The next few days were anything but exciting. Out of the five days that had passed since the incident with Alex, Eli had helped me see Kieran twice. Both times that I went down to see him, both Bolton and Kieran were there but not Marilyn. Apparently, she was being questioned quite frequently after she admitted to attempting to murder me.
Eli talked our father and brother into letting him stand guard of the cellars a few days of the week. At first, Greyson and Jale shooed away Eli and his 'stupid idea'. They already had various large groups of men ready for the job. Eli would be much more useful doing things like patrolling the new territory they had just expanded to or help assist training some of the younger warriors.
Eventually, they gave Eli the permission to help guard the cellars after he said, and I quote: "I will do whatever is necessary to protect this pack and my sister. I will be making sure she stays the hell away from them, and you won't tell me otherwise." Of course, that wasn't the real reason. The real reason was that he was trusted to stand guard during dinners, so that gave me much more time to see Kieran.
I was definitely happier than before now that I was getting to see Kieran, but Alex's words from our argument were still bothering me.
"I'm sure they've killed people right in front of you, and you didn't even think anything of it! They have you brainwashed, Grey. That's not how pack wolves like us act." I couldn't push away the memory of Kieran shooting the redhead who tried killing me. He did it with so little to no remorse, but then again she tried to murder me. So, she pretty much deserved it, right?
Alex was right, though. Grey Hayes was a pack wolf, but not Arden Aldridge. Arden Aldridge was just some orphan child who grew up in a mental hospital, and then happened to meet a group of psychotic, killing machines that call themselves shredders.
"You alright?" Kieran asked breaking me away from my thoughts.
"Uh, yeah. Yeah, I'm fine," I answered tossing him another pretzel from the bag I stole from the kitchen. I turned to Bolton in the cell across from Kieran and tossed him one, too. He shot me a wicked smile.
"Thanks, Princess," he thanked me with a smirk. I nodded and turned back to Kieran when I heard a low growl emit from him. I knew he wouldn't like Bolton calling me princess.
"Hey, stop it," I scolded Kieran. I didn't need anyone hearing him and coming down to make sure everything was okay. I would for sure get caught, and I don't even want to know what would happen.
"Got anything else to drink?" Marilyn asked with a scratchy voice. She tossed the water bottle I had given her back to me empty.
"No. I could only bring so much," I stated picking up the bottle and chucking her a pretzel. She huffed, but ate the pretzel.
"Why not just bring a duffel bag next time, Grey?" Bolton joked. I glared at him for using my real name.
"Don't call me that." I told them what happened with everything. I told them about the fight with Alex, and how Eli was making it his mission to help me. Since then, Bolton insists on calling me Grey. He's only joking, but it still makes me mad. With them, I'm Arden. I'm not Grey.
"Grey, you gotta go," Eli shouted from down the hall of the cellars causing me to jump. I didn't answer him. Instead, I just stood up and looked back at Kieran.
"I'll be back, I swear," I assured reaching into the pretzel bag and throwing a handful of pretzels into each of their cells.
"Arden, don't fight with your family," Kieran said as I was turning to walk out of the cellar. I stopped and faced him.
"What?" I questioned. His dark green eyes narrowed on me in a demanding way.
"Be good to them. Try to get along with them," he said taking me by shock. I furrowed my brows and took a step towards him.
"Why?"
"Because in thirty years, I don't want you to look back on this, and wish you would have taken the time to get to know them. We won't be coming back once we're gone," he stated. I felt my heart rate skip about seven beats. He was being so serious about this, and it scared me a bit. He was right, though. I should be using this time to get to know them. Kieran was sure he was going to get all of us out of here, and I knew we wouldn't be coming back. There was no way we could.
"Don't argue with him on this. Just go," Marilyn said seriously. I was taken back by her sudden outburst. She never usually acts like that. She's usually the one to continue egging on Kieran, not agree with his demands.
