Chapter Eight

Ianthe 

Ricardo doesn't come back to the kitchen for breakfast and after waiting on him for about half an hour, I decide to go back up to my bedroom. I'm used to being confined to the house, which isn't ideal for a werewolf, but it's become a safe haven for me. At least this house is very pretty. 

I'm a little confused too. Did Sebastian not tell him about my disposition? I've been caged all my life, for someone to tell me that I can do whatever I wanted, made me feel emotional and slightly off-balance. 

When Sebastian told me I was coming to stay with this pack, I thought that it would just be me being hidden away again, just a different location.  Now I'm being told I can go out and have friends. Not that I would know the first thing how to get a friend, I've always just relied on Natalia's company. 

"Take a shower and get dressed." Natalia sing-songs in my head. "Life is waiting girl!" 

There's a sense of excitement rushing through my veins, a sense of freedom I have never experienced before. I know the Alpha said I will get a guard, but a guard is better than having to stay indoors, plus the weather is amazing. It's mild out, the sun not harsh as it's still winter, but there's no rain or snow, perfect to explore this new town I have found myself in. 

And so what if something happens to me? At least then I've lived a little. 

"Be careful." The shadow says, suddenly behind me and I sigh. 

"I don't want to be careful anymore." I reply, a bite in my tone. I'm never rude to the shadow, but it's time I stand up for myself. "Nobody knows me here, I'm not in any danger." 

"And you think you can just walk around in a new town with a  new pack without anyone asking any questions?" The shadow chastises me and I plop down on the edge of the bed. 

"All of my life I did as I was told." I say softly. "I'm almost eighteen, I think I can start making my own decisions now." 

"Just be patient, child, soon everything will fall into place." The shadow's voice turns soothing, trying to placate me, but I will have none of it. 

Today I will go outside, I will go into town, go to a clothing shop and pick up cute things like people my age are supposed to. Maybe I'll even go to a restaurant or get take-aways all on my own. I've never even been to a restaurant, and I love food. I can finally find some sense of freedom, even if only for three months.  

"Just wait a few more months," The shadow says. "Then you can explore everything in safety." 

I'm feeling defiant, like I probably should have been a long time ago. So what if it gets me killed? Then that is supposed to be my fate. 

I didn't pack for the kind of weather here, so I pick out a pair of jeans and a long sleeved tee. I think back to the people in the park yesterday, they were wearing cute dresses and cheeky shorts. I desire to be one of them, carefree and laughing. 

I push the shadow back and she doesn't like it, but I only have three months here, I want to make the most of it. Afterwards Sebastian would likely be back to take me home, hoping I wil find a mate in our pack so I wouldn't be his responsibility anymore. 

That is the ideal solution, for me to find a mate as soon as I turn eligible, but some wolves don't find their mates that quickly. Take Alpha Ricardo for example, he is in his twenties and in  the prime of his life, virile and extremely attractive, he doesn't have a mate yet. His Beta, Harry, isn't marked either, so it doesn't just happen for everyone right away. 

And how will Sebastian explain me to our pack? Oh look everyone, here is our hidden away sister, she is special so we have to keep her in a high tower so she won't get killed and put the pack in danger. She needs to find a mate to be safe, here's to hoping. 

I don't imagine that would go over well with the pack. 

I shower and get dressed quickly, shoving my suitcase back in the large walk-in closet without unpacking. If Alpha Ricardo finds out what I really am, he will send me packing, of that much I'm sure, so I'd rather stay prepared until that day comes. 

I make my way downstairs, determination in my strides, but stop on the stairs when I see the Alpha and a big man at the front door. Instinct kicks in and I turn around to go back to my assigned room, but the Alpha stops me. 

"Ianthe, I'd like you to meet someone." His deep voice says and  I slowly make my way down the rest of his stairs. 

Alpha Ricardo is only still wearing his pyjama bottoms from this morning's run and I hope they can't see the flame on my cheeks. I've been having strange feelings ever since I laid eyes on him in his office yesterday, feelings I can't quite decipher. He's a beautiful man, and I am almost a grownup that can have sexual thoughts, but I've been able to rein it in, keeping my feelings for my future mate. 

I stop a few feet away from them, my eyes lowered to the ground. 

"This is Colt," The Alpha continues. "He's the head of security, we will meet him in my office later where he will assign a protection detail to you." 

I glance at the man from beneath my lashes. He is huge, although not as big as the Alpha, and he's looking at me with curiosity and alertness. 

"It's a pleasure to meet you Ianthe," He says with a nod of his head, but he doesn't step closer to me and I'm grateful for that. I don't desire to be touched by men that is not my mate. He turns his gaze to the Alpha and clears his throat. "I'll see you later then." 

Alpha Ricardo sees him out and returns to me where I'm waiting obediently. 

"My apologies for missing breakfast," He says and there's a wariness in his voice that wasn't there when we were in the kitchen. "Please give me thirty minutes, then we can leave." 

He rushes past me and up the stairs, making me feel abruptly dismissed.