Chapter 4

I woke up that morning, feeling the best I had in quite some time. The nightmares didn't torment me tonight and I was shocked when I had actually slept in until 11 a.m

Sitting up, I stretched and wiped the fogginess from my eyes. I slid off of the bed and nearly screamed when my eyes met Viktor's .

He was sitting on the couch, his elbow on the arm resting as his eyes were locked on my own. How long had he been here and did he really watch me sleep?

I completely forgot that I was in nothing but a thin tanktop and a pair of lace panties, but I didn't feel self-conscious. I certainly should have, after all he was a man while I still felt like a girl.

"That eager to take another look?" I smirked and crossed my arms over my chest. The butterflies bounced around in my stomach at the sight of him.

He was back to wearing his formal long sleeve shirt, black slacks, leather gloves, and a black mask over the lower half of his face. I could feel myself grow more irritated with his stupid mask, and my curiosity threatened to consume me.

He rolled his dark eyes, giving me a chill of excitement and tapped the watch he was wearing.

"Sooner or later we'll get that mask off." Aela smirked. She had her own idea of what we would do when we had access to the lower half of his face, most importantly his lips.

I grumbled, "I don't want it off so I can kiss the man." But even I could hear the falseness of my words.

I put my hands on my hips as I looked at him, "You've never slept in before?"

He shook his head no, and I watched as his untidy dark chocolate hair shifted with the movement.

I scoffed at him and walked over to my dresser, pulling out a blouse and some jean shorts. I glanced once to the splintered bathroom door and smirked.

Without giving him a chance to make a hasty escape, I turned away from him and pulled my tank top over my head.

A jolt of heat caressed my skin as I felt his eyes on me and my bare back erupted in goosebumps. My lips turned up into a smirk at the thought of his eyes roaming my body while I wasn't looking.

I slipped on a matching black bra and turned around to face him. His eyes were once again locked on my own.

"I could feel your eyes on me, y'know." I smirked at his gorgeous face. As much as I hated the mask he wore, it only added to his god-like sexiness.

A strange tingling sensation ran down my body and nestled itself between my legs as I watched him roll his eyes and look away.

I shrugged, "You broke down my bathroom door and I needed to get changed. Besides, you've already seen this before." I smirked.

With more confidence than I thought I possessed I walked towards him slowly. I was wearing nothing but a bra and underwear, yet I felt incredibly warm.

"You must take your job very seriously." I mused, letting my eyes roam the length of his body. "That doesn't sound like much fun, Viktor." I pouted, sticking my lower lip out teasingly.

Viktor made a huffing sound as he turned his head and peeled his eyes away from me. The movement looked forced, which only added to my confidence.

Whether he'd admit it or not, he was definitely tempted. I wondered how many young women he was tasked with watching over and how many had also tried to tempt him. The thought put a sour taste in my mouth.

"Maybe that'll change." I let my words roll slowly from my mouth, and I turned to put my clothes on.

I slipped on my clothes just in time for a light knock on the door.

"Come in." I called out, frustrated at the interruption.

Shannon peeked her head in my room with a surprised expression. Her eyes flitted from Viktor to the shattered bathroom door and finally back to me. I was sure my face was flushed, but I knew Shannon didn't jump to conclusions.

"Girl, I've been waiting forever for you." Shannon huffed and crossed her arms.

I gave her a sheepish smile, "Sorry, I slept in."

"You know Caroline's gonna have a fit. She's out at the gazebo waiting on you." Shannon shook her head disapprovingly.

My mouth popped open, I had completely forgot that Caroline was coming home today.

"Crap, lets go!" I sighed, my gaze flickering to Viktor's , only to lock eyes with him. Did this man spend his entire day just staring at me?

I followed Shannon from my bedroom. I didn't need to glance behind me to know Viktor was following. It was like I had a weird awareness of him.

As much as I wanted to, I didn't take the chance of stealing one of Sheila's muffins. Caroline was already going to be dramatic about my sleeping in.

We jogged up to the Gazebo just as Caroline stood from one of the chairs.

"Oh I see. Gone for a few day's and you've already forgotten about me." Caroline rolled her blue eyes and flicked her sandy blonde hair behind her shoulder.

I gave her a reassuring smile, knowing how dramatic Caroline could be. "Are you kidding? I could never forget you. You wouldn't let me if I tried." I teased her, and I watched her features relax a little.

Caroline was one of those girls who could never manage to put on a significant amount of weight. She was a little bit taller than me, but much more slim. I still had that rounded curviness to my body that refused to go away. No amount of training or exercising began to impact it.

I joined Caroline and Shannon at the table on the gazebo, my stomach rumbling at the sight of the food cart coming our way.

Caroline didn't bother asking as she grabbed a couple of the finger sandwiches, not that I mind. I always had breakfast and sometimes lunch with the two of them. Shannon gave me a small smile and I nodded. I wasn't sure why she still bothered asking when I never minded.

"So, you'd never believe what happened while I was gone." Caroline chirped and I sat back with a patient smile. Caroline took some time to get used to, but I dealt with her my entire childhood.

"What-" I began to ask her but she cut me off. I was waiting for her to notice.

