Chapter 7 - Troy
“Are you listening?” Ivan asked, waving a hand.
I scowled. “Explain to me why she would want to live out in the woods rather than living here in town? Or at her parents’ house, at least, if she didn’t want to stay with me.”
Ivan ran a hand over his face. “Troy, you’ve been walking about this for two days. Let it go.”
“I can’t just let it go.” I could still see her apartment. It was the smallest place I’d seen. It had run-down furniture, and it looked so dark. I hadn’t seen everything inside, but I saw enough to know that no one should live there.
And she refused to live in the pack. I figured she would think about moving in with her parents if she didn’t want to live with me, but she said no. She wouldn’t consider it.
“I just don’t understand.”
“Then move on,” Ivan asked, pointing at the papers. “And get some work done.”
I was having a hard time focusing. My mind was always thinking about her, and after our ceremony, my wolf was feeling all kinds of things. It was lonely and irritated. It was constantly on edge, wondering if she was okay. After seeing her living condition, it only got worse.
“Are you listening?”
“What?”
Ivan rubbed at his eyes and reached across the table, snatching the papers. “Alright, that’s it. Just go. You’re of little use to me. I’ll finish these and figure out the next steps.”
“I’m listening.”
He gave me a hard laugh. “No, you’re not. I’ve repeated myself four times. So, why don’t you go out for a run or go see your mate? Because clearly, your head is somewhere else.”
“I wasn’t thinking about her.”
“You were. It’s written all over your face.”
“You know what. I am going to leave. Not because you said so, but because you mean today.”
He snorted. “You do that, and I’ll finish the paperwork that I asked you to finish four days ago.”
I rolled my eyes as I got up and left the office. Outside, I froze. I couldn’t exactly go to Elize. She couldn’t care less about what I was feeling, and the last time I was there, she slammed the door in my face. I couldn’t go home because my mind would drive me insane.
I headed to my car and mulled it over. I figured maybe a run would help tire my wolf out. Then maybe I could start getting some of my shit done.
I headed into the woods and shifted. I left my clothes near my car as I headed into the woods. I would have let my wolf take control, but I knew it would just head in the direction of her convent.
I headed west, running along the trees and past a small pond.
There were abandoned railroad tracks that I ran across, and I headed up a couple of hills.
I felt myself starting to relax as I ran.
The woods were a powerful place for shifters.
It felt like being connected to the planet on a deeper level.
I came to a stop a couple of miles away in a clearing. I stood in the middle of a meadow and felt the wind blow. The long grass swayed, and the smell of earth filled my lungs. I watched a rabbit run through the grass, the grass moving as it hid.
I soaked it in, reminding myself why I worked so hard. This peace is what I wanted in our pack. I turned and headed back.
Once back at my car, I pulled my clothes back on. I checked my phone to see the time. It was a little past ten now. I should head home and shower. My mind had settled a little, but I knew it wouldn’t last that long. I would have to see her at some point today; I would drive myself insane.
I rounded my car when I heard shuffling a few yards behind me.
I paused and turned around. I noticed a group of guys standing a few yards away.
They were all college kids, and I could smell the faintness of alcohol, which was never a good sign.
I didn’t know if they were drinking now or just still going from last night.
I narrowed my eyes on them, watching as they laughed together. One pushed another, and the laughter grew louder.
“Hey, I have a great idea,” one of them muttered and leaned in closer to them. He spoke more softly, and I couldn’t hear. But I could feel the hair on my arms rise. Whatever they were talking about, I knew it wasn’t good.
They headed into the woods, and I frowned. It was in the direction of Elize’s Convent. Well, shit.
I got in my car and headed up the road. I knew it would take them a while to get there if that was their destination. I was driving over the speed limit, taking the back road. I watched dust kick up behind me as I slammed to a halt just outside the convent.
I got out of my car and looked around the open space. I could feel my heart racing as I hoped that I was wrong. I hoped they went somewhere else.
But then I heard the faint sound of footsteps, and I knew I hadn’t been. I watched them emerge up ahead onto the road. They were all in their wolf form now.
I walked closer, knowing that the convent was only a few yards up the road now. I told Elize that we would protect her convent and I was going to keep it.
“Hey, where are you guys going?” I yelled as I walked, growing closer to the group.
None of them looked my way, so I wasn’t sure if they heard me or not. So, I placed my hands over my mouth and yelled louder. “Hey!”
They turned. I watched a couple of them retreat, knowing right away they were caught, but three of them didn’t. I knew liquor was powerful, but there was something else going on. I’d handled drunks before, and the look in their eyes wasn’t that.
I came to a stop as I watched them. My stomach sank as I realized their eyes were all jet black.
The hair on my neck rose as they turned toward me. The look in their eyes told me that they weren’t in control. I knew that they were clearly being affected by the dark magic.
“Shit.”