"Fine," I mumbled turning away from them and walking out of the cellars. Eli held the door open for me and shut it as I walked out.
"Got everything?" He questioned. I nodded showing him the three empty water bottles and the half eaten bag of pretzels. "Alright, now you should probably go get some dinner. I'm sure there's still some left over." I gave him a small smile and another nod.
"Thanks, Eli. You don't know how much I appreciate all of this," I thanked him. A part of me wanted to hug him, but I decided against it. I knew Eli was doing this for the safety of his pack and not for me. Allowing me to see them was the best bet of protection they had if Kieran, Marilyn, and Bolton happened to get out.
I left Eli and crept around the halls carefully. If I got caught just randomly carrying pretzels and three water bottles, someone would know something was up. I shoved the bottles into the pretzel bag hoping that if someone did catch me, they wouldn't find it weird that I was just randomly carrying around a bag of pretzels.
I slowly made my way to the kitchen. I needed to throw the bottles away and put the pretzels back in the cupboard. I was about to walk through the doorway until I saw something making me freeze.
Alex and Greyson.
I froze. Then, I hurriedly ran out of the doorway and hid behind the wall. My heart was beating out of my chest, but all that I could hope for was that Alex or Greyson didn't hear it.
"I don't know what else to do! You try talking to her! I don't see much of an effort from you!" Alex shouted. I wanted to peek around the corner so badly, but I was too terrified of getting caught.
"What do you want me to do? I'm trying to help Jale with those shredders down in the damn cells," he angrily growled at her causing me to jump.
"Did you just growl at me?" Alex questioned him obviously angered by his action. "Don't you dare growl at me, Greyson!" She shouted. I'm sure the whole house could hear their argument. They weren't trying very hard to be quiet.
"So you can be mad at me, but I can't be mad at you?" Greyson snapped back.
"I'm not mad at you! I'm just-just loud!" Alex retorted. I gulped and debated whether or not I should just go hide in my room. I did not feel that hiding behind the wall was the best form of camouflage or protection.
"Well, you're too loud!"
"Wow! Wow, Greyson," Alex chuckled, but it was obvious she was still mad, "great comeback! What's next? You're just gonna say you hate me?"
"Alex, you can't be serious. You're being so dramatic right now," Greyson stated. His words were followed by a scoff which I assumed was from Alex. Their bickering made me genuinely curious as to if they were even true mates.
"Me? No, I think you're being much more dramatic than me, so you know what? I'm leaving," she stated as I heard footsteps walking away. "Grey-" Alex shot out, but then stopped. It was quiet for a moment. My curiosity got the best of me, so I peeked out around the corner.
Greyson was holding Alex against him as he kissed her. I wanted to 'aw' out loud, but instead I just hid back behind the corner as they pulled apart.
"I'm sorry," Alex whispered. "It just bothers me that she seems to literally hate me. Can't we just let her see him, once?"
"No, I will not be giving him the satisfaction of seeing her. He's a cocky asshole," Greyson muttered angrily. I frowned knowing they were talking about Kieran and I. Alex was trying to help.
"Grey is your daughter. She deserves to at least see her mate one more time," she tried to reason.
"Alex, she doesn't even know how to protect herself if something were to happen. How do you know that he's not just tricking her? They may not even be mates." Kieran wouldn't do that. I knew for a fact that he was my mate. We were destined for each other. It wasn't just the pull that I had to him, but the sparks were there, too. It was obvious. Why wasn't it obvious to my own father?
"Well, then train her or get someone to. Then, will you let her at least see him?" Alex urged. I couldn't help the smile that came to my lips. Greyson sighed.
"I assume that even if I say no that you will continue pressing the topic?" Greyson asked.
"Of course," Alex replied as if he should have already known.
"Then, we will see. Go tell her that her training starts tomorrow." I'm not sure how, but the smile on my face grew even bigger. I didn't think it was quite possible, but apparently it was.
