SAMMY
"Mom. It'll be fine." I say as I pack a suit case.
"Samantha, you can't do this. What if you have an episode?" She's following me around my room in a panic.
"Mom's right, Sam" Dylan’s sitting on my bed.
"I know she's right. That's why you're moving in with me." I look at Dylan.
He straightened up. "Me. At the pack house? Are you nuts?"
I scoff. "Apparently."
My mom stood in front of me. "They won't understand Sam. This is a bad idea."
"Dylan can watch me Ok. He knows what to do. It's fine." I push past her.
"Mom. This is an opportunity of a lifetime. For me. For us." I motion to Dylan. "We can't turn this down."
I look at Dylan. "Eric's already on board. I signed for it. We're moving. Get packing."
I demand Dylan go pack while I take my bags to the truck.
"I hope you know what you're doing." My mom says as she hugs me. "You call me. For anything at any time."
"I will." I smile and get in the truck. "Dylan let's go!" I yell.
Dylan comes out and tosses his duffle back in the box of the truck.
He gets in and sighs. "Let's go."
Half hour later were walking through the staff entrance.
Dylan’s eyes are wide. He leans over. "You can fit four of mom and dad's house in here." He swallows.
"Good. You're here!" A loud deep voice booms. Bastian crosses the main foyer to greet us. He looks at Dylan. He's smiling, but there's something behind it I can't put my finger on. "Who's this?"
"Alpha Bastian Cole, this is my brother Dylan Gale. He helped me build Sam's Designs so I didn't think it would be an issue if I brought him with me." I introduce.
He's also the only one who can tame any outbreaks that happen.
He rubs his neck behind his prefect ponytail. "I see. Ok. Well, I have plenty of room. I'll show you to the staff wing."
We head back toward the staff entrance to a small marble staircase and climb to the second floor.
"There's no access to the resident bedrooms or the front of the house from here, so you'll have to go back the way we came to get down stairs. This wing is cut off from everything else." Bastian informs.
I nod as we walk down the halls.
He stops at two white doors. "Dylan, you can take this room. I'll have someone come up and prepare it for you. I wish I knew you were coming." He ticked his brow at me.
Dylan opens the door to a room that's at least double the size of his. "This is staff room?"
"Yeah. Is there a problem?" Bastian ticks his brow up.
Dylan shakes his head. "No, Alpha. No problem at all." He grins.
Bastian walks in. "Your closet is there. The showers are at the end of the hall. Showers and laundry are shared so I hope you're not shy." He chuckles.
"Not at all." Dylan chuckles back.
"Ok. Sammy will be just a few doors down." He motions.
"Bye, Dylan." I wave.
"Bye. We'll meet up later." He waves.
We leave Dylan and come to another set of white doors. He holds the knob and looks at me. "And this....is yours." He opens the door and I walk in to a large room with a huge picture window.
The bed is a king-sized bed with big fluffy duvets and lots of pillows. There's even small arm chairs.
He walks over to another set of doors. He opens them "This is your closet and this is your private bathroom."
I looked at him curiously. "Why don't I have to share?"
He looks around nervously. "This is the only room up here with a private bathroom. I figured you'd like the privacy." He grins.
"Bastian. This is incredible. It's too much, really."
He tilts his head. "With all the hard work you've been doing, it's nowhere near enough."
I blush.
He clears his throat. "I also had this room upgraded a bit. He walks to a set of glass doors on the other side of the room. "I had this installed for you. Open them."
I walk over and I can already see the surprise through the glass. "You didn't."
He's smiling a toothy grin.
I open the doors an enter the brightly lit room. Blank canvas' are everywhere. Three easels stand on the floor. There's glass door cabinets with paints in them.
"You also have an immense number of sketchbooks and any other media I think you'd like. If you're missing something, I'll get it for you." He rocks on his heel with his hands behind his back.
I turn to him. "Bastian. I...."
