We both stated at the ceiling lost in thought. My mind closed off while his was open for me to dive into, but I chose not to.
I sat up and made my way to the bathroom, ignoring his eyes glued to my back. Once inside I started up the showers and removed my top. I glanced at myself in the mirror, a hand going to the claw mark on the side of my face. It was already beginning to scab up but still was tender to the touch.
I quickly washed the day away, then stepped out with a towel wrapped around myself and my hair. Owen sat at the edge of the bed, now fully dressed. He lifted his head from his phone and smiled at me.
"I was thinking..." He said as he stood.
He began walking toward me slowly. "I think it's time you moved into this room with me." Hands pulled away my hair towel, allowing my wavy brown hair to cascade down my back and around my face.
My eyes stared up into his, blinking slowly. "Really?"
"Yes."
I but my lip to hold back a smile. "I'd like that."
He sighed in relief, a big weight lifted off his chest. I chuckled lightly, "We're you nervous to ask me?" He nodded, admittedly. "A little."
"I know this is last minute, but we should eat with the pack tonight."
"Oh is something going on?" I asked, not wanting to walk into anything unexpected.
"I need to speak to our pack about what's to come. Silver Crest pack has been making threats."
"What kind of threats?" I asked.
"They kidnapped 10 she wolves, on their way to being transferred to a new pack. One of those females being Penelope." My eyes widen. I wasn't Penelope's biggest fan but I didn't think she or anyone else deserved to be taken against their will. That was just...barbaric.
"Oh..." His eyebrows rose at my short response. I didn't know what else to say, it was a horrible situation, but nothing I said would change the fact.
"Well um, I'm gonna go get dressed." I said as I took a few steps back. He nodded then turned around, dismissing me.
I changed into a light blue cropped tank with a matching light blue floral skirt, that had a small slit on the right. I paired it with my white converse then styled my hair in a half up half down hairstyle.
Owen walked in wearing black jeans and a Nirvana t-shirt. His eyes slowly scanned my body. I cleared my throat, feeling awkward under his judging eyes.
"You look great." He says as he reaches for my hand.
"Thank you." I said, taking his hand and leading us out of the room.
The sound of loud chatter filled the hallway as we neared the pack dining hall. I just tightened my hand around Owen's. I had only eaten in the dining hall a few times after I had been introduced to the pack and usually it was a Saturday where I was meeting Esther and Amelia for breakfast.
He glanced down at me and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. With that we walked into the dining hall.
Silence didn't come immediately, but majority of the wolves changed their conversations to hushed tones. Owen took his seat at the head of the table with me on his right. As usual only the wolves of high ranking sat at the main table while the other wolves at at the surrounding tables.
My eyes scanned until they landed on Esther and her family. She sat at the end of table since her father was the pack's accountant and her sister was one of the pack doctors. Her eyes lit up before she began to wave in my direction. I smiled and waved back.
Amelia sat in a table in the back with her brother and her father. She was too caught up in an argument with her younger brother to notice me.
Owen cleared his throat, drawing me out of my thoughts.
The room fell silent.
"As many of you know, a group of she wolfs were on their way to visit relatives in one of the surrounding packs and got ambushed by a few of the Silvercrest Wolves."
My eyes went cascaded downwards, a pang of guilt overcoming me. Even though they weren't my pack anymore I still felt odly responible for the crimes the committed.
"We were able to save majority of the she wolves before they reached the pack but two of them were taken to the Silvercrest pack."
I wondered who the two she wolves were. Not that it really mattered, it was sick regardless of who they were.
"So what are you going to do about it?!" An older wolf said as he stood to his feet. Tension quiqly filled the room.
"My Penelope just wanted to visit her cousin! You promised me you'd protect her! Does she not matter anymore because you've found a mate?" I looked between the two of them, confused and a embarrassed now that all the attention was directed at me. It was an unspoken rule that the Alpha was supposed to protect and provide for his pack but if what Penelope's father said was true, it was completly disrespectful to me. The pittied looks some of the pack members gave me confirmed it.
Guilt flashed across Owen's face, as judgement filled the older male. A she wolf who I assumed was his wife placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered something in his ear, causing him to sit back down but the anger on his face did not change.
Owen quickly regained himself after our eyes met. "I am sorry if you feel as if I have failed you. We will bring Penelope and Grace home." His eyes lingeres on Penelope's father, a silent meaning between the two. Both families noded, not quite satisfied but content for now. But in reality Owen couldn't protect the entire pack, although an alpha he was only one wolf.
"No more visiting other territories unless I approve until further notice." He said before he sat down.
