SWNOVELS Chapter 18: Blending!
“Hello!” Kenzi answered her phone, again breathlessly. Locking her keys in the car had set her back on time a little bit and she had to race around trying to get ready for when Teagan was coming. Teagan had messaged her saying she would be there at five to get her and she had better be ready. Teagan was never late and it was approaching five fast.
“I’ve had bunnies hopping through my head all day, thanks to you” Came his deep voice through the phone.
“Hi Adonis! How is your day going?” She asked, her heart fluttering in her chest as her smile got bigger on her face. That’s twice today he’s called her.
“Boring, I’ve had boring people talking at me all day about boring stuff. Entertain me, tell me about your day” He replied,
“If you has people talking at you all day, then you don’t want me talking at you too” Kenzi said,
“Except I do, you’re not boring. So tell me about your day.” He responded,
“Maggie kickded me out of the bakery after I over-flowded the display cases. I had breakfast and lunch in the span of a hour. Spended a uther hour dancing at the park and lockded my keys in the car. But I’m gedding two more ovens for the bakery and a magnolia tree and I has fries for lunch” She summed up her day.
“See already more entertained than I was half an hour ago. A magnolia tree for the bakery, where are you going to put a magnolia tree?” He asked, hearing her giggle no, repeatedly brought a smile to his face.
“No, not for the bakery, for my house. I’ve always wantded one, but they sell out so fast. I has lunch with Harvey and he said he would has one delivederd.” She corrected him, still giggling.
“How did you get fries for lunch?” He asked, laughing. Her giggling on the other end of the phone was infectious, he could even hear Odin snickering at it.
“Harvey! Him and Patrick gedded into a fight in the diner. Patrick said he was spoiling me, and Harvey said I was his gran-daugh-ter and it was his right to spoil me. Then Patrick callded him a ss-st-stub-born old man, Harvey said yes he was and to give me my fries” Kenzi explained, he could hear the laughter in her voice and could just picture the smile on her face as she was describing her day.
“Sounds like you’re having a good day!” He said. He will be having a much better day as soon as he sees her.
“I am hasing a good day, but I can’t talk long, Teagan is on her way to pick me up and I has to finish gedding ready” He could hear rustling on her end
“What are you doing?” He asked,
“Gedding dressded!” She replied, more rustling in the background.
“Shame I’m not there, I could have helped you” She sounds a bit distracted! Time to get her attention!
“You’d be more help-ful with the undressded part” Does she know what she just said? I don’t think she realizes the innuendo she just dropped! His innocent little mate. Goddess, how he loved this girl.
“I do have experience in the undressing department. Could you blame me for wanting to undress you? When you look as gorgeous as you, it’s hard to want to keep that covered up.” He said. More rustling could be heard. Is she having a fight with the dress?
“You’re gor-geous too, but you don’t see me undressdeding you” She spouted, before she had a chance to think about it.
“You want to undress me?” He asked, he heard her gasp on the other end of the phone. That got her attention!
“No! That’s not what I said, that’s not what I said” She sputtered after a moment of silence. He could just see her trying to figure out how the conversation came to her undressing him.
“Yes you did, you think I’m gorgeous and wanted to undress me” amusement danced in his voice as he spoke to her. “As fun as that sounds, and I am sure both of us would enjoy it, maybe later sweetheart, you have plans right now.”
“You d-def-ff-fin-it-ly hearded what you want to hearded, I-I-I di-dint say that.” She was exasperated. He wondered how red she was right now, and how red she would go when she saw him.
“Maybe, you have to admit, it works in my favour though” He replied,
“Buttered biscuits….” he heard her huff on the other end of the phone
“What’s the matter?” Finding it hard to contain his laugh at her outburst. Unless she’s singing, curse words never leave her mouth. And they sound absolutely wrong when they do. His little mate was not made to say those words. He liked her cute little outbursts.
“That’s not pose to happen….this dress….breasts….big….” Though he only heard bits of the conversation, with her pulling the phone away from her, what he did hear had him sitting up straighter in his chair.
“I has to go, I’m sorry….blending….mad….me” were the last things he heard before she disconnected the call.
What the hell kind of dress was she wearing? One that makes her breasts look big, and they….! Don’t finish that! Adonis cut him off right there. He was well aware of how blessed she was. I’m excited for the dress, if it makes her ass stand out as well, I will bite it! Odin howled in his head. Classy as ever Odin! He’d be lying if he said anything otherwise, he was pretty intrigued by it as well. Only a few more hours he thought, a few hours and he’d get to see this breast enhancing dress. Did she say something about getting mad at her! No one better get mad at her! What if the bitch of a sister gets mad at her? Then I can’t guarantee the bitch of a sister will make it out of the party in one piece! What if the sister makes her change the dress? I will be highly disappointed! No one better rob him of seeing her in her dress. The sister will probably make her change the dress! You don’t know that! She’s supposed to blend….remember? Fuck! Then we’ll just have to find another reason for her to wear the dress! A DATE! Calm down Odin, but yes! How long now? Not soon enough! He’s been away from her for too long. His skin was starting to itch, his blood was heating up and he could feel his rage boiling inside of him waiting to erupt. He needed his mate, he needed her scent and her touch. Odin asking every few minutes when they would see her wasn’t helping either.
It was a few hours later when a knock to the door drew him out of his thoughts. Sitting in a chair in his hotel suite he looked at it, internally debating whether or not he wanted to answer it. He didn’t want to talk to any more people, he’s had enough. He spent the remainder of the day trying to resist the urge to growl at them. His only solace was that when he got back from lunch his boys looked like they had settled in quite nicely to the office. He did have a meeting with them privately, letting them know of the party tonight where their attendance was mandatory. If he had to suffer through it, then so did they. His mate would be there though, for that he was thankful. This he also made them aware of.