He walks over to me and puts his hands on my arms. "I want you to be happy here. I want this room filled with those paintings I saw." He points a finger in my face. "But don't forget you have a ballroom to decorate.”
I giggle as I tilt my head. "I won't. Thank you."
"No problem. Now, get settled and meet me in my office for a progress report on the ballroom." He turns on his heels. "I need this done soon. Because in a few weeks......" He turns...."You're going to a party."
"Excuse me?" I look wide eyed.
"You'll see." He winks and shuts the door.
I stand there in complete awe. The man that just left the room is not the man I was speaking to a couple of months ago. I'm curious to know if what I've been feeling this whole time is what he's been feeling too.
I shake my head. I pull out my business clothes and change. We've actually been pushed behind and I have to get back at it.
I collect Dylan and head for the ballroom.
Eric's in there with Heather and Lisa. Heather is another of my best friends. She's tall. Gorgeous, long blonde hair and blue eyes. She loves a good party too. Maybe we could all go. But first I need to get this ballroom done.
"Hey, guys!' I chirp.
Heather runs up and hugs me. "Oh my God, Sammy. This is amazing!"
"I know right?" I squeal
Eric turns around. "Hey. If it isn't the new pack house residents. How is it?"
Dylan grins. "Excellent. Dude, the showers are shared with the rest of the staff!"
Eric smirks. "Those wait staff girls look pretty fine."
"Oh yeah." Dylan nods with a mischievous grin.
"Stop. We're here to work. Not date." I warn.
Dylan bumps me. "I can do both."
I laugh. "Get to work."
****
I get a few hours of work in before I'm called to Bastian’s office.
As I enter, he gets up from his desk with a big smile on his face and approaches me. Meeting me halfway across the floor.
"Sam. I'm glad you could make it." He chuckles, knowing I was already here. "I didn't tear you away from anything important, did I?"
"No. Not at all." He leads me to a chair on one side if his desk and sits in the one next to me.
"Good. So. Bring me up to speed." He leaned on the arm of his chair.
"Well." I cross my legs. I catch his eyes shoot down and back up to mine. "The furnishings are here and they're better than we expected. The table cloths too. We'll need your opinion on table settings."
He waves me off. "Whatever you choose will be fine. I trust you." He gives a charming smile that does something to my stomach.
"Sure. Now. The walls seem a bit bare. So, I wanted to know if you had any pieces we could hang." I ask.
"No. But I know where I can get some." He eyes me.
I get what he means. "No. Bastian. I already told you. No one sees my art. You weren't even supposed to see it."
"Sammy. Your art is amazing. Please. I just want to show everyone how talented you are." He pleads.
"For the final time. No!" I stand.
He stands too. "Fine. I'll see what I can come up with. But I'm telling you right now. None will be as good as yours."
"Flattery will get you nowhere." I tease.
"Oh. My flattery has got me lots of things, Miss." He smirks.
"Not this time." I walk past him.
He turns. "Sam."
I turn back.
"This is the most fun challenge I've had yet." He gives me a sly smile.
I shake my head and leave his office.
That smile. That hair. That body. He may think he's losing, but I feel it. Little by little. Day by day. I'm losing.
But can I let him in? Can I trust him? Knowing what I am? Knowing what I can become?
I don't know how I'm going to handle this being even closer the Alpha now.
I just hope I can keep it together.
****
My first night in the pack house was restless, but not because of Bastian.
The moon was full and blue. I'm walking in the flower garden wearing a short, silk night gown.
"Hello?" I look around at the fog covered trees.
"My princess." A voice calls out.
I whip around. "Who's there?"
"Your kingdoms broken, Princess. It needs you. Where are you?" I hear it, but I can't see where it's coming from.
I walk into the woods. "Come out." My voice echoes through my mind.
I feel growling up the dark path. "I'm here. I found you."
I watch the path as I start to sweat.
Then I see him.
