***Lilianna****
The days fly by like a minutes. Suffering fever and blood loss from the feedings, beatings, and all the cuts on my body. My body healed quick enough. I was up and back to my old self in no time. Sean, Jack, and Marcus my only constants. Mary came by every day to check on me and to bring me my clothes from the apartment. She watched over me like a mother hen watching over her chick. It was funny and endearing. I love Mary. Knew that no matter what she would be here for me. She filled me in on everything that happened in the past year. Even the things that I knew Antony wouldn't tell me. "So he's engaged to marry Jenny. Well that's good. I'm happy for him." I say looking out over the beautiful day. The sun's setting and the boys are inside cooking. Marcus had started to come around me in his human form more and more. I don't remember him being so damn handsome. Still I push everything down and focus on getting back to normal. "What about Eirik? I heard he didn't even bother to look for me. I find that hard to believe."
Mary starts to fidget and I can see she is uneasy. "That's not exactly true. Eirik was gone almost as long as you were." She pauses and sets her cup of tea down. "When he came back Antony went to see him at Enigma. Antony said he wasn't doing anything to look for you. Said that Eirik also knew who had you and wouldn't tell him anything. He beat Antony up a bit." She continued on. Telling me everything she knew. Mary never lied to me. Her and John were the only people I truly trust.
"Well I will talk to both of them when the time comes. For now I just want some peace. I lived through hell with my fucking captors. Living here has been peaceful. A nice big cabin, three very good looking men waiting on me hand and foot. A girl could get very use to this life." I say. Mary and I both burst out into laughter. Wow, it feels good to laugh with her again. "You know I really missed you girl. I missed having you around."
"I can't promise that I will always be there to protect you. But I will promise that if anything happens to you. I will never give up looking for you." She says taking my hand. I knew she meant it. I know she loves me fiercely. We've always had a strong bond together. Nothing will ever break that bond. "You know Marcus there." She nods her head towards the beautiful dirty blond man splitting wood. "He's a good man Lil. He's watched over you so fiercely. I know he won't admit it, but he took his mission very seriously. I think he likes you." I look over at Marcus and smile. He seems like a good man. He seems like someone I can see myself dating.
"Mary right now. I just want to relax. I don't want to date, I don't want anything except myself." We both sit there and watch the sun set off behind the trees. I love being out here. Maybe I need to have the cabin on the back of the property fixed up all nice and start staying in it. Give up the apartment in the city.
"Honestly Lilianna I'm just glad you're home. You will need to talk to both boys soon. I know Antony is going crazy, so you know Eirik is going crazy."
"Yes yes I know. I just don't want to do it. Will you do it for me?" I ask begging her playfully.
"No you need to do it sweety. I'm sorry. That is one battle I can't fight for you." She says laughing.
About that time an Infiniti q60 comes speeding up. Parking near the cabin where Mary and I sit. I shoot up immediately ready for a fight. Marcus goes on high alert and the two boys inside come running out onto the porch. Ready for a fight.
"So you're the little bitch that has kept my fiancé from me for over a year." Said a blond with curly bouncy hair. "I don't know who the hell you think you are. But Antony is mine. So you can back the fuck off." She says stalking up to the cabin. Stopping just feet from the cabin. Marcus steps up to her. She scoffs at him and turns her attention back to me. "You come anywhere near me or my fiancé I swear I will kill you where you stand. Don't fuck with me." She continued as she tried to make her way to me and Mary. Mary stands slightly ahead of me. Marcus is bristling ready to take this girl out. I can't help the laugh that comes out.
Marcus now stood waiting for me to go e a command. He's seething mad. I stand my ground and look at her. "I'm sorry and you are who exactly?" I ask the sarcasm dripping off every word.
"I'm Jenny. The new alpha female." She says crossing her arms over her chest. She glares over to Marcus.
I put my hands on my hips, look at Mary, and just smile. "Lili don't." She warned me under her breath. I still continued to smile.
"Marcus its ok. If she makes a move for me then go ahead and take the trash out." I pause and step up to the steps of the porch. "Look little girl. I've been kept in a fucking prison for the past year. I have been beaten, raped, drank from, starved, and many other things. So listen here. If Antony has feelings for me that's on him. If his feelings for me have caused you any grief then I guess you're just not enough woman for him to forget about all the good times we've had together." I say smugly, walking down to stand in front of her. I take a defensive stance ready for her to swing on me. I do love being an absolute bitch to people who are nasty to me.
"You little bitch!" She says through gritted teeth. Right then she backs up like she's going to just leave. Instead I get a big surprise. She turns right in front me into a rather large, gray, eastern timber wolf. She's all teeth snarling at me.
