Chapter Five
“What?” Axel snapped, glaring straight at Deepa.
Deepa examined the large man before her.
He looked just like her dead boyfriend. The facial structure, eyes, hair color, and shoulders were the same, but as Deepa looked closer, she realized that certain things were different.
The man before her was clearly older. There were more wrinkles around his eyes, and he didn't have the scar on his cheek that Parker received in a fight years earlier.
"I'm...I'm sorry..." Deepa uttered as her face went red, dropping her gaze to the ground. "You just remind me of someone."
The man curiously raised an eyebrow. "Parker?"
"Just..." Deepa found it difficult to force the words from her throat. "Someone that I used to know."
"Ah, sorry to disappoint," the man replied with a smile. "I'm Ryan. I'm Axel's younger brother."
"Oh… nice to meet you." Deepa tried to ignore the way Axel's grip tightened on her arm.
"Likewise," Ryan grinned. "And you are?"
"Deepa."
"Deepa…” Ryan said softly. “That’s a lovely name."
Axel's growl interrupted their conversation. "We were just leaving."
"So soon," said Ryan. "I was hoping that you could at least stay for breakfast. Axel rarely brings any friends home."
"She's not hungry!" Axel snapped.
"That's too bad," Ryan sighed. "Reese made plenty this morning."
"We're leaving!" Axel started forcefully dragging Deepa away.
Deepa yanked her arm out of his grasp. "Actually I'd like to stay for breakfast."
There was something about Ryan that intrigued her.
Axel's face dropped.
“I think that’s a great idea." Nastya linked her arm through Deepa's and led her back into the house. “Reese makes the most wonderful tomato omelets."
"That sounds amazing." Deepa grinned, enjoying the sight of Axel's distress.
Nastya led Deepa down the hallway and into a spacious dining room, pulling out a seat at a long table.
Ryan and Axel followed, Ryan looking amused while Axel glared at Deepa like she'd betrayed him.
There were several other people already eating breakfast. A couple of young blond men and women chatting and laughing, while a teenage boy quietly picked at his food.
Deepa caught sight of the man who bit Parker, silently scrolling through his phone while chewing on a piece of bacon, but she quickly looked away, trying to suppress the surge of anger that rose up inside her.
She took a seat next to Ryan. Axel sat on the opposite side, glaring at her.
"Take whatever you like." Ryan gestured to the huge selection of food that lay on the table. There were sausages, omelets and fruit, along with a large pile of bacon.
"Thank you," Deepa murmured, helping herself to the bacon.
"So, how long have you and Axel been dating?" Nastya asked while daintily chewing on a piece of apple.
"We're not dating," Deepa huffed. "And I don't even know him that well."
"Is that so? Please tell me more.”
"There's nothing to tell." Deepa slowly chewed, fighting the urge to gorge herself.
"Don't be shy.” Ryan took a sip from a glass of orange juice. "We're all family here."
"We met at a bar," Deepa said in between bites. "He bit me, ruined my life, and now he can't keep his dick in his pants."
"So, you're not here on your own free will?" Nastya gasped.
Deepa shook her head. "Not really."
Ryan looked at Axel, his expression turning sour.
"Don't look at me like that," Axel muttered, glancing down at the table. "She showed up here on her own."
Nastya curiously raised an eyebrow while taking a sip of her coffee.
"I'm sorry," said Ryan. "My brother has always been terrible at controlling himself. He gets so excited about causing havoc, that he never stops to think about the consequences."
Axel's grip tightened around his fork.
"He's always been like this," Nastya sighed. "Always rushing in, acting without thinking, and expecting everyone else to clean up his mess."
"Cut it out," Axel hissed.
Nastya rolled her eyes, returning to her food.
"Anyway," Ryan said. "Please don't let my poor misguided older brother ruin your fun. You're welcome to stay here for as long as you like."
Deepa looked to Axel. He shook his head, mouthing the word no.
"Thanks." Deepa smiled up at Ryan. "That would be lovely."
“You can have my old room,” said Nastya. “It has a wonderful view of the garden.”
Axel slammed his fork on the table. "No fucking way."
"Oh, relax," said Nastya. "If Deepa wants to stay, she can stay."
"She can't," Axel hissed.
"Why not?"
Axel's eyes darted between his brother and sister.
"She doesn't belong here," Axel said coldly. "She’s just a crazy quick fuck that I picked up for fun. She'll stink the whole place out with her vile human scent."
"Excuse me?" Deepa spat, her hands clenching.
