Chapter Seventeen
Idecide to move back in with Axe, but I don't have an answer why.
I just can't say no to him. I thank Karena and say I'm fine and leaving.
She looks unsure but nods. Axe and I discuss that I'll stay with him until graduation and at least for the Christmas holidays so I'm secure enough with money to move out.
I've decided all the holidays I'll work full time so my money builds.
I settle back into my room and it actually looks homier; my school books littered everywhere, my laptop, my clothes in the closet and the bathroom full of my supplies.
After my stuff is sorted, I go downstairs.
Now that I live here, even if it's for a short while, I'm going to use the kitchen.
I'm sure Axe will appreciate having home-cooked meals.
As I move around the kitchen, it's calming.
I could never cook at my house because of Step-Bitch.
When I've dished out our plates, which are full of cooked vegetables and juicy steaks, I call out to Axe since I couldn't be bothered going upstairs.
He comes down within seconds, and when his eyes see the table, they widen.
“What is all this?”
“I thought I would cook dinner for us. My body has been way too full of takeout these past few years,” I say, taking a seat.
Axe sits down and picks up his fork and knife. He stares at his food like he can't believe it. I dig into my food but I notice his eyes look sad.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“Yeah, it's just I haven't eaten like this since my mate.”
“Oh, we don't have to eat together if it's too hard...”
“No,” he cuts me off then looks up at me. “Thank you for this, really.” He gives me a reassuring nod.
“You're welcome.” We eat in silence for a while. “Just know, the meals won't be anything special. I refer to Google for recipes.”
“Good enough.” He smiles slightly.
While I put our dishes in the dishwasher, Axe lingers in the kitchen.
“Do you want to watch a movie?” he asks, surprising me.
“Um sure.”
We go to the living room and he chooses some manly action movie. I don't really pay attention.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yeah.” He pauses the movie.
“I don't want anyone to know I'm living here. I feel it'll just create problems if they know,” I say softly, not wanting him to feel insulted.
Axe frowns. “That's not a question.”
“Can you not tell anyone?”
“Dash is the only one who comes over so don't worry. I suggest you use the back road into town when you go places then.”
“What back road? The one you mentioned you take when you go shopping? I thought there was only one road into the pack's residence.” I've always found this annoying.
“No there's a dirt road. I drove on the forest ground so much, there's a path. I don't like being seen either.”
“Thank you, where's the road?”
“The back of my house, outside the gate. You can park your car with mine since it's easier to access the road that way.”
We go back to the movie and sit in silence until it ends and we go off to our rooms.
***
A week has gone by and I feel better, physically and mentally.
Apart from school, that is. Having a calming place to live without any worries is incredible.
I can cook whenever I want. The house is always silent which makes it easier to study and watch movies.
Axe and I give each other our space. Besides a few conversations and having dinner together, we leave each other alone.
Our roommate situation is working out. I can come and go as I please.
The first few days I told him whenever I left but he said he could smell my scent so no need to tell him when I'm gone.
I always wonder what my scent is. Doesn't everyone's scent just smell like the perfume they're wearing?
That's all I've gotten when I smell someone's scent. Except in the case of Joel, that is.
As for school, the monstrosities keep making their irritating comments but I'm trying Amelia's ignoring technique.
Hopefully, it works. Joel continues to stare at me but ever since I told him to leave me alone, he hasn't made a move to try and talk to me.
But I've noticed he is no longer constantly making out with Jenna.
They're still together but he's not attached to her hip anymore.
My bruises are healing. They've turned into a light brown colour, which I'm happy about.
Once they're brown, they're close to healing and not as painful.
I'm hoping since Kieryn is no longer hurting me and the three monstrosities have just been sticking to comments the past week, my body will soon turn back to its milky white which I haven't seen for a while.
Since I've been experimenting with recipes, I went grocery shopping to buy extra food but Axe got annoyed.
He doesn't want me to use my money, so he reimbursed me.
I tried to reject his money but he left it on my bedside table.
I figured there was no point trying to argue with an alpha so I just put it away in my wallet.
He assured me he would take care of money in this house.
We ended up having a long conversation about how he has so much money, which he said comes from investments.
Apparently the higher ranked members of the pack and the elders over generations have used investing to make a great amount of money for themselves and to support the pack.
Other members do normal jobs or go off to university before returning to the pack to work and such.
Since it's the weekend I've decided to let my wolf out.
It's been a while since I'm always in pain but I still need to stay connected to her.
Since I don't want to run and hurt my body or bump into anyone from the pack by running through the forest, I go to the backyard.
It's quite large and kind of unkept. Making sure I sense Axe is in the house, I strip down where he can't see me from the windows.
It takes some time but my wolf's strength comes through and I shift.
She walks us around the yard a few times to keep us active before we just relax in our wolf form.
I lie next to the bushy plants, rest my head on my paws, close my eyes and focus on being one with my wolf.
“Elora.” My eyes open and I raise my head, hearing Axe call me. He's standing at the backdoor. I rise to my four legs and stretch before walking back over to my clothes. I stare at him and he seems to get that I'm not shifting back naked in front of him. “Oh, I'll wait inside.”
I shift and get changed before joining him inside in the living room.
“Do you need anything?” I ask.
“I just wanted to let you know I won't be home for dinner tonight. Every couple of months my parents literally force me to have dinner with them, probably to make sure I'm still alive.” He sighs.
“Oh, okay.”
“I'm leaving you alone for a while and I'm trusting you not to go back into my mate's room. Understand?” His eyes are stern.
“Yes,” I assure him, feeling embarrassed that he has to question my integrity.
“That's the only room that's off limits.”
“I understand.”
“Okay, enjoy your night,” he says, then walks off.
Guess I have the night to myself, which I spend talking to Amelia for hours on the phone.