I laughed. "Are you fucking seri-" I'm cut off by Marcus shifting and jumping in front of me. He's all teeth and snarling as well. Jenny lunges at me and Marcus catches her by her throat. He pins her to the ground and keeps her there. A set of lights come up the drive and I recognize them immediately as the headlights belonging to a Porsche. "About fucking time." I step around the two wolves fighting on the ground and storm over to Antony. I don't even bother waiting for him to shut the car off before I rip open the door. "Are you fucking serious right now? You need to get a handle on your bitch. I don't care that you're engaged. I couldn't give two shits. However, she comes to me threatening me. I'm gonna handle business Antony if you don't." I was more pissed that he didn't have her on a leash or rather for her.
"Look Lilianna I'm sorry. I didn't know she was headed up here. If I would have known I would have..." He trailed off when he heard the commotion of Jenny and Marcus fighting. Sean and Jack had stepped in and were trying to keep the two of them from killing each other. "ENOUGH!" he bellows out. The two wolves stop fighting and look to him. Marcus changes back and stands there. I can't stop myself from staring. He really did look good. In all areas. I stop my thoughts before they go too far. Antony pushes past me. Making a beeline for Jenny and Marcus.
"She started it." Marcus said pointing to Jenny still being held by Jack.
She immediately changes back into her human form and Jack immediately lets go of her. She went to Antony but he pushed her away from him. "Antony she pissed me off. Told me I wasn't woman enough for you." She said all innocent like.
I huffed my annoyance and Antony just looked at her. "I told you not to bother her. I told you to stay at the house. That I would handle things here. I am the alpha not you. I have not made you alpha female yet." He pauses, his fists clenching at his side. "You still don't get it. Yes I care about you. But her..." He pauses and pointing to me still standing at the car. Mary was now off the porch and making her way over to me. "You see that girl standing there. She has my heart. She will always have my heart. Not you." he continued poking her in the shoulder. "I would suggest if you want anything close to alpha female in this pack you act right and quit acting like a spoiled child. Or I swear to all things I hold dear I will run you off and make sure no pack in the surrounding areas ever take you in." He finishes and pushes past her. "Brother I think it's time y'all headed back home. We have this handled here."
"Antony with all due respect I would have to disagree." Sean says.
"No he's right. If y'all want, I have a manor in the area. If y'all want to stay y'all are more than welcome to stay in my manor with me. Just clean up after yourselves is all I ask. If you want jobs y'all can take care of the place and I will pay you." I say stepping up to them. Jenny snarls at me again and Antony pins her with a look. She quickly retreats to her where her car is and stands there. "I'm getting real sick of this shit. Antony you need to control your bitch." I say and start to head inside.
"And you need to control yourself. You should have called me days ago. We should have had our discussion days ago." He yells at me.
"Whoa big boy you need to check yourself. I am not your girlfriend, wife, or the girl you're screwing. You know what. I'm out of here. Marcus can y'all give me a ride to my manor please." I ask looking to a still naked Marcus. He nods his head. I look at Antony and can tell he's was pissed off but I seriously don't care. I push past him and go inside. I start packing the few things that were brought in for me. "Mary you are more than welcome to come with us if you'd like." I say to her.
"Nah. It's time for me to get back home to John. We'll come by again soon to check up on you." She says a smile still on her lips. She looks to Antony and shakes her head as she passes him.
"Lili please talk to me." Antony begs following me inside.
"What...what do you want to talk about Antony? You want to talk about how you lured me away from the party to tell me you still loved me? Want to talk about how you just let people take me away?"
"That's not fair Lili. I didn't see anyone when I left you out there. I wanted to stay with you, but if I remember correctly you were scared that Eirik and I would fight if he saw me with you out there. Which I'm betting you still haven't talked to him about any of this." He says cutting off my rant.
"You know you're right I haven't." I stop packing my bag, and turn to look at him. "You're right I didn't want to see you and Eirik fight over me. Honestly, I don't want to see either of you. I probably shouldn't blame you for what happened. I actually blame both of you. You for luring me out there, Eirik for leaving me alone, and my own stupidity for leaving the party." I finish and watch him closely. He tries to come closer but I put my hand up. "No Antony. Not tonight, not tomorrow, hell not for a very long time. Why don't you forget about me. Go back outside to your fiancé." Shock washes over his face when I say fiancé. "Yea what you think that I wouldn't find out sooner or later? Seriously? Do I look that stupid to you or something?" I ask shaking my head.
"Lili, I'm doing it not because I love her or don't love you. I have to do something soon. My pack needs an alpha female, or I will start to get challenged for my position." He says standing there.