“How will we know who she is?” One asked,
“Just look for a tiny little thing” He replied,
“These are humans, they all tiny little things, I accidentally knock one on his ass already” Another announced, causing a few of the others to laugh,
“Relax boys, you’ll know her when you see her,” He told them. Then he held a meeting with everyone in attendance, introducing the new employees, also saying more would be showing up on Monday and there were more cuts coming, so no one better get comfortable. One dared to speak out and he was removed immediately following Adonis telling him that if they were doing their jobs properly this company would not be failing and there wouldn’t be a need for this. He then spent the rest of the day meeting with the twenty employees whose files he went through at lunch. Letting go of another ten. He had released thirty people so far, and in a company that had two hundred that wasn’t bad, but there were more people that needed to go. A lot more people.
“Open up asshole!” Jackson yelled from the other side pounding harder on the door. ….grrRrRrrrRrRrrr…. He released a growl, but couldn’t help the smile on his face. Finally some normal people to talk to. Well as normal as it gets when talking to demons!
“Asshole?” Adonis arched his eyebrow at him when he opened the door for his men.
“I kep it PG!” Jackson said grinning as he walked into the room. “Swanky!” He added, letting out a whistle as he looked over the owner’s suite.
“How fancy this party posed to be?” Tyler was asking Elijah as he walked in, “I don’t wanna wear no monkey suit.”
“For the last time, it’s not a hoedown, it is a formal event. Your suit is already in your room, yes you have to wear it.” Elijah followed him in pinching the bridge of his nose.
“You look stressed, Elijah” Adonis said, trying not to laugh as he took in his Gamma’s appearance.
“Two and half hours of ‘how fancy this party posed to be? I don’t wanna wear no monkey suit’ and you’d be a little stressed too.” Elijah replied, mimicking Tyler’s voice.
“I don’t soun like that,” Tyler fired at him defensively.
“Yes, you do. I had two and half hours to get it right” Elijah shot back.
“Well I Eli, big fat headed know it all” Tyler retorted ….grrRrrr…. “You wanna growl at me? Aight fathead let’s dance. This Alberta boy lookin for an excuse to kick yur ass” Adonis looked at Jackson who was just sitting there with a big grin on his face.
“They been at each other the whole trip. $50 on Tyler” Jackson said,
“ENOUGH! I’ve dealt with enough already today, without you two assholes adding to it. Tyler, your room is over there, go.” Adonis ordered.
“You sendin me to my room. You fuckin kiddin me?” Tyler looked at his Alpha wide eyed, when Adonis narrowed his eyes at him, he huffed and stomped off. “Fuckin groun me while you at it” Slamming the door behind him.
“Get ready!” Adonis yelled after him. “Why are you laughing? Your rooms that way” he added looking at Elijah and pointing in the other direction.
“A lil stress?” Jackson asked, trying to contain his laughter.
“I hate people. I hate talking to them. Bunch of whiny pathetic snivelling things. I hate the city. Never been a city boy.” Adonis responded sitting in the chair with his head in his hands.
“You jus miss her that all. Bond jus startin. It be different when you mark her. You be able to stay away longer witout feelin homicidal.” Jackson replied, “And uh….that actually start when Kenzi lef wit her sister”
“What?” Adonis looked at him, his hands clenched into fists immediately.
“I know I only get one, but uh….I gotta draw a line, Adonis. You can’t get angry” Jackson said. It was agreed upon a long time ago that once a year they could draw a line on something, but they could only draw one line each. Jackson used his the day he met Kenzi, it allows him to flirt with her and not feel the wrath of Adonis or Odin.
“You’re asking for another line?” Adonis asked him.
“I tellin you one need to be drawn,” Jackson replied nodding.
“Alright it’s drawn” Adonis agreed, heaving a deep sigh. If Jackson was asking for another line this had to be bad and he needed to brace himself for what he was about to hear. He sat back in his chair trying to keep himself relaxed and calm while he waited to hear what Jackson had to say.
“Sister show up at five to get Kenzi. Could hear her yellin somein serious at that lil girl. Somein bout a dress an how her know Kenzi fuck it up. Her fuck everthin up apparently. Kenzi try explainin the dress din’t look that way in the store, this chick went mental on her. Tyler try goin over there, he was fifty shades piss. Eli had to tackle him, get him to stop.” Jackson was speaking in a hushed tone as to not let Tyler know what they were talking about. Every once in a while he’d look over at the closed door.
“She’s not wearing her dress?” Fucking told you that stupid bitch would do that! Odin sounded murderous in his head.
“No colour look bad on that girl, but her look like the cotton candy blob ate her. The dress her wearin a couple sizes too big. An her….blonde” Jackson proceeded,
“She’s….blonde?” ….grrRrRrRRRrRrRrrr…. Blonde? She’s blonde? The picture Jackson was painting of his mate was not making him happy. Odin was growing more and more angry in his head. That bitch! ….grrRrRrRRRrRrRrrr….
“But I think it was her eyes that really did it” Jackson continued,
“What about her eyes?” What did that bitch do to her eyes?
“Din’t think you could dull silver, unless her wearin contacts that lil girl got no life lef in em. We overhear her sister tellin her to get in the car an shut the fuck up. Din’t wanna hear one soun from her the whole ride to the city. Her job at the party is to blend an her not posed to talk to nobody. Her jus there for support. Then they took off, an Tyler bit Eli” Jackson finished. Adonis’s fingers dug into the chair he was sittin in. This was not what he wanted to hear. His rage had boiled over, his breathing coming in quick pants, he ran his hands through his hair, trying to remain in control, but the snarling hellhound screaming for blood was going off in his head. ….grrRrRrRRRrRrRrrr…. I hate her! I want her dead! She’ll be ripped to shreds when I get my teeth on her! ….grrRrRrRRRrRrRrrr…. Over and over he heard how Odin wanted her dead. He heard everything Odin was going to do to her. ….grrRrRrRRRrRrRrrr…. I WANT OUR MATE, NOW! Adonis’s top lip curled back and before he could stop it, Odin was heard.
