AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 16 - Marian
When I woke up at 8 am, Dorian was gone, but there was a note on his pillow saying that he didn't want to wake me and would be back before noon. He also mentioned someone from the pack would take me to work, but I didn't feel like going today.
I was curious why he’d leave so early and wondered if it had something to do with Isaac. Whatever he was up to, I hoped he was safe.
Turning to my side to hug his pillow, I inhaled his lingering scent on the silk pillowcase. Pushing my sadness about my situation aside, I focused on last night and the moment I’d shared with Dorian.
The way he cared for me, what woman could ask for more? After last night I felt we’d finally buried our past, or at least the bad parts. We were different people now, having been separated by choices and life, but those choices led us back to each other. That meant something.
It was time to face it. What we had, has run its course.
I found my voice and independence, and I wasn't going to let go of that, and I was happy Isaac was okay with it. As for him, although troubled by his past and the things he'd done, he was so much more mature.
This thing with Isaac, being faced with the prospects of life as I knew it ending, although I knew Dorian was doing everything to prevent that, proved that a routine life didn't have to be boring. I'd wanted excitement, but a normal life, filled with people I loved and things I worked hard to achieve, was enough.
I lacked romantic love, and the love I had before found its way back to me.
When the doorbell rang, I got dressed and told Harry, the pack member Dorian said would take me to work, that I wasn't going. He looked at me so apologetically it burned right through me.
After he left, I had to occupy myself, or my mind would drive me mad. The house was clean, but a little touch-up was in order, or so I told myself. I cleaned the first floor in a little over an hour, living room, kitchen, and washroom alike, and I spent two hours cleaning the rooms and bathrooms upstairs.
When 12 pm turned 1 pm, and Dorian still hadn't returned, I started to worry. I called him three times, but there was no answer, which worsened my panic. He always answered my calls.
I tried calling Killian, and when he didn't answer, I contemplated contacting Kaleem but stopped myself. Since Diana hadn't called me as yet to yell she was coming home, Killian probably hadn't told them what was happening. Like, Mom, I couldn’t speak to Diana without her seeing through me, but I wished she was here. She didn't know about Dorian and me, but I’d have to tell her now.
She'd be pissed I kept such a secret, but I'd have my friend by my side.
I'd gotten so used to never speaking about Dorian, burying that part of my life so far down I wanted it to be nothing but a dream I couldn't forget, not reality.
At 1:46 pm, I dragged myself onto the back porch and sat down on the steps. I'd always considered this place my second home, and for a time, I thought it would have permanently become the home that I shared with Dorian.
Dorian and I had planned our entire lives together, and I guessed I could fantasize about that again. Furthermore, if I was going to have kids, I wanted to be with Dorian when that day came.
He was an exceptional father who would do anything to care for and protect our child, just as he'd done with Nikoli. As for Nikoli, he'd be an incredible big brother, but kids would have to wait until after this was handled.
In truth, because I'd never had many motherly instincts, I was terrified of having a child. I would be responsible for a life, a human being's mental and emotional development, and the pressure of keeping them safe.
A child crying was perplexing to me because I wanted them to experience nothing but happiness. Although that wasn't how the world worked, and sometimes pain facilitated growth, I was still horrified that a child of mine would experience certain things I had… like I was right now.
When a deer jumped out of the forest, I screamed and covered my mouth.
Tears sprang to my eyes because as much as I knew the pack had warding, they could be breached, and for a split second, I thought it was Isaac. I fisted my top over my heart, and the deer remained still, startled by my scream, but instead of running, it was staring at me.
"Don't look at me like that," I grumbled. "You frightened me. It's not the other way around."
It looked away, nibbling at the low grass, and I held my head back. With my eyes closed, I took deep breaths to slow my heartbeat. I hoped it was Isaac who Dorian was searching for because I needed this to end. I was getting jumpy and expecting Isaac to appear around every corner.
This was no way to live.
The sound of leaves being crushed underfoot drew closer to me, and I sighed. “You should probably leave before someone sees you and cooks you for dinner,” I grumbled, thinking it was the deer.
When I opened my eyes, a wolf stood before me, a bouquet of roses in his mouth.
I sat up. “Dorian?”
I hadn't seen him in wolf form in years, but it was indeed him. The brown and white wolf, with a white patch from his forehead to his right ear, walked over and dropped the bouquet of flowers in my hand. He shook his head and ruffled his fur down his body to his tail, his glowing eyes reverting to black.
Dorian’s head was three times my size, and I recalled the first time I’d seen him. I hadn't known what to do with myself, it was the first time I'd faced a wolf in its wolf form, and he was massive. Now he was twice that size to the point I could ride him comfortably.
