Chapter 8 - Elize
I stared at the bedroom. I still couldn’t believe that I had agreed to move in with Troy. But I couldn’t unsee the wolves running after him. I could see that animalistic look in their eyes as they charged. They were like rabid animals, and the thought of it happening again scared me.
And I was utterly terrified. I was scared Victoria was going to get hurt. I was scared Troy would be injured. I was scared about what could happen to the convent.
I knew deep down that living in my apartment wouldn’t be long. I had a feeling that it wasn’t going to be that simple.
“Is there anything you need?” Troy poked his head into my room. He was holding the last box in his arms.
I shook my head. “No, I’ll be fine. You can set that down on the bed.”
He walked into my room. “The bed is new. And if you need extra blankets, I leave them in the hallway closet. Towels are also in there, including any toiletries that you may need.”
I nodded, trying to put some distance between us. Just because I was moving into the house with him didn’t change anything. The rules were the same. We were still just people who were forced together who had nothing in common.
We had agreed that I would take the extra bedroom since there was no way in hell I was sharing a space with him. We took my essentials from my apartment, which hadn’t been that many boxes. I was almost embarrassed by how little I had in my life.
“Thank you for helping me move my stuff.” I looked around the bedroom again. There was a queen-sized bed in the corner. A big lamp with a desk in the other corner. There was a large walk-in closet and a dresser near the door.
“Well, I figured if I didn’t, you never would.”
He wasn’t wrong. I would drag my feet. I agreed that this was what was best for the convent. The idea of a wolf hurting anyone didn’t sit well in my stomach.
“You can go now,” I said as I pointed toward my door. I wanted to unbox my stuff and relax a little before bed. I didn’t know how I was even going to sleep tonight.
“You sure? I could help you unpack,” he said with a smirk.
“No, I’ve had enough of you for today.” I grabbed the box from him and tossed it onto the bed. I then grabbed him and turned him toward the door, shoving at his back. “I’ve had a long day, and I just want to be left alone. I was to unbox my stuff and try to relax a little before bed.”
I pushed him out, and he turned, giving me a grin. “Well, if you change your mind, I’m down the hall.”
I slammed the door.
I went through my stuff. I hung up my clothes and put some pictures on top of the dresser. I smiled at the photos of me in the convent. I couldn’t help but think about all the fun times I had. They had welcomed me in like I was always meant to be there.
I crawled into bed an hour later, wide awake. I kept wondering if Victoria was staying off her leg. I wondered if Charlie remembered to take his night meds. I chewed on my cheek, feeling my stomach churning. I hated not knowing what was going on.
I tossed and turned all night. I got up feeling the room was too stuffy and threw the windows open. I took in the chilly air and instantly missed my space. I stared into the woods, feeling that I was doing what was right. I knew that this was the best idea, but it still made me uneasy.
I leaned onto the window and took a deep breath of the air. I closed my eyes.
“This is the best option,” I whispered to myself.
I crawled back into bed and tried to sleep, but I couldn’t.
I finally dragged myself out from the sheets a little after six in the morning.
I went down the hallway into the small kitchen and made myself a cup of coffee.
I popped the coffee pod in and started it.
I leaned onto the counter, rubbing at my eyes as I sighed.
The house had an open floor plan, which left everything flowing together. The house felt like Troy. It had cool colors and dark wood. I could picture him living here.
I heard footsteps coming down the hallway. I turned just as Troy came around the corner. My eyes widened as I took him in. Troy was wearing white shorts and no top. My eyes instantly trailed over his body, taking in his six-pack. I could see he had a fit, and it stirred something deep down.
My jaw dropped at the sight of him. He had a half-asleep look in his eyes as he walked, smiling at me. “Morning,” he said with a broken voice.
I just stared at him as he walked toward the fridge, pulling it open. The kitchen was already tight with just me in it, but with Troy standing just a few inches from me, it felt even smaller.
I swallowed, unable to stop raking my eyes over his entire body. It wasn’t like I hadn’t seen Troy half-naked before. We slept together so I knew what he looked like, but he was bigger now. You could tell he was built, but not in a bulky way.
I could feel my face growing hot, and I stepped out of the kitchen. I scowled at him. “What are you doing?”
He paused, mid-pour with the milk and a cup. “What?”
“Do you see anything wrong with this situation?” I waved a hand between us and then around the kitchen. “Anything at all?”
He shrugged. “I do not. I’m just pouring myself a cup of milk, Elize.”
“Are you still asleep? How can you not see the problem?” I threw my hands out.
He sighed and rubbed at his eyes. “It’s a little early to have an argument, so how about you tell me what’s wrong here.”
“You’re shirtless.”
He took a drink of his milk and nodded. “I am, and you’ve seen me in much less. So, I don’t see the problem here.”