….grrrRRRrRRrRRRRRrRRrRRRrrrr….
The growl he released ripped around the room, causing the hair on the back of Jackson’s neck to stand up and a shudder to rip through him at the anger he felt coming from his Alpha.
“Line Adonis, you can’t cross it,” Jackson reminded him. Glowing orbs of fire stared back at him. “Either one of you!” He added. Bolting to his feet the door to his room slammed off its hinges with the force Adonis used to close it and it now lay on the floor in the living room of the owner’s suite. BANG! ….grrRrRrRRRrRrRrrr…. THUMP! Growls and snarls could be heard coming from the room followed by a few things being broken CRASH! ….grrRrRrRRRrRrRrrr…. BANG! Jackson got up from his seat and went to the bar pouring two drinks ….grrRrRrRRRrRrRrrr…. That not a happy puppy Ko! Nope! He crossed the room to the damaged door frame. THUMP! ….grrRrRrRRRrRrRrrr…. CRASH! He counted to twenty while he waited for the thumping and crashing in the room to stop before he held out one of the drinks and waited. Adonis reached out his bloody hand and accepted the drink before he slid down the wall till his ass hit the floor. Jackson followed suit on the outside of the room.
“I fix that” Jackson said,
“Thanks!” Adonis spoke back,
“I might has vent, lil bit” Jackson admitted,
“Little bit?” Adonis looked at him, his eyes still a glowing blaze, but he was fully in control.
“While Eli was tacklin Tyler, I might has vent. Need to replace the banister again, an the coffee table….the couch….maybe the lamps. It not so bad when it jus Ko goin off in my head, but when he feedin off Bal. We break a room too.” Jackson took a long drink,
“So the whole living room?” Adonis guessed,
“That pretty safe to say,” Jackson answered, nodding his head.
“Tyler bit Elijah?” Adonis asked, after taking his own drink
“Yeah, he pretty piss bout it. Heard him yellin from outside that he couldn’t believe Tyler bit him. How that man control his beast is beyond me, but he prolly the only stable one out the four of us.” Jackson had a grin on his face.
“How stable can he be, he never lets his beast vent?” Adonis asked,
“I don’t think them two has the bes relationship” Jackson was only speculating, but he’s watched Elijah fight off Asmodeus. Sometimes whatever battle going on in his head looked quite intense. Elijah has noticed him watching, but never says a word, just carries on whatever it was he was doing.
“I come out my room now?” Tyler asked, standing in the door. Jackson cracked up laughing, causing Adonis to start laughing.
“That depends, are you wearing the monkey suit?” Adonis asked, not even looking out his door.
“Fuckin monkey suit! I ain’t wearin no stupid tie” Tyler huffed and slammed his door again.
“Can’t believe you sent him to his room” Jackson commented, cracking them both up even more.
“It was either that or he’d kill Elijah” Adonis responded after he finally caught his breath. Jackson just nodded.
“You should go get your monkey suit on too” Adonis said,
“Yup. I ain’t wearin no fuckin tie either.” Jackson stated firmly,
“I told Elijah, we’re not the tie type, and not to bother none of us would wear it.” Adonis informed him,
“Eli pick the suits? Then you know they gonna be nice. Man loves a suit” Jackson replied, this time Adonis just nodded, taking another drink.
An hour later dressed and ready to go they headed off to the welcome party. Jackson was trying to assure Tyler he looked fine in the suit Elijah had picked out for him, but he had made it known several times he was not happy about wearing it.
“When was the last time you let him out?” Adonis asked Elijah quietly,
“It has been awhile” he replied.
“You need to let him out Elijah, before he does something stupid, like going after Tyler….again.” Adonis warned him,
“That’s all he does when he’s out” Elijah countered. It wasn’t a secret to Adonis that Elijah and Asmodeus don’t get along. They never have, polar opposites they never understood each other. Elijah is controlled, reserved and methodical; he likes to have a plan. Asmodeus is unpredictable, reckless, and disorderly; he never thinks things through, just acts on pure impulse and lives for chaos, like a true demon. Adonis has tried to help, but they don’t see eye to eye on anything.
“But even he has to know that by going after Tyler could result in both your deaths. Remind him, Bal feeds off the strength of Ko when those two are together. Tyler might be a Delta, but fighting him means fighting a Delta with the strength of a Beta.” Adonis replied,
“I never understood that” Elijah confessed, “I have read every book I can think of and I can not figure out how that works.”
“The wolves that live in Jackson and Tyler are twins.” Elijah snapped his eyes to his Alpha, he shook his head, that is not possible. Werewolves can’t have twin wolves. Adonis just nodded his head at him. It was time Elijah learned the truth. “When in close proximity they draw strength from each other, that’s why they are pretty much unstoppable and the only one that can take them is me. Separately they are still pretty strong, but it’s their individual strength. The downside is they can’t be separated by great distances, where one goes the other has to as well or hell will break loose. The names Ko and Bal are one name, they share it. Kobal. Demon prince of dark humour. ” Adonis explained,
“Church bell crush a whore” Elijah stated, now he understood why that was funny to them.
“It’ll never not be funny to them.” Adonis went on, “I know what you’re thinking. It’s not possible to have twin wolves, but there is one species of werewolf that can, and it is quite common amongst them. Look into demon wolves”
“Demon wolves?” Elijah asked, raising an eyebrow. He’s heard of the species, but knew nothing about them. There were no books, no records, nothing.
“They are extremely rare, but they do happen. The wolves that live within us you included aren’t normal wolves. Might be why you and him don’t get along. You think he’s a normal werewolf when he’s not. I can smell it, both Jackson and Tyler can smell it. You just need to understand it. Devil and his demons Elijah, it isn’t just a saying, it’s a truth. Further proof, how many other wolves do you see with liquid gold eyes?” Adonis asked,
“I haven’t! Or burning ones for that matter” Elijah answered,
“Orange isn’t a common one either” Adonis fired at him.
