Chapter 9 - Troy
“Why are we out here again?” Ivan asked, rubbing his hands together and blowing on them. The wind blew, and a shiver ran down my spine, but I kept my eyes focused.
“I’m surveying,” I explained as I scanned the treeline again. “I already spoke with Charlie and Victoria about a way to add some extra security here.”
After what happened before, and Elize moving into the pack, I wanted to make sure they were still safe. I knew Elize worried about leaving them out here alone.
He nodded, shivering. “Yeah, the question was, why am I here as well? You couldn’t freeze your ass off by yourself? And we couldn’t have done this on a nicer day? Tomorrow is supposed to be almost eight degrees outside.”
I rolled my eyes as I marked the spot down on my map. “I’m having you here as an extra set of eyes.”
“Troy, it’s freezing out here. Why couldn’t we do this tomorrow?”
“Because we have a full-packed day tomorrow.”
He walked closer, looking at the map. “What are you exactly doing?”
“We’re going to put up a couple of security cameras, and we talked about setting up some tripped-wire alarms as a precaution. It’s so they all become aware if anyone is getting too close to them. I’m actually a little surprised that I didn’t have something like this set up before.”
“And you don’t think the memo you sent out to the entire pack was good enough? Do you anticipate them going against your direct word to leave them alone?”
“It’s not just our pack but the surrounding packs that we need to keep them safe from. I hope my members will listen to my warning and take it seriously. But I can’t stop a rogue shifter from coming into this place.”
He huffed as he shoved his hands into his pockets. “Okay, let’s say someone gets here. It seems to me that the witches can handle themselves just fine. You said that they were the ones who stopped the others from hurting you before.”
Just because they stopped the others doesn’t mean that’s how it was going to go every time.
I saw how worried Elize was about the convent.
A lot of the members were old, and they had young kids here as well.
The buildings were in need of repair, but Elize was adamant that they didn’t need anything.
The least I could do was make sure no one came in and made things worse for them.
“The witches can, but that doesn’t mean they always have the manpower to do so. You see how small this place is.”
“If they want protection, why don’t they move into the pack?”
I gave him a look because we both knew the answer. The pack hadn’t always been welcoming to witches. Even still, years later, some people are set in their ways. We were just starting to open people’s eyes to the fact that witches could help us, but it was going to take a while.
“How about you stop bitching and help me get the camera out of the car. The quicker you help me, the quicker we get home.”
He waved a hand and moved back toward the car. I walked over, figuring out which tree I wanted to attach the camera to. We’d already hung up three others. When we were done with this, we were going to get motion sensors closer to the buildings.
“Don’t forget the ladder.”
Ivan and I hung up the cameras and checked the feed to make sure they were working properly. I had to admit it was peaceful out here. There was little noise besides chatter from people outside. I could see why Elize enjoyed being here.
We hung up the final camera, and I was still on the ladder, checking the video feed, when we could hear someone coming down the road.
I figured it had to be a member, so I didn’t pay attention to who was arriving.
I was hidden in the tree, trying to make sure everything was secure, when I heard a door open and slam.
“What the hell are you doing!” Elize’s voice came out in an angry snap, and Ivan looked up at the ladder at me.
“Elize?” I moved down a few steps and found her walking toward us. I felt my heart skip a beat as I realized she was wearing skinny jeans and a leather jacket. She had a knitted cap on and her arms were crossed.
I couldn’t stop my eyes from soaking every inch of her in. My chest ached to get closer to her, so I tightened my hold on the ladder, forcing myself to stay where I was.
“Whatever you’re doing, stop.”
“I’m just setting up cameras.”
Her eyes widened. “Cameras! No, you are not putting up cameras. Take them down. Are you insane? That’s an invasion of everyone’s privacy!”
I scuffed. “I’m not taking them down. I just put them up, and they aren’t aimed at the convent. They are aimed out into the woods.”
She moved close, her lips forming a tight line as she glared at me. “Troy, take them down. You can’t just decide to put cameras up! You don’t have permission to put those up.”
I sighed, knowing she would have been against the idea. “I actually do. I spoke with Victoria and Charlie, who both agreed with the idea. They like the idea of extra security, and I figured you would sleep better at night knowing they were protected.”
She stammered for a second, and I knew she hadn’t realized I spoke with them.
She shook her head and crossed her arms. “What exactly are you trying to do here, Troy?”
“Well, for starters, I was setting up cameras for security and trying to find ways to make the convent safer.”
Elize scowled. “Why?”
“Because I promised you that we would protect them, and I’m doing so. This convent is part of my duties now, and I’m making sure nothing happens here while you’re gone.”
She stared at me for a beat, and I could see several emotions flash across her face. But she shook her head. “That doesn’t mean you put up cameras.”
I waved a hand. “Do you have a better idea? If so, tell me, and I’ll hop right on board. Anything. Any idea and I’ll take it.”
She opened her jaw but stumbled. She quickly snapped it shut and sighed, which told me she didn’t.
“That’s what I thought. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I was just finishing this.” I turned back to the camera and made sure it was secure before I came down the ladder.
