Chapter 7 – Expected & Unexpected Developments
BPOV
Well, that went over perfectly. Jacques forbade me from ever speaking to his daughter again, Mikhail gave his blessing and Bella wanted to claw my eyes out. Great homecoming. I never realized the weight emotions had on our people. I welcomed mine back, but they were heavy on my mind and heart. How could her family not realize that Alice left their home with Savannah and was sitting in the tall trees? My own wolves were watching, making sure she wasn't harmed.
Running through the night was a comfort; anything to take my mind off what Jacques said, "You are not worthy of my daughter and you are to stay away from her." My breath came and went at a steady pace while I moved over the underbrush. Inhaling, I stopped as I picked up a familiar scent; Alice. My senses scanned out searching, but she wasn't near. Shifting from my wolf, I moved through the trees to discover a cabin nestled in a circle of thick spruces. Alice's scent was all over the house. The cobblestone pathway that leads to a high gate, covered with flowers was a beautiful sight. I walked around the house, feeling the safeguard. This must be her house. Alice didn't live with her parents? How could they have been so lax with her care? The cabin was well hidden and not far from Mikhail's home, but still, she lived alone. No woman of mine should be waking to an empty house. That had to change and soon. She should be waking to the sight of fresh flowers, while lying within my arms in my bed.
Shifting to molecules, I floated through the safeguard. It was layered, adding more protection to her home; that was good. The safeguard allowed for me to enter, as I was Carpathian. Entering her house, I shifted to my human form and looked around. A piano, books, art and clothes were there in her space. The house permeated with her scent. The safeguard was a strange, but strong one. It responded from me passing through it; blue flames climbed up the safeguard from the ground to its full height that covered the whole house. She was safe in this house; the thought brought me some comfort.
On the wall, there was a portrait of Bella, Raven, a young Savannah and Alice hung in the living room. All the women were smiling, with bright eyes looking out from the painting. Alice, my sweet Alice was safe, but she was away from me.
How she looked this night; from a fiery, bold young woman who would defend her brother from any threat to a temptress that, with one sight, made my heart nearly stop. She was a beautiful woman whom I was ready to claim. The thought of taking her from our homeland, so that I could rightfully claim her crossed my mind several times from the moment I saw her and even more while I listened to her father's objections of my right. Keeping my temper at bay was difficult, but when Jacques yelled at her for no reason, that control was instantly lost to me. My rational mind succumbed to my protective nature.
How dare he yell at her? How much did I want to take Alice from the room and carry her to my home? No one would yell at her there. To feel her in my arms, to know that enchanting creature was to be with me and me alone. I couldn't stand it. This night was one of the few times I've truly seen Jacques unnerved.
"She's gone!" Jacques came into the study. He looked at me, "What have you done?" Mikhail stood between us, "Jacques, be calm. Alice and Savannah are together, doing what they do best." Jacques didn't listen, "No, the moment he comes for my child, she runs off. Bryon scared Alice away." "Have care how you speak," I challenged, "Alice did not run away. She wouldn't do something like that and you know it." Jacques tried to push past Mikhail, but Bella grabbed his arm, "Stop it, Jacques. You're not making any sense. Alice is probably off, walking with Savannah. Go find them and bring them home, please?" He looked at his woman, then to me. Bella caressed his face, pulling his gaze back to her, "Honey, go get the girls." Bella, all but, pushed Jacques out the door to find their daughters. If he didn't go search for her, I will. I would find Alice and take her to my home. As Jacques left, he stared at me coldly, "You are to stay away from my daughter. No one is to claim her until I say." Mikhail raised his hand to his brother, but Jacques ignored him. The Prince looked at me, "Forgive my brother, Byron. We are happy you have returned, truly. And that you have found your… woman." This was not easy for Mikhail either. Alice was like a daughter to him. It also rang in his mind that he would endure the same thing in a few short years with his own daughter reaching her mating age.
Bella looked at me, "You know how he gets, Byron. Just ignore him. This has been a lot to deal with." My head bowed immediately, "And on your birthday. Forgive me, Bella." She smiled at me, "Hey, think of this as a gift. You are presenting yourself as my son-in-law." She laughed nervously, "I think I need to sit down." Raven was at her side in a moment, "Come on, honey."
This is too much for her to deal with this night, Gregori moved to stand beside me.
I know and this is not how I wanted it to go. Jacques wants to have my head and Alice is out on her own without protection. Does she do this often?
Gregori looked at Bella, Have you met her mother and greatest influence?
A pillow hit Gregori in the face, "I heard that, you ass." I bit back a laugh. No one treated the Dark One in such a manner. Bella left the room, grumbling to herself. It was troubling to know that I was causing her such distress. It was not my intention. This was the difficult part in claiming; speaking with your mate's family.
