Chapter 7 #2
“Not completely.” My eyes darted away as my courage to be honest wobbled slightly, “I had a memory pop into my head that was from when I was in the basement…and I just felt…” I paused, frowning. “Overwhelmed. I felt sad and overwhelmed.”
Ledger searched my gaze as he nodded, running a thumb over my cheekbone, “Do you want to talk about it?” I knew he would talk about it all day with me.
“Not yet,” I whispered quietly. “Jordan mentioned she talks to someone that helps her sort through her anxiety.”
“Do you think you have anxiety?” Ledger asked, his brow crinkling. Unlike Jordan’s experience with shifters, I didn’t see any judgment at all, just concern. Then again I felt like I could have ten eyes and be purple and my mates would probably still accept me. They were sweet like that.
I shrugged, “I’m not sure, but I think I should talk to someone and try to figure it out. She also mentioned PTSD and depression. I just think it may be worth a shot.”
“Alright,” he nodded and kissed my temple, “if you want to see her we’ll make it happen or find someone else that you feel comfortable talking to.”
My eyes watered lightly as I tightened my arms around him. “Thank you.” I found myself wanting to say more than that. To thank him for being him. For being someone that I was pretty sure I was starting to love.
The cupcakes had been as good as I thought they would. I was feeling far more upbeat after my discussion with Ledger.
Henry walked next to me in the gym, both of us having finally finished running. I had a feeling that Henry had gotten snippets of what had been going on in my head earlier despite trying to stay out. I believed him about that. Henry wasn’t a liar. I grabbed his hand as he offered me a smile.
“So this interview today,” I started wondering what exactly it would be like.
“It won’t be that bad,” he groaned in contrast, “just some reporter asking you about what happened.”
My lips twisted, “What should I say?”
“What do you want to say?” His voice was thoughtful as he searched my face.
When the bell rang, I’d yet to form an answer.
I didn’t want to tell them the truth but I also didn’t want people thinking that Jed and my mother were in any way the victim.
I had spent a long time feeling as though I’d deserved their treatment but my mates were proving how clearly wrong that thought process had been.
As I changed into my school clothes, the other girls filed out of the locker room. Their stares and whispers surrounded me. I untucked my hair from my blazer as I pushed through the door into the main hallway. Immediately, I felt uneasy.
Two men were standing a few feet away, dressed in black suits talking casually, until they saw me.
I froze not knowing what to do as the first approached, short, stocky and looking far more friendly than his scary counterpart.
I really didn’t like this. Where were the guys?
I felt like they would know how to handle this particular situation more than I ever could.
“Maya Moretti?” He asked as my lips almost tilted in a smile because that was not my last name but…I sort of loved it. My chest fluttered as I thought about how that would look drawn out.
“I’m Maya,” I confirmed, crossing my arms defensively feeling like I was somehow in trouble.
“My name is Darren Wilks, I am from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, this is my partner Bradley Hawkins.” They both flashed badges. “Would you mind if we spoke for a moment? We’ve been trying to reach you but it seemed you weren’t in school yesterday.”
“I wasn’t,” I confirmed, “what do you want to talk about?”
“How about we find a classroom so that we can sit down --”
I sighed in relief as Anani’s electrical scent wrapped around me and a dangerous noise came from his throat.
My lips pulled into a smile as I looked down at his muscular wrist, my hair tie I’d left on my desk, officially in his collection.
I had noticed him doing it the other day and I fully supported it.
Mostly because I had started randomly taking t-shirts and other comfortable things they owned.
My bed was like a comfortable nest of blankets, pillows, and whatever shirt I would wear to bed that night that reminded me of them.
Huh. That was a bit bird-like wasn’t it? I nearly smiled at that because the concept of actually being a shifter was setting in. Now, if I could only figure out how to actually shift.
“Gentlemen,” Henry’s voice was dark and annoyed, “this is against protocol, what are you doing here?”
