SWNOVELS Chapter 7: Making A Splash!
Well I think it’s been a good day Odin! Yes, time to celebrate, let’s go see our mate! The homeowners called Elijah this morning saying he could take possession tomorrow, putting him in the house two days earlier than expected. It might not seem like a big deal, but it actually was, because his mate was human she wouldn’t feel the bond like she would if she were a wolf. It was just starting to form, the more they see each other the stronger it will become, but she would still need to accept it. When that happens they would crave each other and find any excuse to be together. When they are mated, then the real fun begins, good luck separating them after that.
He has Tyler looking into the Mayor and the boyfriend, Jackson is heading over to the camp to see what needs to be done. The previous camp owner had faxed over the signed papers and he was now in full possession of it, the land transfer went through this morning. It was a commercial property, so turning it into a habitable living space was going to be easy and no one would be able to stop them. As soon as he got word from Jackson on the state of the place, he would have more of his pack brought into town. From what he understood, each cabin could house fifteen people. With ten cabins, that’s one hundred fifty pack members in town. Plus the ones that have already bought some of the houses in the area. Things were moving quickly. The quicker the better! Let’s go get a cupcake! You’re gonna be a fat Alpha! You’re an asshole! At least I won’t be fat! Fucker! With Odin howling in his head he walked towards the bakery.
It was just after four in the afternoon when the bell above the door jingled as Adonis walked into the bakery, but something was off from the last time he was there. It didn’t smell right, Odin grew concerned in his head at what was going on. Where’s our mate? I don’t know! I don’t smell her!
“She’s not here!” Maggie called from behind the counter, never looking up from the book she was reading.
“Excuse me!” He said to her as he walked towards the counter.
“Uh huh!” Maggie arched her eyebrow at him. She was nobody’s fool, she saw right through him and knew exactly why he was there.
“Kenzi! She’s not here, I sent her home. She needed a break. Some woman came in calling her all sorts of things, saying she stole something from her daughter.” Maggie said, looking at him over top of the book.
“What?” Adonis asked, anger was evident in his tone as his features began to darken. Who the fuck would do that to her?
“Kenzi was just as shocked, especially when she called her a lying, thieving little slut who stole her daughter’s one shot at happiness. The girl had no idea what the woman was going on about. No one did, but it’ll just be one more rumour to go around about that girl.” Maggie shook her head and went back to reading her book.
“Others were present?” This was done in front of other people, his anger growing more and more,
“Oh yeah! The woman did it right in front of a lot of people about an hour ago. No one had a clue what she was talking about, Kenzi tried to defend herself, but this town likes to talk. I wouldn’t be expecting to see her anytime in the next couple days, at least not during the hours we’re open for. Judging by the look on your face you know what this was about though.” Maggie looked up at him more this time. This is utter fucking bullshit! He knew exactly what this was about. His posture was stiff and rigid, his jaw tense, mouth set in a thin line. Fists clenched at his side he was trying to keep control. Odin was howling with anger in his head. This was not right at all.
“Thank you Mrs. Wendall!” Was all he said before he turned on his heel and stalked out of the bakery, pulling his phone as he went. That stupid whore and her mother were going to pay for what they did.
Kenzi was at home in her garden, music playing in her ears trying to drown out what the woman in the bakery said to her. She had no idea what she was talking about. She stole something from her daughter? There might be something wrong with her, but she was no thief, so what did she steal? When she asked the woman, all she said was she knew what she stole, and little sluts burn in hell. Then people started whispering and Maggie sent her home. Kenzi didn’t want to leave her at the bakery alone; the five o’clock rush would hit, and she had nothing prepared for tomorrow. Maybe she would go back later tonight and start prep for tomorrow. That’s most likely what will end up happening. Finishing in the garden she moved inside to start dinner. Adam’s favourite was steak and garlic, parmesan mashed potatoes with herb buttered asparagus, she however wasn’t a fan of asparagus, it tasted like grassy twigs. He messaged saying he would be there for 5:30, and to try an edible dinner.
At 5:45 Adam finally arrived. Looking tired and slightly dishevelled. His usual neatly combed brown hair was slightly messy, his pressed clothes rumpled.
“I th-th-ough-t you said you were going to be here at 5:30?” Kenzi asked as she let him in.
“I’m fifteen minutes late, what’s the big deal?” He snapped at her. Slightly flinching, she stepped back a little.
“Did you has a bad day?” Kenzi asked, she wasn’t exactly sure what Adam did for work, he told her once it was something with numbers, but when she questioned him further about it, he got mad at her and asked if she was dumb. So she never asked him again.
