Brian and Risa
The Winterbourne family residence was a huge, showy, gothic building, although it represented no historical value. The same way as the whole empire of Winterbourne, the building was no more than thirty years old and was just being molded as something ancient and noble.
Brian and Risa were only able to reach the Winterbourne estate late in the evening. The overgrown, unkept park around the building was dark and gloomy in the light of the moon, creating the perfect backdrop for the two-story house itself.
Paving stones pounded under the wheels, and the car drove onto a small square in front of the main entrance. Apparently, the security at the gate has already announced the arrival of the young master, as several servants led by Patrick, the chief butler of their family, were already hurrying from the porch to them.
"Miss Davis, young master, how good it is that you came back." - Patrick exclaimed. His forever unemotional face broke into a warm smile. This middle-aged man was part of the Winterbourne pack for as long as Brian could remember, and in many ways replaced him a father. Bri tried several times to find out from this old werewolf how he met his father and why he decided to follow him. But the man always kept silent with a mysterious smile.
"Hello, Patrick," - said Brian respectfully, offering Risa the elbow and heading for the house. - "How are you? Is everything fine?"
Patrick frowned slightly. In this house, the peace was usually more of a pressure or the calm before the storm than a good sign.
" I think you should first go to Mrs. Veronica." - Butler pronounced with a hint. Brian immediately understood what that meant. Something was happening in the house, and maybe in the whole pack. And it was no longer the mere hum of a couple of disgruntled voices.
"Will do," - he answered shortly, - "Could you please bring Risa to the dining room and serve a light dinner for her. I will most likely stay overnight, but she will go back to the city. She needs to wake up early on Monday."
Patrick nodded with an indifferent face, and only the way butler locked his gaze on Brian's face for a split second longer than necessary made it clear that he was able to recognize the hidden message.
Risa at parting squeezed Brian's hand, in the eyes slipped a barely perceptible fear, not for herself, but for him. It disappeared almost instantly, and its place was taken by confidence. Brian grinned back at her. If those who protested against their relationships only knew what kind of firm and strong woman she was. A more suitable character for the role of Alpha female was hard to find.
Brian watched her back up to the moment she disappeared around the corner and stifled a sigh, headed for the stairs upstairs. The corridor on the second floor was barely lit. As soon as he turned into the right wing, the already familiar feeling of insecurity filled his soul. Every time he came here, he unconsciously began to walk silently, as if he was afraid to give up his pretense. The heart would start to drum like mad, then stop in the chest, foretelling something terrible.
Brian dismissed the memories and stopped by the slightly open door. Warm light poured from the gap, but no sound came from it. In childhood, he hated that door, as if a piece of wood could be guilty of all sins, like it was the only thing that separated them from their mother, not allowing him to get enough warmth and caress. But now he has grown up and much has changed. Although the door annoyed him anyway ...
After knocking, he entered without waiting for an answer. In front of him, a was spacious room decorated in shades of beige and cobalt. The room was arranged partly as an office with a wide writing desk by the window, bookcases and two visitor chairs. The second part was more like a living room with two sofas and a coffee table on a plush rug.
A woman was sitting at a desk, bending over some papers. Brian grinned, it seems he could not recall a single moment when he didn't find her precisely in this position and in this place, like a ghost that cannot leave places to which it is tied.
As soon as he took a step forward, the woman lifted her head, glancing tenaciously around the figure of the one who had come. She froze for a second, and then her expression slightly changed. Light wrinkles appeared in the corners of the eye and lips, and almost yellow eyes warmed just a bit.
"Brian!" - She said quietly, in a bit rough voice.
"Mom," - he nodded as a sign of greetings and took a seat opposite her.
The woman looked at her son for some time, as if she was counting all the hairs on his head, then frowned, as if remembering something.
"You shouldn't have come today." - She said, returning to the usual cold tone. Brian smirked, her ice mask stopped driving him away a long time ago, as soon as she once gave him a peek under it.
"And I am thrilled to see you too," - he replied jokingly.
"Brie, I'm serious here." - cut off his mother and in her voice imperceptibly slipped notes of anxiety. - "Everyone is agitated in the pack. Many have seen an article in a magazine with you and ..." - She paused barely hiding the tremor in her voice. Brian instantly became severe and nodded.
"So you already know. That's even better."
"No, Brian, you do not understand. Everyone knows and the rumors already spread. And even he knows ... - The mother tried not to show it, but fear was reflected on her face for a second. But it didn't make much of an impression on the son.
"I fully anticipated such an outcome. Therefore, I am here. We have little time. You need to meet with Lana. As soon as possible." - Brian immediately went to the point. Mother instantly turned pale and opened her mouth to reply something, but her son interrupted.
" We do not have time for argument. We have already thought of everything. Risa will explain it to you on the way."
"But I can't leave like this. He is sure to notice. Brian, this is crazy. We will light a barrel of gunpowder with our own hands!" - the woman became so agitated that a faint blush appeared even on her cheeks.
" Mom, listen to me carefully." - Brian produced gently, leaning forward and looking into the mother's eyes. - "Time is over. We can no longer sit and wait. We are wolves, not rats, to run away forever. I stay here and distract the attention of the father. You have a day to come back. If you would want to go back of course."
The woman clenched her teeth to the extent that a muscle in her jaw started to twitching. But the eyes again became sharp and resolute. Although a slight tremor in her fingers still gave away the nerves of Mrs. Veronica Winterborn, showing that her heart was not frozen in the end.
Finally, apparently made up her mind, Veronica nodded.
" I'll be back as soon as I can. But before you go to him, talk to Patrick. He will tell you everything in detail. And if something happens, you must inform me immediately. Did you hear me? Promise to call me! - Mother uttered firmly. Brian even admired a little. He always saw the mother precisely like this. The perfect image of Alpha females. A fierce, resolute, unshakable she-wolf.
" OK, mom. I promise." - Brian answered seriously, letting his mother know by a tone that he will keep the word. - "Hurry up. Risa is already waiting for you downstairs in the car. You have to slip there unnoticed and hide away."
"You seem to forget who you are talking to, boy." - With a sudden predatory smile said Veronica, gracefully, as a panther getting up from behind the desk. Brian just grinned back and shook his head.
Already in the doorway woman faltered. Her face showed a barely perceptible internal struggle. After hesitating, she finally turned to her son.
"Bri, is she ..." - began Veronica, but her voice treacherously quivered and broke off.
" Yes, mom, she is very angry with you." - Brian answered with a warm smile, knowing what Mom wanted to ask.
The woman froze for a second, and then suddenly smiled broadly in response. Her face was utterly transformed as if illuminated by an inner light.
"It's so good that she is finally back..." - She whispered in a slightly shaky voice and disappeared behind the door.
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Dear readers and especialy PantherWalks!
You asked about drawing Greg and Lana together, so I tried to do a little sketch of how I see it.
Hope it not too bad. Just wanted to share it with you guys!
https://www.deviantart.com/dominu4a/art/Img-20181027-174453-Hht-770054554
Love you lots!!