Ledger intertwined his hand with mine, Bradley looking at the twins and I in confusion. Probably because the group of us were intertwined so closely together.
Darren spoke, “We figured that this would be the easiest time to speak to her.”
“It’s not,” Henry growled, “use the contact information given for our family lawyer. She isn’t talking to either of you and if you don’t leave now I am going to be making a call to your bosses explaining how the FBI was going to have to deal with charges of harassment. Is that clear?”
Bradley sneered, “This is fucking ridiculous.”
Darren inhaled shaking his head before looking at me, “Maya, I hope that you will give us a chance to talk. We are just trying to figure out what happened.”
Instead of responding I stared at them blankly until they left, leaving me feeling exhausted in the wake of it. After their car pulled away, we walked down the school stairs towards Ledger’s car.
My eyes searched the parking lot as that odd feeling of being watched hit me again. Maybe that was because of the FBI? Or it could be because of my father. I hadn’t seen or heard from him though. Was it too much to wish he had disappeared?
The car ride was quiet as Henry spoke in low tones to what I assumed was their lawyer. Ledger drove and I curled up against Anani as my fingers played over his tattoos on his hands. I wasn’t clear why I found them so attractive…but I did. I found them really, really attractive.
Anani muttered a curse as we pulled towards our estate and found several media trucks parked outside. I nibbled my lip, unsure I was fully ready for this. I had no idea what to expect and this had the possibility of making things far worse than before.
Heads turned toward us as we stepped out of the car, instantly categorizing that there were four trucks and about twenty something people.
Marco stood on the steps talking casually to them.
My eyes narrowed on a woman that was a bit too close but she didn’t seem to be interested in him anymore than the man across from him.
Plus, I had to admit, she was quite a bit older than both of us.
Not that I would judge that, I was starting to realize that love wasn’t very good at limiting itself.
I mean one of my mates was over two hundred years old.
“Hey,” I chimed as people greeted me. My eyes on Marco, watching as his smile grew.
“Hey, honey,” he kissed my temple as I turned to the woman next to him.
“You must be Maya,” she assumed, her soft brown eyes sweet.
“I am,” I smiled and put out my hand, “it’s wonderful to meet you.”
Marco chuckled, meeting my hand, “Kelsey from the LA Times, one of the only stations actually invited here.” Some of the others shifted uncomfortably as I looked around.
“I’m glad you're here.” I said sincerely before looking up at Marco, “Where is Bella?”
“Upstairs in your room, the others are getting changed for the interview.” He explained as the other boys moved past me and I followed them up.
“I’ll be right back,” I assured and sighed looking around our large upstairs, glad to have space to get ready for whatever they would ask.
“See? That wasn’t bad,” Ledger smiled.
“That was part of it?” My eyebrows went up.
Anani laughed as Henry walked next to me towards my room.
I mumbled in surprise as Atlas and Sai both looked up from where they sat on the bed with Bella jumping between them.
The entire room was filled with clothing and two older women, talking quietly amongst themselves as Croy seemed to be listening to them while playing on his laptop.
I could always tell when he was listening to others, even despite being slightly distracted, because every so often his eyes would flick up towards them or his head would tilt in their direction.
“There she is,” Atlas chuckled and I jumped into his arms practically at the same time he buried his head in my neck and I relaxed against him. Sai held Bella up as I kissed her nose.
“Where is my kiss?” Sai narrowed his eyes looking broody and grumpy.
I shrugged and offered a teasing smile, “Still unsure if you even like kissing me.”
His warm eyes sparked with challenge, “Yeah, kitten? I mean, I can show you how much I enjoy kissing you. Atlas, if you could just put her down…”
“She needs to get ready,” Croy noted looking amused, “plus we have company.” I’d been so caught up in my mates that I forgot about the women. I turned to find them both staring at me in surprise. I wiggled down and pushed my hair back smiling.
“I am so sorry I didn’t say hi,” I grinned walking over, “my name is Maya.”
