Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Caroline waits at the office constantly on edge, pacing back and forth.
I can’t understand her nervousness; she isn’t the one about to march into this so-called mythical council and beg for her life.
She keeps checking her phone constantly.
When I ask what’s wrong, she just says she is waiting for her husband to come back.
I wonder what her husband is doing that has her so on edge.
When Josiah finally does show up, she all but runs to the elevator, watching the numbers above the stainless-steel doors till it dings on our floor.
Josiah steps out of the elevator, an annoyed look on his face like he is bringing bad news. I feel my stomach drop instantly, thinking it is the council as he speaks to his wife in a hushed voice before realizing I’m standing watching them.
“Tobias isn’t going to like this; I can’t believe that evil wretch.” I hear his mother say. Tobias comes out and motions for his parents to step into his office.
“Did you get it?” he asks.
His father shakes his head. “Not yet, they want to meet you in person tomorrow.” He steps through the door, closing it behind him.
Theo comes out of his office staring at the door before glancing toward me.
I hear him growl before walking over, obviously listening in on the conversation behind the closed door that I can’t hear.
“What’s going on? Why is everyone being so secretive?”
“It’s nothing you need to worry about, just having issues with a client from the council,” he tells me. I can feel through the bond he isn’t lying that whoever it is they need these documents from is from the council, yet I can also feel something else, like he is omitting something.
Stepping out from behind my desk, I head over to the bathroom, wanting to wash my face and freshen up before we have to leave in an hour. It is nearly 11:30 AM and apparently the drive takes an hour. We would have to leave no later than 12:30.
Snatching my handbag, I stride into the bathroom and rummage through my bag searching for my lipstick and eyeliner.
I become annoyed before tipping the contents into the sink and hunting for them.
I find my lip balm but not my lipstick. I sigh, picking it up thinking it will have to do, before digging in the sink looking for the rest of my things, I pick up my phone and started dumping stuff back inside my bag.
I really need to clean it out one day, I have so much junk in it I can barely find anything.
Picking up the handkerchief, I hear a foil packet drop out of it and into the sink.
My heart skips a beat when I realize what it is.
I picked up the foil package. It’s my birth control unused.
I completely forgot all about taking it.
In fact, I haven’t taken it in months, not really needing to.
Although I should have but with everything going on with my mother and Tobias and Theo keeping me hostage it isn’t exactly the first thing on my mind.
Picking it up, my hands are shaking. I try to remember the last time I had my period, but no matter the amount of times I recount in my head it comes back the same thing—before my mother died.
I’m late. Grabbing my phone out, I check the app on my phone that usually sends me an alert to tell me when they are due.
My heart is bumping frantically in my chest when I realize it never alerted me because of the lack of cell service at the property.
I check the last date and nearly pass out from holding my breath. It’s a month and seventeen days late.
Grabbing everything and tossing it back in my bag, I wet the back of my neck, trying to cool down, suddenly extremely hot.
This can’t be happening, right? I was in heat not long ago so I can’t be pregnant, werewolves only fall pregnant when in heat.
Now the sarcastic voice in my head is taunting me that I’m not a werewolf, so it doesn’t work that way for me.
No, I’m human, so vampire and werewolf shit doesn’t affect me.
Glancing at the clock, I still have time; I could duck down to the convenience store and grab a test, but will they let me leave?
I have to try. Dumping everything back in my bag, I regain my bearings and walk out.
Theo is leaning against my desk with a worried look on his face as I come out.
“You okay, Hun?”
“Yep, never better. Can I go to the shop down on the corner? I am starving,” I lie. My appetite is completely gone with worry. I hate that I have to ask permission but if I just left, they would panic and send out a search party. Theo thought for a second.
“I will come with you.”
“No, I won’t be long. Promise.” My voice comes out nearly a squeak.
He seems taken aback. He moves closer. I can feel him looking through the bond, wondering why I suddenly want to leave.
I make sure to clear my head and started rambling about seeing Tom so he won’t catch on to what is actually on my mind. He cocks his head to the side.
“You’re only going to the shop to see Tom?” he asks.
