Page 7 of Stone

She thought it was funny that he pulled out his phone and began taking pictures. Even putting notes on it as if he was making a list of things that needed to be taken care of. When they did enter thedining room, a very large one that opened out onto a deck with a pool in the back yard. She wanted to sit in one of the many chairs to see if they were as comfortable as they looked. The house was checking all her boxes in the perfect home to live in.

“On to the living room, I guess.” The room that she could see with yet another tree by the huge fireplace sparkling with lights, the room was lovely. In addition to the four large overstuffed couches, there were little sitting areas with a chair and a little table next to it if you wanted to read. Or to play a game or two while enjoying the crackling of the fireplace.

There wasn’t any television in the room, Odell had told them that he’d taken it out when his had broken, but it was something that sat over the fireplace. He told them that he thought that it was too small for the room anyway. It needed to be much larger than the forty-five inch one that had been there.

“I didn’t know they made much larger televisions than that one. I think that’s the size that I have, but I rarely watch it.” She told him that she thought they were about seventy-five and laughed when he found one on his phone for one hundred and twenty inches. “You’d feel like you were standing on the field—any field of any sports that you were watching with one that big.”

The kitchen was next to look over. Odell had told them that the kitchen had been updated recently so he didn’t think that they’d have to do that. It was up to date but it still needed some work, she thought. While it did have an eat-in table like she had thought, there was a pantry that she thought was much too small for the size of the house and room they were in. However, she loved the large room and the herb window that was filled with half-dying herbs. Sage got to work with watering them all while they were in the kitchen.

There was a study, too, that was devoid of any furniture. There were marks on the floor like it had held a large desk as well as some chairs. But again, Odell had forewarned them about that, saying that the desk had been in ill repair and had had it removed even before his mother had passed away.

“It had been my father’s desk and Mom thought that someone could make a go at it in cleaning it up. But once it had been to the place to have it repaired, it was found to be beyond restoration and had been thrown out.” Along with the matching chairs that too had been his dad’s as well. “Mother was devasted, of course, but whoever buys it wouldn’t care for it anyway. It was just a pine desk that someone had made for Dad a very long time ago.”

The stairs in the back of the house were there for them to use. A set had been for the help, they’d been told, and it not only led right to the kitchen but there was a small elevator to take things from the first floor to the second. On the second floor, they were both surprised to find that there were six bedrooms, not including the master suite, and each bedroom had its own bathroom. It was beautifully laid out.

“Here’s the elevator.” The gilded elevator was just at the back of the house nearest to the master suite just as they’d been told. Not only did it seem to be large enough for several people to be brought up or down in it, but it was also beautifully decorated as well. They were going to use it when they decided to go back down, just to test if it still worked. “I can see this being used to bring furniture up here, too. And anything else that would be brought up that would be too heavy for the stairs.”

She agreed with them as they looked into each of the bedrooms after seeing the master suite and marveling at the large window that was in the back of the room so that a person could see out the back of the house and into the yard below.

After glancing into each of the bedrooms, all of them in soft hues that seemed to be in the bedspread that was on the large king sized beds that took up space in the big rooms. She wanted to fling herself into the bedroom and have a nap. She figured that the rooms, all of them, were perfect for taking a long nap in them. Even to snuggle deep within the blankest on a cold winter night too.

“I think you love the house as much as I do.” She was slightly embarrassed about how much she’d gushed about the home when they were riding down the quiet elevator. “And I do love everything about it. I wonder what the price will be with all these things, too.”

“I would imagine that the house will cost a great deal anyway. All the things in it? Well, it’d probably double whatever he has as the asking price. Do you have furniture to fill it out?”

“Nothing. A bed with some odd blankets but nothing like this place has.” They were in the living room again. “I can see my family coming over here to watch any game that’s on, especially with the television that would go up there. Staff would be helpful, too, but I’m guessing that they might stick around if someone were to buy the house like it is. I shouldn’t say this, but I’m thinking that he’ll be able to charge me double the price, and I’d pay it simply because the house is everything that I want.”