“Melony,” one offered and the other said ‘Veronica’ I think, but both their accents were thick. I noticed they kept looking at the guys so I turned.
“Do you guys mind if you let them get to work, not that I have any idea of what they are doing, but look at all this stuff, I have to at least give it a go,” I bounced on my toes slightly as the guys filed out except for Atlas and Croy, one on his laptop and the other playing with the kitten.
I turned towards them as they ushered me to sit in front of this vanity they had set up.
I yawned as they got to work, my eyes closing in the comfortable chair they had sat me in.
The only experience I’d had on people doing my hair had been the salon.
One of them began to use a curling iron on it as the other woman began brushing something on my face.
Would the guys have to get their makeup done also? I should ask them.
“Hey, Atlas?” I chimed as Bella meowed, Croy’s laugh at her response making me happy.
“What’s up, angel?” He asked his voice far closer than I expected, making me blush.
“Do you guys have to wear makeup also?” I wondered as one of the women laughed softly.
“Do you think we should?” Atlas asked, I grinned opening my eyes as the woman worked on my lips. My angelic looking mate had his hair tied back as he ran a hand over his trimmed beard, my eyes flashing to his gold lip ring.
“I could see that, maybe a smoky eye or whatever it's called?” I let out a small giggle at the thought of him in full makeup as his eyes warmed.
He looked over me with interest, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in full makeup.”
“Does it look good?” I wondered, as the woman sat me up, her counterpart using a brush to loosen the curls around my shoulders.
“Too good,” Croy mumbled as Atlas nodded.
“You look beautiful, angel. Although, that is with or without makeup.”
I was handed a mirror and as I lifted it my dark eyes went wide.
Woah. I examined my skin, the gold color highlighted and darkened on certain angles.
My dark brows were more arched and my lashes looked super long, a light purple pink shadow on my lid making the gold stand out.
My lips were painted a soft pink that matched my wavy hair and a very prominent pink highlight.
“Wow,” I arched a brow and looked up at the two of them, “you guys are really fantastic at this.”
They both grinned as they ushered me up and took me towards a large rack of clothes.
I easily found exactly what I wanted to wear, pushing past a lot of the darker colors.
I know they seemed very popular but my entire life had been so painfully dark.
I needed some color. Some light. I plucked the pink and light blue plaid skirt and the warm white sweater it was paired with.
Practically sashaying towards the bathroom, I eagerly pulled it on.
Turning in the mirror I found myself smiling at how good it looked.
I’d been hesitant about fashion at first, feeling like it may be a waste. Now though? Well, it was a bit like an art form, and I loved art. I walked out and Croy looked up, only he and the women left.
My wolf mate whistled, shaking his head as I blushed his eyes darkening over me. “It’s unfair, sugar.” He sighed, standing up as I rounded the bed and slipped on the white elegant shoes they handed me.
“What’s unfair?” I arched a brow as he straightened his suit, running a hand through his hair.
“Everything about you,” he muttered and then spoke softly so the two humans couldn’t hear us, “you’re hard to focus around and that’s saying something considering I’ve been focusing just fine for over two hundred years.”
“You’re old,” I teased, his eyes darkened with heated amusement as he stepped closer, his head dipping down.
“Yeah? I assure you my age is not a negative thing.” He whispered with heat.
My face blushed with color as I swallowed, “Why is that?” I agreed, for the record.
“Lot’s of time to perfect certain…things.” He winked, clearly having wanted to say something else but noticing our audience. Still my skin broke out into shivers, his lips grazing mine before he offered a hand to walk out of the room.
“I wanted to know more about these things,” I mumbled under my breath as he barked out a laugh, our steps taking us towards the staircase. I paused for a moment as Croy kissed my temple and went ahead, Atlas appearing at my side. I looked up at him as he wrapped an arm around me.
“You okay?” He asked quietly, “We don’t have to do this.”
“I want to.” I whispered softly as he nodded and we walked downstairs. My biggest problem? I hadn’t decided what I was going to say to all of them waiting for me.