Chapter 19 - Troy
I woke up with Elize still curled in my arms. She was still fast asleep with her head resting on my chest. I ran my hand through her hair and softly smiled as I took in her relaxed face.
I felt that tug deep in my chest knowing that Elize was the only person I wanted in this world.
She softly sighed, rubbing her face into my chest. “Mmm…”
I ran my finger over her cheek, thinking of last night. The sex we had was amazing, and holding her in my arms after was the cherry on top. Even after she had a vision and came through, she looked like she was glowing, and she giggled with excitement.
I never wanted to forget that look in her eyes. That look of happiness.
“Hey,” I brushed my knuckle on the other cheek. “We need to get up.”
She groaned before she peeled her eyes open. She looked at me and grunted. “It’s early.”
“I know, but we still have to check how the otters are doing and get back into town.”
She rolled over, lying on her back. She stared at the ceiling as I played with her hair.
“I suppose we do have to get up.”
I nodded. “We do.”
She chewed on her cheek. “But this has been nice.” She gave me a soft smile.
“It has.” I looked around the apartment, suddenly finding the space charming. Now that I was lying in bed, I found it was rather comfortable. The room had lots of windows that let in light, and I could see how Elize lived here.
“How do you feel?”
“I actually feel really good. My magic is just bubbling beneath the surface.” She pulled her hand up, staring at it. “I thought I was connected to my magic before, but I feel it more.”
“And I feel more connected to you.”
She smirked. “You’re only saying that because we had sex.”
“I mean, it does help, but it’s not the only reason. I think we both finally understand.”
She moved closer. “Or maybe we just both became honest.”
I pulled her tightly against me, suddenly wanting her again. I could spend days in here with her doing nothing but ravishing her body. I’d give up food to just have her over and over.
“We should get up, though. We need to stop downstairs.”
I kissed her forehead before we both sat up. She reached for her bra, pulling it on. “Do you want some coffee? I left most of the kitchen stuff here.”
“Sure.” I grabbed my pants and pulled them on. Elize pulled her clothes on while she started the coffee maker.
I sat on the edge of the bed and watched the way she moved around. She was clearly comfortable here, and I could see her spending hours up there.
She turned and raised an eyebrow at me. “What are you thinking about?”
“The convent.”
Her eyebrows went up. “In what regard?”
“I think they should be closer to us.”
Her face seemed to freeze as she soaked the words in. She frowned, chewing on her lip. “What do you mean?”
“I think the Convent is going to play a big role in helping us keep the pack safe. And I can see how comfortable and how much you miss it here, Elize. I can’t move the building, but we can move the people.”
She turned to the coffee and poured two glasses. “It won’t be that easy, Troy.”
“I know that, but I think it’s what we need to do. We have no other witches we can run to when we need help.”
“But my magic is more powerful now, Troy. We won’t have the issue I had yesterday.”
I pulled myself up and walked toward her. “I’m not saying you’re not powerful, Elize. You have been a huge help in everything. But I see how exhausted you are becoming. I’m becoming exhausted, and we can’t. We can’t run ourselves into the ground.”
She slid me a coffee and looked down at hers. “I suppose that’s probably a smart idea.”
“And we came here. We ran here for help. It would be easier for them if they were there. I could figure out a schedule, and we could add more hands to the pot to take care of people.”
“If you want it to happen, you know you can make it happen.”
I shook my head. “I’m not going to make anyone do something they don’t want to do. And I wanted to bring it up to you first because I want your view on the matter. Do you not think it’s a smart idea?”
She sighed softly before shaking her head. “No, I think your idea is smart. I think it makes the most sense.”
“Then why do you look so sad?”
She shrugged. “Because I’m not sure how the rest of the pack will perceive this.”
I knew that would be one of her worries, and I was going to make sure it wasn’t a problem. “How about we throw a party then? Get them all together to see there is nothing to hide and that we want them to join us.”
“That could maybe work.”
I pulled her toward me and softly kissed her. She softly moaned as she leaned into me. I hooked her and pulled her onto the counter. I cupped her face, deepening the kiss.
“God, you are perfect.”
She softly giggled as I nipped at her earlobe. She smelled amazing to like cinnamon and spice.
“Troy, we have to get moving.”
