Page 20 of Warwick

I should have told them years ago. They had visited every so often, and of course, Mother was always on her best behavior then. I should have spoken up. Aside from Mother, we were all shifters. All it had taken was for me to tell them how she was treating me. They would have been able to tell I was telling the truth. Why hadn’t I though? I was a bit intimidated by Grandfather Vitomir. But I was more afraid of how difficult my life would have been if they didn’t step in, if Father had said he would take care of it.

My second alarm sounded, and I reached for my phone to turn it off. It was time to get up and face the day. I tossed the blanket back and climbed out of bed. First stop, the bathroom to take care of my morning needs and then to grab a quick shower. I needed a haircut, but that could wait. For now, a shower and some hair product to keep it tamed would do.

Fifteen minutes after climbing out of bed, I was dressed and left the bedroom. The coffee hadn’t brewed because I’d been too upset to set it up last evening, but that was all right. It wouldn’t take too terribly long to brew a pot, and I could start breakfast while my coffee maker worked its magic.

I was in the middle of eating breakfast when I stopped and looked around the little cabin. It was cute. It was small, but there was just me. But I realized I was truly boring. I didn’t have much of a life at all. I went to work, I came home, I had dinner, and either watched TV or read a book. On the weekends, I went for a quick run up on the mountain, but that was it. I didn’t have friends, really, and I didn’t have a whole lot of hobbies. I kept to myself because I’d always been by myself. My siblings were all an entire generation older than I was. I had grown up fairly isolated, and I realized I was still that way.

Sure, I had a job, and I talked to Dr. King a little. But that was pretty much it. Of course, there was Grandpa Lev, but he had his own life, and he was busy helping Grandfather. Where did all of that leave me? I set the fork down and shook my head. Alone. I was alone and most likely would remain that way. That was just depressing, now that I actually thought about it. I’d scented my mate yesterday on top of everything else, and he didn’t even acknowledge what we were to one another.

I could handle my parents being my parents like always. But Warwick. Even his name was sexy and oh so fitting. He looked like he was most certainly ready to go to war. And why did I find that sexy? I knew almost nothing about him, but he was massive, and I just knew that if he actually wanted me for his mate, he could protect me from people like my parents. But he didn’t seem to, so I would go on as if I’d never met him.

At least I wouldn’t have to worry about going into heat because I’d met my mate. I didn’t have those, so I wouldn’t suffer wanting my alpha. But my bear was another matter. He already wanted Warwick. How would I be able to continue in my position here with the council when I knew my mate was here and all but rejected me?

I shook my head at my thoughts. I stood and decided it was past time to get to work. It was going to be a long, drawn-out day as it was, so I might as well get it started. I scraped the rest of my breakfast into the trash, and after rinsing my plate, I placed it in the dishwasher. I grabbed my keys and then my wallet and phone before I walked to the front door. I locked it behind me, just to be safe, and then walked to my cute little car that Timothy had been kind enough to bring here to the house for me. I snorted at the thought of Warwick trying to squeeze into it. That wouldn’t be an issue though, so it didn’t really matter.

It didn’t take long to get to the cabin. Once there, I realized I’d been so out of it that I’d not brought a lunch, nor had I thought to bring a travel mug of coffee. I sighed. I could, of course, get coffee at the office. Dr. King had a coffee maker in our little break room. But not having a lunch wouldn’t be fun.

I glanced at the clock on my dash. I didn’t have time to go home and pack something. I’d make do without, but I kicked myself. I really needed to be more focused today, or things would go to the crapper in a hurry. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if I skipped lunch, and I could always walk over to the bakery or store and grab something.

I turned off the car and climbed out. There were two other people inside waiting when I walked in. I was a little surprised because usually whoever was in charge of taking us up to the mountain was more on it this time of the morning.

I glanced around and realized they most likely weren’t waiting on Timothy or whoever happened to be working this morning. These two were hellhounds.

“Excuse me,” I said as I tried to reach the wall where I could push the button and call for Timothy. I was a bit surprised he wasn’t down here already.

“We need to talk to you, Cecil.”

I was a bit surprised they knew my name. I shouldn’t have been though. Almost everyone knew I was related to Alpha Vitomir.

“Umm. Do I know you?” I asked.

The one who hadn’t spoken shook his head and hit the other one on the upper arm. “Don’t scare him, Damien,” he said, then looked directly at me. “Don’t mind him. Seriously. That’s Damien, and I’m Atticus.”

I slowly nodded. “All right. What is it you want to talk to me about?”

“Yes, that,” Atticus said.

“I told you this wasn’t a good idea,” Damien said.

“Well, if we left things completely up to Warwick, he would mess it up completely.”

They already had my attention, but the mention of Warwick completely grabbed it. “What about Warwick?” I looked between the two expectantly.

“Just be understanding and patient,” Atticus said.

I was confused, and I knew it showed.

“You’re not really helping much either,” Damien said. “We should have brought Benjamin or someone who is a bit better with words.”

“Hmm,” Atticus said. “Oh, Master Edison. I bet he could explain it all in a hurry.”

I shook my head. “Neither of you are making too much sense, and I really need to get to work,” I told them. I tried to reach for the button on the wall, but when I touched Atticus’s shoulder, my stomach flipped. And it was way more intense than it ever was with Timothy. I suddenly found myself standing outside the council building when I glanced around.

“Thanks for the lift,” I said.

“Wait,” Damien said.

I stopped, not that I’d gone far—only one step.

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