Chapter 4 - Trina
We take our time finishing breakfast, and Sadie tries to distract me by talking about other things. When she finally starts packing up to leave, a bolt of panic shoots through me.
“You aren’t going?” I ask, my eyes flicking between her and Owen.
You aren’t leaving me alone with him, are you?
Sadie follows my gaze and smiles comfortingly. “I thought you might want a day off, considering everything that’s happened. Fern won’t mind—she’s actually a wolf, too. A member of Silver Valley pack.”
“Lies upon lies,” I mutter. “But no, seriously, I want to go to work.”
“Okay,” Sadie says at the exact moment Owen says, “Absolutely not.”
Sadie frowns at him. “We just went over this, Owen. Trina needs some freedom. You want her to be happy, don’t you?”
Owen looks down and grumbles a little. I can’t be sure he gives even the slightest damn about what I want.
“I just think it’s a bit soon,” he says. “We should be getting used to this living situation.”
“Don’t you have anything to do today?” Sadie asks.
Owen shrugs. “I don’t have an actual job, like Rhys. He runs the chop shop for his own pleasure. I’m basically alpha full-time. I can take a day.”
“Are you sure the council has nothing they’d like to say to you?” The way Sadie tilts her head and gives him a hard stare tells me she already knows the answer to the question.
“I’ll check my phone,” he says gruffly, and leaves the room.
“I’ve got some spare clothes in the car,” Sadie says. “Why don’t you jump in the shower while I go get them, and we can go to work together?”
I don’t like the plan, but I can’t think of anything better to do, so I head for the bathroom. I take my time in the shower, as if the world outside might just magically rearrange if I stay in here long enough.
“Clothes by the door,” Sadie calls.
I sigh as I dry myself off, wondering how I can even pretend to be normal under circumstances like these.
Anything is better than hanging around here all day, alone with Owen!
I stand in front of the mirror, wiping condensation from it to see a blurred version of myself through the steam. I let my thoughts linger on Owen for just a second, and my body immediately rushes with heat.
What am I afraid of?
I know I’m scared of being taken prisoner and yanked out of my home, as well as losing my comfortable little life. All of that pales, though, when I think about how my body wakes up whenever I get close to him.
Am I scared of wanting him?
I shake off the confusing feelings and collect the clothes. I notice that Sadie has left me a makeup kit as well. The dress fits me well enough, and her shoes are only a little too big.
“Good enough for one day, I guess,” I mutter to myself as I put on some lipstick.
The world feels even more surreal as I go back to the kitchen and see Sadie and Owen talking casually like old friends.
Is she on his side? She must be. I don’t know if I can trust her…
Then Sadie turns to me with a bright, friendly smile that makes my heart melt, and I feel bad for doubting her.
She is my friend. I believe that, even if I don’t believe half the shit I’ve heard over the last twelve hours.
“Ready, Trina?” she asks. “That dress fits you really nicely. I’ve always got spare stuff in the car these days. I never know where I’m going to end up.”
“Is the council still at the manor?” Owen asks. “If you left last night, they might have, as well.”
“I don’t know,” Sadie answers. “But I assume so. Even if they did leave, they’ll head back today to meet with you, I assume.”
Owen looks chastised, and it gives me a brief feeling of triumph.
Even your own people don’t agree with what you’ve done!
“We should go,” Sadie says. “If you’re ready?”
I nod and follow her out the door, trying not to look at Owen. I can feel his eyes on me, and the tangle of emotions in my belly writhes and twists like snakes trying to escape through my ribs.
Just a few weeks ago, I was drooling over him. Now I’m just furious… and scared. I’ve worked so hard to heal from my past, and now I’m back to square one.
“Are you okay?” Sadie asks as we get into the car. I nod, not feeling like explaining.
I’ve kept this to myself my whole life. I’m not about to open up now.
On the way to the museum, Sadie keeps talking about light topics, and I engage a little. I know she’s trying to distract me, but my thoughts just keep running back around to what will happen when I get home tonight.
I’m not scared of him, not exactly… but he’s awakened old fears in me, and I don’t think I can forgive him for that.
