Chapter 12-The Warming Up

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Chapter 12-The Warming Up

Sydney Carrington's POV

"You must be Luna Sydney."

I turned around and wrinkled my nose at the title before and looked at the man standing behind me who had a curious look on his face. I raised an eyebrow and studied him a little warily.

The man was good looking, that was for sure. He had blonde hair that was a little spiked up, brown eyes that were sharp and didn't seem to miss anything-not even the slightest details, defined cheekbones and also well built. He had an air of arrogance and a hint of playfulness. Also, he had a hint of a British accent.

"Yes. And you are?"

The man smirked at me before shrugging, "Rhett Parker. I'm the beta here, Brendon never talked about me? I'm hurt."

A small smile played on my lips and I continued stirring the pancake batter. "He did. Briefly."

Rhett grinned before he turned serious. "I assume you're feeling better."

I couldn't help but look down on my left wrist where Kingston's name was. "Yes, I am. Especially when Kingston did the Blood Exchange."

Rhett raised an eyebrow at my words, "You call your mate Kingston?"

I met his gaze challengingly without saying a word and he snorted. "I see. So how do you find the pack here so far? I assume it can be quite different."

I turned back to my pancake mix and shrugged, "I guess it can be. But everyone here is quite nice and welcoming."

Rhett hummed and took a carton of milk from the refrigerator and gulped it down while I looked on with slight disgust. "Couldn't you have poured some in a glass?" Back home, Sean did the exact same thing much to my annoyance. Was this a male thing or for lazy people?

He shrugged and placed the milk carton back into the refrigerator. "Lazy. What do you think of Kingston?"

I stopped and turned to him, "What do you think of him then?"

Rhett laughed and shrugged, "Touché. He's my best friend. And he can be a dick but he made a great choice in picking you."

I glanced at him expressionlessly before flipping the pancakes in the frying pan. I didn't say a word and Rhett sighs before clearing his throat before continuing, "So, any siblings?"

I snorted a little before replying, "Yes. A younger brother and an older sister."

Rhett nodded before shrugging. "How's the sister? Pretty as you?" At this, I laughed incredulously, "Someone's a flirt isn't he?" I teased lightheartedly and Rhett gave me a shameless grin.

"Maybe."

"Sarah wouldn't be interested in someone like you. No offence. You're not her kind." I smirked at him and Rhett rolled his eyes, "I'm everyone's type. Even for you." He winked playfully and I snorted as I placed the pancakes onto a plate.

"So why aren't you mated? You look to be about Kingston's age." I asked curiously and Rhett shrugged as he stole a pancake. "I haven't found the right one to be with for the rest of my life."

I nodded and an awkward silence filled the air. I liked Rhett. He was like that friend who would give sarcastic comments and who also had dry humour. He was fun to be around. In some ways, he reminded me of Sean and my heart ached at the thought of him.

"Why are there so many pancakes?"

I shot Rhett an annoyed look as he stole another pancake before devouring the whole thing in his mouth. "They're for Cara and I. Well, now only for Cara."

Rhett shrugged and shot me a grin full of chewed pancake bits between his teeth and I grimaced. "That's disgusting." Rhett made a face before standing up.

"Well Luna-"

"Please call me Sydney." I interrupted and Rhett raised an eyebrow before continuing, "Well Sydney, it has been nice meeting you. And I'm really sorry that I'm unable to find who tried to kill you. And I wish you good health."

I gave him a weak smile, "It's fine. Thank you anyway." With that, I turned back to my stack of pancakes and suddenly Rhett spoke up.

"I know that Brendon has been nothing but harsh to you, but he's actually worth getting to know." Rhett said quietly, his voice echoing around the kitchen before he left. His footsteps faded and I exhaled, my mind on Rhett's words.

***

"I know right? I mean, guys can be such dicks. Eating my pancakes?! Ughhh!"

I raised my eyebrows in amusement as Cara angrily shoved a mouthful of pancakes into her mouth. "I mean why can't he find his own pancakes? It's not like one of his bedmates can't cook!"

At this, I snorted under my breath. Figures that Rhett would be those kind of men. Womanisers, playboys, manwhores.

"I did cook more." I pointed out and Cara scowled, "It isn't the same! Anyway! Remember Adam? He took me out again and it was magical!"

A small smirk crossed my lips, "Magical?"

Cara nodded her head enthusiastically, "Yes! I mean he took me out on this amazing date and he played a guitar and sang for me! He was amazing!"

A wistful smile crossed my face at this and Cara continued, "And after, we...kissed." Cara lowered her voice as if she was afraid to say that she had kissed someone out loud.

"I see. Was it just a peck? Or those with a lot of tongue?" I teased and Cara's face flamed bright red. "Uhm."

I barked out a laugh at how red she was getting and gathered Cara's now empty plate with mine and loaded it into the dishwasher.

"You know, today kinda marks the third week you've been here. And I would like to say, I'm glad I met you and that you're in our pack. You've changed things." Cara announced quietly with a smile on her face.

"Thank you for being my first friend here. And I have accepted being here permanently. I mean especially when your half-brother and I have exchanged blood and now that we share a life force." I said softly as I turned back to Cara.

"Yeah, but that was like three days ago. You've been here for three weeks and things really did turn better. Brendon doesn't have his regular nightmares anymore." Cara smiles hesitantly and shrugs.