“What kind of stupid question is that?” He snapped again, Adam was 5’10 and towered a foot taller than her. Then again everyone towered over her. His bark brown eyes bore into hers. She shrank back from him even more.
“I was jus ass-king!” She said,
“Did you cook?” His lip curled up in disgust, at the thought of having to eat her food.
“I made your fa-av-rite” She offered him a smile as she motioned towards the table, but knew she screwed up again when she heard his loud exasperated sigh.
“I thought you were going to order something to eat, you know you can’t cook.” He shook his head at her,
“I th-th-ough-t maybe I would ged it right this tine.” Kenzi offered him a hopeful smile, but the look he held on his face left her feeling smaller than her 4’10 height.
“You never get it right Kenzi, you should just stop trying. I’m only saying this to help you. People need to stop lying to you and telling you, you can cook and bake. It’s time to face facts, you can’t do either.” The smile on her face faltered a little, but she held it.
“I can order sum-thing, if you want” She replied,
“You should have already ordered something, if you order now I’ll have to wait another forty five minutes for it to get here. No, I’ll suffer through another meal, but this is the last time” he said to her, grabbing a hold of her chin forcing her to look at him.
“Ok!” She tried to smile brighter at him, but his fingers gripping into her jaw prevented it from happening and the pressure he was applying was starting to become uncomfortable and slightly painful.
“Would it have killed you to put on some makeup and make yourself look a little more presentable” He looked her up and down, disapproving of her appearance.
“I’m sorry Adam! Ness tine” Kenzi replied. She thought she looked nice, she had on a nice full length summer dress that went to her feet, she had done her hair in a crown braid and a light lip gloss. She never wore much makeup, lip gloss, and maybe eyeshadow every once in a while.
Adam sat at her kitchen table, while she went to get him his dinner. Placing it down in front of him, she could see him turn his nose up at it. She thought it smelled good, but she could be wrong.
“What am I supposed to eat it with?” He asked, holding his hands out.
“Oh sorry!” Fetching his utensils as she heard his sigh one more time. Once everything was set and she got him a drink, she took her seat across from him. She sat beside him once and that didn’t make him happy so she never did it again.
“How was your day?” She asked, trying to make conversation,
“It was fine Kenzi!” He replied as he moved the food around his plate. Though the aromas tantalized her senses, watching him take repulsive bite after repulsive bite, she was no longer feeling hungry, guess she didn’t get it right this time.
“It’s my birthday in a couple days” She said, still trying to make conversation,
“And what do you expect, a present?” He asked, looking at her,
“No, I th-th-ough-t maybe you would like to come over for dinner. I’ll order this tine. Teagan is going to be there, she promisded” she answered,
“I’m not coming over for your stupid birthday, it’s not important” he replied, shaking his head, like it was the stupidest thing he ever heard.
“You’re right, it’s not important” she repeated, looking down at her own plate
“This is revolting, I can’t eat this. You should clean up, I’m gonna watch something on t.v.” He pushed his plate away from him and stood up. She nodded her head, a small sigh escaping from her. She really tried this time, she thought she had it. Maybe Adam was right and she should just stop trying to cook, she clearly wasn’t getting any better at it.
“Do you want to watch a movie?” She asked, starting to clear the table.
“No Kenzi, I don’t” he sat down on the couch turning on the t.v. to some sport. She watched him for a bit, before turning her attention back to the dishes and the mess in the kitchen. Silently she cleaned up trying not to disturb him, but she had a song running through her head and she found herself humming along to it. Every once in a while the words would slip out, but she tried to keep them quiet.
“Kenzi! Stop!” Adam called from the couch. Her head snapped up in his direction, her body tensing up immediately. So much for keeping quiet!
“Do you want some dessert?” She asked,
“No! I’m trying to watch this” He replied, never turning to look at her. He didn’t have to, she knew she was making him angry, his grumblings under his breath, his posture was rigid and tense and the next thing she said to him would set him off. Turning her attention back to the kitchen and the mess, she would just keep her head down and her mouth shut.
She started to clean the stove lost in thought, she didn’t hear Adam come up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her. His embrace tight and restricting, letting out a startled breath at the contact, she froze in place. She felt uneasy and her skin began to crawl at his touch.
“I’m just frustrated!” Running one hand down her body, his touch rough, when he landed on her hip he squeezed a little too hard, she released a small whimper. He kissed the back of her neck, forcing her to give him better access. She tried to enjoy his touch, but it felt all wrong, it didn’t feel good. With his grip on her hip tightening it was really starting to hurt, if he didn’t let go she was sure he would bruise her.
