WILLOW
At some point last night, I passed out.
My eyes were dry and itchy, swollen from crying, while my chest ached from how much I had cried.
All I thought about was my mom. I worried about her alone with my dad, and me not there to keep his attention elsewhere.
I tried to muffle the sounds with the pillows, hoping no one heard me. The last thing I wanted was to appear weak in a place like this. I sat up, smoothing out the wrinkles on my sundress from yesterday that I had slept in.
After opening the closet, I realized I would be stuck wearing the same thing until Kaelen collected the rest of my clothes. I assumed that was what he intended to do when he mentioned making sure I had everything I needed.
Cold sweat clung to my nape. I wiped it away, still feeling tired. My muscles ached, and nothing felt quite right. I blinked, shaking away the haze that clouded my vision.
I sat cross-legged on the bed, hugging a pillow. The silk was soft under my fingers as I played with the decorative ties. I desperately wanted to talk to my mom or Sam.
My best friend always saw the bright side of any situation. It was a bit annoying if I was being honest, but I still loved that about her.
Unfortunately, I left my cell in the car when we came here.
So not only was I stuck in a gilded cage, but I was cut off from everyone I loved. It was a small list, but it still stung. I had no idea how long I sat there until my stomach grumbled, pulling me from my self-pity.
Walking across the room, I half-expected to find the door locked. Except, it wasn’t. It opened, revealing an empty hallway. I padded aimlessly through the too-big house, desperately trying to locate the kitchen.
Eventually, I found my way to the entryway I remembered from yesterday.
For a minute, I debated walking out the door and testing my luck. Two bodies moved in front of the frosted glass, dousing the smoldering flames of my hope. In each of their hands, I saw the shadow of a pistol.
Whether they were there to keep people out or me in didn’t matter. There was no way I would make it two feet. A sigh puffed passed my lips as I hugged myself, stroking my arms.
Then I was hit with the most delicious aroma.
Bacon.
I followed it, finally finding a glittering kitchen tucked in the back of the house.
A matronly woman with gray-streaked, fiery hair stood beside the stove, working multiple skillets at the same time while she sang a lilting tune. Before I could flee, she spun around and beamed at me.
“Come here, deary,” she said, pointing at a stool by the island. “You hungry?” I nodded, settling into the seat. “Anything you don’t like?”
“Not really.”
“Alrighty. I’ll have a full fry-up ready in a few minutes. Tea?Coffee? Juice?”
Taken aback by the relaxing atmosphere, I didn’t answer right away. When I left my room, I wasn’t sure what I would find. Based on what I’d seen on TV, I thought maybe bloodied bodies, stray bullets, or an endless supply of drugs and women. Instead, it was the picture of domestic quietude.
“It’s rude not to answer a question, deary. Stop daydreaming.”
The curtness of her words cut the tender brush of her voice, making me stiffen.
“Sorry, ma’am,” I murmured, shrinking at being scolded. “Coffee. Iced, please. Cream and sugar.”
A bright look settled on her face, highlighting the lines around her dimples. She gave me a tight nod, turning down the gas under one pan before doctoring my coffee per my request. I ran my fingers through my hair, loosening the knots in the strands. I was too hot, considering it was fall. Beads of sweat dotted my collarbone, and I flicked them away, noticing the flush creeping up my torso.
“Don’t worry, Aileen mothers everyone,” a foreboding voice said, making gooseflesh skitter along my arms.
Soon, all I smelled was him. Instead of terrifying me, it steadied me. Aileen handed me my coffee. I pressed my lips to the rim, purposefully ignoring the alpha who was now standing beside me.
Sweet espresso hit my lips, and I let out a reedy moan.