“How do you know? How do you know a demon from a normal wolf?” Elijah asked. He’s watched them many times when they have picked wolves from other packs, as part of negotiations but he never understood what they were doing. Tyler or Jackson would walk up and down the lines of wolves till they found something and then yell “Got one” but it was never explained to him. He was also curious as to why they always checked the dungeons. His own wolf readily pledged to Adonis, not that he was given much choice in the matter but the sense of belonging he felt when he did, shocked him.
“The same way you tell a rogue, they give off a smell.” Adonis replied,
“A smell?” Elijah looked at him.
“Normals can’t smell them, only a demon can smell another demon.” Adonis replied. He knew he should have told Elijah a long time ago of this, but he was hoping he and his beast would be on the same page by then.
“What do they smell like?” Elijah asked, looking at him.
“Smell me and tell me what you smell,” Adonis said. Elijah needed to smell for himself what they were. Elijah hesitated for a minute unsure of what really to do, but he obliged his Alpha.
“You smell like….burning, fire” He replied looking at him.
“That would be the smell of a demon. I should have told you a while ago, but I was waiting for you and him to get along. That’s why you never get to help pick. It’s what Tyler and Jackson are looking for when they do. The only members of our pack that aren’t demons are the mates or pups of them or the families that didn’t reject them, like Cage, Gage and Sage’s father. A demon wolf won’t just follow any Alpha….”
“They follow The Devil” Elijah finished for him.
“They will only follow The Devil,” Adonis agreed. “It’s why you were in the dungeon, awaiting execution. The Alpha didn’t know what you were or how to handle you. We’re bigger, faster, stronger. Our senses are better. We feed off fear, it excites us, it’s why Asmodeus loses control. Its also why you have a predilection for torture” he added giving Elijah a look.
“That explains a lot,” Elijah said.
“It’s also why you are tasked with training a specific group that have the same attribute as you. You belong to a faction of demon wolves called shadows. There are four other factions as well. I have a book, it is the only one in existence and it will explain everything.” Adonis told him. Elijah nodded his head. See stupid, told you we were special! Shut up Asmodeus! You’re such a dick!
Walking into the party, Adonis was greeted by some of the human employees, whereas his pack members slightly bowed in acknowledgment. He introduced Jackson though they wouldn’t have much interaction with him, he wasn’t the business type and Tyler as the technical specialist, most of them already knew Elijah, he was their first introduction before they met the big boss.
“I feel stupid!” Tyler was still complaining about the suit,
“You look good now stop bein a baby” Jackson said,
“Why couldn’t I wear my clothes?” Tyler hated the suit, he’s always hated them, they didn’t feel right on him.
“You hear Eli, it not a hoedown” Jackson countered,
“I should pop Eli’s fathead” Tyler shot back, glaring at Eli from around Jackson’s shoulder,
“Comeon let’s go get a drink, before you pull through on that” Jackson said, pushing his brother towards the bar.
“He’s extremely upset about the suit” Elijah remarked, through the link.
Adonis was still being greeted by the employees, speaking freely amongst his pack members wasn’t going to happen tonight.
“No, I think it has more to do with you tackling him when Kenzi’s sister was attacking her. You prevented him from doing his job.” Adonis countered.
Remembering the encounter Elijah looked at his hand where Tyler bit him.
“Relax Elijah, Tyler doesn’t have rabies” Adonis added, trying not to laugh.
“I don’t think you can say that for sure.” Elijah replied. That did earn a chuckle. Mr. Serious makes jokes! Even Odin was laughing.
“Have you seen her yet?” Elijah asked, scanning the crowd for her.
“No, but apparently I am looking for a blonde with dull eyes, who was eaten by a cotton candy blob.” Adonis responded.
“It was rather unsettling to see” Elijah spoke,
“Anyone have eyes on her yet?” Adonis called through the link.
“Tyler an I by the bar can’t see her, but we still lookin,” Jackson called back.
“Got her! Cotton candy monster dress sitting on the bench behind the food table” one of his pack members called.
Kenzi had been at the party for half an hour, she had no one to talk to and Teagan said under no circumstance was she to put her music in. She caught the stares from some of the other guests, she heard their snickers and saw them pointing at her. Some of them seemed to be sympathetic towards her though, they almost seemed upset by her appearance, she didn’t understand why, they didn’t know her. She was out of place amongst them and the dress she was wearing made it more so. She wasn’t doing a very good job of blending. The dress was way too big for her little body and she kept stepping on the bottom of it. She tried asking Teagan if she had any pins or something so she could fix it to fit her a little better, but Teagan just told her to shut it. Said if she wasn’t so stupid and had picked a more appropriate dress then she wouldn’t have to wear one that doesn’t fit. Her face and neck was also caked in makeup to hide the bruises. Teagan never asked what happened to her, instead said she probably did something to deserve it. Again questioning how Adam put up with her for so long and aggressively spackled her face with coverup and concealer. It was a long car ride to the city and Kenzi tried apologizing numerous times to her sister, but she just kept telling her to shut up and then threatened to kick her out of the car and leave her on the side of the road. Except it wasn’t really a threat, Teagan would do it, in fact she had done it before. She was now wandering around the party, trying to stay out of everyone’s way. An hour and a half and she could leave. That was her time, Teagan said two hours and she was supposed to go back to Teagan’s and James’s and stay in the guest bedroom.
“Would you just sit down, you’re too distracting” Teagan hissed at her, when she noticed she was just wandering around the party.
“Sorry Teagan” Kenzi shrank back a bit and tried to offer her a smile, Teagan just continued to glare at her.
