Chapter 6

BASTIAN

It's been a couple of weeks since I stepped foot in the ballroom.

I've been getting reports from Nigel on the progress.

Since my encounter with Sam, I've been trying to avoid her. I feel her just under the surface of my skin. She gets deeper with every encounter and she seems to push away even more. So, I think I need to stay away.

Besides, right now I have bigger fish to fry.

Like trying to reign in this fucking doctor.

This morning I found out he went above my head and set up meetings with Karver and Brindle.

This is why I'm storming his office right now.

I throw open his door. "Who told you could see Karver?" I growl.

He's sitting behind his desk all cool and collected. Which is irritating the fuck out of me.

"Fredericks gave me the permission. Honestly, Alpha. I don't know why you're so concerned." He fixed his suit.

I lean on his desk. "Those two are the most dangerous son of bitches on the fucking planet. I don't want them even knowing what fucking day it is, let alone contact with the outside world. Especially, Karver. He's a master of manipulation. "

He pushes his glasses. "I assure you Alpha. There's no threat here. I can't be manipulated if that's what you're worried about. I just needed to get a feel for what the Dragons were like. It's fine."

I thump my finger on his desk. "From now on you use their files. No more in person meetings. Do you understand me?"

"Yes. I got everything I needed anyway. I shouldn't have to talk with them again."

"Good." I straighten up and turn to leave.

"Alpha?" He calls to me.

"What?" I turn.

"I can't help but notice your behavior. I am trained to counsel if you need someone to talk to." He smiles.

I laugh. "Not a fucking chance." I shut the door behind me.

The nerve of that guy. Therapy? Yeah, ok. No way I'd trust that guy. He's just as nuts as the criminals in this prison.

Besides, I still feel this twinge that somethings not right here. There's something off. I feel like he's too invested in this little experiment of his. I need to keep an eye on him.

After a few more meetings, I head home.

I think I'll pop into the ballroom really quick. Just to see how things are.

I get to the door and I smell burgers. Curious, I walk in.

Sam's got a bag of greasy food and working. I look around at the room. It's definitely coming along. The walls are painted white. There's gold accents. The floors are polished.

"We have a dining hall for a reason." I say, walking up behind her.

She turns quickly. "Oh, sorry. I didn't want to stop working while I had lunch."

I lean on the table beside her and quickly pick up the greasy bag and drop it. "You call this garbage lunch?"

She looks at me with those huge eyes. "Yeah. What's wrong with it?"

I scrunch my face. "Everything. Do you even know what's in that?"

She smirks. "What are you like some health nut or something?"

"I take care of myself, yes. So should you. You look like crap." I cross my arms.

She sits back. "Thanks so much."

"Have you been sleeping?" I ask her.

She shakes her head. "Not really. Just trying to get this done."

I put my hands on the table edge. "Well, if it's that much stress, just move in here. Stay here and you won't have travel time."

She chuckles. "That's a horrible idea."

I look down on her. "Why?"

"Because...You're my client. It wouldn't look good." She goes back to her work.

"You'll be a live in decorator. I could pay you more if you want." I watch her reactions.

She shakes her head again. "I appreciate the offer, but I don't think it's a good idea."

I push off the table, grab a chair and sit beside her. Her exotic scent is filling my nose.

I lean on the table. "What are you working on?"

She glances over quickly. "Design concepts."

"Can I see them?" I ask.

She sits up. "Uh...sure. Go ahead."

She passes them to me and I flip through them.

They're very good. Perfect, actually and from what I see here she'll be done very soon.

"I don't like it." I pass them back.

She gives me a curious look. "What don't you like?"

I sit back. "Everything. Honestly, it's like you don't understand that this project is the highlight of my career. These are boring. I need more." I flick the pages and drop them.

"Ok. I can make a few changes then...." She starts.

"No. I want a whole redo. I'll expect the new concept in the next couple of weeks." I stand.

"Are you kidding me? It took me more than that to develop this one!" She stands with me.

I cross my arms smirking. "Hey. If you can't do it, then I'll just have to find a designer who can."

She narrows her eyes. "Fine." She sits back down rather aggressively. I seem to have pissed her off, but for some reason I'm satisfied that she won't be finishing the job any time soon.

"I'll leave you to it." I saunter out of the room.

With her preoccupied with a whole new design plan, I can work on my plan to keep her close.

When I asked her to stay here, I wanted her to say yes. For some reason, my wolf likes her around. He becomes mush when I'm near her and that’s good for me because when she leaves, he's a fucking animal clawing at his cage in my chest. It drives me insane.

I walk to my office. My phone rings.

I look at the screen. It's Rennet. I hit the answer button.

"I thought I told you to call my secretary." I bark.

