As the two ran through the forest and up the mountain,Belinda had never felt so free and wonderful. She felt at home. "At home." had she ever felt 'at home' while at home , as in the USA with her mother? The truth was she didn't. Isn't that part of why she felt compelled to leave there? She was lost in her own head when Juan abruptly.stopped and she slammed into his backside. Humph. She blinked and the black wolf in front of her turned his head and looked at her.She looked back at him and cocked her to the side as if to ask, "What?" Juan turned to face her, nuzzled her neck and wimpered just a bit. She nuzzled back and gave an almost purring sound while.closing her eyes. Then Juan shifted into his human. form, walked buck naked to a tree and pulled out basketball shorts and a t-shirt.He pulled on the shorts and walked back to her. He stroked Belinda and then said in a soft and alluring voice,"Shift." Before she even could think, she did. She stood there naked before him, he threw her the t-shirt. It was large enough to cover her like a short dress. "Now what?c she asked. "We go in." he replied. "Go in where?" she asked.He drew back some branches and she saw a village. There was an entire village before them.
Belinda was shocked and somewhat overwhelmed. She froze.She was staring blankly at the village before them. Juan took her hand, she glanced down at it, then up at him and decided to leave her hand in his. It did feel warm, sparkly (if that was possible). It felt natural. Juan gave a little.chuckle and snurked ever so slightly. She shyly smiled and.looked down at the ground. "Come." he said, and took a step forward. She followed with her hand and his still wrapped around one another. He picked up their pace and before she coud process they were before a large American style two story home. It was grey and blue with white shutters. It was by far the largest home here. "This is my home,our home." he said bluntly. She blinked and pulled back slightly. He pulled her towards himself and whispered, "You are mine. I am yours. What is mine is yours....ours." She blushed but remained quiet. It was all becoming too much again. She could feel her pulse racing. "How?" she stuttered. "Come." he said again and pulled her to the front door. He opened it and she was shocked. It was a gorgeous home. Mahogony banisters ran up the stairs, bamboo flooring, chandeliers ran the length of the long hallway. Gorgeous...she swallowed and turned to look at the huge carved mahogany doors. The carvings were of wolves and the moon. It was a piece of art! Outstanding carving. She turned back to look at Juan who was looking at her reaction. "Do you like it?" he asked. "It is gorgeous." she said. "Yes.But do you like it? I made it all for you. I have waited a long time for you, my lovely mate." Juan whispered in her ear. She had goosebumps. Before she could respond however a loud American accented voice boomed down the hall, "Belinda! There you are!"
"Mr Smith? What...what are you do ok ng here?" Belinda stuttered out.
"Didn't tell her, I see." cooking his eyebrow at Juan.
"It is yours to tell,not mine." Juan said blandly, as he dropped her hand and walked down the hall leaving Belinda with her "boss," Mr.Smith.
"Well now, my dear, let's go sit down, shall we?" Mr Smith said. He walked towards another pair of intricately carved doors and opened them. Inside was a glorious sitting room. He held the door for her and she walked in. He took a seat in a wing backed red chair and pinted to a matching chair not far from him. She sat. She was taking in the room...a grand piano, bookshelves with many books of all sorts of titles, a sofa, two more wing asked chairs only in red and yellow patterns and a coffee table, gorgeous lamps and in the corner a small desk under a window.There were floor to ceiling windows and a sliding glass door on the west side (the whole wall was glass which let in a wonderfulamount of warm sunshine). The sliding glass door led out to a deck. She looked around taken aback by the beauty and elegance of the room. Mr. Smith cleared his throat,"Let me explain."
Belinda looked at him and blinked , bringing his face into focus and her mind to concentrate on his words. "Yes. Please." she managed to get out of her mouth. Mr.Smith sat up straight and looked intensely into Belinda's eyes. "You see, Belinda, I am your... I am your..."
"Yes, you are my boss.So how did you get here? How did you know of this place? Is this my placement? " she interrupted him. "Ummm...no. Belinda, listen to me carefully. ok? I know all this is too much to take in all at once and I am sorry about that.I am your father!"
Belinda registered his words and promptly fainted!
"What did you say to her?" Juan was grilling Mr.Smith as he held Belinda's hand. He had carried her to their room and laid her on their bed (well, his bed until today when it became their bed). He was wiping her forehead with a cool cloth while holding her hand with his free hand. "Tell me now!" Juan demanded."What did you tell her!?"
"THE TRUTH!" Mr Smith bellowed. "The truth? You just threw the truth at her! I told you her reaction on Cebu to all this, did I not? What made you think she could handle the truth so directly!?" Juan accused the older man. "Shebis MY DAUGHTER, DAMN IT! SHE CAN TAKE THE TRUTH! SHE DAMNED WELL BETTER!" Smith again bellowed then growled as an exclamation point. "You are an ass!" Juan said calmly and quietly. Smith heard him and agreed, "Yeah, I apparently am." Juan glared at the older man and went back to attending to Belinda who was not really till out of it but did not want to let them know she was conscious. Smith left the room and slammed the door behind him.
Juan bent down and whispered in Belinda's ear,"It's ok now.he is gone. You can stop pretending."
"How did you know?" she turned to look into his eyes. "I am your mate. I felt your stirring a bit ago but figured you did not want to face him right away. It is a bit much to take in, isn't it?" Juan said quietly. "You think?" Belinda said back somewhat sarcastically but with a small smile on her face. He helped her sit up and then wrapped his arms around her as he climbed in behind her with his back against the headboard. Belinda did not know why she accepted his touch so readily. It baffled her. But it felt right somehow, natural. She had never allowed herself to follow her gut, her feelings, her instincts.Her mother had always emphasized rational thought.None of this was rational at all!
Belinda pulled herself out of her own mind and asked Juan, "Now what?"
Juan chuckled.