Page 70 of Entering a New World

It took me a while until I got my hands to let go of the steering wheel. Rubbing my face, I took a deep breath.

You’ll have to get used to this, a voice inside the back of my mind said. You’re about to move to the middle of nowhere.

Fuck my life, my brain was right.

But one step at a time.

First, I’d go in and pack my stuff. Then I’d check with Rhett if they’d caught Alistair yet. If they hadn’t, I’d drive to his—our—place and unload the few belongings I had here, and then I’d drive back to the packhouse before he noticed I’d ever left.

A smile tugged at my lips as I imagined the surprise on his face when he’d realize I’d sneakily moved in with him.

The thought of happiness lighting up Rhett’s features was the thing that managed to calm me down enough for me to climb out of the truck and head into the Inn.

Warm air laced with the smell of wood smoke and maple hit me straight in the face as I opened the front door, and the last bit of tension drained out of my body, leaving me utterly exhausted and excited at the same time.

In a couple of hours, I’d be in my new home with my newly mated soulmate—and I planned to shut the world out for at least twenty-four hours. We deserved time to ourselves. We deserved a mating-night.

“Levi, is that you?” I heard Mave shouting from the back office. Seconds later, she came rushing to me, her face tinged with worry as she pulled me into a fierce hug. “Sweetie, what are you doing here?”

I reveled in the warmth of her hug for a moment, then made a step back. “I’m just here to get my stuff.”

She smiled one of her signature motherly smiles, but it was soon replaced by a frown. “I get that. But why are you here now? Don’t you know your manager is out there looking for you?” She placed a hand on my cheek, her blue eyes filled with concern. “I really don’t think you should be out alone right now. I thought you were at the pa… ahh… community center.”

I frowned for a second, but a look at the armchairs next to the fireplace clued me in on why Mave was being so vague. The professor was engrossed in a thick, antique-looking book. He appeared to be unaware of his surroundings, but you could never know.

“I was, but I thought it’d be nice to surprise Rhett by moving myself in with him.”

Mave sighed and grabbed her chest, hearts in her eyes. “Oh, that is so sweet of you. But he wouldn’t want you to take the risk while your manager is still out there. And rightly so. He seemed… off. A bit unhinged.”

Swallowing heavily at the genuine worry and care in her words, I tried to give her a reassuring smile. “I thought about that, but seeing as Alistair was already here, I figured coming here was low risk. It’s not like I’m running around town with a neon sign above my head. I’ll be here for a few minutes, then I’ll be back on my way.”

Mave pursed her lips. “I don’t like this, sweetie.”

“I’ll hurry, okay?” Placing a hand on her shoulder, I gave her my biggest smile. “In a few minutes, I’ll be on my way and it’ll be like I’ve never been here in the first place.”

“And you’ll drive right back to the community center? Without any detours?” Mave asked.

I hesitated. On the one hand, I really wanted to stick to my plan and sneakily move myself in with Rhett if I had the time. On the other hand… I looked into Mave’s worried eyes, and a sliver of doubt wormed its way into my head. What if Rhett failed to see the romantic gesture for what it was? What if he’d see me leaving the packhouse as putting myself in danger and taking unnecessary risks?

“Fine,” I conceded with a sigh. “I’ll just grab my stuff and then I’ll head right back to the community center.”

Mave nodded. “I think that’s a good idea. Don’t get me wrong, Levi; I think your idea of surprising Rhett by moving in with him is lovely, and I’m sure he’ll love it. I’m just worried.”

I nodded, then turned to the stairs. “Thank you for caring about me, Mave. I’ll hurry.”

“I’ll go and fetch a few cookies for you.”

“You’re the best,” I shouted as I started climbing up the stairs.

“I know,” she shouted back.

Ten minutes and two trips down the stairs to beg for trash bags because I didn’t have any suitcases later, I emerged from my room for what would be the last time—without trash bags. Instead, I was pulling a big suitcase with a floral design printed onto the hard shell behind me, curtesy of Mave who’d loaned me the suitcase.

I took a deep breath as I pulled the door closed behind me. The clicking sound of the lock engaging echoed through the hallway, and a wave of nostalgia hit me. I’d only stayed here for a couple of weeks, yet it felt like the end of a stage of life. My stay here had been me entering a whole new world, and now I was spreading my wings to fully embrace the new world—and the new life that lay ahead of me.

“That’s it, I’m done,” I shouted as I climbed down the last stair and set the suitcase down next to me.

“So am I, Levi,” a male voice spoke up. The menacing tone sent a shiver down my spine, and it took a few seconds for my brain to register that I actually knew the voice. I’d just never heard it sounding so downright evil.

---