"And we'll have to listen to her crying and groaning all night. She'll annoy everyone with her shitty attitude and sob stories about her dead boyfriend."
Deepa jumped to her feet, knocking over a jug of orange juice that spilled across the table. "Fuck you, arsehole!"
"See what I mean," Axel laughed. "Completely insane."
Deepa felt tears sting her eyes, the anger and shame mixing together. She couldn't understand why she ever let this guy into her vagina.
"Axel," Ryan said calmly. "Don't you think that's going too far?"
"Yeah, Axel." Nastya’s mouth curled up into a sly smile. "Be nicer to your girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend!" Axel snapped.
Deepa took a step back, her chest tight as she fought the urge to cry.
"Please," Axel said, coldly glaring straight at her. "Just get out."
Deepa stared at him, her chest tightening.
She turned and ran out of the dining room, eyes burning. She didn't care where she went. She just wanted to be as far away from him as possible.
The asphalt stung Deepa's bare feet as she made her way down the rural mountain road.
Fuck Axel and his stupid family. She was going straight to Infection Control to tell them all where he lived. Maybe they'd spare her life if she brought them the biggest haul of the year.
Deepa continued onwards, the sun blazing down on her back, sweat drenching her clothes.
Several cars zoomed past, but none of them bothered stopping for her.
It was a surprise when a gleaming Lexus pulled up beside her.
Axel's brother Ryan was sitting behind the wheel.
"Need a lift?" he asked casually.
"I'm fine," Deepa growled, trying not to give him the satisfaction of seeing how flustered she was. Even his voice resembled Parker's.
"I insist.” Ryan pushed open the door. "It's dangerous for a pretty girl to be walking alone in these parts."
"I'm good," Deepa muttered, continuing along the road as the car rolled forward beside her.
"Look, I'm sorry about the way Axel treated you, but we're not all dicks like him."
Deepa frowned, slowing her pace.
"I'm serious," Ryan said. "You'd be safer letting me give you a lift than wandering these roads on your own."
Deepa sighed, stopping and turning to him. "You're not going to leave me alone until I get in, are you?"
"Nope."
"Fine," Deepa groaned, opening the passenger door and sliding onto the leather seat.
Ryan hit the accelerator and steered back onto the road.
"Where to?" he asked.
Deepa bit her lip. What were her options? Her home was gone and she had no cash or job prospects. It was either a homeless shelter or the streets.
"I dunno," she shrugged. "Anywhere I suppose."
"You don't have anywhere to go?"
Deepa shook her head.
"How about you stay with us until you find somewhere. We have a ton of empty rooms that are just gathering dust."
"You're not afraid that I'll tell Infection Control about your secret werewolf compound?"
Ryan shook his head. "No. They wouldn't believe you anyway. They still think we're all rabid monsters who live in the sewers."
"I dunno," Deepa murmured. Axel had made it clear that he didn't want her there. She didn't want to run into him when she went to use the bathroom.
Ryan rested a hand on her shoulder. "If you're worried about the others, don't. I won't let anyone hurt you. I promise."
Deepa glanced out the window, at the endless woods surrounding them.
"I know that the transformation is a lot to take in," Ryan continued. "Werewolves aren't what you expected, right?"
"Not really," Deepa replied. "You're so..."
"Civilized?"
"Yeah."
Ryan shrugged. "Well, we're not all like Axel. Some of us actually learnt manners."
Deepa raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
"My mother was like you. She had to cope with being transformed into a werewolf. But she adjusted after a while, and I'm sure you can too."
"Your mother was human?"
Ryan nodded. “She was a lot like you. Beautiful, stubborn, and full of fight."
"I see." Deepa clasped her hands in her lap. "Axel never mentioned anything about his family."
"Axel and I are only half brothers. We have the same father but different mothers."
"Oh, that sounds...complicated."
"Yeah, it’s a touchy subject for him. He blames my mother for his parents splitting up. That's just one of the many reasons why he's so bitter towards me."
"That makes sense. He was kind of a dick back there."
"That's nothing new. He's always been an angry little shit."
Deepa let out a laugh.
"I'm sorry that he bit you,” said Ryan. “I saw how much my mother suffered, so I want to try and make it up to you.”
Deepa nodded, feeling calmer than before. Perhaps it was his resemblance to Parker which made her feel at ease.
"I want to help you adjust,” said Ryan. “And if you don't like it, you're free to leave at any time."
Deepa smiled, her chest easing. It was the first time she'd felt hopeful in days. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it." He pulled up to the gates of the compound. "Welcome home."