“I don’t know that I’d say that to him. You don’t want to tip your hand just yet.” They both laughed and she found it hard to leave the house. “You’ll be happy here, I think. And be able to have this as a forever home. With the elevator, you won’t have to worry about steps when you get too old to climb them.”

“I’m immortal. The stairs wouldn’t be an issue because I’d stay just as fit and strong as I am right now.” She didn’t know what to say about that, so she said nothing. “Did you notice too that I’d be living a bit from my family? That would be nice if I wanted to have some privacy. Also, having them close enough—what’s wrong? Did I say something that upset you?”

“No. Why would you ask that? I think it’s about time that I got back to your brother’s house. He must be worried that I’d gotten lost or something.” He said that he spoke to his family as they were touring the house. “That’s good. I should have remembered that you have that link thing going on. I should be heading home. Don’t you think?”

“I said something wrong. What did I do?” She just stared at him. “Come on. We were having such fun until now. Is it the house or me?”

“Neither. I don’t know…it’s all right. You and some very lucky woman will enjoy this house, and I’m happy for the two of you. I think that I should be headed home.” She made her way to the door and was stopped because it was locked. “Do you have a key still? I think that we’re locked in.”

“I have the key.” He seemed upset with her, and she was fine by that. He needed to find himself a wife so that he could have this beautiful home to raise little wolves in. She was nearly to the car when he stopped her by pulling her around to look at him. “Please tell me what has you so upset. I hurt in thinking that I’ve done something wrong to you. Please tell me so I can fix it.”

“There is…” She sighed heavily. “You have money. I’m aware of that. And I love this house just as much, if not more, than you do. I’m jealous, I guess you could say. Whoever lives here, you or someone else, will be able to afford all the things that will fill this house out as a home. It’s no big deal. Really. I’m just being my usual self right now.”

He helped her into the car and she wanted to cry for being so stupid. As soon as he started the car, he turned it off and looked at her. Not sure what she’d done now, she asked him if he was all right.

“No. I mean, yes. I’m a little dense.” She told him that he was far from that. “I’ve spent the entire day with you and didn’t even think about why it felt so right. Why you being with me was the perfect thing to have.”

“I don’t know what it is you’re talking about. Don’t you think that…your parents are having dinner with me tonight so that I can finally meet the little girl that I’m bringing back to the Danielsons.” She turned away to wipe at the tears that seemed to be falling for no reason—there was a reason, but she didn’t want to think about it right now. “I think that I’ll walk to your brothers if you don’t mind. I’m sure you have someone that you need to—”

“You’re my mate, Sage. I didn’t understand this before now but you are. May I smell you?” She decided that there was something wrong with him and asked him why he’d want to smell her. His laughter wasn’t doing her temper any good. “No, what I meant, can I smell your neck? There are other ways that I can figure out if I belong to you, but that’s the simplest way that I can think of.”

“What will that mean? Whether or not I’m your mate? Does it mean that you’re settled with me or something?” Before he could answer her, if that was what he was going to do, she tore open the door and got out of the car. Just as she was reaching into the car to get her things, the glass to the window shattered. The next thing she knew, she was on the ground with a very large…”You’re smashing me. Are you—” The paw over her mouth made her a little pissy but she allowed it when she realized that she was getting loud.”

There was a second shattering glass, and that was when she realized that someone was shooting at her. Not moving, she nearly cried out when the big wolfman licked her face. She was going to murder him if he didn’t stop—

“I need to find out who that is.”Before she could nod at him, or, more importantly, ask him how the hell he was talking to her, he was gone. Coming back when she started to sit up, he licked her once more.“You’re my mate, love. Don’t move, or whoever it is might just test the theory of whether or not you’re immortal, too.”Then he was gone. She was going to kill him. Or he was going to get killed, she realized.

~*~

Just as he was running toward the tree line, he realized what he was doing. First of all, he had no idea where the shots had come from and that he’d left his mate there veritable and bleeding. Turning around, he made his way back to her only to find that she was lying very still with her eyes closed. She was dead. He just knew it.

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