"Richest but awkward and lacking manners. That isn't going to earn you respect. You should have knocked." I rumbled and head straight to take my nightwear.
"Money is enough respect, coupled with the fact that I am physically powerful. I think you should put this on." He said and really drew my attention toward him. I looked and in his hand was a nightwear.
"How did you know I needed that?" I asked because I knew I saw a nightwear among the clothes Gary brought in for me and I could only imagine him searching my clothes to find it like he knew I was gonna go for it once I am done taking a shower.
"I bought this from a mall specially for you to wear tonight." He said with a deep voice and I could feel the vibrations in his vocals luring me to come to him but that was the last thing I want to do — to get close to him.
"Don't worry, I think I have one somewhere here. Gary brought one for me. You never should have stressed yourself." I kept scattering the bag to find it but could not find it. Feeling frustrated, I turned and looked at him, "did you take out the nightwear that was here?"
"I am sorry, I am far from that bag over there and I could not possibly know there was a nightwear in your bag to begin with."
I shook my head and turned to keep looking, wishing I had gone to collect the one he offered. Then again, he said, "you know you need to rest and you are stressing yourself out. Why not have this one I bought for you? Besides, they are still mine."
"Okay fine!" I exclaimed and went for the one in his hand. I hated I had to humble myself to take it from him mostly because his tone projected his pride.
"So, tell me, how did you get to meet your friend, Raymond?"
"I met him in Dome. He helped me, demanding nothing in return."
Bryan looked into my eyes like he knew I was trying to tell him not to expect anything in return for saving my life.
"He must have been an honorable gentleman." He said and took his eyes off me.
"Yeah." I gasped. And wishing I never lost my baby, I said softly, "only he wasn't able to save my baby when I gave birth."
"What?"
"I should not be telling you this but I lost my child. I just gave birth while trying to get away from the people who held us hostage with intentions to sell us to slavery. I didn't even get the chance to really see the face of my baby before he was taken from me."
"You have a baby and you didn't tell me until now?"
"It wasn't necessary and you never asked."
"It wasn't necessary? Damnit you lost a baby, you should have told me about it so that I commence a search immediately. That's not something you should wait for me to ask, considering I am capable of helping out."
Bryan was beginning to sound too proud for my liking, I started wondering why he feels so capable of doing everything for me, I had to reply rudely,
"Well, now you know. I believe I should just see my baby in the next 24hours. Don't think you can find him, even Raymond can't!"
"Okay, I guess I can't find him now because it's too late. But I will try helping you. I'll give it a try." Bryan replied still.
"I don't think you heard me. I can't even recognize the face of my baby even if I should find the child. You're going to be wasting your time."
"I'll gladly waste time trying to help you. So tell me, where you able to recognize the faces of the people who took your child?"
"No. Do I have to repeat myself?" I muttered, looked away and then continued "I was only able to see Raymond struggling to help but when I woke up, he let me know he was able to save me but the baby was taken. He was probably outnumbered and I blanked out immediately after giving birth."
"Hmm. Is there anything else you can remember before or after... Tell me everything Raymond told you."
"I can't remember everything," I hissed and added "but I remember he told me the people who attacked are werewolves and there must be a pack nearby."
"Now something I can work with." He intoned inaudibly and touching his chin he said, "but there is no pack around but mine. Unless they might have come from the south of Winsburg. If I can't find who did, then am left no choice but to believe they followed you from Whitewood where you come from."
"You mean there are only two pack in Winsburg?"
"One actually. South of Winsburg is just a place where an organization called the night shield is formed. The Night-Shield exists to help secure a boundary between werewolves and vampires, but there are humans in the organization with a different aim though similar to ours."
"And what is their aim?" I asked desiring to know more.
"To hunt and kill vampires. Ariel, listen, over the years vampires have been preying on humans and there are individuals who went missing as a result, the government now has eyes on vampires because they are exposed and believed to exist. But we are still a mystery to humans because they can't believe something like us live amongst them. Though they have seen us but they can't still understand us because we transform and live among them. It's complicated but then, we have to find your child and I can only do that on one condition."
"What condition?" I asked willing to do anything
"You'll let me refine your body."
"How do you intend to do that?" Now I was confused.
"I'll sleep with you and announce you to be my Luna."