Elize was glaring at me, so Ivan cleared his throat. “Hi, Elize.”
She looked at Ivan, seeming to realize he was here. “Oh, hi Ivan. I didn’t even realize you were there.”
He scrunched up his nose and gave her a sarcastic smirk. “If you two are done bickering, I’m freezing my ass off and would like to warm up.”
“Victoria made tea at the healing center,” I said, nodding my head just up the road. “I’ll meet you up there in a few minutes.”
“That’s where I will be.” Ivan practically ran off.
I watched the way she shifted on her feet as she hugged her middle. “What are you doing back here?”
“I came to help Victoria with some things. I also help some of the kids with reading.” She couldn’t even look at me, and I felt my heart twist up missing her. Being near her reminded me so much of what we had.
We used to laugh for hours. She would rest her head on my shoulder, and I could see all her walls just come down. Now, I was lucky if she didn’t glare at me with pure hatred.
I ground my teeth together, hating how Martin had screwed it up. Why the hell had he meddled in and pulled us apart just to force us together again? What was the point of it?
“So, are you done here?” she asked, seeming to shiver.
I nodded. “Yeah. Ivan and I were going to head back. Unless you needed anything.” A part of me hoped she did. A part of me wanted her to open up and ask for something. Anything. I would be willing to give it.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. Her eyes held no emotions as she held my gaze now. “I’m fine.”
My heart sank, and I nodded. “Alright, then I’ll grab Ivan, and we will be on our way. Sorry to intrude.”
Ivan and I headed back into the city, and I could hardly focus. I kept telling myself to give it time and that things would turn around between Elize and me, but now I was wondering if she’d moved on. Had she locked off her heart and let me have no way to find myself back in?
I had spent years wishing I could turn back time and fix things. I wished I hadn’t let Martin fool me into thinking I had no power. I knew I’d hurt her, but maybe I’d done too much damage, and she had already repaired herself.
Once we were back in Riverville, I went straight into Martin’s office and found him sitting at his desk. I shut the door behind me and walked toward the chair in front of his desk, grabbing behind it. I could feel my grip tightening and my knuckles turning white.
“Why? Why the hell did you do any of it?”
Martin raised an eyebrow at me, pulling his gaze up from his work. “Excuse me?”
“You are the one who told me to break up with her all those years ago. You told me I had no choice, or you were going to meddle in it. And here you are telling me I’m mated to her?”
Martin sighed heavily, as if I was wasting his time. “If you have a problem with being with her…”
I shoved the chair, and it slammed into the desk. The sound echoed around the small space. “I have a problem that you let me waste years away from her! I’m pissed that you fucking screwed up something that we had! I will never be able to get that back.”
Martin rolled his eyes. “You’re being dramatic, Troy. She’s just a woman. I think you’re letting your emotions get the better of you.”
I ground my teeth together. “Why are you suddenly allowing this? You were the one who broke us apart. Why do you want us together now?”
Martin sighed and leaned back in his chair. “I’m only agreeing to this because of what happened with Riley’s pack. You need a witch by your side so we can keep this pack together. Otherwise, trust me. She’d still be back in the convent.”
I hated how he was so two-faced. I hated how he acted so sweetly with her and showed me the true side of him. And I hated that I allowed it to go on for so long.
“You’re a terrible person, you know that, Martin?”
Martin’s eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk. “Tread lightly, Troy.”
“You’re hiding something,” I snapped. “There is more to this than what you’re telling me.”
Martin sat there, seeming to calculate what to do next. “And what exactly do you think that I’m hiding?”
That was just it, I didn’t know. I had no idea what he could be hiding, but I knew that there was way more to the story than what they were telling us.
I knew that Riley hadn’t been told everything when he was first informed about his mate.
They hide the cauldron until later. So, there was obviously more they were keeping hidden.
Why else would he suddenly bring Elize back?
I knew it wasn’t just from the kindness of his heart.
“I don’t know what you’re doing, but you’re playing with fire here. I am giving you one warning. I am not a high schooler anymore, Martin. I’m an Alpha, and I will have no problem pulling rank.”
Martin gripped his chair. “Are you threatening me, Troy?”
Threatening him? No. I was planning something bigger than that.
I wasn’t going to just stand aside and let him screw everything up again.
I was not going to let him ruin this a second time.
“No. I’m past that. If you get into this again, I will have no problem finding a way to fuck up your life. Starting with telling her the truth.”
I knew he didn’t want her to know. I didn’t want her to know. If Elize knew what happened, it would hurt her. But I’d tell her if it meant saving her this time.
He laughed, shaking his head like he wasn’t worried. “You don’t want her to know the truth, Troy. Otherwise, you would have already told her. See, you are just like me. You’re keeping your own secrets.”
“I don’t want her to know because it would hurt her. But I will have no problem telling her if you don’t stay out of this. You’re a two-faced jackass that doesn’t care about her, and I’m done standing aside like it’s not happening.”
I watched his jaw clench together, and his nostrils flared. He almost seemed small as he sat there. I could see he was trying to think of something, mulling over what he could do to turn this in his favor.
“She’s my wife now. So, you’d better tread carefully.”