"Wait Liam, I can explain. The thing is...."
"You have a five seconds headstart before I come after you."
"C'mon Liam.... "
"Five."
"It's just for today, there's always tomorrow."
"Four."
"Liam!"
"Three."
"Damn it!" I hissed and ran out of the room, taking the stairs three steps at a time. I ran out the door and straight to the lawn. I had no idea where I was going but I needed to get far away from Liam as possible. He did not look friendly and I didn't even want to imagine what he'd do if he got me.
"You're not running fast enough, Iris." I heard his voice behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see him gaining on me pretty fast. "Faster Iris." He growled and I increased my speed. I ran like never before till it got to a point that I didn't feel my feet touching the ground anymore.
"I can't. I'm.... Tired." I said breathlessly and stopped. I placed my palm on the wall and bent over, panting heavily. A second later, I felt a hand snake around my waist and pull me to his chest.
"That was not bad for a first time run. You have potential," He whispered in my ear and tucked my messy hair behind my ear. I was too tired to even feel shy.
"Don't tell me.... That..... That was part of the training."
"It was." He chuckled and released his hold on me.
"I can't believe you." I scowled and straightened my back before turning around to face him. He had on a mischievous smirk. "You didn't say anything about running and for a second there, I thought you were really mad. If I had known, I wouldn't have even bothered." I groaned.
"You're training to build up your body, of course running would be an essential part of it and if you hadn't ran..." He moved closer until I could feel his warm, minty breath on my face. "I would have made you, one way or the other."
"What makes you think you would have succeeded?" I squinted my eyes at him and he chuckled.
"Because you would have no choice but to listen to me, I am after all a Lycaon with authority and no one....." He moved even closer until my chest was pressed against his. "And I mean no one has ever said no to me, they wouldn't even dare, except they have a death wish."
"Well, guess what Liam." I purred which made his eyes darken. "There's always a first time for everything." I smirked. "Now, if you excuse me, I need to take a shower, I reek of sweat." I took a step forward but he stopped me by stretching out his arm and blocking my path.
"Not so fast, tiny. The running was just one of the many trainings you have today."
"Wait, what?! But I thought...."
"Waking up later than we agreed meant training had been cancelled? Heck no. It's still morning, therefore we still have time."
I growled lowly at him and he wiggled his eyebrows. "Remind me to wake up after noon next time." I murmured and pouted. "What's next on your 'how to kill Iris' list today?"
"Gyming." He grinned and I frowned.
"Gyming?!"
"Yes. I have an indoor gym with all the equipment. You need to build up your muscles and your stamina, gyming will help with that. You're too....."
"Skinny, I know!" I snapped and he arched a brow.
"Actually, I was going to say small."
"I am not small!"
He opened his mouth, closed it and shook his head. "The gym is this way."
After walking in silence for about a minute, we stopped at a really huge wooden door. "Why is it wooden?"
"Why not?" He shrugged and went ahead to open it. I stepped into the room and my mouth dropped open. The gym was very huge, like a freaking ball room like you see in those princess movies. It had all the equipment needed for a gym and more.
"Wow! This is not the gym I had in mind."
"What did you have in mind then?" He asked as he shut the door.
"Something smaller. Like this." I made a demonstration with my hands and he chuckled.
"I'm glad I exceeded your expectation." He winked and I rolled my eyes before moving to check out the gym. It had a fridge stacked up with drinks of various kinds, a wardrobe filled with all kinds of gym wears both for males and females. A bathroom and a restroom, a first aid room, a changing room, a snacks bar and a gaming room.
"Why is there a gaming room in here?"
"Why not?"
"Can't you just give me a straight answer?" I asked dryly.
"Why should I?"
"Forget it!" I snapped and continued my sightseeing. I could swear I heard him chuckle in amusement. Son of a bítch.
"I think that's enough sightseeing for one day. Time for your training," Liam said behind me and I sighed and turned around. "Here." He handed me a bottle with some weird mixture inside. I scrunched up my nose as I collected it.
"What's this?"
"I don't know. Mabel made it, said it'll help with your bones and all that nonsense."
"Ohh." I opened it and nearly gagged from the smell. I pinched my nose and took a huge gulp, making sure it went straight down my throat without touching my tongue.
