Enora panted as she crouched down once more. Pressing her back against the wall, she followed it around to the side where a car on the street would serve as cover. Her legs hurt and her hands shook uncontrollably as she texted Gil and Wilson her whereabouts. "Please one of you pick up. Or please find Victor, please," she whispered to herself. Thankfully during her escape, she hadn't encountered anyone else, and the exit had led her through an alleyway and onto the main streets. Several sirens played on the soundtrack for the night; after the gunshots had finally ceased and the sounds of struggles had subsided. Closing her eyes, she tuned to the background noise, hoping to hear something or someone familiar. Her mind wouldn't stop flashing possible scenarios where Victor didn't walk out of that building and back into her arms, and that scared her. Curling into herself, she rocked back and forth, working to breathe through the severe agony, fury, and sorrow she and Victor were cycl
Enora had just finished her eye makeup, about to move on to her hair, when the phone rang. The familiar tune of her best friend's favorite song filled the room as she hurried to pick up. "Hey girlie!" Nadine's cheerful voice chirped, followed by her smiling face on the screen. "Nades, hi. What's up?" "Oh nothing, just got home from work, but I needed to check in on you so I could approve your outfit for tonight! So, let's see it!" Enora laughed as she returned to the bathroom and placed the phone on the sink. After taking a step back, she gave a slow twirl to show off the outfit. "Ok, so what's the verdict, your honor?" "Hmm. The verdict is... guilty of looking amazing! As well as being too much for a certain boyfriend to handle. I know exactly where this is going to lead tonight." Enora's ears prickled and began to pink. She picked up the curling iron she had plugged in a few minutes ago, and grabbed a section of her hair. "You always have to make it pervy, don't you?" "I'm
It was a few minutes before the paralysis of Enora's mind and body had lifted. Enough of her senses had returned to realize she was with a stranger, which rightfully prompted kicking and screaming. "Let go! Put me down!" she yelled, trying to wriggle out of his grasp. The stranger didn't spare her a glance, only tightened his hold. It was only when she managed to dig a concealed knife out of her purse and attempted to swing, that he addressed her. "Hey! I'm helping you escape! Put that away!" "Helping? I don't even know you!" "Victor told me to get you back to your apartment no matter what. I'll explain once there." He responded quickly; voice full of authority. At the mention of Victor's name, her words faltered. The last she saw before they were no longer within sight, were both wolves leaping towards one another with claws raised. "What's your name? How do I really know you're a friend of Victor's?" she asked quietly. "I'm Gil. Gil Contreras. I'm the beta of the pack and
"Victor..." He appeared harried, hair out of place and glasses crooked. He only had on his jacket and an old pair of sweatpants; feet bare. Enora's sharp intake of breath broke the silence. Their bodies were pulled into an embrace by an invisible force; his arms crushed her like they had never done before, as if they would hold onto her forever. A new wave of emotions erupted in her, and it made her pull back to look at him. His body was littered in scratches, bits of dried blood smeared everywhere as well. She gasped, "You're hurt!" She was about to get supplies, when his hold kept her there and the cuts began changing, moving. They disappeared before her eyes, completely healed, and she felt herself step back, the chill from earlier returning in full force. Victor's features softened and hardened in the same instance, when he looked from her to Gil, as if just remembering he was supposed to be there. He scanned the room, giving them both an observant up and down before landing
She blinked, feeling her body tense up. "I'm sorry, what?" she questioned, thinking she must have heard him incorrectly. He took a tentative step towards her, "I'm both an alpha and boss because our pack follows mafia law as well. It's a long story because of my grandfather–" "No. Stop! You're not serious right now." When he didn't answer, she felt all senses of control leave her being. It was going too far. How was she supposed to take this? "No, no! This is–Victor, what the f*ck?!" she heard someone yell. It must have been her voice, but it didn't sound right to her. Victor extended a hand towards her, but her body recoiled from it. "It was for your safety." he began. "Bull! Safety would be my knowing about it so I could practice some precaution. Or, I don't know, not be involved in a life I didn't choose!" A sudden dread encompassed her and she found her eyes flitting to the window in paranoia. How much did this rival know? Mafia usually know everything, and shifters have a
This was where she drew the line. The short amount of time she had spent with Gil was overwhelming enough, and now he wanted her to do that, times ten? No way. This may be the life he was used to, but she was not. "What do you mean? Stop what?" he asked. "I don't want ten bodyguards. I've only had a few hours to understand this, and you expect me to jump in straight? No questions asked?" "This is about your safety. You don't know who you're dealing with Enora, he'll do whatever he wants! And he's laying low because of that!" he shouted. "That's my point, Vic. I don't know anything. Thus, why surrounding me with what he knows best, only puts me further on his radar." Victor threw his hands up in frustration, pacing back and forth and looking at her incredulously. "That's not how this works. Once he knows where you are or tries something once, that's it. So, the more people with you the better. Which you don't seem to understand." "And whose fault is that?" she snapped, fingers p
Enora hummed along to the song wafting through the speakers of the cafe; its classic tune had some of the customers singing passionately and jovially. Even some of the dogs joined in with little yips and howls. She laughed while looking for something to keep her busy. Lately, her good moods were fleeting and bland. Although being at Pawsitivity Time made her happy, there was no ignoring the obvious emptiness in her life. Victor was the sunshine of her day that she'd never realized was so cloudy. "You chose this Enora. No use in obsessing over a done deal," she voiced aloud, hands absently rearranging glasses on the shelves. It was after lunchtime, meaning there wasn't much to do until the next hoard came in. Enora decided on taking a breather in her favorite spot in the cafe. Sunlight streamed inside indirectly because of the surrounding buildings, so there were certain spots where it glaringly blinded you, but she found it perfect for napping. It also had the most plants surround
"Ok Enora, just calm down. Maybe this isn't something bad," she said aloud to herself. The air felt heavy. Goosebumps crawled up her body and made her tremble. The box was a dark wood with a hinge and latch on the top. Her name and cafe address were typed in a creepy, thin font that was too small for the label. Until now, Enora's paranoia had been low. Not that she wasn't afraid, but after the first three days of being transported back and forth in black SUVs and getting used to the new routine, she was able to relax. And aside from the excessively expensive things being used for her, life was still ordinary. There were no mysterious people jumping out to scare her, no threatening letters in her mailbox, or suspicious cars tailing them. In this moment however, things felt far from normal. What if this was Victor's rival making his move? What came next if it was? What if this was a distraction and Victor was going to be ambushed? She hurried to the front of the café where Gil and