“I know.” I kissed her neck, suddenly finding myself having a hard time pulling myself together. “You just make me happy.”
She leaned back, staring at me with soft, loving eyes. “I’m glad.”
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Elize jumped.
“Morning, you guys. Just checking if you needed anything?”
“We’re good, Victoria. We will be down in a minute.” Elize’s face was deep red, and I chuckled.
“Alright, dear.”
Elize turned her gaze back to me, and I leaned closer. “You’re red as a tomato.”
“Shut up.”
“Why so red?”
“You know why.”
“We were just kissing. It wasn’t like we were in the middle of the deed when she knocked.”
“Not the point.” She pushed against my chest as she hopped down. “Let’s get everything cleaned up and get downstairs. We have a busy day ahead of us.”
We both had our coffee before going downstairs. I went to check on the guys while Elize spoke with Victoria to see how she felt about moving the convent closer.
The men were rested and ready to go back home. We were back in the pack by the afternoon.
Over the next couple of days, we were busy planning, moving everyone into the down, and getting the party underway.
I was surprised at how easily it was to move everyone.
Victoria talked with the members, and we found them housing.
We hadn’t decided if this was permanent or just until things settled down.
Elize was tapping a pen on the counter as she stared at the notebook in front of her. “I think that’s everyone,” she said as she looked back up at me.
“Everyone?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Everyone has housing now. At least for the next six months.”
“And the party?”
“Starts tomorrow at noon.” She softly smiled as she set her pen down. “And I’m a little excited about it.”
“Really?” I was surprised by this. “I thought you’d be nervous.”
“Oh, I am.” She chuckled. “But I’m excited as well. I think it would be nice if we could all get along.”
I nodded in agreement. I took my plate and set it in the kitchen. I watched as Elize shut the notebook and froze.
This was the first night we’d both been ready for bed at the same time. The first night, Elize fell asleep on the couch. The second night, I didn’t get home until almost two in the morning.
She pulled herself up. “We haven’t discussed the sleeping situation.”
I leaned on the counter and smirked. “What aspect of it?”
She rolled her eyes. “Sleeping, Troy. Not sex.”
I laughed. “I can see you’re too tired for sex, Elize. You have bags under your eyes.”
She chewed on her cheek. “So, what are we doing?”
“What do you want to do?”
She rolled the ring on her finger. “Are we doing this for real? Making this work?”
“We said we were going to before.”
She nodded. “Yes, but we are also both eager to get into each other’s pants.”
I rounded the counter. “Elize, I meant every word I said. Just because we had sex doesn’t change anything. I want you. No one else but you.”
She smiled. “Then we should be sharing one bed.”
“I agree.”
I hoisted her out of her seat and carried her down the hallway. She laughed the entire way.
The next morning, we headed to the park, where we were throwing the party. The weather was nice, and everything was going smoothly. We set up a buffet and set up tables for eating. We put out games for the kids and a lemonade stand.
People started to arrive on time, and Elize and I found ourselves busy. I gave a speech that the Convent was moving closer and offering a hand to help calm anyone. They were going to be an extension of what Elize was doing, and everyone seemed on board. People even clapped when I was done.
I wasn’t seeing any tension as the party went on, and I found the witches mingling with the rest of the pack. I could even hear laughter.
As I moved, my eyes always searched for Elize. I found her by the lemonade and a few minutes later, chatting with Victoria. I was trying to keep space, figuring that if we worked separately, we would cover more ground.
But I was always watching her, and I wasn’t paying much attention to what others were saying.
She smiled sweetly as she spoke with people. Elize blended into the pack perfectly, and I couldn’t help but find myself falling for her more. I didn’t think it was possible to love her more than I had before.
She spotted me across a couple of tables. She was sitting with some witches and a few pack members. She gave me a soft smile, and I felt my heart flutter.
I pointed toward the parking lot and started heading over there. I went over to the car where we had all the extra sodas. I popped the trunk just as Elize was walking toward me. She rounded the other cars and stopped next to me. “Did you need me?”
I nodded, hooking her arm and yanking her toward me. I pinned her down in the trunk, and her eyes widened as I kissed her roughly. To say I was horny was an understatement.
She laughed as she adjusted herself and pushed against my chest. “Troy, everyone is here.”