When we get to work, I go straight to the office to deal with admin and Sadie goes back to the old rooms where she’s still filing the historical texts. Something clicks into place in my mind as I realize Sadie discovered the truth about herself right here in this building.
What else is back there, I wonder?
The hours pass fairly quickly as I work through the mundane tasks of replying to emails and calls, tending to mailing lists, and contacting sponsors.
Even though it’s incredibly boring to most people, I’ve always found reception to be an easy, fulfilling task that lets me use my talents without overexerting myself.
Like phoning it in, every single day… literally.
The thought gives me a giggle as I go back to the phone to negotiate with a gift supplier, preparing collectibles for sale in our shop. Time gets away from me as I go through the tasks, and when Sadie knocks on the door, I almost jump out of my skin.
“Oh, you scared me,” I say.
“Didn’t mean to,” Sadie laughs. “You want to come for morning coffee?”
“I sure do,” I answer, getting up. “I’m well and truly overdue for a snack.”
We go up the hall to the break room, and the familiarity of it, combined with the absolutely ridiculous circumstances from last night, almost makes my head spin.
“Looks like we’ve got the place to ourselves for a bit,” Sadie says, making coffee and bringing it to the table. “Is there anything you’d like to talk about?”
How did you cope with being kidnapped? Was it brutal?
“Uh… yeah,” I say, wondering how direct I can be with her. “How did you come to be here? I know you told us a bit about your life before, but I’m not sure I understand how you actually moved here.”
Especially now that you’ve told me it was literally a kidnapping.
“Rhys wrapped me in Dead Silk and threw me into the car,” Sadie giggles. “I know, it’s not funny, but I understand now that it was my destiny.”
“How can you be so sure?” I ask, envying her confidence.
“Because I can do this,” Sadie says, reaching out her hand. She makes a little gesture with her fingers, and a teaspoon lifts off the table and starts to spin.
“Holy fucking wow,” I gasp, utterly floored. “I didn’t know you could do that!”
“Well, that’s kind of the point,” Sadie says, catching the spoon in her hand. “I can’t tell anyone outside the pack.”
“Will I be able to do that?”
“I don’t know,” Sadie shrugs. “So far as I can tell, you’re human, and nothing more. You might have other powers I can’t guess at, but time will tell.”
“How much time?” I ask in a small voice.
Sadie reaches out and gives my hand a squeeze. “I don’t know. I promise you, you are safe. I know you might not feel that way, but you are. I’ll be with you every step of the way. I won’t leave you alone with this.”
My desire to be free of this insane situation rises inside me like a prickly snake running up my spine. I have the sudden urge to bolt from the room, but something else Sadie said this morning snags in my mind and won’t let go.
“When you said people were sick… what exactly did you mean by that?”
“It’s very serious,” Sadie replies. “People are dying. Silver Valley pack is alright now, but the effects didn’t flow through to the other packs. Owen really does have sick people to care for, and some of them are just kids.”
“Kids?” I repeat.
Sadie nods. “It’s awful, what the curse does.”
“Curse?”
“Yes,” Sadie says, very seriously. “It is a curse, and I can feel it in my blood. There must be a reason why you’re connected, Trina.”
I shake my head, wanting to reject her words, but I can feel something deep inside me resonating with the idea.
That scares me more than anything else right now.
“I know it’s hard,” Sadie says, squeezing my hand again. “But I don’t think Owen had much choice about what he did.”
“Excuse me?” I choke out, my voice harsh. “What did you just say?”
“I’m sorry, Trina, but there are other forces at work here, and a greater good to consider—”
“No way,” I say firmly. “Owen was wrong to do what he did, and I’m not convinced, even slightly, that I’m the answer to his problems.”
“Okay,” Sadie says, nodding. “You have every right to feel that way—”
“To feel what way?” Lacey’s voice cuts through Sadie’s, and she bounces over to the table.
“Nothing,” I answer, brushing it off. “What are you so excited about?”
“Fern said we should take off early—it’s nearly lunchtime now, anyway—so did you want to come out to the park?”
“Sure,” I say, getting up to rinse my cup. “Let’s go for a walk.”
“I’ll come, too,” Sadie says.
I want to snap at her that I’m not going to run away, but I just bite my tongue instead.