The large ebony black wolf crests the small hill. He stands tall.
His red eyes call to me. The white cross marking on his forehead almost seems to glow.
I'm scared, but I feel a pull to the giant wolf. "Who are you?"
"Find me." He eyes me once more and turns.
"Wait!" I run up the path and he's gone. Dissolved into the fog.
I wake and I'm in bed. In the pack house. I sit up and blow out a shaky breath. It was calmer than my other dreams. There was no assault on my head this time. I don't know what's going on, but I feel like this wolf is somehow important to me or at least the beast within me. I don't know how long I can hold on with it calling me now.
I can't tell anyone. I can't get advice.
I get up and go to my little paint room at 3 in the morning.
I break out my paints and throw up a canvas. I painted well into dawn.
I stepped back and looked at the ebony wolf with the white cross and red eyes. Standing like a king in the trees.
"Who are you?" I whisper.
"Sam?"
I turn and Dylan’s standing in the doorway. "Wow. What's that?" He analyzes the painting.
I shrug. "I don't know. It came to me last night." I cross my arms and look at the painting.
He rubs his chin. "I can't put my finger on it, but I feel like I've seen that guy before."
I turn my head to him. "Really?"
He nods. "Yeah. I don't know where. I do know he gives me the creeps. Like bad mojo or something."
"Hmm....I've never seen him before. I'm sure of it. I think I'd remember that wolf."
He turns to me. "Anyway. The staff here tell me that they get the swim in the pool after hours. You want to come?"
"Sure. I just need to finish a few things today. After that dream, I could use a relaxing time by the pool." I smile.
****
I worked actually quite peacefully all day. Bastian was at the Unit all day, so I didn't have him hanging around, which was great. As the days go on, he's become quite the distraction.
I change into my black string bikini and head out with some other staff members and Dylan.
The pool is huge. Trimmed with rock. There's a spa with a waterfall and another waterfall rock wall at the end of it. The water is heated to the best temperature. It's so good for relaxing after work.
I jump in with Dylan and we swim around splashing each other.
Nigel and Anton are also out here. Relaxing on lounges with beers. Wearing swim trunks and sunglasses. Excellent eye candy if I must say.
The pool has several people jumping in and out. It's actually quite the get together.
I was just splashing around when a loud voice boomed.
"Hey!"
I spin around and Bastian is at the edge of the pool.
"Hi!" I chirp.
He crooks a finger at me. "Come here, now."
Nigel sits up. "Bastian...."
Bastian raises a hand to him. Not taking his eyes off me. They don't look happy. "Come. Here." He points to the deck.
I swim over to the edge of the pool. I feel like I'm a kid in trouble.
He squats down and looks around at his staff. "What are you doing?"
"Swimming?" I say.
He scrubs his face. "You're practically naked. Get out now!" He demands quietly.
"What? No. Bastian...."
He raises his finger. "Get out." He growls.
The Alpha tone has me climbing out of the pool. He motions to Nigel who tossed a large towel at him. He wraps it around me. Staring into my eyes he points at me. "You will not parade around this house like that. Definitely not with unmated wolves."
"You can't talk to...."I protest.
He presses his finger to my lips which is really starting to get irritating. "I'm the Alpha of this house. And if I say, no bikinis, I mean no bikinis. Am I clear?"
"No. I'm not..."
"Am I clear?! " He grits. His eyes flare.
I narrow my eyes. "Fine." I turn and stomp into the house.
The Bastian I knew is back. I knew the sweet Alpha was only temporary.
He follows me to the stairs.
As I climb the stairs, the towel falls off my shoulders.
"What's that?' He says looking at my back.
I look over my shoulder. "What's what?" I'm pissed that he's pulling this possessive crap on me, but I'm hoping he's not talking about what I think he is.
"This." He gets close and he touches the scar on my shoulder blade. His touch instantly sends spikes of heat through me and not the good kind. It kind of felt like it burned.