“They can’t see us from here.” I cupped the back of her neck. “If anything, they are lucky I haven’t pressed you down on a table and had my way with you.”
She blushed, hooking her legs around my hip. I ground into her, and her eyes widened. “Do you have a boner?”
“What was your first clue?”
She looked stunned.
I kissed her again, needing her closer. “You have no idea the amount of restraint it is taking me right now not to do dirty things to you.”
She laughed as she pulled at my shirt. “Like what?”
“Well, for starters, I would love nothing more than to slip my hand underneath this dress and find how wet you are.”
She blushed as she bit her bottom lip. “And maybe I’d let you.”
I growled at her, nipping at her bottom lip. Her words only egged me on. “What are you wearing underneath?”
She smirked. “Those lacy pink ones you like.”
“Oh, fuck me, Elize. You’re killing me here.” I moved my mouth to her ear, biting onto her earlobe. “I have watched you walk around all day in this dress. You have no idea what I want to do with you, and now that I know you’re wearing those lacy underwear. Jesus, Elize.”
Her fingers tightened on my shirt as she smirked. “Well, maybe I wanted to torture you a little today.”
“You might regret that.”
She leaned closer and shook her head. “No, I won’t.”
I kissed her roughly again, pulling her tighter against me. I felt her grinding her hips, only making my boner that much harder. I groaned, my hands tightening on her hips. I moved my hand lower, unable to stop myself.
I slid a hand between us and found Elize soaking wet. She moaned softly as I pressed my forehead against hers. “I don’t seem to be the only one who wants something.”
Her face was a shade of red as she panted for air. I stroked her, watching the way her lips parted, and she panted for air.
“Okay,” she nodded her head. “If you can be quick.”
I smiled. I knew it was wrong, considering the party was going on just twenty feet away from us. But I couldn’t wait.
“What the hell is going on here?”
We both froze. I looked back toward the party where the new voice was coming from. “Oh shit.”
“What?”
“The council.”
The council members stood just next to the party, looking pissed. Elize quickly fixed her dress and frowned. “You talked to them, didn’t you?”
“Uhmmm… No… Not really.”
Her eyes widened as she moved out of the trunk. “You didn’t tell them about this.”
“It was my call, so I didn’t feel they needed to know.”
She looked stunned as she scrambled to pull herself together. “Troy.”
“It almost might have slipped my mind.” I pulled myself up and shut the trunk. We rounded the car and headed back to the party.
I found Martin was leading the council members, arguing with Ivan. “What’s going on here? Who authorized this?”
“I did,” I said as I got closer. “We invited them to the party.”
“For what reason?” Jasmine snapped.
“Because they live here now.” Ivan snapped back. “It’s a welcome party.”
All eyes snapped to me. I held my ground and nodded in agreement with Ivan. “He’s right.”
“Why in the world would you not consult us on this decision?”
“Because it’s my pack and my decision to make.”
“You should have told us.” Dean snapped. “They are witches.”
I frowned. “And what exactly is the problem with having the convent move closer? Considering we have welcomed witches into our packs.” I narrowed my eyes. “Unless there is something you’re not telling us.”
The council went quiet for a moment, and I knew I had them. I moved closer. “You are the ones who pulled Elize back into the pack, and she’s a witch. So, I’m just a little confused why it bothers you so much that they are here?”
“We should have been informed about his change.” Laura snapped. “You know that.”
“Sure, I should have told you, but it’s not that big of a deal. We all open our arms to new people. Or are you angry because they were witches?”
Elize moved closer. “Let’s not make a bigger scene than what’s already been done.” She looked from one to the other, and then her eyes landed on her uncle. “We want them to feel welcome because we need their help.”
“She’s right,” Martin said. “We need their help.”
I ground my teeth together, wanting to smack Martin. Always the two-faced bastards.
“You would say we need their help, wouldn’t you, Martin?”
Martin’s eyes snapped toward me, and Elize pulled at my arm. “Troy?” Her voice shifted, and as I turned to her, I watched her eyes widen. I knew instantly that she was having a vision and pulled her closer to ensure she didn’t fall.
She was stiff as her eyes remained open, moving back and forth like she was watching something play out. The space fell quiet for a moment before she blinked, coming back to me.
“Elize?”
“The cauldron,” she whispered. “I need to see it.”