My head shook, bringing me back to the present. It was a comfort to be surrounded by Alice's scent. Mikhail cleared his throat, "Go, find her and claim her. It is your right. I will handle my brother. Alice has proven that she can handle anything thrown at her. She will make you a fine lifemate." I bowed my head, "Thank you, Mikhail. *Temagköszunamnäŋamaŋ kać3 taka arvo. I only pray that Bella and Jacques will forgive me." My own heart tightened as it realized that Alice was further away. I needed to know she was safe.
Mikhail patted my shoulder, "I know the pain of separation from your woman. The first time you feel it, it is an ache you will not soon forget. Alice will be yours and no one can deny you that."
I am sorry I have pained you and your family, especially on such a happy occasion.
Mikhail looked me straight in the eye, Do not worry yourself. As you claim my niece, you become a kin to me. You are family now. That is the only way you are to see this.
My brow arched, the Prince now views me as his family. Such an honor. "Thank you. Good day to you both." Gregori only nodded, saying nothing as I departed.
Now, I stand in the center of my woman's home, but she wasn't here. Was Jacques right? Would I never be able to speak with her again? No, it cannot be. I will see Alice again. My hand brushed over her couch, taking up the afghan there. I breathed in her scent from the covering. She must sleep with this over her body. Looking around the room, I could only imagine what she and I could do here. There on the coffee table was a closed book. 'Fifty Shades Freed.' Why was she reading such a book?
I've heard of this story; part of a controversial series. I stopped myself from returning the book to its place. Alice couldn't know that I was here, not yet. I walked through her house, looking for anything that would tell me more about my lifemate. Books covered her walls, ranging from romance to fantasy and biographies. A well-read woman, but this Fifty Shades series? She had all three books and each book was worn from much reading. Why were women so enamored with this series? There was a laptop on the desk. I swiped my hand and it opened and came to life. Alas, it was locked by a password. Josef would know how to get around that, but not this night.
Overhead, there was a skylight showing the sky lightening to blue; the sun. I had to get to ground, but I wanted to stay here to learn more about Alice. I continued to walk through the house, seeing how she decorated it. On each step, leading down to the underground level was a glass with a full bloom peonies blossom floating on water within it.
She loved flowers, judging by her garden. There was an apron hanging over the fence when I entered. She worked in the land; a noble hobby. There was only one door on the lower level. The door opened up to a beautiful bedchamber.
On the right side of the room, there was a large cream colored bed. On both sides, there were low white nightstands. Brown and black pillows rested against a sea of white pillows. On the other side of the bed, there was a brown and black armchair. The opposite wall was a painting of a sun bathed meadow. A baby grand piano stood on the corner on the left side of the bed, with a remote on the nightstand. Opening my palm, the remote flew into my hand. Pressing a button, three lights turned on in the room right over the meadow painting. I placed the remote back in the very same spot. The scent of vanilla caught my attention. Leaning over her bed, moving in a hypnotized state, I breathed in the scent on her pillows. This is where she slept. This is where Alice rested and waited for me to find her. I found you; Alice and I will never let you be alone again.
It was a thought; would she want to live here or in my home? Perhaps, in time, she could give this house to Savannah. On the other side of her bed, there was a wide closet. Holding my gaze, the doors opened and her scent wafted out of the space. There were rows of clothes and shoes. The bottom of the closet was lined with drawers. Opening one, I found a rainbow of silky material. Holding up one, the garment unraveled into a long, pink nightgown with a black trim. She wore such things in this bed. Alice was taunting me and she wasn't even here. My mind thought of her wearing this pink garment. Holding up to the light, you could almost see through the material. I thought of nothing but her body as she wore it, walking toward me. Her hair fell in waves, covering her breasts as she leaned against me. Her body flushed against mine, smiling up at me, "I've been waiting for you."
My body hardened as my imagination ran wild. Moving rapidly, I returned the nightgown to its place, closing all the doors and leaving the house. It was too much of a risk for me to linger here any longer. Moving through the house, I ran out into the waking forest, pushing myself away from her home. The sights and smells of Alice's home were not easily leaving me. Her smile, her voice, her touch; they consumed my mind.
The sight of my house helped some, but not much. It was a welcomed sight that I've wanted to see for these past years, but now, all I truly wanted was to see Alice's house again, only this time she would be there.
