Chapter 28 THE WOLF
Dandelion.
We both walked in silence. Alexander led the way through the estate, his hands in his pockets, with his usual long strides. I followed a few steps behind, too exhausted from all the recent revelations and my restraint to attempt a conversation with him.
Mrs. Winifred had insisted we get some 'fresh air' and 'bond more' as a couple.
So here we are. Walking and getting some fresh air but definitely not bonding.
The gardens were beautiful with perfectly manicured hedges, stone pathways and some beautiful flowers I couldn't name blooming in different colors. If I were under a different circumstances, I might've appreciated the view.
But right now, all I could do was try hard to remember even a little fragment of memories I supposedly had with this cold man.
He didn't even look back once to know if I was still following behind him.
Tsk typical Alexander.
I glanced at Alexander's back, trying to compare this cold, controlled man in front of me with a seven year old boy who'd apparently doted on me.
It doesn't make sense.
What happened to that sweet child, where did he go?
We turned in a corner, and a massive pool came into view. It was Olympic sized, surrounded by marble columns and cushioned loungers. Completely over the top.
Of course the Grahams have a pool that could host the actual Olympics, Alexander suddenly stopped.
A staff member standing not too faraway came towards him and whispered something in his ear.
His demeanor immediately changed.
The man nodded and disappeared as quickly as he had come.
Alexander turned to me. "I need to handle something. Head back to the main house."
"Wait, what--"
"You'll be fine. Just retrace our steps." He was already walking away.
"Alexander--"
But he was gone before I could say anything else.
I stood there, staring after him in disbelief.
"How dare he," I muttered, anger flaring hot in my chest. "How dare he just....just abandon me in the middle of nowhere in this big estate"
I spun around, looking back the way we had come.
And realized I had absolutely no idea which path we'd taken because I was lost in thoughts instead of concentrating.
Was it the left turn at the fountain. Or was it right?
Damn it.
I pulled out my phone. But then who would I call, and I don't even have that jerk's number.
Perfect. Just perfect.
I looked around, weighing my options.
I could wander aimlessly and probably get even more lost.
Or I could stay here by the pool and wait for someone to pass by and help me find my way back.
I sighed and sat down on one of the loungers. Lord please let someone pass by.
\---
The pool water was so still, clear and very blue.
I stared at it, watching the way the late afternoon sun caught the surface, creating shifting patterns of light.
I used to love swimming, well, before the Glass Lake incident. I could still remember that cold water closing over my head. Before Alexander's hands dragged me back to a life I didn't want.
Now the sight of water made my chest tight.
I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling suddenly cold despite the warm air.
Get it together, Dandelion. It's just a pool.
Suddenly a sound broke through my thoughts.
A low, rumbling growl.
I froze with wide eyes.
"What was that?", but the growl came again, closer this time. Followed the sound of the heavy, rhythmic thudding like footsteps.
But that doesn't sound like human footsteps, it was something bigger and heavier.
I turned around slowly towards the direction.
And my heart stopped.
It was....it was a wolf.
A frickin massive, pure white wolf with icy blue eyes and razor sharp canine peaking through its drooling mouth, it stood less than ten feet away from me.
Its lips were pulled back, revealing the sharp canines more, it gleamed in the sunlight. Its tongue lolled out as it panted, each breath producing a low, rumbling sound in its chest.
And it was staring right at me.
Oh God. Oh God oh God oh God
I tried to scream, but nothing came out except a strangled whimper.
The wolf took one step forward.
Then another.
Its massive paws made almost no sound on the marble, but I could feel each step in my bones.
Run.
You need to frickin RUN. My instinct screamed.
But I couldn't move nor breathe, I was completely frozen, I couldn't do anything except watch as this creature stalked toward me like I was a prey.
And then it suddenly lunged.
A loud scream finally tore out of me as I took quick steps backwards.
I suddenly lost balance, stumbled backward and I fell.
The world tilted as my back hit the water, and suddenly I was underneath the deep cold water.
The shock stole my breath.
And for one terrible moment, I was suddenly back at Glass Lake.
Sinking, drowning and dying slowly.
My lungs burned and my limbs felt heavy and useless. The water pressed in from all sides, suffocating and swallowing me.
I tried to kick, to push toward the surface, but my body wouldn't cooperate.
The trauma was stronger than I thought.
Through the blurry blue water, I saw the wolf above the surface, with it's white figure. It seemed to be barking, but I couldn't hear anything except the heavy sound of water in my ears.
This is it, this is how I die.
Attacked by a wolf and drowned in a billionaire's pool.
How pathetic.
My vision started to darken at the edges.
My lungs screamed for air I couldn't give them, and I felt myself sinking deeper.
I'm sorry Mom, but it seems I'll be joining you sooner than expected.
I shut my eyes finally giving into the darkness.
But suddenly, I felt a ripple in the water. Just like at Glass lake.
Maybe the wolf jumped in to save me?
But instead I felt strong hands grabbing my waist, yanking me upward hurriedly.
No. Not again.
Please, not him again.
I lost consciousness before I could open my heavy eye lids to see who had saved me out of this embarrassing situation. Yet again.