This piece of information piqued my interest. "Nightmares?" I echoed and Cara nodded. "Uh huh."

"He always has one at least once a week. Sometimes, he would be shouting in his sleep and that would be the least scary scenario. The worst one is when somehow, his wolf will seize control during one of the nightmares." Cara explains a little grimly as she stirred her cup of ice coffee absentmindedly.

"But, ever since you came, he doesn't have one at all for the past three weeks you've been here. That's why I said you've changed things. For the better." Cara offered me a bright smile and I nodded, my brain still digesting the load of information that Cara had given.

"Does Kingston ever say what his nightmares are about?" I asked curiously as I sipped from my cup of ice coffee. Cara shook her head. "Nope, but I'm pretty sure they were about our father and uncle."

"Really? Why?" Cara opened her mouth to answer but snapped it shut and shook her head. "I"ll tell you some other time. Brendon's back from his meeting with Rhett."

Just as Cara finished her sentence, footsteps sounded and Kingston entered the kitchen. His eyes landed on my figure and he cleared his throat.

I watched Cara appraise Kingston before giving him a sly grin. "Right, Sydney! I forgot! I have to water the tomato patch. I gotta go! Bye!"

I watched her with narrowed eyes as she exited the kitchen. I had suspected her of doing this on purpose but now, my suspicions were confirmed. Cara was trying to leave me and Kingston to be alone even more.

I took another sip of my iced coffee and Kingston cleared his throat and headed towards me. I glanced up at him and he spoke.

"Do you have plans for lunch?"

I shook my head and Kingston gestured for me to go with him. "Would you mind if I brought you out for a picnic then?"

I eyed him, my mind torn. A part of me was screaming no and the other was saying that I should. I knew that these parts of me were only from me. The wolf in me had no thoughts about this. It was just happy that I was actually considering to say yes.

A part of me was saying no because I was afraid and wary of Kingston especially what he had done to me. The pain and the emotions of him hurting me was still there but, it was fading.

But another part of me wanted me to give him a chance. Because despite everything he had done, there was a side to him, that was capable of caring for someone. I had seen it when he interacted with Cara. Also, some of his actions towards me proved it as well.

Also, despite him hurting me, there was something in me that was drawn to him. That could see that Brendon Kingston was hurting and somehow, I wanted to help him. It was crazy but yet true.

Kingston was waiting for my answer and I could feel him getting more anxious as each second that passed that I didn't answer.

I exhaled and answered softly, "No, I wouldn't mind. Let's go."

I could feel Kingston's intense stare on me and I looked up at him to see a flash of surprise cross his face before it changed to one of passiveness. But I could see in his eyes that he was a little relieved.

He waited for me at the entrance to the kitchen and I looked up at him and I could see a hint of admiration in his grey-silver eyes.

We walked out of the house in silence and surprisingly, he opened the car door for me. "Where are we going?" I ask curiously as he started the car.

"You'll see." He answered shortly and as we drove in silence into the forest on a trail. The part of me who wanted to say no was screaming at me now.

Was the real reason why Kingston wanted to take me out deeper into the forest was to kill me?

No, of course not. I was just being paranoid. If Kingston truly wanted to get rid of me, he could have let me die when I was poisoned instead of doing the Blood Exchange. Because when he did it, he was actually risking his life. If anyone wanted him dead, they could simply target me.

I reasoned with myself and soon, that voice who wanted me to stay far away from Kingston faded into silence.

Eventually, the car stopped and I realised I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't know that we had stopped in a grassy meadow. Small flowers of yellows, whites and pink dotted the ground and several butterflies danced around the place.

Kingston opened the car door for me and I stepped out of the car as my eyes drank in the sight of the gorgeous meadow.

"Come."

I turned around and clutched at my long skirt to follow Kingston who was carrying a picnic basket and a mat in his arms. I followed after him curiously as we went pass the meadow. "Where are we going?" I asks once again and this time Kingston looked down at me and replied. "Here."

At his words, I stopped and looked around, not realising that we had arrived at a lake. I gasped in amazement and wonder at the sight in front of me.

The lake was serene and clear and it had the reflection of the forest surrounding it and of the clear blue sky. "It's beautiful." I breathed out and my hands itched to sketch or paint the scenery in front of me.

"I know you missed the lake back in your old pack and I hope that this will compensate for it even though it will never be the same." Kingston spoke up as he stared at the scenery around us and I looked up at him stunned beyond words.

He had remembered what I had told him? I couldn't believe it. "Thank you for bringing me here. It's beautiful. I wish I could paint it now." I said softly and wistfully. Kingston looked down at me, "I could always bring you here again and you can paint or draw to your heart's content."

Our gazes were locked and I thought of what to say, but I couldn't think of anything. A small but tender smile crossed his face and Kingston broke the moment by turning to the picnic basket in his hand.

"Come, let's eat before the food gets cold." He says gruffly and lays the picnic mat on the ground. All I could do was stare at him, speechless and amazed.

Maybe, there was more to Kingston than what people saw after all.

***

A/N: Hello! Here's another update for you lovely readers! I know it's not much, it's just a filler of sorts. And I hope that all of you will like it and show this chapter some love by voting and commenting. AHAHHA. I'll be uploading another chapter tomorrow on Christmas as a present!Thanks so much for reading and please comment! Love you all!