When we arrived at my apartment, Kai let me out. I could see two guards standing on either side of the front door. Looking official. Kai walked me to the door before grabbing my phone from my bag. He typed for a moment before handing me the phone.
"If you need anything, you can call or text me. I will answer." He told me. I looked at my phone. 'Kai Silver'. When I looked up, he was walking away.
"Hey." I called after him. He turned and looked at me. "Thank you. Tonight was… good."
"Anytime." He nodded, the hint of a smile on his lips. I opened the door, walked in, closed it, and locked it. I exhaled deeply, rubbing my face with one hand. That's when I realized that I still had his jacket. I decided to give it to him tomorrow even though I was off for the weekend. I hugged the jacket to me one more time, smelling and smiling.
"Ren? Is that you?" Kara's voice came around the corner. "You're back!"
"I am." I approached her.
"I like the look." She smirked.
"Stop. I'm giving it back to him tomorrow." I pulled the jacket off and draped it over my arm.
"You're going on another date?"
"No. I'm going to work to give it to him."
"Awe. How sweet. Oh, what's up with the security guards?" SHe motioned to the door.
"Someone tried to kidnap me tonight." I shrugged, going towards my room.
"That explains the blood…. Wait, kidnap?" She looked at me like I was crazy.
"Yeah. They didn't make it far, though." I nodded. "The press released a photo of me and now I guess I'm wanted? I don't know. Kai set up security guards to follow wherever we go." She was quiet for a moment.
"It really didn't take long for his rivals to find you, huh?" She looked a little uneasy.
"We're going to be fine, Kar. If anything happens, we're protected." I went into my room and she followed.
"Okay, well… tell me what happened tonight. Was it good?" She crossed her arms. I set the jacket on my bed and began telling her about tonight.
~~~
When morning came, I laid in bed for what felt like forever. Last night played in my head over and over. I realized that I did have feelings for Kai and that I wanted to be with him. He made me feel safe and wanted. After a while, I got up and got dressed. I put on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a gray hoodie. I slid on my sneakers after my socks then grabbed the jacket and my bag. I had taken a shower the night before to get all of the dried blood from my white hair. I left the room, seeing Kara in the kitchen.
"You're finally out of bed." She smirked.
"You know I sleep in on the weekends." I entered the kitchen, seeing her bowl of assorted fruit.
"I just figured that you'd wanna wake up early to see your lover." She smiled, looking over her shoulder briefly.
"Do I seem desperate?" I plucked a strawberry from her bowl and bit into it.
"No." She made a disappointed face. "But you're already changing. You're more… confident."
"Pfft." I ate the rest of the strawberry. "Alright, I gotta go."
"I'll take you. I've gotta grab some things from work." She put the fruit into the fridge and followed me.
"You forgot your laptop again, didn't you?" I smirked, opening the door as she grabbed her keys.
"What? I would never!" She gasped sarcastically. We walked out and she locked the door. I glanced at the security guards, going to the car.
"You know, it's a little creepy that they just stand there and wait." Kara said after we drove away.
"They're there to keep us safe, though." I replied.
"Yeah. Now that you're famous, you actually have enemies."
"Hopefully I never meet those enemies." I looked out of the window. It took several minutes to get to work and make our way up to the top floor. We stopped at the security desk so that we could show our badges. I dug around in my bag, not seeing it.
"Did you leave it at home?" Kara clipped her badge to her shirt.
"No." I sighed. "I think it's on my desk." I groaned, closing my bag.
"I'll go grab it. Just wait here." She said. I nodded, putting my bag strap across my chest. She went past the desk, leaving me in front of it. After a few minutes of waiting, I heard two familiar voices. Looking over, I saw Josh and Lisa smiling and holding hands. I turned away as if I could hide.
"Oh, look who it is." Lisa giggled behind me. I sighed, facing her and Josh. "What are you doing here on your day off?"
"It's none of your business."
"I can't believe you're off on weekends. That must be why you're so broke." She crossed her arms.
