Apprehended: Chapter Nineteen
I never woke before Ethan. He was the early riser; the one who made breakfast and started the day before the sun rose.
Today was different.
I woke before the light peaked over the horizon. It was dark and cold. And for all intents and purposes, it was night.
I wasn't able to sleep much and simply resting no longer held any appeal. I was replaying the nightmarish events that took place on the road. I was worried about Gavin. I was frightened of Dina. Though Ethan reassured me that she was incapacitated, something seemed off. As if some impending force lingered in the background, waiting to strike and wreak damage. I couldn't place its source. Perhaps the horror of Dina's attack marred me in some way. I wasn't sure. I only knew that this was easy.
Too easy.
Why would Dina attack an Alpha and his Beta alone? Surely she knew that the odds were
not
in her favor. The males of her race were bigger, stronger, and faster. Or-in Richen's words-the dominant gender.
And where did she go after she murdered Edwin?
She wasn't in town. She wasn't near the mountain's peak. She had to have taken refuge somewhere. The world was a big place. Narrowing that down wouldn't be easy.
I sighed and turned to look at Ethan. He was a quiet sleeper, rarely snoring or moving excessively. His breathing was always whisper soft and his movements slow and subtle. This morning was no different.
His hair was spread on the pillow with several wisps spilling free across his face. His lashes were thick and long, and his beard was fuller. He rarely slept, and when he did, it was in short, sporadic increments. Seeing him so still and peaceful was something that I enjoyed.
He was astonishgly beautiful.
I leaned into his warmth and pressed a soft kiss across his cheek. He smelled wonderful. I touched his soft beard and gave him one more kiss before slipping out of bed. I expected him to wake when his arm fell to the mattress, but it seemed he was exhausted; too tired to break out of the land of dreams to notice.
I slowly made my way to Ethan's dresser and grabbed one of his tee shirts. Despite my new clothes, I enjoyed wearing Ethan's clothes. On more than one occasion, I would find his eyes on me, scanning me as I walked around in his clothing. He too preferred my choice of attire.
I made my way to the living room, my leg hollering in protest. Doc Baldridge came to visit after tending to Gavin and he stitched my thigh; giving me antibiotics to prevent an infection and pain relievers to take as needed.
I made some coffee and grabbed the bottle of pills, popping one into my mouth and taking a tentative sip before swallowing. I opened the fridge. Ethan had made a grocery but seeing the various array of foods made me a little queasy.
I decided to stick with my coffee and grabbed a bag of Christmas decorations by the fireplace. I took a seat on a bar stool and opened a few boxes, lining up ornaments and kitchenware on the counter. I'd tackle the tree when Ethan got up. There was no way I would be able to lift a seven-foot tree and carry it.
Ethan could do that.
I smiled as I sipped my coffee. He was so large and strong. Having him around came in handy. I shifted my gaze to the sliding glass doors in the kitchen. A few owls hooted softly.
And I nearly spilled my coffee when the bushes moved in an unnatural way.
Shit.
The lights were on in the cabin-courtesy of me. If someone were outside, they would know that I was awake. I looked quickly to the stairs. Should I get Ethan? I didn't want to disturb him. I considered calling for him instead.
But that could raise unnecessary alarm.
The last thing I wanted him to do was run down the stairs like a bullet, thinking the worst. Besides, what if it was an animal? A raccoon or a squirrel?
I refocused on the door and got off the stool. A prickle of fear tickled down the length of my spine and I knew that this was a bad idea. I had no intention of opening the door. Ethan always locked it. But a quick look wouldn't hurt.
Just to be sure.
I hobbled to the glass and tentatively pressed my hands against the cold surface. I leaned in, my eyes shifting from left to right and back again. Despite the barren landscape, the thick brambles and tree trunks provided ample shadows and concealment. Anyone or anything could be lurking.
I sighed and made a move to step away when something flew out from the right and hit the glass door with force.
I inhaled sharply and stumbled back, landing on my ass. My leg exploded in pain and I gasped, grabbing it, and squeezing it to quell the agony.
Fuck.
I slid across the hardwood floor, ignoring the pain as I stared at what hit the glass.
A dead owl.
At least,
part
of a dead owl. The head, to be specific.
My eyes widened in horror.
Who would do something like that? I pressed my face against the glass, breathing erratically and looking outside. No one was there. But this was
no
accident.
I focused on the severed head. It was gruesome. Tendrils of meat and veins were covered in thick, coagulating blood.
I belched.
And got up in a panic, putting a hand over my mouth. The bathroom on the first floor was closest. I wasn't going to make it to the bathroom in our bedroom. I also made it a point to close the door behind me so as not to wake Ethan.
By the time I made it to the toilet, the first projectile flew forth, landing in the toilet in a rush. I heaved, feeling my gut tighten and spasm.
Ugh.
It was disgusting. I hated throwing up.
When I was done, I flushed and sat on the cold, tiled floor for a few minutes, breathing heavily.
I didn't hear the door open. Nor did I see Ethan come in.
I jerked when I felt him press against my back, wrapping an arm around my waist as he took a seat on the floor with me. "Vomiting again," he said near my ear.
It wasn't a question. It was a statement. "Yeah."
"And?" he asked. Of course, Ethan knew that something was off. The vomiting was merely the direct result of seeing that god-awful severed head.
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. Lying to him wasn't an option. I decided to just spill the beans. "I saw something outside."
I felt him stiffen against me. "Where?"
I pointed in the general direction of the kitchen. "Near the kitchen doors."
He stood up immediately, moving under the doorframe in less than a second. "Lock the door behind me," he snapped, closing the door.
I got up and locked it, praying that he found something...anything to put me at ease. That head was a deliberate threat. I'm not sure who planted it. I'm not sure who was out there. I only know that something wasn't right.
Ethan rapped three times against the door. "It's me, Luna."
I opened the door in a rush. He came in, his hands on his hips. "I didn't scent anything. Nor did I see anything suspicious."
I shook my head in disbelief. "You saw the head, right?"
His brows furrowed. "The what?"
I pushed passed him and hobbled towards the kitchen doors, pressing my face against the glass.
It was gone.
"Where did it go?" I opened the doors and made my way to the bushes, scanning the ground for any sign of the head.
"Have you lost your mind, female?"
Before I could finish my search, Ethan picked me up and carried me back into the cabin. "No, Ethan! The head!"
He closed the door and locked it, settling me on the couch and kneeling before me with anger in his eyes. I could tell that he was attempting to control his rage but was having difficulty. "Don't you
ever
do anything that foolish again, female. The darkness is not a friend. There are dangerous creatures lurking that you know
