15. Leader of the Pack
Clay picked up his black convertible driving Elena back home, whilst Antonio drove Nick, Belle and Matt back in his Mercedes. Matt slept the majority of the time on the jet, but when he was awake he spent that time making awkward conversations with Nick.
As the car pulled up outside the Stonehaven estate Matt's jaw dropped. "You actually live here?" He asked in awe.
"'Fraid not kiddo – we live on the other side of the city. This is Jeremy's house. But you'll come to agree with the woodland outback." Antonio smiled letting Matt take hold of his arm as he gingerly pulled himself from the car.
As they walked into the main hall, Belle walked in stride with Matthew - his ankle now healed enough for him to walk without a limp - leading him into Jeremy's study; the hub of Stonehaven, and the Pack.
As they entered the room, Jeremy was at the window sketching. Matt stood as tall and straight as he could manage, as Clay took his place beside Jeremy.
"Jer, this is Matthew." Elena introduced.
Jeremy turned around, and slowly took in Matthew's appearance, his eyes narrowing. "How long has it been since your last change?" He asked.
"Two days ago." Matthew answered obediently.
Jeremy nodded. "We encourage changes to happen at least twice a week. "Are you in control of them yet?" He asked.
"No." The look plain on his face that he didn't know one could force a change.
Again Jeremy nodded, storing the information away. "When you're feeling strong enough for it, perhaps in a couple of day's time, you would like to take a run on the estate. I'm sure Antonio and Nick would help teach you how to force a change." Matthew noticed his attention become slightly disjointed from their conversation as the corners of his mouth twitched in something of a smile, as voices could be heard coming from the hall as the door burst open and a figure walked in.
Jeremy observed Matthew as he instinctively stepped in front of Belle, roughly pulling her behind him, protecting her.
"Savannah!" Hissed another voice from behind the young girl with near waist length jet black hair, and piercing blue eyes.
"Who are you?" The girl, presumably Savannah asked, as her companion caught up.
"Savannah, I told you – Jeremy was busy." The companion said - her curly brown hair pulled back in a ponytail.
Savannah scoffed and rolled her eyes, her head nearly level with Matt's Six foot. "Sorry Jeremy, I just thought you might want to take a look of those sketches I've done." She said throwing down a drawing pad on a side table, scrutinising Matt's face. "You look like shit." She remarked earning her a swat on the arm, to which she just ignored, crossing her arms over her chest.
"My name is Matt." He puffed his chest out as much as he could manage. Savannah just nodded cautiously and then realised everyone else was in the room.
"Oh, hey guys!" She beamed skipping over and embracing Elena in a hug, going into minute detail over what the twins had been up to since she had arrived.
"Hi, I'm Paige – you must be Belle, and Matthew." The curly haired woman introduced walking forward as Belle stepped out from behind her son. "Jeremy's filled me in on everything. I must apologise for Savannah's behaviour – it seems she's lost all sense of formality and manners." Paige said standing forward to shake Belle's hand, and then Matthews. "Ouch, that looks nasty." She said observing the cut above his eye. "I've got a poultice for that, fix it right up." She smiled warmly.
Nick noticed the pair's hesitant look to the word 'poultice' and stepped forward. "Um, Paige is a Witch by the way." He added. "Just so you don't get freaked out by her weird smelling potions." He laughed as she lunged for him, skittering away.
"Well that certainly sounds …interesting." Belle struggled to find the words.
Paige chortled. "It has its bonus'… unlike Savannah here." She joked and pulled a face as Savannah in turn returned her statement with a hand gesture.
Jeremy stepped up to Matthew's side. "Paige, I would like you to go over Matthew's wounds with me. See if you can quicken the healing process. If, that's okay with you Matthew?" The alpha asked.
"It's Matt, Jer." Nick chirped in, wrapping his arm behind Belle's back, resting his hand on her hip. "Not Matthew, just Matt." He informed.
Matt smiled timidly once more, watching Savannah out the corner of his eye as she sat on the end of the sofa watching him not so inconspicuously, scowling as hard as she could, her arms folded against her chest.
After assessing Matt's injuries were pretty much what Clay had diagnosed, minor cuts, and superficial bruises – Jeremy rebound his ribs to help keep him comfortable with the broken bones, giving him a couple of days to be fully recovered. Paige applied some poultice and allowed nature and painkillers to do the rest.