"I'm calling for you, Alpha. I'm ready to start my program and I'm waiting for your approvals on my reports."

"What reports?" I question.

I can hear him sigh. "Check your email."

I bring the phone down from ear and check my email. Crap. There's a lot of reports.

I bring my phone back up. "I'll have to read them and get back to you. Call me next week."

I hang up before he gets a chance to argue.

I walk out of my office and into Anton’s office who's working on training.

"Hey, Anton."

"Alpha." He says.

"I need you to go into my email and print out all the prisoners reports and put them on my desk. Then delete them." I stuff my hands in my pockets.

He looks confused. "Why can't you do it?"

I furrow my brow. "Because I'm busy. Get it done."

He sighs as I leave his office.

I am busy. I need to cheer up a sad decorator. I just need to figure out how.

****

SAMMY

I can't believe it. Weeks' worth of designs flushed down the toilet because the jerk thinks they're not flashy enough.

These were perfect. They had color, glamor, a huge amount of flash. I just don't understand how he couldn't like them.

Now, I have to work double time to redo everything. Which means barely any sleep for me.

Not that I was getting much anyway. My dreams are still keeping me up. Not of my beast, but of the Alpha. Almost every night I dream of him kissing me and taking things further. It's to the point now, that I'm pretty certain I know how hard his body is.

I'm trying so hard not to let this happen, but I'm starting to think I can't win this.

I have to stop this though. I'm really starting to feel like there's a connection between the Alpha and what lies under my skin.

Every close encounter has triggered an episode. The beast wants out. I'm afraid that one day it will tear through violently.

So, I'll get tortured by my brain and keep the real Alpha at bay.

I definitely won't be sleeping at the pack house anytime soon. Especially if these episodes keep happening.

I place my pen down and look at my phone. It's almost 2 am.

I'm exhausted. I just need a few hours.

I lay down on my bed and pass right out. I'm so tired, I don't even remember dreaming.

The sun hits my eye and I open it. I hear birds singing and there's a cool breeze. I must have left my window open.

I'm on my stomach. I close my eyes and slowly get up. I ache all over.

I'm trying to wake up when my hand grips something I don't like.

I pull it up and open my hand. It starts to shake as my eyes open to what's in my hand.

Grass.

My breathing speeds up and I let out a little whine. I roll my head to one side and the other. I'm surrounded by grass.

"Oh no." I silently panic.

I look further as I stand on my shaky, aching legs.

"No." I say as I spin around.

I'm surrounded by trees. The sun is high in the blue sky.

"God, no." I look at myself.

I'm naked.

I start to really freak out. At first, I think this is the dream, but no this is my freaking reality.

The sleepwalking has started.

I have to find my way out of here, the problem is I have no idea where here even is.

I wander into the woods. I'm cold, hungry and lost.

I'm on the verge of a complete mental breakdown when I see a road.

"Thank God." I stumble out of the woods.

I flag down a car. To say the people in it were shocked at a naked girl by the road was an understatement for sure.

They asked me all kinds of question. I just had one.

"Can I use your phone?" They handed me their phone and I called Dylan.

Forty minutes later he showed up with clothes.

The people asked if there was anything they could do, but Dylan just thanked them and loaded me up into the truck.

As we drive home, Dylan hits the steering wheel making me jump. "Damn it, Samantha! Did I not tell you?" He pointed at me. "Did I not tell you?"

"Yes. I'm sorry. Ok." I reply defensively.

"You could have been out there for days! Is that what you want?" He yelled.

"No!" I yell back on the verge of tears.

"You need to fix this before that thing kills you or someone else." Dylan says keeping an eye on the road.

He's right. I look out at the passing trees. I got out easy enough this time. Next time, I may not be so lucky.

"You need to lock me up." I say looking out the window.

Dylan shakes his head "No. I'm not going through that again. Sammy, I can't do it."

I turn to him. "Dylan, you have to. It's stronger now. Not only that, it wants something. I don't know what. But I feel it." I look back out the window. "If I'm not chained at night, I'll hurt someone."

"Sammy, we’ll get help, but I won't chain you again. It killed me to see you suffer." He glanced at me and I turned to him. I could see the pain in my brother's face.

I was 14 when the beast tried to escape. When it found itself chained, it lashed out. Lashed out on me. It tore me to shreds. I spent a month in hospital with stitches all over.

I can understand why Dylan would refuse, but if I can't control the beast myself, it's a last resort.

But this time isn't like all the others. Somethings calling me. Somethings changed. As the weeks wear on, I feel it's strength. I don't have any real connection to it. I can't seem to control it like others can. We barely know of each other's existence. The only time I really know the beast is there is when it tries to surface.

It's awake. By the Alpha or something else. The beast is now fully awake.