I jump. "It's nothing. Just an injury I got when I was kid.
"Wolves don't scar unless it was pretty bad.
"Well, it was." I pull up the towel.
"It looks like.... a bite." He looks at me confused.
"It's nothing. I'm going to go change." I leave him at the bottom of the stairs as I reluctantly climb up. My afternoon ruined by the Alphas demands.
I can't believe I let him talk to me like that, but he is my boss and for some reason he doesn't like it when I dress casually. Like I'm going to get jumped if I show a little more skin than usual. It's ridiculous.
If we're going to make this work. I'm going to have to set some ground rules here.
BASTIANAlright. I may have crossed a line at the pool. I couldn't help it. When I saw Sam in that tiny black bikini, my wolf went insane. I wanted to rip the eyeballs out of every male there.I had to shut her down before I ended up doing something even more stupid than I already did.I mean, I had no business talking to her like that. She's not mine. Though it feels like my wolf really wants her to be.I just couldn't take the unmated males on my staff eyeing up her goods. It's also the reason I made sure she got the room with the private bathroom. I had to pay the head chef double the weeks' pay to get him to move out. He wasn't happy. I'm on the hook to have a bathroom installed in his room so he doesn't quit on me.Sammy is special. I don't know how, but I need to keep her close. I feel this need that she needs to kept safe. Needs to be protected for some reason. I feel some inner connection building. I just hope I haven't pissed her off too much.She's been avoiding me all week.
SAMMY I slept for the whole day and most of the night. I woke with a growling stomach. I threw on some slippers and a robe over my pajamas. I snuck downstairs to the kitchen to try and find something. Anything to eat. I found some left over pot roast. I sat on the floor against the fridge and shoved pieces of it into my mouth. Mouthful after mouthful. I ate like I hadn't eaten in a month. "You know. The chef's going to be pissed when he finds out." With my cheek stuffed, I turn my head to the voice. Bastian comes out of the darkness. "What?" My face full of embarrassment and shock. He chuckles as he sits down on the floor and leans against a cabinet. He's wearing track pants with no shirt. His hair pulled up high on his head. "I couldn't sleep so I was doing paperwork by the fireplace. I was surprised to see this tiny woman sneaking around in the dark." I blush and offer the leftovers. He takes out a piece. "Thanks." He mumbles with a full cheek. "So, you're awake." I nod.
BASTIANI look around the large property as I wait at the front entrance of the Red Rock pack house.I don't want to be here, but for Sam, I'd crawl through hot lava to help her.I wait with my hands behind my back.The door opens. I smile. "Lucy. Is Luke here?"She crosses her arms and leans on the door. "Bastian. What brings you out of the castle on the hill?"I shake my head. "You and your brother are really the same person, I swear. Is he home?"She pushes off the frame. "Yeah, he is. Come in."She leads me into the common room. I'm always shocked at how small the pack house is considering the income for Red Rock is pretty substantial. You think they'd expand it more."Have a seat. I'll get him." She went upstairs.I'm leaning on my thighs, tapping my fingertips together as I wait. Luke comes down with Alexi and Lucy in tow."God. What now?" Luke shakes his head.I stand. "I swear. I come in peace." I throw my hands up."Bastian Cole showing up anywhere is never peaceful. What do
BASTIAN"Sammy? Please. Tell me what's going on?"I walk around to the front of her.The moonlight shines on her silky, disheveled hair. Her hands are black with the charcoal from the charcoal stick she's drawing with.As I look closer, bandage is torn and covered in blood. Her hands work overtime, drawing a picture.I crouch down and try to see her face. I'm afraid to touch her.Her eyes cast a pink glow on the floor as she growls low."Sammy. Please stop." I quietly beg her.She doesn't look up. She spins the pad around so it's right side up for me.I stare into the black of the picture. Into the red glowing eyes.She growls loud. She takes the stick and starts to draw circles around the eyes. It's fast and crazy. I almost get the feeling she's trying to tell me something.I swallow as I reach out. I grab her wrist. Instantly, I'm hit with a heat that almost makes my own skin burn.As I hold on, the heat is replaced with electric sparks. She's cooling down.She raises her head slowl