"The fact that I can afford time off and you can't says a lot." I responded. She gasped and backhanded me across the face. I felt something drag across my skin, causing pain.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I scratch you?" She sneered. "You like it? Josh got it for me."
"Good for you. I wouldn't want a knock off engagement ring, but go ahead." I smiled sarcastically.
"Knock off?!"
"Hey, take it back, Renley." Josh stepped closer to me.
"Why? Don't want her to know the truth?" I crossed my arms.
"I'm sorry, what was your name again, miss?" The lady at the desk asked.
"Renley Smith. I'm here to see Mister Silver." I told her. Josh and Lisa scoffed.
"You don't know Mister Silver." Josh stated.
"How would you know?" I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"Because you're a lowly, disgusting, worthless, waste of space. Mister Silver would never associate himself with you."
"Yeah, so stop pretending." Josh shoved me.
"Don't touch me." I said through clenched teeth.
"Yeah? Or what?" He shoved me against the wall. "I should've never dated someone as ugly as you. Thank god you never gave it up." I held my breath as he grabbed me by the throat and banged my head against the wall. I glared, pain entering my scalp. I could feel my heartbeat slamming against my ribcage as I exhaled slowly. The years of abuse flashed in my head, causing tears to burn my eyes.
"Let me go." I said in a low, shaky voice.
"Or… what?" He brought his face close to mine and a tidal wave of fear and anger slammed through me.
"Let me go!" I screamed, squeezing my eyes shut. The scream sounded more like a roar, though, and it rang through the air. The hand on my neck disappeared and my body dropped to the floor where I began to breathe heavily.
"What the hell?" Lisa gasped.
"Hey!" A deep voice boomed. There was a thud to my right and my body instinctively turned away. My shaky hands covered my face as tears began to fall. "Don't you EVER put your hands on my wife again."
"W-what? Wife? What are you talking about?" Josh panicked. Everything started to sound muffled. Hands grabbed me and I reacted by shoving the hands away.
"Ren, it's me. It's Kara. Open your eyes, honey." I could feel her grabbing my shoulders. Slowly, I opened my eyes and she stared at me for a long moment. "It's okay. Breathe, Ren. Breathe with me." She took a deep breath. I worked on doing the same, achieving a shallow, shaky breath.
"Good. Again." She took another breath.
"Wife? She can't be! She's crazy and using you to get to me!" Josh accused.
"Yeah, she's a stalker!" Lisa agreed.
"Don't… call her crazy." Kai growled. "And who the hell are you?"
"I-I'm Lisa Carringer. I work on the third floor, sir." Lisa straightened her clothes. Kara continued to coach me through breathing, holding my hands. "T-this woman came here to win my fiance back! She's pathetic!" Before I could stop myself, I stood and got in Lisa's face.
"If I wanted a sad excuse of a man to spend my time with, I wouldn't even consider your less than mediocre, fish lipped, fiance." I breathed heavily. She gasped, appalled. "If he cheated on me, he'll cheat on you, princess." An arm draped across my body, pulling me back against something warm and firm. Kai's body. My eyes moved to Josh, who was still under Kai's hand.
"You cheated on me with him?" He looked hurt. "What kind of monster are you?"
"I forgot. You don't know who I am." I felt powerful in Kai's arm and I was going to take advantage of it. "I am Renley Wolfhound, the runaway Luna of the Alpha King." I felt a gentle air current around me that moved my hair.
"B-but you're human."
"Am I?" I smiled, my canines showing. His gaze stayed on my eyes, though. Terror entered his expression and I wondered what he saw. Kai released him and me, straightening Josh's suit.
"That being said…. You're both fired." Kai smiled.
"What? But I'm pregnant! You can't fire me." Lisa fought. Pregnant?
"I guess you better find another job." Kai stepped towards me and I picked up the black jacket that I had dropped. "Oh, and any major company for the next few cities will know about the both of you. You'll be lucky to get a job at a fast food joint." Lisa gasped and Kai wrapped an arm around me, leading Kara and I further into the building. I worked to calm myself as we walked. When we entered his office, he turned to me and lifted my head with a finger. He turned it to see my cheek and only then did I remember the sting of Lisa's ring. He motioned for me to sit on the couch.