"Here we go." Shannon said quietly, laughter running through her body.

Caroline's mouth opened just a little as her eyes roamed Viktor, "Who is that?" She raised her eyebrow at me, a sly smirk forming on her face.

"Um, he's-" Again, Caroline cut me off.

Her sly smirk deepened, "You went and got yourself a boyfriend while I was gone? Jeez, Arabella! He's massive." Caroline lowered her voice as she whispered to me, completely forgetting that Lycan's have super sensitive hearing.

"Caroline." I gave her a firm look and she held her hands up in defense.

"Let her talk, Caroline." Shannon shook her head.

Her sly smirk was still in place. "What? He is,"

"Caroline, he's not my boyfriend. He's my bodyguard and his name is Viktor." I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help glancing at Viktor. It seemed like his eyes were always glued to me, and I swore I could see something flickering in their depths at my words.

Caroline's mouth popped open with an audible click, "He's not your boyfriend?"

"Nope." I chuckled, and I knew where this conversation was going.

"Viktor, hm?" Caroline mused, her eyes roaming Viktor's body. I bit back an irritable growl, wondering what the hell was up with me today.

I picked at some fruit on my plate and exchanged knowing looks with Shannon.

"So, is he single?" Caroline looked sideways at Viktor, but his eyes were locked steady on me.

I bit back the strange possessiveness I felt towards Viktor and shrugged, "I have no idea."

"Well, haven't you asked?" Caroline spoke quietly, her eyes still on Viktor.

I rolled my eyes at her poor attempt at whispering, "He doesn't talk much and besides, why would I need to know that?" I scowled, that weird possessiveness came out of nowhere. Even if it wasn't my business, I wanted to know. Was Viktor seeing someone?

"Hey, Viktor?" Caroline giggled, and I glared at my fruit as his eyes flitted over to her for a second.

I sighed, and let my eyes wander back to his face. His full eyebrow twitched at Caroline, and I felt somewhat jealous. Caroline was always like this, and I never took it to heart but something about Viktor had me feeling differently.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" Caroline giggled, leaning forward in her chair as she gazed at him.

I bit back the smug grin that tried to form on my face when Viktor's eyes flicked back to my own.

"No." His obsidian eyes were locked on my own as he said this. His rough voice sent a shiver down me, something I was sure he noticed.

Caroline's voice cut through the silence, but his eyes remained on me. "Aw, that's a shame." Her tone said otherwise.

"What did you do before this, Viktor?" She practically purred his name and I rolled my eyes. I shoved the weird jealousy deep down. After all, Viktor was just my bodyguard. Just because I found it entertaining to tease him didn't mean I had some kind of claim over him.

I couldn't help but chuckle when Viktor ignored her. "I told you. He doesn't really talk." I shrugged, popping a grape in my mouth.

"Maybe I can change that." Caroline giggled, glancing back at Viktor.

I shrugged, "Hey if it works, let me know your secret."

"What were you going to say before you got distracted by Arabella's bodyguard?" Shannon smirked at the sheepish look on Caroline's face.

Caroline sputtered for a moment, "Well, just that I ran into an ex of mine and we really hit it off. We may have even kissed." She giggled, but her gaze always wandered back to Viktor.

"But, I think were both just better off as friends." Caroline added, a well placed look towards Viktor gave me all of the information I needed.

Shannon snickered, obviously seeing the same thing.

"Well, I have to get going. I have a long shift today." Shannon sighed. The two of us hugged her goodbye and continued chatting.

Caroline leaned forward in her seat, "So, there's this party tomorrow night and I want you to come." She was practically bouncing.

I frowned, "I'm not sure if Dad will say yes."

"Oh it's just a little party, nothing too serious. He's fine with you drinking alcohol, he shouldn't have an issue with a little party." She shrugged, flipping her hair behind her shoulder.

I rolled my eyes, "He's fine with me drinking alcohol because I'm a Lycan. You know it takes a lot for Lycan's to get drunk."

She shrugged, "Just ask him. Tell him it's a little gathering, and that Viktor will be there." She added with a little giggle.

"Alright, I'll ask him." I smirked.

"Arabella, could you come to my office?" My Uncle's voice ran through my head.

"Sure, be there in a few." I replied and ended the mind-link.

"I gotta go Caroline, my Uncle's calling me." I sighed.

Caroline laughed, "I love that mind-link thing you wolves have going on. It's like a cellphone in your head."

I chuckled, "Yeah, a cellphone you can never ignore or turn off."

"Don't forget to text me after you ask your Dad!" Caroline patted my arm as I stood from the chair.

I smirked down at her, "I won't forget. I'll try and catch up with you later!"

My Uncle's mind-link reminded me of what happened yesterday at dinner. I was sure my Dad and Uncle were hiding things from me. I knew some of the basics. We were on the brink of war at the moment with another Kingdom. I wasn't sure which Kingdom it was, as I hadn't met any of the other rulers.

Dad always tried to spare the gory details of what was happening in the world, despite my pleas. If I was going to take his place someday, I needed to know the full extent of everything. Uncle seemed more inclined to give me bits of truth, so I decided to start with him.

Now, let's see what I can get from my Uncle.