Chapter 45

“What do we do? I asked Hayden. “We head to my city apartment,”

We quickly pack up some stuff and hop into the black SUV. We made our way to the city. While we are driving, I ask, “Why do you have a city apartment?”

“Well, you know the pack is registered as a company.” It was true Alice had filled me in a lot about how the pack was run. How the pack had various business all run under a single corporation. The members of the pack usually worked for one of the various businesses or opened their own, under the corporation.

Then of course we had the medical professionals that were paid for by the pack. That money came from everyone as a form of insurance of sorts. The only reason Hayden was so rich was because of personal investments.

“Yes, I know.”

“Well, I sometimes, and not very often, must come to town for a meeting. Most of the time I do work back at the packhouse. But if one of the in-town meetings run late I don’t have to drive back I can just stay there at the apartment. Also, if a pack member asks me if they can stay there for whatever reason I usually will say yes.”

I nodded. “So, what are we going to tell them.”

“Well, as far as what you do, just say you are a manger, I mean it isn’t entirely a lie. You do manage people in the pack. You can tell them a lot of things f you just gloss over it. As for your scars I don’t know.”

“I was thinking I could say I fell through window and the glass cut me up badly. After all they won't see my arms or legs since its cold, and I am mostly covered up.”

“That sounds like a plan.”

The rest of the time in the vehicle sat in silence, both were mentally preparing ourselves for what was to come. We pulled into the parking garage below the building. He typed in a code and the gate lifted letting us in. “Why did you have me tell my uncle and dad park on the street and not in here?”

“Because the garage is for residents only.”

“Gotcha.” We parked and walked to the elevator. He pressed the Button with a P on it. Then he typed into a keypad and hit enter. The doors closed and the elevator went up. The doors opened to reveal an immaculate apartment. I walked in stunned.

The floor was large black tile and the walls where white with deep wood accents. I made my way further in. “Come on let me show you to our room and give you a tour.”

He took me into the master. It was a large room with a bathroom attached. There was a big difference in the penthouse and the packhouse. The packhouse fit right in with the surrounding mountains and forest. There were huge fireplaces that would remain lit while the weather was cool. It was earthy and warm and everything a home in the woods should be.

The penthouse was open and bright. There was three rooms and an office. The place was not much in the way of big wood burning fireplaces but gas ones. There were only a few rugs to make the place more inviting. The windows and vaulted callings made it lofty and feel huge.

Hayden continues to give me a tour and show me around the place so I can at least act like I live here. In the kitchen I look at Hayden. “Do we have food in the house. If we lived here, there would be food?”

“Yes, there will be food in the place before they are here. I had Sean do a food order. It should be here soon actually.” We talked a bit while we waited about how we really could not take off a few days with preparations for everything that was coming up.

I heard the ding of the elevator and went to see if it was the food. The elevator opened and there was a woman with groceries. She put her foot over the door and stretched to get all the groceries into the penthouse then she pulled her foot away and the doors closed. She began to pick up the groceries and called out. “Where is the kitchen.”

I walked to help her carry them. Once I picked up some of the bags. I led her to the kitchen where Hayden was. The young women saw him and dropped her bags. “Hayden is that you?”

“Oh, Alex hi.” I looked at Hayden.

“This is Ember Snow.”

“Oh hi, I am Alex.” she stuck out her hand to shake. I grabbed it and shook it.

“So how do you know each other.”

“Oh, we used to date.” Alex said in a cheerful way. She went on to say. “But that ended a long time ago.” she said. I got a bad vibe from her. I don’t exactly know the reason I just did.

“We should grab dinner sometime Hayden catch up.” she said as she reached her hand out to caress his arm. I growled. She looked at me with a face of shock. Hayden jerked his arm away.

“I am sorry, but I can’t.”

“Oh come on it will be fun. Your cousin over here could come to.”

“I am not his cousin whatever gave you that idea?” I asked in an aggravated tone.

“Hayden said your name was Snow like his. Hayden doesn’t have a sister so I assumed you must be his cousin”

“Well, I am definitely not his cousin; so, you might want to rethink you asking him out since I bare his last name.” Alex’s face went white.

“I um, I um.”

“Alex, I think you should go.”

He walked her back to the elevator. I heard her talk to Hayden. “I always thought we would end up together you know in the end.”

“I told you that wouldn’t happen.”

“Still if you ever want me, you know you can have me right.” I rolled my eyes

The elevator dinged and I heard him say “Goodbye Alex.” Then he walked back to me.

“Who was she?” I said with jealousy.

“We will talk about it later your family will be here soon.”