laughing, “Do wolves bark? Or do you growl? You could growl twice so I know it’s you?” I said excited, unsure but the wolf didn’t respond. After waiting for something and getting none, the ipad chirped, and that caused a reaction, a low growl from the black growling beast, “Relax, it’s just this,” I said taking out the thing, “it’s an ipad, has games, music and books on here. I brought it to the beach with me… Chelsea put some music on here,” I said swiping my finger, searching the artists, “Here,” I tapped on Florence + the Machines, “it’s called Cosmic Love,” I placed it on the lowest decibel and then on the sack on the ground next to me. “You have your own music up here I guess,” I said looking out at the forest, “the wind, the birds…” “Don’t you get lonely up here?” I asked, “I think I would… even when I wanted to be left alone back in Middleburg – where I’m from – I still liked being around my brother Ben...” I pursed my lips leaning over to look into the dark cave, “You don’t really hunt on the island, so I guess that you go down there for food?” I pointed over my shoulder when I spied a sack. After a while, when the song finished, I began reading out loud, until it got darker, I sighed, putting the ipad away, picking up my shoes the wolf growled. Smiling I met it’s eyes, “I need to start heading back, it’s getting late and it’s starting to rain, but I’ll come back Kieran,” I whispered inhaling his scent, loving the aroma that filled my chest. Kieran went to all fours, trailing behind me slowly, with my slippers in my hands, the rain getting heavier. Chelsea POV Around four in the afternoon I left Gabriel with Ava in the indoor pool to begin dinner, knowing I’d be cooking for a full house tonight, nearly forty of us, Nora, Walter and the Lawson’s included, as well as Marlon his mate, and their seven children. Giving Gabriel the meats to grill, everyone started to arrive, Marlon, introducing his children, Justine, Anthony, Kiley, Farrah, Sage, Dayton and Bradely. Despite the rain falling, everyone went out to the covered deck, joining Gabriel, Ava, Casey, Jack, McKenna, Nona and Nonno, I sighed to myself, wondering how this time last year I could only be around Jack, Casey, Dad and Helen, now all these different people had entered my life and I couldn’t picture myself going back. “Hey Chels,” Julia came in, Ben went straight out back, while Grant hung back red in the face, I had to smile, “How are you guys?” I asked smirking, Julia snorted, “Fine, but uhm, I was wondering if maybe you could add condoms to the list we gave you earlier…” she whispered and Grant groaned. My brows scrunched at her in confusion, “I thought…” stopping myself because it really wasn’t any of my business. She smiled knowingly; “We want too, and we’re so grateful for you helping; but, we just got here and Grant and I just thought that Oakley should be in a better place before we begin trying…” she shrugged looking around, don’t want Oakley to hear… with Sarah pregnant. “Where’s Oakley?” I asked her when she kept looking around for her and I noticed that she hadn’t entered with Ben. It was Grant and Julia who shot me confused looks, She’s here – with you, they thought, “She’s here with you, Ben said she left him at the beach hours ago, said you called her, we thought it was after you left our house…” Julia said her heart starting to race, when she took on the absolute confusion on my face. “Are you sure? Because Gabriel and I left, came here and went swimming inside with Ava until I started making dinner…” Grant went to the door, “Ben, are you sure Oakley said she was coming over to Chelsea’s?” I turned to face them, Ben nodded, glancing at me, “Yeah she tapped her head, said you called her,” Kiley, one of Marlon’s children answered, nodding at me. I looked out at the night, the darkness now that the sun had set and the light drizzle had turned into hard rain. Stepping back I closed my eyes, listening to every single thought of everyone here, shutting down each line when it wasn’t Oakleys. Searching I found nothing, my heart raced, and I was on instant alert when I thought of the Hellmanns, had they done something to Oakley because of me?