BASTIANSitting at my desk at the Unit, I seem to not be able to concentrate on anything else, but Sam.I've been avoiding the office, working from home for a few weeks now. I don't want to leave her just in case, but I have a massive amount of work I need to catch up on.I was just about to file some papers away when I got a knock on my door.It opens and two blonde Alphas walk in. I smirk. "Well, if it isn't the double mint twins." I lean back in my chair. "A little far from the recruitment center, aren't you boys?"Wes and Grey Andrews. Alpha Andrews twin boys. Beefy guys. Blondes with blue eyes. Always together. It's weird. I cringe at thought of what else they do together.Wes smirks at me. "Bastian. We thought you went AWOL.""Me? Never." I put my hands on my desk. "Just had some stuff to clean up at home."Grey folded his arms. "Yeah, we heard. You really think that fancy dance hall is going to land you the Head Alpha position?""Uh…It's a multimillion-dollar grand ballroom and
SAMMY The last episode I had was the most disturbing one ever. I don't even know what set it off. All I know is that after my hypnosis session with Dr. Rennet, I was feeling pretty good. I was just working in the ballroom when the beast wanted out. The pain was excruciating. I could feel it pushing and clawing its way to surface. I'm sure I would have lost if Bastian didn't show up when he did. It's weird, his connection to me. I can't say I hate it. It's just strange since we really aren't anything to each other. I won't lie and say, I'm not starting to have feelings, but he's my boss and I can't tell him how I feel. I need to get these feelings out before I lose what little control I have. I fill my paint tray and turn on my music. I'm painting and dancing as I listen to 'Cooler Than Me.' By Mike Posner. I wiggle my hips, as my brush glides around the canvas. This where I love to be. In front of my easel, listening to tunes and zoning out. Letting the paint come together the w
BASTIANAfter we got home, I said goodnight to Sammy at her door.It wasn't a typical date, but it was something I won't ever forget.I knew Sammy was special, I just didn't realize how much. To help her people, when her own Alpha was clueless to the problems, makes me feel like a complete dick.All these years, I've walked around society. Bragging about my perfect pack. My perfect life. I was so off base. Now that I know, I have to fix it. Just like I'm helping Sammy, I'll help my people, too. I can't allow my people to suffer while I build stupid ballrooms. Sammy taught me that tonight.I wish I could hold her right now, but I feel like we're not there yet. We've gotten closer as the weeks go on, but she still feels some distance away. I'm sure it's because she doesn't want to burden me with her problems, but what she doesn't get is that I want to be burdened. I want her problems. To see her carry this by herself, kills me. But I'll give her space if she wants it while still keeping
SAMMY"Good morning, everyone!" I chirp as I walk into the ballroom.Eric arches a brow from the table he's sitting at. "Someone's awake this morning.""I am and I'm feeling fantastic." I smile.Eric leans his head on his hand. "And why's that?""Oh, I don't know. It's a beautiful day. I'm finally getting proper sleep. It's just.... a good day." I set the binders I was carrying on the table beside Eric.Dylan, bringing my coffee to me, snickers. "Right, I'm sure it doesn't have anything to do with where you spent last night."I scowl and take a cup from him. "No. It doesn't.""Sammy, where did you sleep last night?" Eric pries."The Alpha's room." Dylan says, smirking and folding his arms."Sammy." Eric says in a warning tone."What? It was a spur of the moment thing. It won't affect the job." I drink my cup.Eric drops his arm to the table. "We don't sleep with clients, Sammy. You know this."I drop my cup on the table. "I know. But he was there, the lighting, the moon, the muscles..