"I don't care. Honestly, if you love her great. It's been an entire year Antony. Move on. I'm fed up with all the bullshit. I want peace. I've been through hell. Being home was what kept me going through the beatings and everything else." I say exasperated. "All I want is peace please." I ask. I turn back around and finish throwing my things into the bag Mary brought in for me. " I want to go home." I say.
"Hey Lilianna we're ready when you are." Jack comes in interrupting us.
"Thank you Jack. I'll be out in a minute." I say
"Lil look..." he pauses and runs his hand through is hair. "I love you. I'll give you the space you need. I will always love you. You will always have my whole heart." He says pausing again. He looks around seeing that no one is around us. He walks right up to me. Cradles the right side of my face in his hand and kisses me. I'm thrown a back by the action. Caught off guard. I can't help it. The man knows how to kiss. His left arm wraps around my waist. His fingers spreading along the small of my back.
I melt into him. For a moment I allow myself to just give in. It feels so good for the brief moment of time to stand still. Once my mind comes back to me I push Antony off of me. Staggering a few steps back. I look up at him. "No more." Is all I say.
He just stands there. Watching me. I can see the wheels turning in his head. "You love me. You never stopped loving me. I know it. Like I said before, I'll give you your space. No matter how long it takes. I'll be here waiting."
I roll my eyes. Becoming more and more annoyed with the whole situation. "You're insane Antony. And what if I never come back? What if I never want to come back?" I ask regaining my composure.
"I don't know. It's not something I really want to think about."
"Look I want to go. I just want to go."
Defeat flashes across his face. He nods his head and turns on his heel to walk out. "I love you Lilianna." He calls back to me over his shoulder. With those last words he walks out. For all I know it could be for now or for forever. I didn't know which. At that moment I don't care.
I wait there until he's left. Until I know for sure he's gone. I grab my things and head out. Looking around the room I make sure I grabbed everything. Walking out the door I don't pay attention to where I'm walking, and bump right into a sweaty, shirtless, muscular, Marcus.
He grabs my shoulder and we stare up at each other. "Oh I'm sorry." I say smiling then looking back down.
"I was just coming to check on you. Are you ready?" He asks letting his hands glide down my arms.
A shiver runs down my spine. It's weird to let someone touch me after everything I'd just went through. And for the first time in a year it isn't to beat me. I'm not sure how to feel. "Ah yea. Come on let's go so I can get you boys settled into your rooms." I say and walk around him.
"I wanted to talk to you about that. We all own and work a ranch back home. We do have to get back to it at some point." He says. I stop dead in my tracks. "We can stay with you from time to time. But we need to go back soon."
I hear what sounds like sadness in his voice or possibly regret. "That's fine. If y'all need to go home I understand. I just need a ride home please. I'll..." The words I want to say become stuck in my throat. I know that right now they don't need to be said. So I leave it at that, walk outside, and threw my things in jeep. Climbing in the back Mary walked over to me. "I'll leave a key in our spot." She nods her head and stands back at the boys climb in. Marcus in front to drive Jack in the passenger seat and Sean next to me in the back seat. I wave to Mary and leave the cabins.
After a few hours of driving, and a few wrong turns we reach the manor. It looms over us lifeless. I know staying here I can bring this place back to life. Making it a home again. It has been so long since I've been here. Like Ages really. I don't know what kind of state this place will be in. I show Marcus where to park the jeep. We all climb out and Sean grabs my bag before I can. Shaking my head at him I head up to the door, grab my spare key, and unlock it. Rushing in I disarm the alarm system. "Come on y'all come on in." I yell at the boys.
They come in and I stand in the foyer waiting for them to quit gawking. Everyone but Marcus that is. He's staring at me. "Holy shit girl you got money." Jack says surprisingly.
"Make yourselves at home boys. Rooms are up stairs and down. The last three rooms up stairs are mine though. Yes, I come from money and I'm pretty much set for life. Though, I still work. I'm not your average pampered princess. Never will be either." I pause and look at the three men staring at me. "The kitchen is always fully stocked. Bathrooms attached to each room so you don't have to share. Anything you want let me know. Also I do have a house keeper. Please don't scare her. If you want to shift and run I ask that you do it outside and have a change of clothes on either of the patios. Other than that you are free to do as you please." I say and head up stairs to go to my room. I want a long hot bubble bath. "Also I'm headed up stairs to get hot bath and relax. Y'all can make yourselves at home." With that I turn and went straight to my bathroom. I strip out of my clothes tossing them to the floor. Along with my bra and underwear.