“Adam that hurts” she whimpered trying to make him stop. He grumbled something against her neck, before he spun her to face him and pushed her into the stove hard. She stifled another whimper as his mouth attacked her. Forcing her to give him what he wanted, it didn’t feel right. One hand rested around the back of her neck loosely running his thumb up and down her throat, while his other hand traveled down her body, feeling his way to what he wanted. Pulling up her dress, he pressed himself into her. This was wrong, it was all wrong, it didn’t feel good.
“Ada….” he kissed her to silence her
“Please Adam no” she tried again, she could feel tears stinging her eyes, as her breathing increased. She didn’t want this. She wasn’t ready.
“Please Adam stop,” she said. His hand tightened on the back of her neck. Fear started plaguing her. Her fists balled, she pushed lightly against his chest to make him stop. The more she pushed him away the tighter his grasp on her neck became.
“Stop, please stop” she begged him again.
“You stupid, selfish, ungrateful, little girl.” The hit to her abdomen came hard and fast, stealing what little breaths she was already taking from her. Her legs started to buckle but he held her up by the back of her neck. The bruise she was going to get from that one was going to be big. “Everything I do for you and you can’t give me this” He hissed, pulling back from her. She closed her eyes and tried to look away from him, only to have him grab her by the back of the hair and force her to look at him.
Her eyes wide, filled with terror, her breathing laboured as the pain from his hit radiated through her, she looked into his angry brown orbs.
“I-I-I’m s-s-so-rry!” She stuttered, pulling her hair harder, she bit back the scream that wanted to escape.
“It’s cause you’re fucking someone else isnt it?” He snapped, her eyes growing wider at that statement, she tried to shake her head no but the movement hurt.
“N-n-no, no I’m not” she replied, his other hand gripping her face squeezing tightly, causing her to cry out in pain. Her hand gripped his wrist trying to get him to let go of her.
“The whole town’s talking about how you’re a little slut, sleeping with someone else’s man. Sure you’ll sleep with him but not me” he squeezed her face tighter. She tried shaking her head no again,
“N-no I’m not, I-I swear I’m not. I hasn’t sleepded with no one, I-I promise, I-I hasn’t” she begged him to believe her. She was still a virgin, she hadn’t slept with anyone.
“You better not be!” He face twisting as he released the back of her head casting her to the side with enough force that she lost her balance. THUD! The cold tile floor greeted her as she made the connection with a hard thud. Smacking her head off the corner of the cabinet. She felt the blood trickling down her forehead from the gash that now sat above her right eyebrow.
“See what you made me do. You made this happen, it’s your fault” He yelled at her as he saw the dark blood.
“I-I-I’m s-s-sor-rry. P-please don’t be mad. I-I-I d-d-di-dint mean to” The tears streaming down her cheeks, she fought to keep them back, to control them to push down the fear she was feeling, but it overwhelmed her and she lost control. Her body shook as her sobs raked through her, she tried turning away so he wouldn’t have to see her, but she found the movement painful, her whole body hurt. Crouching down next to her, he reached out to touch her, only for her to push away from him further into the cabinets.
“Don’t be like that” he snapped as he pulled her towards him. Except she didn’t find comfort in his arms, there was no safety, no protection from the outside world. She couldn’t stop her body from shaking as he held her against him.
“You wrecked another night Kenzi, I’m leaving.” Adam pushed her away from him and left her trembling on the floor. The front door slamming shut behind him had her jumping and wincing in pain.
Kenzi sat on the floor in her kitchen clutching her knees to her chest, rocking back and forth trying to regain control of herself. It was difficult when all she wanted to do was let go. She just wanted to let it all go, but she had to pull herself together. She had to head back to the bakery and get everything prepared for tomorrow. Maggie was counting on her, she couldn’t let her down. Struggling through the pain she pulled herself to her feet, to finish cleaning the kitchen. Then cleaned the blood off her face and placed a bandaid over the cut on her forehead and changed into different clothes. Looking at herself one last time in the mirror, she could see the bruises around her jaw and neck starting to form from where Adam gripped her. Don’t feel it, don’t show it, don’t be a burden, it’s not important! She also knew she would have one on her hip where she hit the floor. Don’t feel it, don’t show it, don’t be a burden, it’s not important! No she wouldn’t show anybody what she was feeling, they only wanted to see fine and happy. Fine and happy wasn’t bothering anybody with her problems. Fine and happy wasn’t being selfish. Fine and happy wasn’t being a burden. Don’t feel it, don’t show it, don’t be a burden, it’s not important! Putting her music in to quiet the world around her, she headed back to the bakery.