“If you do anything to screw up tonight Kenzi, so help you. James is under enough stress and he doesn’t need you adding to it.” Teagan snapped at her.
“Ok Teagan!” Kenzi cast her eyes to the floor and went to find someplace to sit down where she wouldn’t interfere with anyone for the rest of her time at the party.
Slowly making his way in the direction of the food table, he caught sight of something he hoped he would never see in his life. Sitting on the bench behind the food table was a little girl who looked like she was swallowed up in pink fabric. The straps of the monster dress would fall down her shoulders and she kept having to put them back in place. After the eighth time she just huffed and left them they had no interest in staying put. Look at her! Odin whimpered. His mate didn’t look like herself, her whole identity was covered up, everything that made her her was taken away. She looks so sad! The blonde hair that sat atop her head he prayed was just a wig. If that bitch made her colour her hair he would destroy her right here at the party, and he wouldn’t care who saw him. Her lifeless dull eyes he prayed were contacts that could be removed and he would never have to see them again. Her full pouty crimson lips that were made to smile were almost turned down and muted by a pale lipstick. She wore not only black studded cuffs around her wrists to hide her secret but brown leather cuffs around her upper arms to cover the bruises from Adam’s last attack on her. No, his mate didn’t look like herself at all. If she did not look like herself then how was she supposed to feel like herself? The displeasure of his pack could be heard through the link. They were not happy that someone had done that to their Luna. What was even worse is that some of the other humans at the party were poking fun at her for it.
“The fuck her doin?” Jackson asked,
“Blending!” Adonis replied,
“That girl don’t blend!” Tyler chimed in,
“No, she does not!” Elijah agreed,
“That her?” Someone asked,
“The fuck happened to her?” Another one spoke,
“What the fuck is on her head?”
“Who’d do that?”
“The fucking dress ate her”
“If these people don’t shut up, I’ma snap a neck or two”
“I’m gonna help!”
“RELAX!” Adonis commanded
FIX THIS! Odin demanded in his head. FIX THIS RIGHT NOW! The closer he got to her, the more her scent surrounded him, the more he began to relax, but the more he saw the more the hellbeast in his head raged. THAT BITCH! THIS IS NOT RIGHT, NOT RIGHT AT ALL! STOP YELLING! LOOK AT HER! I can see, but you yelling is not helping! Make her smile, make her happy, fix her!
“Hello, my little bunny butt!” Adonis spoke as he sat down beside her on the bench. Kenzi’s head snapped to her left and a mix of emotion crossed her face. Surprise, shock, excitement. The sadness he saw a moment ago was now buried, not far under the surface but enough that it was no longer the dominant emotion. Contacts! Her eyes are hidden behind contacts! Adonis couldn’t help the relieved sigh. Bitch is fucking lucky!
“Adonis!” She exclaimed, then looked around to make sure no one was watching her. “What are you doing here? Are you sum-one’s guest” She added, whispering quietly.
“I was invited! What are you doing and why are you whispering?” He replied asking his own questions,
“I’m blending,” she answered as she looked around again. “I’m not pose to talk to nobody. Which is fine, I don’t know nobody to talk to, besighes Teagan and James, but they’re busy talking to uther people and I don’t really know James. I met him a couple tines, but di-dint really talk to him much. He seemded nice, but Teagan says he does-dint like me.” She replied, looking down at her hands. Can we kill her yet? No! Soon? We’ll see!
“Ok! I’m sorry, but what is on your head?” He asked, staring at her hair. He was trying to hide his displeasure at it, but it wasn’t working for him.
“Teagan said plum hair does-dint blend.” Reaching up one tiny hand she touched her hair. He reached up, touching the tresses, another small sigh of relief escaped him as he felt the synthetic fibers slip through his fingers. That bitch is double fucking lucky! Odin huffed.
“Sweetheart, that is not you” He said, trying to look at her, but unable to take his eyes off the wig on her head.
“I’m not a blonde?” She asked,
“I prefer your natural colour” He replied, slipping the wig from her head he watched as plum coloured hair tumbled down past her shoulders. She gasped, eyes widening as she looked around. “If anybody has an issue they can take it up with me” he said taking her hands in his hand when he saw the look of concern cross her face. She didn’t want to get in more trouble. Teagan was already mad at her over the dress.
“Are you hungry?” He asked,
“I’m starving, but I wou-dint eat the food. I don’t know what it is, but I’m preddy sure they finded it on the floor. I don’t know who this party is for, but I think they’re trying to kill them.” She responded by shaking her head.
“You’re the chef, I’ll take your word for it.” There goes that idea, and this party just got that much harder to navigate. He’s going to starve to death.
“You can’t say that, you’ve only had my cooking once, you can’t call me a chef.” She countered,
“True, but I do smell everything you cook, and if it tastes half as good as it smells I can and will call you a chef” He responded. Her nose wrinkled as the blush spread across her cheeks.
“What are you doing here sweetheart?” He asked her again,
“I told you I’m blending” she repeated, looking at him
“Yeah, blending, but why?” Adonis asked her as he looked around. Curious eyes of a few pack members were on them. When he slipped the wig off her head, they all seemed to settle a bit.
“I’m jus here to lend s-sup-port until ten. If sum-body asks me sum-thing, I’m pose to talk James up. Assep I don’t know who nobody is to talk him up to….I’m preddy sure I talkded him up to one of the waiters. I don’t ezen know what James does, he could be the janitor. If I’m not doing that, then I’m jus pose to stay out of the way and not draw atten-netion. Blend” She stated matter of factly. This clearly was not the first time she has done this.
“Ten?” He questioned.
“Yes, I’m pose to stay here till ten, then I has to go back to Teagan’s and stay in the guest bedroom.” She replied. What? She has to stay in the guest bedroom….like a prisoner! Settle down Odin, she is not going back to Teagan’s she is staying with us! Better be!