Letting the tub fill up with hot water and rose scented bubbles, I walk over to the lien closet and grab a big, black, fluffy towel. Walking back into my bathroom, I lay the towel down. Turn off the lights, step into the water, and light a few of the candles. Once the water level is where I want it, I turn off the water. Quickly tying my hair up and sit back letting the heat take away all my stress and pain. The candles flicker in darkness of the bathroom. Casting long shadows through out. I hear a rapping at the door, then the door opens. As I turn my head lazily to look to see who it is. Finding a rather large shadow looming in my door way. "Marcus" His name comes out more breathlessly than I wanted it to.
"Lilianna. I'm sorry to bother you but I wanted to talk to you. I need to tell you something really." He says. I could see that he had put on a white tank on. In and out of clothes this man looks so amazing that it should have been a sin. Eirik nor Antony could hold a candle to this man's good looks. Don't get me wrong. Both Antony and Eirik are gorgeous men. Still though, Marcus there was just something about him in this particular moment that drew me to him. He's strong, very well built, protective, and frankly I want him. But, I knew if anything happened between us it couldn't be anything other than sex.
"Come in. You can have a seat if you can find somewhere to sit. Or you could just sit on the floor. It's up to you." I say. I can't help myself. I stared at his huge chest. "Wow" it slipped out before I could register what I'd done. I felt my cheeks start to heat up from embarrassment.
He walks in with such grace and confidence. "We'll be leaving in a few days. I want to make sure you're going to be ok before we head back home. I want to make sure that there are no other threats in the foreseeable future." He says taking a seat on the tub. He blew out two candles so as he sat down. So he didn't burn himself. Still the few that were left made him look even more handsome than he already was. "I want you to be safe out here, please-" He pauses a moment. "For me." He whispers quietly. " I promise one of us will be back up here soon. Though, I don't know when. We have a lot of work to get back to at home." His words are confident but his voice holds an edge of sadness to it.
"Do you want to go back?" I ask. Staring up into his beautiful blue eyes.
His mouth opens but he shuts it. Looking down he takes a deep breath and looks back to me. "I need to get back home." Is all he says.
Reaching up I quickly grab his shirt and pull him towards myself. He braces himself on the edge of the tub and I kiss him. I was tired of tip toing around the attraction I feel for him. I know I surprised him but only for a brief moment. His arm wraps around me hugging me towards him. Our tongues meet and as they do a moan slips out of my lips. A growl rumbles deep within his chest and it sends a shiver though out my body. Making me want him even more. We stay like this kissing, and touching each other. Exploring each other, getting to know each other a little more.
Our lips release from one another. Leaning back slightly, I lick my lips still tasting him there. I can still feel where he was. I run my hands up his chest taking his shirt off as I go. He picks me up and holds me in his lap. He lets go one hand at a time to take off his shirt. I can't help my smile. Taking in every inch, every crevice, and every dark shadow on his body. He leans down and nuzzles his face into my neck. I hear and feel him inhale deeply. "You...you have invaded my very being." He breathes against my skin. I hold onto his triceps and lean back so I can nuzzle his face and make him look at me. "I want you in my bed. You seem to have already found your way under my skin and into my heart." He pauses and nuzzles his face in my hair before he continues. "I know you don't want anything serious right now. Hell I wouldn't blame you for saying no right now. I have no idea what you went through in the last year. However, for the last year I have been the one in charge of finding you. Of learning everything about you. I want you." He says and he waits for my reaction. With me still in his arms.
I don't know what to say to him. I want him. This beautiful man in front of me wants me too. He knows everything about me. Well, almost everything. I don't know if he knows about the things that have happened in the past. "I want you too. I want to be with you. Either here or in Tennessee. Please don't leave me alone. I don't want to be without you." I let the words just tumble out. " Honestly, I felt something for you a long time ago. I lied earlier. To Antony I mean. The thought of being free, of being home, was what was keeping me going, but there was also you." I say and take a breath. "Thoughts of you also kept me going. I remembered how kind you were to me at the bar. How good looking you are." I stop myself before I make a complete fool of myself.
He hugs me close to his body. Goosebumps start to form across my skin from the coolness in the house. "Come on." Is all he says and I let him pick me up. He walks with me over to the shower. Turns on the water, letting it heat up. Once he feels it is warm enough he steps in it with me inside. He sets me down under the water and the bubbles that still covered me start to fall from my body and wash down the drain. He steps away from me momentarily and takes off his now wet jeans. Stepping back inside he wraps me in his arms once again. Kissing the top of my head. All I can do is wrap my arms around him. We both stand like that for a moment just holding each other under the warm spray. " I don't know if this is love or lust. Hell I don't even know what's going through my own head. All I know is that you have gotten under my skin and now I can't get you out of my head." Some how those words were the ones I wanted to hear at this moment.