I’d seen a couple of wolves lose their minds, but I hadn’t run into a group of them before. It was hard enough to handle one wolf. I didn’t know how I was going to handle three.
I ran for it because that’s the best I could do. If I got back into my car, I could drive closer to the convent and tell everyone to get inside.
But before I could get to my car, I felt something slam into me from the side and force me sideways. I flew out of the way as the wolves charged past me. I hit the ground hard, feeling the wind getting knocked out of me.
I heard a loud thud as two wolves slammed into my car. The third one came to a halt.
“Fuck,” I grunted as I rolled off my stomach. I rolled over and spotted an older woman standing a few feet behind me. She had her eyes focused and turned her gaze toward the wolves.
I quickly realized she’d used magic to shove me out of the way. I turned my eyes toward the wolves who were turning around to charge at her now.
But she wasn’t alone now. Elize stood next to her. She pulled her hands up, and I could see her magic on her palms.
“Troy, move!” Elize yelled, and I turned my head just as the two who slammed into my car were pulling themselves together.
“Shit.” I hoisted myself up, trying to force my body and lungs to listen.
“Why are they going after you?” the older lady yelled, pulling her magic up and slamming it into one of them.
“Don’t hurt them!” I quickly yelled. “They aren’t in control of themselves. I need to call Janella. She can calm them.”
I made it over to them, trying to find my phone. I then realized that I had left it in the car.
“Calm them?”
“It’s the dark magic. They don’t realize what they are doing. Once they calm down, they will be fine.”
“What do you want me to do?” The older lady asked, still using her magic to hold them off.
I ran my hand through my hair. I hadn’t planned this. I thought they were just drinking.
“Troy!” Elize yelled now. “What do I do?”
“I don’t know! Janella has the ability to calm them.”
“Victoria, do you know how to do that?”
Victoria nodded. “Yeah, it’s simple. You just use your magic and force it into their mind rather than an injury.”
I watched as the wolves got closer. Elize pulled her hands up, and I watched her look at the wolves, focused. I watched as one by one, the guys seemed to snap back to reality.
I stood amazed at what Elize had just pulled off. All of them were calm now and seemed to snap out of it. Will, the older one, looked up from a daze. He blinked, and his eyes widened in horror. “Oh, my god.”
“Are you okay?” Elize asked as she moved closer.
Will nodded. “I don’t know what happened. We were all out having a good time, planning to just go out for some fun. But… one moment we were having fun and the next we were angry.”
I looked at the others, who looked just as confused. I hated the way my stomach dipped. This just meant that things weren’t getting better. If anything, they were getting worse. The bonding with Elize and I had done nothing to help.
“Are they going to be okay?” Victoria asked as she walked closer.
I nodded, looking back at the guy. “Are you guys calm?”
They all nodded, looking embarrassed now. I frowned, wishing I had extra clothes to offer them.
“Let’s get you inside. I have some spare clothes that you can all wear.”
We headed into the convent, where we went into a shop. Elize helped Victoria onto a stool before grabbing clothes and handing each of the guys a set.
They all said their thanks, and I looked around the space. I realized it was a healing center. It smelled of spices and magic. It was warm inside, and I spotted pictures of Elize on the wall.
I walked closer, taking them in. She was smiling in all of them. She and Victoria were sitting at a table outside. I turned and looked back at Victoria and Elize.
“Elevate your leg,” Elize snapped at Victoria, moving a stool closer.
Victoria waved her hand. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not. Put your foot up.”
“You snapped your ankle the other day. I have a right to be worried.”
Victoria pointed to the guys as they sat on the steps outside after getting dressed. “Are they going to be okay?”
I nodded. “They should be.”
Victoria nodded. “Well, that’s good. Things could have gotten ugly if we hadn’t shown up.”
“Yes, they could have.” My stomach twisted up at those words. If Elize weren’t here, it wouldn’t have been pretty.
I looked over at Elize. “Elize, I think we need to discuss our living situation.”
Elize narrowed her eyes at me. She looked irritated again. “And I already told you no. I live here.”
“This is serious.” I waved a hand. “You were able to calm them down. I wouldn’t have been able to do this. I have to call Janella for that, but if you were in the pack, I wouldn’t have to.”
“And I already told you that I wasn’t going to live there.”
“That was before I knew you could calm them. This is only going to continue.”
Elize didn’t respond. Victoria looked over at her. “Elize, I think you should consider it.”
Elize looked shocked. “Victoria, you can’t be serious.”
Victoria nodded. “He has a point. You’re needed there.”
Her mouth snapped shut, and I could see her shoulders relax. “Please?” I asked. “You saw how they get, Elize. And I need someone who can calm them. Before anything happens. I don’t want to lose anyone like the others.”
Elize looked between Victoria and me. I could see several emotions cross her face before she sighed. “Fine, but I can change my mind at any time, Troy.”
I nodded because she said yes, and that was all that mattered.