“Well there’s a problem with this plan!” Adonis declared,
“What?” Kenzi looked at him surprised, trying to figure out what the problem could be. It’s what she’s supposed to do, it’s what she’s always done.
“You my little bunny butt, don’t blend, especially in this dress” He turned her to face him.
“This isn’t my dress, Teagan di-dint like the uther one I had on and you can’t call me that, I’m not wearing bunnies no more….I am wearing some though.” She added quickly when she saw the intrigued look cross his face. “ And I do so blend, I could walk into that crowd of people and I’d blend so good, you wou-dint be able to finded me” Challenge? Challenge! Challenge accepted?
“Is that a challenge?” He asked, arching his eyebrow at her.
“Cha-chal-lenge?” She looked at him confused.
“You can’t make that claim unless you can prove it. Which means you’re challenging me to find you.” A smile was tugging at the corners of her mouth as she thought about what he said.
“Oh, then I guess I am,” she agreed. Challenge accepted Odin! Now we get to hunt! Who doesn’t love a good hunt!
“You have till ten right?” He asked and she nodded her head. “If I find you by ten, you owe me dinner….for a week” He slid her across the bench closer to him.
“Dinner for a week?” She asked, shocked by the sudden movement and her now close proximity to him.
“Six days of home cooking” she was nodding her head then scrunched her eyebrows,
“But there’s seven days in a week!” She said,
“On the seventh day I take you out to dinner” He replied,
“Like a….a date?” She asked. She didn’t want to get her hopes up that that was what he meant, but she was starting to get excited, she never gets to go anywhere.
“No, not like a date. An actual date” Adonis answered, a crooked smile crossing his face, she was really fighting the smile now, but it wasn’t working for her, she was failing to contain it and the tiny squeaks as her excitement began pooling around them.
“What if you don’t? What if you don’t finded me?” She asked, her smile breaking across her face.
“What do you want?” He replied, she bit her lip as she thought about it. What did she want?
“A crown!” She answered, it was the first thing that came to her mind.
“A crown?” He questioned, not sure he heard her right.
“Yes, a crown. I want to be crownded the mos blend-dable person ezer” I don’t think she understands bets! Odin mused, chuckling in his head. It was true she could have asked for anything and he would happily oblige if he lost the bet.
“Alright! Do we have a deal?” He asked, holding out his hand. Biting her lip again she thought about it. She shouldn’t, she really shouldn’t, she wasn’t supposed to draw attention. But who was really going to know? As long as she stays out of Teagan’s sight, then what could it possibly hurt, it’ll be fun. It’ll be the most fun she’s had all night.
“We has a deal” She extended her hand and shook his. Let the hunt begin!
“I’ll give you a five minute head start” He said, she nodded her head again and looked out at the crowd of people. “Sweetheart, times ticking” he said looking at his watch,
“Oh, right!” Her eyes went wide and she got off the bench. Holding the dress up she headed towards the crowd of people, with one last look over her shoulder. The smile on her face was big and wide. Blending doesn’t require shoes? Guess not! Adonis replied when he noticed her bare feet.
“What are you doing?” Elijah asked him after she disappeared into the crowd,
“Hunting! She said she could disappear into that crowd of people and blend so well that I wouldn’t be able to find her. I accepted the challenge. I’m bored and need entertainment so I’m going to hunt my mate for the next hour.” Adonis replied,
“She doesn’t blend though. Especially in that dress!” Elijah said, slightly perplexed
“You know that, I know that. Let her think she does. She deserves to have fun, not just sit on this bench out of the way until someone deems her fit enough to talk to. Have the others spread throughout the room, make sure no human interferes with her fun.” Adonis said, checking his watch. Time’s up! Ready or not, tiny dancer The Devil’s coming for you!
He tracked her movement throughout the room, she would run into a pack member and introduce herself immediately, talk for a bit, but the second he got too close she’d hide herself from him. It resulted in the pack members laughing and joining in on the fun. They had a bet going to see who could hide her the best, they all knew she couldn’t blend and hiding her seemed like the best option. $1000 went to the winner. Somehow this turned into a game of keep away.
“Mr. Bradshaw?” James called him,
“Yes James?” Adonis turned towards the voice,
“I’d like to introduce you to someone” He was standing next to a woman, a little plain in appearance. She had mousy brown curly hair, honey brown eyes and a sprinkling of freckles across her up turned nose. Standing 5’9 with heels she would be 5’7 without, she was of average height and her body seemed to hold no real shape. With no curves to draw the eye to her pencil straight body, he didn’t really see the appeal in her. If it wasn’t for the fact that she carried similar facial features as his mate she would just be plain and forgettable. It was because of those facial features that he didn’t need to be told her name, this was the sister. Her need to dull Kenzi, he realized, stems from pure jealousy. Teagan at best was not hard to look at, but she would easily be overlooked, with Kenzi one would struggle to keep their eyes off of her, she was absolutely gorgeous. Teagan seemed to have gotten the height, Kenzi was blessed with everything else.
“Tamara?” Adonis asked, he saw her flinch, her face going slightly red when he got her name wrong. Seeing her displeasure at being called the wrong name might have brought him a little amusement. Her new name is going to be Tamara! Could be bitch face? It could be! Odin howled in his head.
“Teagan, sir” James corrected,
“Right! Forgive me, I’ve had a lot of names thrown at me the last few days. Pretty sure I called someone Dave for a whole day and I don’t think that was his name.” Adonis made light of his intentional slip.
“You did, it wasn’t, his name was Brad, sir” James replied, trying his best not to laugh
“Oh, I wasn’t even close. At least I got the T right in your name” Adonis offered a slight tight smile.