"I love you, so so much!" Alex shouted. I was just about to turn to leave when I remembered I still had the pretzels and bottles. I knew I could just take them upstairs and hide them, but I was already down here. I took a few deep breaths before walking into the kitchen. I tried making it seem as if I had no clue they were even in there.
Alex saw me before Greyson did. Her face went from happy to one that looked a bit scared. I don't think it was because she feared me. I think it was because she was scared of how I would act around Greyson or how Greyson would act around me.
"Uh, hi," I said trying to seem like I was just carelessly walking into the kitchen and over to the garbage. I put my head down and grabbed the bottles out of the pretzel bag to throw them away.
"Three bottles of water?" Greyson questioned making me freeze. That was honestly I think the first thing he has ever really said to me.
"Uh, yeah," I said feeling my heart rate speed up. I turned around to face the two of them. "Kieran told me to drink lots of water." At my words, Alex frowned and Greyson's jaw clenched. Alex looked up at Greyson and back handed his stomach noticing how angry he seemed to have gotten at my mention of Kieran. I threw the bottles away and moved to the cupboards. I placed the pretzels back where I got them from, and then turned back around to face my parents.
"Do you think there's any room for me at the dinner table?" I asked hesitantly. I had been telling everyone I was eating in my room which was half true. Some days I did eat in my room, but other days I was down in the cellars with Kieran. Alex's eyes lit up.
"Of course there is, Grey. We'll make room," she assured with a smile. I gave her a small smile in return. It felt almost wrong trying to get along with the people who kidnapped my mate, my friends, and I, but then again it didn't. Kieran wanted me to get to know my parents. It felt right doing what I knew would make him happy.
"Okay. Well, thanks," I stated with a small smile. I turned to leave, but Alex stopped me.
"Wait," she said holding her hand out, "how would you feel about training?" Her blue eyes stared intently in my grey ones. She was holding Greyson's hand, or I suppose he was holding hers. He grabbed her hand in an attempt to calm nerves, I'm guessing.
"What about training?" I questioned trying to act dumb. I looked between her and Greyson. I could help, but stare and my father's eyes. They were so similar to mine. I now understood why so many people where so intrigued by mine growing up.
"You start tomorrow. You need to learn to defend yourself," Alex said making me feel one step closer to being able to see Kieran without having to sneak around, but then it hit me.
"I don't think that's a good idea," I spoke in a bit of panic. I could feel the color drain from my face. "I don't have very much control over my wolf. I've only ever really trained with Kieran, and that was just a little bit. He's the only one who really knows how to control her." I admit that I was a bit panicked. My wolf already hated everyone here. If she got mad enough, she would probably try to murder everyone. She hasn't tried very hard to push past me lately, but I don't doubt that she will.
Greyson let out a low growl at the mention of Kieran, again. I flinched slightly which earned him another backhand to the stomach from Alex.
"Don't worry," Alex said reassuringly with a smile, "we will be sure to only train you with the best."
I nodded and smiled leading her to think that I was actually happy for the opportunity, but I definitely was not. This wasn't going to end well, and when I end up murdering someone, I will for sure not be able to see Kieran. If anything, I may not be seeing anyone ever again if I end up murdering someone.
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Okay so I hope you enjoy the update! Not my favorite chapter I've ever written, but it was a necessary chapter. The next few chapters are gonna be lit and I'm excited!! I am also going to try to do an update every Tuesday or Thursday! Originally I was going to say Thursday, but I decided that some chapter may take longer that others and some may take a shorter amount of time.
Anyway, voting helps so much and really keeps me motivated. You guys are already voting a pretty generous amount so I'd like to thank those of you who do! Your votes and comments make my day!
Okay so now I have to go read one of the five books I need to have read before school starts on August 24th, and yes I know it's the 8th. I know I know. I just really hate the books we have to read.
Alright so you guys are absolutely amazing and I love you all so much.
Rememeber to vote aaaaaaaaaaand stay awesome Gotham. 8/8/16