Apprehended: Thirty
Okay, I'm realllllllly sorry about the mix-up in the previous chapter. That was my mistake. I was editing the document and forgot to remove that last bit that I didn't want. I didn't like where the chapter was originally headed, and I honestly didn't even realize that I accidentally left that last paragraph. My apologies. Let's just pretend that it doesn't exist, yes? And once again, thank you for your patience. I know that the time in-between chapters are long, but I'm trying. I'm not giving up on Annie and Ethan yet! Thank you for sticking with me. I appreciate you.
Annie.
Was there any place on the planet that monsters didn't exist? Was every dark crevice secretly concealing a dark, unknown entity? Had the bounds of nature and logical reasoning vanished?
It seemed like it did.
Like life had altered course, obscuring the lines of verity and transforming the certainty of science into something untouchable and impenetrable. Something layered under so much illusion, one would be portrayed as delusional or deranged to even consider the complexities of my life as definitive and concrete.
My world was different, no longer harboring the simplicities of common human worries. Everyday mundane tasks no longer held the same meaning. Going out for a cup of coffee now housed the dangers of the unfamiliar. Supermarket runs were brimming with the possibilities of the macabre, the ghoulish and the lurid. No shadow was risked. No empty space rendered arcane without thorough inspection.
I felt like a caged bird, attended and well groomed, but trapped, nonetheless.
I had time. Too much time: time to think, time to fabricate, time to dream, time to question, time to read and write. Time to watch every movie in that goddamned movie theater three times over.
And I was losing my mind. I'd had enough.
I had every intention of going out. Come hell or high fucking water, I was going to get out of the blasted mansion. I was going to demand it from Ethan, no matter what excuses he offered against it. I was desperate at this point. Though I wasn't a prisoner, I felt like one.
That
was unacceptable. I was
not
a caged bird. I was
not
an object to be housed as a shiny, expensive glass admiration, only to be viewed and cleaned.
I had my rights.
That's exactly the thought that drove me to Ethan's study, which was filled with clan members, speaking about God only knew what. Probably the rogue coven. Again, I was desperate. What was the point of cleaving to yet another issue that didn't concern me? Ethan was on it. As usual. My word-though it meant at least
something
- was
not
law. Only the Alpha's word was law. So, technically, my available insight could be overlooked.
For just this once, I didn't want to be bothered by the problems of the clan. I wanted a regular, normal, boring day outside. I wanted to aimlessly window shop. I wanted to randomly gasp and point at something insanely expensive, secretly wishing it were mine even though Ethan was rich to buy me whatever my heart desired. I wanted lunch, ordering from a menu and waiting on a waiter who gave Ethan a flirtatious stare, and glared at me because they were jealous that he was mine. I didn't give a shit that I knew he was way out of my league. I just wanted normal...well...partially normal. A new form of normal, no matter how fucked up it truly was.
My secret confession poured out of my mouth like a shout and my voice reverberated along the high walls of his study, effectively silencing the clan during what seemed like a very important meeting.
"I want to go out!"
All eyes of every shape and odd color fell upon me, reminding me that my deranged explosion was received by everyone including the intended person-Ethan. It made me momentarily falter and stumble a bit as the clan parted and made way for me to pass. I felt my face heat up in embarrassment, but I swallowed my shame and rolled with it, too fed up with imprisonment to let a few wandering eyes stop me.
"Will you excuse us?" Ethan told the clan, his eyes focused only on me.
I stopped a foot away from his massive desk and folded my arms across my chest, waiting until the doors closed and we were blessedly alone.
"Hello to you too, my love," he said, his golden eyes gleaming with a hint of suppressed mirth.
There was nothing funny about this. "I want to go out," I repeated. It was less of a shout...more of a reasonable statement.
He grinned fully, leaning back casually in his large, looming chair. "Is that so?"
I wanted to roll my eyes. My outburst was obviously amusing to him. It was irritating. "Yeah. That's so," I replied dryly.
Either he ignored my sarcasm, or he didn't hear it laced in my reply. He continued smiling as if we were talking about the fucking weather and pointed a long finger behind his head. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"
I glanced outside, catching sight of the moon just beyond the heavy drapes of the floor to ceiling windows. I didn't realize that it was nighttime. I was too keyed up, itching for the outside to be bothered by something as useless as time when I had so much of it at my disposal. "And?"
His grin faded and he pegged me with a glare. "I don't need to remind you of what comes out at night, Luna. You're not that naïve."
I nearly screamed. Another excuse. Another reason not to leave. I wasn't allowing it. "You'd be with me."
"That doesn't change the fact that-"
"I'm not staying in this house another fucking night, Ethan!" I interjected. So much for losing my hysteria. I sounded frantic. Oh, well. It was too late to hide the need. I already exposed the desperation I had.