He scanned the crowd, catching sight of the pink dress by some of the tables. The smile had never left her face, the whole time he had been chasing her around the party. She was talking to a few pack members at the moment and he could see her laughing at whatever they were saying to her. Though the room was noisy, filled with the voices of others, the musical sound she produced still managed to reach his ears. He saw a few more of his pack come to introduce themselves. He liked the way she offered her hand immediately, never shying away from them. Considering they all towered over her, she seemed completely at ease in their presence. He also had to bite back a laugh when she accidentally smacked one of them with her hands when she was talking.
“James, can you get me a drink?” Teagan asked, her grating nasally voice drawing his attention back into the conversation. The fuck is that? Odin shuddered, repulsed at the noise she produced. I think that is the sound of her voice! Can we shove a sock in it? Yes! He would be lying if he said that was a pleasant noise.
“Uh….sure!” When James left she turned her attention to Adonis.
“You were speaking to my sister earlier” she spoke, though she held a smile her tone carried a note of disdain, towards her sister. The fuck this bitches problem? I don’t know! Adonis was too busy trying not to cringe at the horrific sound that came from her.
“Was I?” Adonis asked,
“I’m sorry she was bothering you.” Teagan wasn’t even trying to hide her unhappiness at the fact that Kenzi spoke to someone at this party. “She can be slow. She doesn’t talk to a lot of people and often doesn’t think before she speaks, I hope she didn’t offend you” Is slow another way of saying stupid! Yes it is! I hate her! So do I! Can I eat her! We’ll see!
“I found her quite charming actually. She’s refreshingly genuine and I quite enjoyed talking to her,” Adonis countered, a smile settled across his face when he saw Teagan tense at his statement. He didn’t want to continue this conversation with her. She was insulting his mate, Odin was starting to get angry and being warned off the food, he was starving.
“If you’ll excuse me Tamara, I’m actually looking for someone. it’s rather important that I find them” Adonis went to walk away,
“Teagan!” She called after him. He turned in time to see her eyes roam over his body. Fucking perfect! He thought. Send the boyfriend away, so she can ogle his boss! Dirty whore!
“Excuse me!” He spoke drawing her attention away from his body,
“My name is Teagan, not Tamara” Her face went a little red again, when she had to correct him. Nope, it’s Tamara!
“Right! Excuse me,” Adonis replied, his words laced with disapproval at being ogled by the whore and walked away from her.
He last saw his mate heading towards one of the tables where Elijah, Jackson and Tyler were standing. He was running out of time to locate her and win their little deal. She might not be able to blend, but seemed to be exceptionally good at hiding. Being tiny helps!
“Where is she?” Adonis asked them,
“Who?” Tyler asked,
“Don’t play dumb, you know who” Adonis replied,
“Hasn’t seen her since we was warn against eatin the food.” Jackson said,
“So you’re eating the food?” Adonis asked,
“Tyler bet me $50 I wouldn’t eat it. I shouldn’t of ate it.” Jackson answered, looking from Adonis to the table.
“You two need more entertainment than torturing each other in your lives.” Adonis stated, shaking his head at them.
“Jus give her the crown!” Jackson stopped Adonis in his tracks as he was walking away.
“You know where she is?” Adonis asked, turning around.
“Maybe I do, maybe I don’t” Jackson said,
“What did she promise you for helping her?” Adonis asked,
“I ain’t gettin punish eatin pizza cause you threw a tantrum an broke the pots an pans, while you sittin pretty livin the high life on Kenzi cookin.” Jackson replied, grinning.
“She promised you dinner” Not so much a question but a statement.
“Maybe her did, maybe her din’t” Tyler answered,
“Tyler?” Adonis looked at him,
“I gotta look out for my brother” Jackson said,
“Elijah?” Adonis narrowed his focus on him. Both Jackson and Tyler looked panicked, they saw their dinner going up in flames.
“Elijah?” Adonis repeated, Elijah cast his eyes to the floor,
“Don’t do it Eli, we cut you in” Jackson said,
“You do it I’ma pop yur head” Tyler warned,
“Elijah!” Adonis said one more time. He refused to meet Adonis’s eyes. “Look at me Elijah!”
“Don’t do it Eli, don’t do it!” Jackson was trying to encourage him to stay strong.
“She’s over by the bar, I’ll show you” Elijah cracked and told him
“Damn it Eli” Tyler huffed, glaring at him
“Thank you Elijah, nice try boys” Adonis turned on his heel and walked away following Elijah. KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! They waited till they were far enough away before Jackson wrapped three times on the table.
“Twenty minutes Lil Kenzi Cakes an you get that crown” He said when she crawled out from under the table.
“Thanks Jackson!” She was giggling as she spoke.
“Uh oh! You better run Lil Kenzi Cakes” Tyler said, looking in the direction he was, they saw Adonis standing there. His arms crossed over his chest staring at them, shaking his head. A big grin on her face, she took off in the opposite direction, disappearing into the crowd. If she could make it to the other side of the room, she could hide over there for the last little bit. Looking over her shoulder to make sure he wasn’t right behind her, she bumped into someone.
“Watch what you’re doing!” The woman snapped at her.
“I’m so sorry, I di-dint mean to” Kenzi apologized,
“If you were paying better attention, I wouldn’t be wearing my drink” She hissed, the woman towered over Kenzi. Her long golden blonde hair, and caramel brown eyes, pierced into her.
“Terribly sorry Melani. My sister can be a bit foolish and bad mannered” Teagan interrupted, before the woman could cause any more of a scene.
“This is your sister Teagan?” Melani asked,
“Yes! Unfortunately she wasn’t blessed with charm or social grace. Just foolishness” Teagan said, causing Melani to laugh.
“I’m sorry Teagan I di-dint mean to bump into her” Kenzi again tried to apologize. Both women ignored her presence while they continued to talk about her,
“Is she stupid?” Melani asked,
“Undeniably so!” Teagan replied, “She’s leaving now, so she won’t be a burden and bother anyone else.” Teagan added, grabbing a hold of Kenzi’s upper arm and pulling her from the crowd.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Teagan hissed at her, when it was just the two of them.