"She got you good." He released me and went to the cabinet. Pulling out a first aid kit, he came to me.
"Oh, I'm okay." I leaned away from him as he knelt down in front of me.
"Let me take care of you." He replied softly. His mismatched eyes scanned my face before he looked through the first aid kit.
"Okay…. Well, now that that is sorted, will someone tell me what happened? What was with her eyes?" Kara looked at me.
"My eyes? What are you talking about?" I frowned.
"You channeled your inner wolf, changing your eye color." Kai explained.
"My inner wolf? I don't have a wolf." I chuckle scoffed.
"You do. You have been suppressing it all your life. Once you begin to harness it, you'll realize how strong it is." Kai slid a cotton ball over the cut on my face, the sting making me flinch.
"I would know if I had a wolf." I blinked as he stood. "Unless it's so weak that it's undetectable."
"It's not." He closed the kit as Lucah entered the room.
"Sir, I came as soon as I could." He breathed heavily. I saw him look at Kara, causing Kara to blush. I stood and lifted the jacket to Kai.
"I came to bring you your jacket. I will leave you to run your business." I forced a smile as he took his jacket.
"You could've kept it." He said as Kara and I began to walk away.
"And take away my reason to come see you?" I faced him, walking backwards. "Plus, what if you get cold?" I caught the hint of a smirk on his face.
"Sir, did you tell her?" Lucah leaned closer to Kai. He seemed like whatever topic he was hinting at was serious. "The real reason why she's in danger?" I stopped, my expression falling.
"This could've waited, Lucah." Kai replied.
"Not if someone tries to hurt them on their way home." Lucah wore a strange expression. Like he had someone to protect as well. My gaze shifted to Kara who seemed slightly pink. "Kara is in as much danger as the Luna because they are always together."
"Lucah." Kai warned.
"Wait, I knew I was in danger, but you're making it sound like something is GOING to happen. Like there's something more to the story." I fully faced them.
"You do not need to worry yourself with such matters." Kai came to me, but I backed away.
"If I am putting my best, and only, friend in danger, I want to know and why." I spoke in a serious tone. Kai sighed, glancing at Lucah then back to me.
"The man you believe to be your father is not your father." He started. I blinked, remembering the wedding night. 'You're right. She's not your daughter.'
"Okay? Then who is my father?" I crossed my arms.
"He's a very powerful Alpha named Winter Wilde." Kai answered. I had seen Winter Wilde on the news. He had white hair and blue eyes and was always surrounded by guards. For someone in their late 50's, they were very fit and healthy. There was a rival war between his pack and another a few years ago. I remember it because it made my father very angry.
"Wait, how do you know this?" I squinted slightly.
"Same way I know that Wolfhound isn't your father." He knew the moment he met me. Did he marry me to gain more power? "My plan was to reunite you when you were settled." I stepped back.
"Is… that why you married me? To return me like a lost trophy and game power from it?" My hands gravitated to my chest as it tightened.
"No. Not at all." He stepped closer.
"So, you just saw an abused girl and decided to 'save' her?" Hot tears came to my eyes. "God! Every time I think I've found someone real, they turn out to be trying to gain something from me!" I turned around angrily and headed for the door.
"Ren, you misunderstand." Kai grabbed my hand as I reached for the door. I ripped my hand from his. "I didn't marry you because I wanted to save you or use you for power."
"I don't believe you, Kai Silver. I don't believe that you are any different than any other guy." My voice felt raw and angry. His eyes widened slightly and I could tell that my words hurt him. I briefly felt bad, but I responded by turning away and leaving the office. I walked quickly, the waterworks threatening to start.
"Ren!" Kara shouted after me as I got to the elevator and it opened. When I looked, I could see Kai practically running towards me. I slipped into the elevator and pressed the close button. The doors closed and the last thing I saw was Kai's face.