“So, what’s the occasion?” Sadie asks Lacey as we reach the front of the museum and stand under the big shady trees.
“Oh, some bigshot dropping in,” Lacey says. “She has a share in the business, or the building, or something. Fern just wanted the office clear for the meeting.”
“Sounds like we got the better part of the deal,” I say. “Did you want to go to the park, then?”
Sadie slides me a glance. I know she’s reading me loud and clear, and she doesn’t need witch powers to do it.
I don’t want to go to my new “home.” I need to get out of here… anywhere!
“Just waiting for Robyn and the others,” Lacey says. “Oh, there she is! Hey, Robyn, is Jane coming?”
“Maybe,” Robyn says, joining us. “Let’s just wait a few more minutes. Are you sure you want to go to the park or should we head to the boys’ favorite watering hole?”
“Tempting,” Lacey says, bouncing her eyebrows up and down. “I just want a nice walk in the sunshine first, though. Maybe some ice cream. I was stuck out the back in the dusty reference section, cleaning, so I just need some fresh air.”
“Interested in finding the boys after?” Robyn asks teasingly.
“Affirmative,” Lacey giggles. “Do you know if it’s just Owen and Shane meeting today or are they bringing Billy, too?”
The sound of Owen’s name rings through me like a bell, sending ripples of shock crashing into my chest.
This is the same gossip I’ve engaged in practically every day of my life—but now it feels like a minefield.
“I think they’re bringing Billy,” Robyn says. “He really doesn’t have the presence of the others, but I still think he’s hot.”
At that moment, I realize the human women are able to sense the innate magnetism of the wolves compared to ordinary guys.
Did I ever notice? I knew Owen was hot… that there’s always been something about him, in particular, that draws me in…
Before that thought can bloom, I start edging away, hoping I can disappear around the corner and find something to do that will keep me away from Owen for a few hours.
I’m definitely not thinking straight, but I can’t take another moment of this conversation, or one more second of stewing in my feelings of doubt and conflict.
“Oh. My. Lord,” Lacey says. “Look at what’s coming this way.”
“Fuck,” Robyn mutters. “Does he get hotter every time we see him?”
Even though I want to deny it, I know who has to be walking towards us. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, resigning myself to the situation while anxiety fires up in my guts.
I can resolve to endure this with good grace, but I guess my body doesn’t have to agree.
“Hi, Owen!” Lacey says, practically bouncing up and down. “It’s nice of you to drop by. Are you going to the bar tonight with—”
“No,” he says in a barely polite tone. “I have things to do tonight.”
A look shoots between the girls, with Lacey and Robyn looking confused and Sadie carefully remaining neutral.
“Okay,” Lacey says carefully. “So why are you here?”
Owen fixes his eyes on me, and I step back away from the full force of his magnetic gaze. I can read Robyn and Lacey’s reaction, and I know they’d do anything to have him look at them like that.
And I just want to slap his stupid face.
“I’m here to take Trina home,” he says, holding out his hand. “If you’re ready?”
He says the question with a slight glare, as if reminding me that I don’t have a choice.
“Fine,” I say, trying not to show my irritation. “Let’s go.”
“Wait,” Lacey says. “Hold up. You guys are going home—together?”
“Yeah,” Owen says, stepping a bit closer and wiggling his fingers impatiently. “We’re together. She’s staying at my place, aren’t you, Trina?”
“Yeah,” I answer, taking his hand. “We’re dating.”
“Oh, my God!” Robyn almost squeals. “You'd better dish out those details soon, girl, or I’ll never forgive you!”
“I promise to serve them up in good time,” I reply, laughing. “Just now, though, I’ve got somewhere to be.”
“You sure do,” Lacey says. “Get going, girl.”
After a few nods, nudges, and winks, Owen and I turn to walk up the path. Owen doesn’t let go of me, so I’m forced to keep holding his hand. The warm magnetism the other girls reacted to is still radiating out of him, but instead of feeling aroused, all I feel is annoyed.
If he had talked to me, done this in any other way, I might have understood. As things are, I can’t forgive him for hurting me like this—and bringing up all the pain I’ve tried so hard to forget.