I could feel my face getting hotter. I hated how my mind went back to that night, and I quickly shook my head. “This is inappropriate, Troy. You’re not living in an empty house anymore. You need to dress appropriately.”
I cleared his throat. “Elize, it’s not like I’m walking around bare ass. I have on shorts. I just don’t have on a shirt.”
“And you’re making me uncomfortable.”
His eyebrows went up. “Uncomfortable, really? Because that’s not what your face says.”
I swallowed, trying to find words. “Wear clothes when you’re in the house, Troy.”
He set his milk down. “Okay, fine. I’ll wear clothes. I’ll be sure to wear long layers so you don’t have to see my skin. Will that make you feel better?”
“Now, you’re just being a smartass.”
“You’re the one who’s getting wound up about me not wearing a shirt.”
I took a breath, deciding I needed to step away since he clearly didn’t want to act like an adult. “You know what. I’m going for a walk.”
“You might want some blackout shades. I know a lot of guys out there run around without shirts. And I’ve seen women running in their sports bras. It’s a crazy world outside.”
I rolled my eyes and turned toward the door. “Real mature, Troy.”
I slipped on my shoes and stepped outside. I figured I could go for a walk and maybe stop somewhere and get breakfast. Hopefully, but by the time I got back, he would be out of the house.
But I came to a halt when I noticed everyone standing on the sidewalk. I felt my eyes widen, unsure of what was going on. I couldn’t read what any of them were thinking, but I knew a crowd wasn’t a good thing.
“You’re Elize, aren’t you?” A young woman stepped forward.
I swallowed. I couldn’t deny it because they would find out the truth. Also, who else was leaving their Alpha’s house this early in the morning, looking like she just crawled out of bed?
“I am.” I squeezed my palms together, feeling my hands were starting to shake.
“You calmed them. The shifters yesterday. They were unable to control themselves, and you calmed them. Is it true? They said you did it.”
I looked around the group, watching heads start to nod. I even spotted one of them from yesterday. I didn’t know what to say. I wasn’t sure what they knew. I wasn’t even sure I knew what was fully going on.
“How did you do it?” she pressed, stepping closer.
“Excuse me?”
“How did you calm them?”
I stammered. “I just… did.” It wasn’t hard to do, but you did have to focus. I had luckily spent years learning how to heal wounds, so it came naturally to me.
“How did you do it?” she asked again. “Can you do it again?”
I looked at everyone and noticed the desperation. I could see the look of sleepless nights. My shoulders lowered a little as I started to feel what Troy had been talking about.
He hadn’t just brought me here because he wanted to. He brought me here because his pack members were scared, and they needed me.
More of them spoke up. Questions started to overlap as they all moved closer. I stepped back, my foot hitting the door.
“How long have you been doing it?”
“How did you do it?”
“Does this mean all witches know how to do this?”
Their voices start to blend together and grow louder. I felt my heart starting to beat quicker and my face felt hot. I didn’t know how to answer them.
I didn’t exactly like crowds either. I got claustrophobic and started to feel panicked. I had nowhere to go, nowhere I could slip away. I was stuck.
I heard the sound of the front door behind me, and I looked over my shoulder as Troy stepped out. He looked a little surprised for a split second before I watched his eyes snap toward the crowd.
“What’s going on here?” he asked with an authoritative voice.
“Troy,” They all seemed to fall quiet as they took Troy in. The one in front turned her attention toward him. “She has healing powers.”
Troy looked at me for a moment before he looked back toward the group. “Elize has a calming ability, yes. She’s agreed to marry me and help us.”
“What is happening to people here, Troy?” Another spoke up. “What is going on?”
I glanced at Troy. I knew that Troy said that they didn’t know everything that was going on. They couldn’t tell the members because they didn’t know.
“We don’t know exactly what’s going on, but we do know that we have an impending danger hanging over the pack. It’s been affecting shifters and causing them to act in ways they normally wouldn’t. Elize has the ability to calm shifters. She has agreed to stay and calm anyone who needs it.”
“What danger?”
Troy frowned. “I don’t have all the answers. I’m telling you what we know. Please, everyone, respect our personal space. If you have questions, you can schedule a meeting with me.”
I swallowed, chewing on my cheek as everyone started to look at each other before they all started to leave. I could see they all still had questions, but neither of us had answers.
I hated how he’d explained me. I felt like I was a tool rather than a human being. He was just using me as a means to an end. And what killed me was that I agreed. I knew that this was the entire point, but now I suddenly felt… I didn’t know what I felt.
“I’m going for a walk,” I muttered, feeling hurt as I hurried down the steps. I crossed the yard, not understanding what was going on. I shouldn’t be bothered by the fact that he was using me to protect his pack. But I was.