He sighed warily. "Annie...I'll take you out in the morning."
"No," I said, stomping my foot on the plush rug. "You're always tired in the morning because you're awake all night."
"My nights are filled with patrol. You know that."
"And mine are caged," I shot back.
"Caged? What the hell? You're not my prisoner, sweetheart. You never were."
"Then take me out. You're off rotation tonight. You're free."
He shook his head slowly, his hair-which was much longer-fell across his face and obscured his eye in soft, thickness. For one brief second, I thought about running my fingers through it. It was absolutely beautiful. He was letting it grow out. Apparently, he enjoyed that I adored it, and let it grow for me. But now was certainly
not
the time to be distracted by his magnificence. Not when I wanted to leave so badly.
"I'm still on call for those who are," he said, sucking me out of my reverie. "You know that too." He ran a hand through his hair to push it away from his face. "With the rogue coven, we've been on high alert. I can't just-"
"Gavin is here," I interrupted again. "He'll cover it while you're gone."
"That's a risk I'm not willing-"
"He's Beta," I reminded him.
He glowered. "Stop interrupting me, Luna." He waited a beat, ensuring that I was quiet before he continued. "As I was saying, that's a risk I'm not willing to take. Not when things are this dicey."
"But Beta-"
"Is not going at it alone," he said, stopping me. "End of discussion."
"No," I shot back. "No. I haven't been outside in weeks."
"We'll go tomor-"
"Please," I added softly. I wanted to cry. "Please, Ethan." It was a long shot, for sure. But arguing wasn't working. Pleading was my next option. Pride be damned. He
had
to give this to me. I never bothered or complained. I never made Ethan feel bad about clan issues before. They never annoyed me. But this...this feeling of imprisonment was too much to bear. I would beg if I had to. I only wanted this one thing. He could give that to me. He should.
He sighed again and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't k-"
"Oh please, Ethan," I said again, taking advantage of the way his voice softened and his shoulders slumped ever so slightly. "I promise I won't bother you for a long time...and we won't be out long. We can take whoever you want with us. I don't mind. I'm not picky."
He stared at me, and his resolve seemed to slowly diminish.
I had him and he knew it.
Ethan could handle most of my bullshit. Anger? No doubt. Fear? Without a hitch. But begging? Not one of his strong suits. He pretty much caved anytime I was desperate enough to beg him for something. So, I knew he was going to finally give in once his muscles went lax and he gave me his answer with a tight, but resigned, nod. "Alright fine," he said, his voice no longer forceful and stringent. "But Kindra, Michael and Jared are coming with us. I don't trust the rogue coven that passed through. I'm not taking any unnecessary chances when it concerns you."
I brightened significantly and smiled, nearly jumping out of my skin enthusiastically.
He, however, was never more serious. "You stay close to me. Is that clear?"
"Yes," I answered quickly. I didn't want him to change his mind. I was willing to accept any conditions. "Absolutely."
"We're taking Gav's monster truck. The bitch is nearly impenetrable. You ride in between Kin and Jared in the backseat. Michael takes shotgun. I don't want you exposed to the passenger door."
I nodded my head vigorously. "Whatever you want."
He got up, standing to his intimidating full height of pure muscled steel. "Where do you want to go?" he asked, looking at his thick wristwatch. "It's ten thirty. Some places are still open."
"Can we get a coffee and food?" I asked, shifting from foot to foot impatiently.
He shook his head and grabbed his phone from the desk, no doubt texting everyone of the update. "No caffeine, baby," he reminded me. After he sent out the mass text, he slipped his phone into his back pocket and glanced at my stomach before moving around the desk. "Hot chocolate?"
I missed coffee. I missed soda. I wanted junk food, but Garrett fed me a lot of vegetables, dairy, protein, water, fruits and non-caffeinated beverages. It was annoying but necessary. So far-according to the Doc-I was in great health. No more scares. I was willing to sacrifice my caffeine and junk food craving, but I wanted something greasy tonight. Just as I wanted to leave, I was desperate for it.
I would not be denied.
"Yes to the hot chocolate, but I also want a burger and pizza."
He paused mid-stride, his foot hovering in the air as he stared at me. "A burger and pizza? For that, let Garrett cook it up here. I just sent him to get groceries this morning."
I gave him a look. "I don't want Garrett cooking. He uses that nasty cooking spray and bakes everything," I said, my face now etched in disgust.
Ethan smiled a little. It held no happiness. He looked on-edge. I knew why, but his worries were unnecessary. We weren't staying out long. "He does it because he cares for you and our young, flower."
"I know that," I said. "But I'm really craving grease right now, Ethan."