“I’m sorry Teagan it was a ass-cident” Kenzi defended herself “I was jus-”
“Shut up! You’re such a stupid little embarrassment, why did I think I could bring you here and expect you not to embarrass me? This is a party welcoming the new owner of James’s company and you’re screwing it up, like usual.” Teagan said,
“I’m sor-”
“Shut up Kenzi. I don’t want to hear anything that comes out of your stupid mouth. Leave, you’re no longer needed here” Teagan snapped at her as she pointed towards the exit.
“Ok, I’ll meet you at your pla-”
“No, go home. I don’t want to see you any more tonight. You had one job and that was to just stay out of everyone’s way and blend and you screwed it up, like you screw up everything else.” Kenzi bowed her head slightly, casting her eyes to the floor, her shoulders tensing more and more with the things Teagan said to her. She was fighting to keep control of what she was feeling, to stop it from showing. Don’t feel it, don’t show it, don’t be a burden, it’s not important!
“But Teagan, you pickded me up, how do I ge-”
“I realize you’re an idiot Kenzi, but you can’t be that big of an idiot, stop being a burden and figure it out.” Again Teagan snapped at her, then walked away.
“Luna!”
“What that bitch say to her?”
“Alpha! Something happened!”
“Some bitch said something”
“Think anyone will miss her”
“Probably not!”
“Why the fuck would they?”
“Easy boys! Odin already called dibs” Adonis addressed them.
None of the pack had heard what was said to their Luna, but the feeling that was radiating from her upset them all. Kenzi stood there for a second, trying to swallow everything that was threatening to consume her. Don’t feel it. Don’t show it. Don’t be a burden. It’s not important. Don’t feel it. Don’t show it. Don’t be a burden. It’s not important! Over and over in her head, she screwed up, no matter how hard she tries, she always screws up. Don’t feel it. Don’t show it. Don’t be a burden. It’s not important! She started walking towards the exit, when she felt a pair of hands around her waist. Tingles and shocks ran up her body at the contact and a slight gasp escaped from her.
“Found you, my tiny dancer” Adonis pulled her close to him,
“Yup, you did.” Kenzi nodded her head, she tried to force the cheer into her voice, but he wasn’t buying it for a second.
“What’s the matter?” Adonis asked, he was alerted to the altercation between her and her sister, but no one knew what was said, just that none of his pack was happy about it.
“It’s ok, it’s not important.” Kenzi shook her head “I has to go now”
“To Teagan’s?” He asked,
“Uh….no back to town” he turned her to face him.
“What happened?” Hooking his finger under her chin he lifted her face so she would look at him. Her eyes may have been covered by contacts, but it didn’t hide the flashes of pain and sadness she was fighting back.
“Um….it’s fine. It’s ok, it’s not import-”
“What happened sweetheart?” Adonis repeated, cutting her off
“I bumpded into a girl, and spillded her drink on her. It was a ass-cident. I di-dint mean to, I said sorry, but she gedded….and then Teagan gedded…. It’s ok though, it’s not important. Um….do you think the bus is still running? I don’t know how I’m gonna ged home if it’s not” Kenzi asked him. Like fuck she’s taking some bus! Odin seethed.
“You’re not taking the bus.” Adonis stated,
“It’s ok, I’ve done it before. You meet lots of nice people on the bus, I jus don’t know how to ged there from here.” Kenzi said,
“You are not taking the bus, I will drive you” Adonis restated,
“It’s ok you don’t has to do that. I can ged home, I’ll figure it out” Kenzi shook her head at him, her eyes wide and there was a slight spike in her heartbeat. She didn’t want to burden him with having to bring her home and then come all the way back here.
“No, I will take you home. I’m heading that way tonight anyway. I’ve had enough of the city. Truthfully if it wasn’t for this party I would have been home this morning.” Adonis told her,
“Are you sure? No it’s ok, I don’t want to be a bother” Kenzi bit her lip and looked up at him. The concern that laced her words, the worry he saw cross her face at the thought that she might be bothering him, killed him. She could never ever be a bother to him.
“Shhh sweetheart, I’m sure, you could never be a bother to me. I do have something I need to take care of and as soon as that’s done we’ll leave. Tyler will take you to the truck and wait with you till I get there.” Adonis answered, waving Tyler over.
“Ok!” She nodded her head,
“Stay with her!” Adonis said to Tyler when he came up beside her.
“Come on Lil Kenzi Cakes, lets get the fuck outta here” Tyler said as he waited for her “I want the fuck out this stupid monkey suit”
“You don’t like the suit?” She asked,
“Fuckin hate em!” Tyler replied as they walked off.
“You look good though” She said looking him up and down,
“Don’t make me like em. I like my jeans, they comfortable” Tyler said,
“Why cou-dint you wear jeans with that jacket?” Kenzi asked,
“Cause Eli say this party not a hoedown” Tyler replied. “Hey Lil Kenzi Cakes?”
“Yeah Tyler!” She looked at him,
“Where yur shoes?” He asked looking at her bare feet,
“Um….I took them off. They were hurting my feet and I lef them sum….I don’t member. And I cou-dint blend very well with them making noise.” She replied,
“Oh….Lil Kenzi Cakes….you know you don’t blend, right?” Tyler asked as they proceeded towards the exit.
“I’m learning that! What’s a hoedown?”
“It a dance” Tyler told her
“Oh, yeah they di-dint has dancing at this party” She replied,
“That cause this party blows” Tyler retorted
“Yeah!” Was the last thing he heard her say before they left the room.
“Thins ok?” Jackson asked as he and Elijah fell in line beside him.
“They will be. I’ll do this stupid thanks for the party speech and then we are out of here.” Adonis replied as they walked towards the front of the room. It was before ten and if he pressed it they could get back to Blackwoods and the night would still be salvageable.