CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 17
CATHERINE.
I walk back into the mansion, legs aching and my entire body exhausted from my supposed stroll.
Someone needs to explain the word stroll to Faye, she clearly doesn't understand.
"Eeeh."
The squeal gives me a second to look around before I am attacked into a bear hug.
What?
"I can't believe you are Damon's mate. How cool is that?" Melissa exclaims as she releases me.
'Oh, hi."
"Hi? Hi? We are family now. No need to be shy," she says as she links her arm with mine and begins propelling me forward. "You have no idea how big this is. Damon has been searching and pining for his mate for years, only for me to dump her in his lap. It is great ammunition."
"Ammunition?" I ask
"Hmm. You do not have siblings, right?"
"No. I do not."
"Don't worry, you have me now. Oh, we are going to have so much fun," she exclaims again as we enter the kitchen. "See who I found," she announces.
"We know," Damon retorts. He is busy setting the table while Fiana stirs something in the pot."We heard you screeching like a banshee from the front door. And don't listen to her Catherine, I wasn't pining."
"You weren't?" Diana asks with a raised eyebrow.
"No. I wasn't. I was… hoping for my mate. In a dignified manner."
Diana just snorts in response.
"Right," Melissa drawls out as she pushes me into a chair at the table and takes the other one beside me.
"That is my seat," Damin says.
"Since when?" she retorts. Content is © by NôvelDrama.Org.
"Since Catherine arrived. My seat is next to wherever she is seated."
Oh.
"Ugh. What a sap," Melissa intones with her tongue sticking out at him.
Damon feigns throwing a plate at her and she retailers with picking a fork.
"Children, children. Behave yourselves, especially in front of Cat. She would think I didn't raise you with any manners," Diana says as he brings the ceramic ware to the table.
Tomato soup. With lots and lots of meat.
My stomach grumbles at the sight. It is still strange having enough to eat.
"And yet you plan on running away," my wolf snaps.
"Oh, I could never think that you are a very dignified lady," I tell Diana, ignoring my wolf.
"Oh, you are sweet," she responds as she turns back for two large baskets of breadsticks. "Let's dig in."
The conversation around the table is light and fun.
And it hurts.
It hurts knowing that I will soon be leaving them. But it is for the best.
"For who? Not us?"
"I know you want to stay but we can't."
"Why not?"
"because it is not safe and…and I do not trust them. Not completely."
"he is our mate," she whines. "You can trust him."
"Vance was our mate too and he rejected us without so much as blinking. I can't risk getting hurt like that. And it will happen, once they find out I am from the Skylight pack."
"But-"
"No buts. Both packs are enemies, remember. Blood enemies."
"I can't change your mind right?"
"No. You can't."
"...shopping tomorrow?" I hear as I tune back into the conversation to find Melissa looking at me.
"Huh?"
"where is your mind, sis? I asked if you don't mind going shopping tomorrow. I know Faye shopped for you but we can do more."g
Sis?!
"Yeah, sure. I don't mind," I tell her with a small smile.
At least, I will get to see the exit this way.
SKYLIGHT PACK
TAMMY.
I slowly make my way across the railings of the mansion, careful not to make a sound and alert those guarding the door of my actions.
Thankfully the idiots had not seized my phone and I was able to send a message and schedule a meeting.
With nimble limbs, I reach for the tree branch and swing myself onto it before climbing down the trees.
Ha! Take that Vance.
He dared to lock me up, because of that stupid wretch.
Well, before the week runs out, I will have him crawling back to me.
Quickly, I run across the clearing and into the woods, taking care that I am not spotted. It takes a while but I arrive at my destination in record time only to find it empty.
"Where are you?" I whisper.
"Here," a deep voice sounds from behind me causing me to whirl around. He doesn't move from the shadows, doesn't show his face.
He never has.
"Don't do that," I snap. "Don't sneak up on me."
"As you wish. What did you want?" the voice asks.
"You know what I want. Catherine dead."
"Didn't you have her killed already?"
"I wish. But I have it on good authority that she is alive."
"Whose authority?"
"It doesn't matter. I just know she is. Find her and kill her."
"I will need her scent."
"There is a clearing, close to the southern borders of the territory, her blood is stained on the ground. It should be enough."
"And my payment? It will be triple this time."
"triple?! What the hell for?!" I demand.
"You have no idea where she is. I will need to put my best people on her trail and I have no idea how long it will take. That will cost you."
"Fine. Do the job and get your payment upfront."
"I will hold you to that on account of our previous… transactions."
I don't bother responding. I just turn around and head back to the mansion.
As much as I would love to see Vance's face in the discovery that I can escape, it will be best not to show my hand.
Getting into the room is easier than getting out. I quickly rinse my shoes from the mud and leave them on the bathroom window silk to dry, before heading back to bed.
As I begin to doze off I can't help but smirk to myself.
Bye-bye Catherine.