“Tell me about the camp” Adonis asked Jackson as they all sat around one of the tables in the diner. He was looking forward to having his own house, then their conversations could be a little more private. He hated having to talk in hushed tones to stop the eavesdropping ears of others from listening in on them. He wasn’t ready to make waves just yet, soon enough though.
“Needs work, needs a lot of work. The grouns are fine, look like that was work on, but the cabins not so much, they has three levels each, five rooms on each level. Maybe five or six could be use after a lil work done to em. The main buildin ain’t so bad either, could easily sleep another fifteen, right now. Fix up the kitchen a bit an we could start bringin the others over.” Jackson replied, “Look like someone might have been livin in one of the cabins for a bit as well.” He added,
“Left a mess?” Elijah asked,
“Opposite actually, it was the cleanest of all the cabins. I mean hadn’t been use in five, six years, but it wasn’t as wrecked either.” Jackson answered.
“Do what needs to be done,” Adonis told him, Jackson just nodded.
“Tell me about the Mayor!” Adonis turned to Tyler,
“That guy fifty shades of shady” Tyler replied, “From tryin to sell parts of the forest to tryin to allow city folk to build their summer homes on the lake. He gets stop ever time though. Seems he jus a figurehead in the town. All approval has to go through the town council an the decision need to be un-unan- they all need to agree.”
“Unanimous” Elijah helped him out and Tyler nodded,
“It only takes one person to say no, an whatever deal he work out is dead in the water.” Tyler added,
“Mayor soun like a lil dirty birdie” Jackson interjected after he finished his burger. Tyler nodded,
“You don’t know the half of it, scandals, affairs, in bed wit several different people, like I say fifty shades of shady” Tyler responded,
“How many on the town council?” Adonis asked,
“Twenty people!” Tyler went to take a bite of his burger, but ended up having to put it down. Seems he wasn’t going to get to eat right now. He could hear Jackson laughing beside him.
“Fuck you Jackass! It’s the same 7 people each time that say no. He try many different tactics to get their decision overturn, from bribery, to extortion but they ain’t budgin. They own they own businesses an went steps further to stop him from gettin to em by buyin the buildins they in. The mayor has a bad habit of raisin the rent to get what he want, bleed em out.” Tyler replied, eyeing his burger, his mouth watering.
“Who are they?” Adonis asked, slightly amused by the hungry look on his Delta’s face.
“Harvey Blidel, he own the hardware store, Frank an Barbara Mercer, Frank own the auto shop an Barbara a teacher at the local elementary school. Joe, owner of the bar an his wife Gerti, her own the flower shop. The diner owner Patrick an his wife Maggie, her work the bakery.” Tyler replied.
“Maybe getting on the town council would be a better idea, then running for Mayor of this town.” Elijah suggested, Adonis nodded.
“That might be difficult, you only get on the council one of two ways. A member die an you invite, or one of the members ab-abdi- gives up they seat to you” Tyler replied.
“Abdicates,” Elijah said, Tyler pointed at him. He found it interesting that Tyler said Maggie worked at the bakery and not owned it. So who owns the bakery? And do they own the building? Elijah picked up on that as well.
“Who owns the bakery?” He heard him ask.
“Some company K Co, can’t fine an actual name though. Could be from one of the cities, but I still checkin” Tyler was about to crack and just take a bite from the burger, he was starving and it was sitting there taunting him. His brother’s laughter wasn’t helping either.
“What about Adam Walsh?” Adonis asked. Now you’re just being an ass! He could hear Odin laughing in his head, he was getting a kick out of the desperte look on his Delta’s face as well. Tyler was trying not to whimper, but with every question that was asked of him, the longer he went without getting to eat, the harder it became for him to contain them.
“Still runnin the name, a few thins pop up already, DUI’s, disorderly, but nuttin ever came of em, a high price lawyer made em go away. He has a record that I lookin into, but his daddy has some deep pockets an got a judge to seal it.” Tyler responded quickly.