The stone-wall base stood strong; as strong as it did when I built it. Stone stairs wound up the left side of the house and I ran up them, through the front door. Ignoring everything, I ran down to my chambers, remembering every aspect of the room. It brought no comfort, but torture. "Why are you so upset? Has someone done something?" I shook my head, trying to dispel her voice. Alice's presence haunted me. I saw her eyes everywhere. Her scent lingered on my very being, in my clothes and on my skin. Alice Isabella…. Her name alone caused a reaction within me. With a thought, my clothes melted away, freeing me from its restrictions. Blood pulsed hotly through my body, thinking of Alice.
I brought back my fantasy, placing her in my chambers. Alice walked out of the bathroom, her hair wet from the shower. She wore her pink and black nightgown, but the material was spotted with water. Her wet hair curled around her nipples, hardening them through the sheer gown, "There you are. I was getting worried." She walked around the bed to stand in front of me, smiling sweetly, "You're so quiet. Is something the matter?"
I raised my hand to touch her cheek, "No, not now. I raced home to you." A blush colored her cheeks, "You didn't have to do that, but I'm glad you did. I was waiting for you all night long." She turned away, showing her bare back, "Come to bed. I missed you." Alice lifted the hem of her gown, showing her leg as she kneeled on my bed, "Are you just going to stand there and watch me or are you going to join me?" She kneeled on my bed on all fours, watching me through the strands of her hair, smiling. The bed shifted under her weight as Alice laid down on her back.
I moved to lay with her and Alice smiled up at me, "You're cold, Byron." The quilt was pulled over our bodies, "That should help." "Only you can help me, my dear." Alice smiled and combed her fingers through my hair, taking it from its tie, "I like it when your hair is open. Keep it this way when we're in here together."
My eyes closed and I groaned as the fantasy drifted away. The quilt felt heavy and hard against my sensitive skin. I only wanted Alice. I wanted my woman, in my bed and in my arms. I yearned for her body against mine. Rest evaded me, but I had to settle my mind. If thinking about Alice sleeping next to me would help, then so be it. Looking at the pillows, I conjured up her sleeping form. Her hair cascaded over the pillow as she slept. One brown eye opened and she smiled, "I need your arm around me. Please?" Giving in, I pulled her body against mine and held her in my arms. She sighed in her sleep, "Perfect." My fantasy helped and I drifted to sleeping, dreaming only of her.
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The moon was half covered in the sky. The stars were bright as I watched them. The night was quiet as the sounds of creatures moved through the trees. I walked, searching for a source of blood; I needed to feed. The town was silent as the people returned to their homes. The inn was bustling with business and newcomers; well-bodied newcomers. One young couple came out of the inn, walking along the line of the forest. They were here for one night, but all I needed was one moment.
Capturing their minds, the couple walked to the edge of the forest. They walked toward me, saying nothing. I was in no mood for the same practice of placing memories of friendship. Drinking from the male was easier; I didn't want to go near the woman. The thoughts of Alice were still with me. It felt like she was walking behind me. Though she wasn't there, her image still stayed with me. She was smiling as she leaned against a tree, watching, "Be nice and quick. We have to get home."
Drinking heavily, I left the couple by the edge of the trees, leaving the memories of star-gazing and falling asleep in each other's arms. Holding their minds, I saw the woman had a secret; she was with child. Her new husband would love the child more than anything, as he should. The fresh blood helped, but Alice was still with me. Shifting to my own, I left the couple. I caught sight of something or someone running through the trees. Looking down, there was a sight of flowing dark hair. My eyes took in every movement of the person running. The wind shifted and a scent wafted through the air; Alice. What was she doing out alone again? She was running at a quick pace, breathing steadily. I caught a better sight of her; she was wearing form fitting clothes and sneakers. She looked like women I've seen, running for exercise. She was wearing headphones in her ears while she leaped over fallen trees. She moved with such grace.
She was getting closer to her house. I landed on a high branch, watching her as she paced up her gate. She moved the bits from her ears and tapped a device strapped to her arm. Alice brushed the strands of hair from her face. She opened her gate and walked through her garden. She released a long sigh and turned towards the trees, her eyes searching. A smile curled her lips, "Instead of watching me like a stalker, you could come and talk to me. And you might want to hurry. Daddy isn't going to be happy that I left home and he'll be here in ten minutes to stop you, maybe less."
Alice turned and walked into her house, leaving the front door open. I scanned the trees and touched down on the ground. She allowed me to enter the safeguards and I walked into her home. Closing the door, Alice visibly stiffened hearing the clack of the shutting door. She looked over her shoulder at me, "Have a seat. I'll be right back. I just need to change." She walked upstairs and I watched as she moved. Could this truly be happening? I was invited into the home of my lifemate. The same invitation would surely be extend to her, before the night was out.
*Carpathian Language Guide:
Temagköszunamnäŋamaŋ kać3 taka arvo – Thank you for this gift beyond price.
Lańa – daughter