Liam nodded in approval and took off his shirt. My eyes trailed down his abs and stopped at his waist, staring a little longer at the little hairs picking from underneath his sweatpants before taking my eyes off. "Sooner or later, you'll get used to the taste."
"Doubt it." I murmured before gulping down the rest of the mixture.
We trained for some hours with me running and walking on the treadmill for about fifteen minutes. He showed me how to throw a punch and the perfect stance needed to throw a good one. I also did some sit-ups and some push-ups. We would have exercised more if his father hadn't sent for him. Speaking of father....
"When do I get to meet your father?" I asked when Liam was out of the shower, fully dressed. Too bad, I hadn't ogled him enough.
"Whenever you're ready."
"So, I can see him tonight if I want to?"
"Sure." He shrugged a shoulder. "Now that I've taken over as the Lycaon King, he doesn't really have much on his hands anymore."
"I see." I nodded slowly. "Well then, I'd like to see him tonight. I need some answers. If you and Mabel aren't going to tell me what you you know, then your father just might."
"Don't sound too hopeful, I'm his son after all."
"So you admit you are hiding something."
He sighed and bit his lower lip. "It's nothing you need to worry about. Really".
I shook my head in disappointment. "I'm not worried. I just need answers, that's all". I walked to the door and paused in my tracks, my hand on the handle. "Sooner or later, I'll find out what you're keeping from me. You can't keep it a secret forever." I uttered over my shoulder before stepping out and shutting the door behind me.
I headed straight to the room I was given to clean myself up. When I was done, I headed to the dining room and took a seat.
"Hi Mabel." I greeted with a warm smile.
"Iris. How do you feel?"
"Well my body aches, a lot. Feels like I got crushed by a bus. It's going to take a while to adjust to the rigorous training but other than that, I'm fine and thank you for the.... Drink."
"You're very welcome." She smiled warmly. "I told Liam to take it easy on you but I doubt he listened. I've always known him to do things the way he pleases."
"Why am I not surprised." I muttered and took a huge bite of the sandwich.
"You look better than you did yesterday, more relaxed." She pointed out.
"I feel better."
"So, does this mean you're going to stay here a while?"
"I don't know yet. The duration of my stay depends on what Liam's father excuse is. If it's good, I'll stay. If it's not.... Then I'm going to have to kiss this place bye bye."
"It's not my place to say this but I just want you to know that it was never our intention to let your parents die. We would have done everything in our power to save them and your pack members."
"But you didn't."
"We..." Mabel started and pursed her lips. She looked like she was trying really hard not to say something. "I loved your mother with all my heart Iris. You have no idea how much her death broke me, broke all of us. I looked for you, everywhere. I swear...." She placed her palm on mine. "I swear on my life Iris that if I had known you were still alive, I would have done everything to get you back from that miserable Cray, you wouldn't have had to go through all that. I thought you had died along with your parents. None of us knew you were still alive. Believe me, please."
"I feel like I know you but I can't remember." I said quietly. "I can't remember much from when my parents were still alive."
"I think that's your brain's way of coping by blocking out all the memories to make their death less painful."
"Tell me what you're hiding Mabel. Please, I know it's important. I need to know."
She closed her eyes and shook her head. "It's not my place to say anything." She whispered. "I'm sorry."
"Wrong answer." I moved my hand away and brought it to my thigh then continued wolfing down my meal. She sighed and didn't say a word again.
It was late in the evening and I had just gotten out of the shower. I was drying my hair when there was a knock on the door.
"Liam." I called when I opened the door. "What are you doing here?"
"You have a date with my father, remember?"
"That sounds so weird and gross." He chuckled and walked in. "Does he know?"
"Yes, he knows you want to speak with him."
"Good." I nodded once and went ahead to blow dry my hair.
"I suggest you hurry up, he doesn't like being kept waiting."
"Any thing important I need to know before going to see him?"
"Not really, just be yourself and you'll be fine."
"My sarcastic, non chalant self or my pretend to be sweet and kind self?"
"I didn't know you had a sweet and kind side." He uttered, feigning surprise.
"Hey!". I said and punched him lightly on the arm. He rubbed the arm like it hurt and laughed. When I was done, I took one last look at myself in the mirror and nodded in satisfaction. I wore a three quarter Jean trouser and paired it with a grey crop shirt.
"Ready?"
"Yes. Let's go."