“Sounds like this town would run on deep pockets, could be why they use a town council and took any formal power from the Mayor” Elijah speculated,
“Council only been runnin for eleven years, After Mayor Winston went through a huge scandal. His son who was sixteen at the time was bullyin a ten year old lil girl. Tried to have her arrested an everthin, her refuse to apologize for pushin him in the lake. Chief refused to arrest her, statin if he did that he would has to arrest the mayor’s son as well. Mayor try to has the Chief fired an hire some other dick. The council was formed, citin that givin one man that much power over town affairs was detrimental to the town’s well bein. Mayor was piss, but still runs an runs unopposed, if someone else does run against him, they don’t stay in the runnin for very long” Tyler added, his words comin out faster and faster as he spoke.
“You not eatin it” Jackson grabbed Tyler’s burger
“That mine! You had yurs” Tyler huffed, trying to take it back
“Yeah! It was good too! I still hungry though” Jackson replied, taunting Tyler with his burger.
“Put the burger down Ja-” Tyler started, trying to hold back a snarl,
“Hey, member what happen las time you call me that” Jackson fired back, cutting him off.
“Aunty say you can’t do that to me nomore” Tyler counter,
“Look around Ty, you see aunty anywhere?” Jackson replied, still taunting him.
“Don’t call me that Ja-” Tyler was getting ready to move against his brother to get his burger back. Adonis and Elijah just sat back at the table, this was not going to end well.
“Whatcha gonna do lil man?” Jackson went to take a big bite,
“DROP IT JACK!” Tyler yelled, and lunged at Jackson, taking him out of the booth. The burger hit the floor as Jackson and Tyler scuffled in the middle of the diner, for everyone to watch. They might have been brothers and thick as thieves but they knew how to push the others buttons and did so on a regular basis. They might also have a little pent up aggression they needed to get out, and a lot of time took it out on each other.
“So much for going unnoticed” Elijah commented,
“Yup!” Adonis agreed, nodding his head. Watching his men scrap on the floor of the diner like children.
“We should do something, we’re drawing attention” Elijah cautioned looking around at all the eyes on them.
“We’ve been under watch the second we stepped foot in the diner. Curious little people, but you’re right someone should stop this” Adonis looked at Elijah,
“No! Last time I got involved when those two went at it, it didn’t end well….for me!” Elijah shook his head.
“Fine!” Adonis muttered. It might not have ended well for Elijah, he ended up in a mud pit in one of his high priced suits, but it was highly entertaining for Adonis. Normally when Jackson and Tyler went at it, it was best to just let them go. It works itself out, they just needed to blow off steam. Demons need to have fun.
Getting up from his seat he grabbed Tyler, threw him in one direction and Jackson in the other.
“ENOUGH!!” He yelled, they both looked at him. Though it wasn’t an Alpha command they could feel his displeasure behind the scene they just caused. Adonis looked up to see Patrick watching him.
“Sorry for the disturbance, they’ll clean it up and pay for the damages” Adonis apologized to him. Patrick arched his eyebrow at him, a slight smirk on his face.
“Adon….”
“Now!” Adonis cut Jackson off, then went and took a seat opposite Elijah. Moving quietly Tyler and Jackson cleaned up the mess they made in the diner and went to retake their seats.
“Leave!” Adonis spoke quietly to them.
“Thanks a lot Jackass. This yur fuckin fault, I din’t even get supper” Tyler huffed as he pushed Jackson on his way to exit the diner.
“Yeah! Aight I fuck up.” Jackson agreed, though he didn’t leave right away.
He approached the counter and stood in front of Patrick.
“Sorry bout the mess, it won’t happen again. Can I get a burger for my brother?” He asked. Patrick looked him over, and thought about it.
“Wait here!” Jackson nodded, standing there with his hands in his pockets. When Patrick came back he placed a bag down in front of him.
“Thanks!” Jackson handed him the money for the burger and added “Let me know how much everthin costs, I pay for it”
“I have brothers too, I get it, but next time take it outside and not in my diner” Patrick replied,
“Yeah! Thanks, sorry again” Jackson left and went to catch up to Tyler.
“This is what happens when you take Albertan’s out of Alberta,” Elijah commented, shaking his head.
“Funny part is, Jackson will give the burger to Tyler and all will be forgiven” Adonis replied,
“They really are demons!” Elijah said,
“They were just blowing off steam, even demons get restless. We’ve been unsettled for too long. Though I was hoping to stay under the radar for a little longer, but looks like we made a splash now” Adonis responded,
“I thought Maggie owned the bakery?” Elijah asked switching directions,
“Me too! But she doesn’t, K Co does. Now we need to figure out who that is and whether or not they own the building.” Adonis nodded,
“And what do you want to do when we find out?” Elijah inquired,
“Make them an offer on the building.” Adonis replied. He needed to keep her safe, and if he owned the building she would be.