Owen's mother shot a pleased smile in our direction. Owen and I returned the smile and began eating our food in silence.
***
"What was that? You promised her father you'd protect her?" Owen ignored my question and began walking faster.
"I am a provider for all of the weak and mateless in my pack." He said nonchalantly.
I shook my head. "No that sounded personal, and everyone in that room knew it!" He stopped and ran his hand over his face. "Yes, I went to her parents when I was younger and made a promise to protect her until she found her mate." My heart dropped, hurt that he had promised her parents something that wasn't meant for them.
"For a pack that prides themselves of women being skilled in training you sure treat your women like they're helpless." He turned to face me, irritated written on his face. I knew I shouldv'e stopped there, I knew I was pushing it too far but the anger I felt was so strong it took over all logic that passed through my brain.
"I just don't understand why you had to go out your way to announce yourself as her protector! It's very disrespectful to my family and I!" I take a deep breath realization on what I just said caused me to quickly backtrack "Not that I need your protection, I can take care of myself just fine." I crossed my arms over my chest and began walking past him when he he grabbed my arm.
"I shouldn't have made that promise, I know. Once I told my mom what I had done she explained that what I did would cause problems in the future, but I had already made a promise to them. I felt bad for her and this was around the time women weren't allowed to train." My eyes searched him, looking for any trace of a lie.
I sighed, "I'm sorry, she's been kidnapped and I'm worried about a promise you made to her family." I really did feel bad for Penelope, no one deserved that and I couldn't imagine what she was going through right now. When I think back she had never gone out her way to be nasty to me. I hoped she was okay.
"No I should've told you about it, I don't know why I left it out." I nodded and we continued our walk to our room.
I laid in our bed, not able to fall asleep. Owen was fast asleep with his arm draped over my waist. My eyes were glued to the bright light of the moon seeping through the window. My thoughts drifted to my Pa and my brother, they had always been there for me whenever I need them.
My brother and I sat on the porch swing staring out at the woods as our parents argued, well mostly my papa yelling at my ma. The arguments have became more frequent lately. Since we lived far from the pack house we didn't attract any attention. Even if we did draw attention no one would help. We had only been in the pack for only 2 years and still hadn't the quite found our way here. We were considered outsiders.
"Why doesn't mama like me?" I asked my brother.
He shot me a sad look and sighed. "I don't know..." There was no denying how she felt, even as a seven year old I knew she did not like me. The argument that's was going on now was about me.
"Did I do something wrong?" My brother's eyes widened. "No, you did nothing wrong Parmus. I think..." His voice trailed off, not sure if he was supposed to be talking about it.
"Pa told me mom is not...all the way there." He admits. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What does that mean?"
"I think she's a little crazy." Dalton covered his face with his eyes ashamed of what he had just said.
"Oh..." I dropped my eyes to my hands.
He pulled me to his side and wrapped his arms around me. "It will be okay Parmus, but I think mom will need to go away for a while."
"Okay." I felt relived but I also felt bad for feeling that way about my mother. I just wanted our family to be normal like the movies, and if my mother stayed that would never happen.
The back door flew open causing both of us to jump up. My mother's wide eyes landed on mine. "You!"She pointed a finger in my direction, causing Dalton to push me behind him. She ran towards us causing me to tighten my grip on Dalton's hand. "Ma stop it!" Dalton yelled. She pushed him to the ground then lifted me up from the ground by the straps of my dress. My feet dangled as I began to cry hysterically. "P-please mama! I'm sorry!"
"Put her down Halina!" My father shouted.
Owen placed his hand on my shoulder, I realized I was shaking and crying. I quickly sat up and wiped my eyes. He joined me and placed my hand in his. "Are you okay?" I nodded, not able to face him.
I quickly wiped my tears and stood. I couldn't show him what had affected me. I didn't need him asking questions, it just forced me to open up about something I wasn't ready for. Even Josh said I should take my time and wait until I was ready to discuss these things with the important people in my life. Owen had become important to me but I didn't think I would ever be ready to discuss this part of me with him. How could I explain something that I hadn't even quite understood either. I just pushed it in the back of my mind and moved on with my life. Or so I thought...
"Parmus..."
My head twisted in his direction, our eyes meeting. He walked over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I-I saw."
I stilled.
"Saw what?" I asked, playing dumb. In all honesty I didn't know what else to say. How could I be so stupid? I worked so hard to keep my feelings boarded up and in a split moment of weakness I had let him in.
"I'm sorry."
I shook my head and took a step back, his hand falling from my shoulder. "Don't be. You haven't seen the worst, and you never will. I'll make sure of it."
***