“Yep, that’s all, I’ll come back,” I say. My voice is off, even I can tell but he must give me the benefit of the doubt, because he pulls out his wallet and hands me his card.
“Here, Tobias took your cards when you ran; remind me when we get home to put them back in your wallet for you,” he says passing me his and giving me the pin number, which funnily enough was the month and day of my birthday, 1508.
I take the card and head to the elevator.
I step in and I can see Theo watching me like he is deciding whether or not he actually did the right thing, by letting me go.
I hit the button to the foyer. As soon as the doors close, I let out the breath I’d been holding.
When I get to the bottom, Merida is at the front counter. She calls me over when she sees me.
“Are you still stuck here?” I ask, seeing her.
“Yes, I think Theo is punishing me over the other night. They have had quite a few apply for the position and he keeps turning them away forcing me to play secretary, it’s driving me nuts. The phone never stops, and the emails just keep coming.” She huffs in annoyance. I chuckle slightly.
“I will ask Theo to hire someone so you can go back to your normal position. If he won’t. I’ll ask Tobias, he will sort it for you.” She nods looking thankful.
“Where are you off to without your bodyguards?” she asks.
“To the shop, want anything?”
“Oh yes, can you grab me a cappuccino?”
I nod. “Sure, I will be back in a minute,” I tell her before strolling out and toward the convenient store.
When I arrive, I creep down the aisle toward the feminine products. Standing in the aisle a young girl comes over to me. Her hair in dreadlocks and a friendly smile on her face.
“Can I help you?” she asks when she sees me staring at the pregnancy test section for too long trying to decide which one is the better one.
“Um yes, actually which one is better, the most accurate?” She picks up a box and hands it to me.
“This one can be done from the date of your missed cycle and it tells you in the window roughly how far along. It seems to be the most popular choice.” She hands me the box.
I nod and thank her before following her to the counter.
Realizing I am meant to be buying food, I also grab a muffin and pay before walking out.
Next, I stop at Starbucks and order everyone a cappuccino, remembering to get Josiah a black coffee like his soul. I don’t actually mind their parents, they aren’t so bad, we all just started off on the wrong foot because of Tobias.
I jam the test into a secret hidey hole in the side of my bag and zip it up. As long as no one goes into my bag, they won’t notice, but the box is pretty bulky.
When my name is called, I pay the cashier and grab the two little trays before walking back to the office. When I come in, I give Merida hers and she takes a sip. Before moaning loudly.
“I can feel it in my soul,” she says, making me chuckle.
I head toward the elevator and press the button to the top floor.
Waiting, I become anxious, then I feel it’s not me, it is actually Tobias and Theo.
I feel Tobias getting angry, then the elevator doors open.
Everyone standing next to my desk staring at me like I just grew two heads.
“See, I told you she would be back,” said Theo to Tobias pointing at me. I step out with coffee and my muffin. “Everything okay?” I ask.
“Yes, Tobias is being a dick thinking, I let you run away,” Theo said, coming over and kissing my temple before picking up a coffee.
He takes a sip and nearly spits it out when he realizes he grabbed mine which has more sugar than he likes.
I place the cardboard cartons on the desk and grab my coffee off him, before handing him his and shaking my head.
I give Josiah his, “Black like your soul,” I tell him.
His lips turn up slightly and he thanks me while I give everyone else their coffees.
“We will be leaving soon, so make sure you are ready, dear,” Caroline tells me. I nod nervously.
“Nothing will happen, not today, anyway. Josiah is just taking you to meet them, and the council has ordered some tests; you may also have to meet the oracle.”
“Oracle?”
“Just a fancy word for, I suppose a fortune teller, nothing to worry about. She will just look into your past and maybe your future, it's just precautionary to make sure you won’t speak of what you see when we arrive.”
I nod and take a bite of my muffin.
“Well, your father and I are going to head off, we will meet you there,” she says softly to Theo before touching my shoulder and rubbing her thumb over my cheek.
“Nothing to worry about, dear, I promise,” she says before walking to the elevator with Josiah.