(So this is a trigger warning. The next few chapters will contain domestic violence. My stories try to emulate real life. If you think you suffer from domestic violence please seek help in your retrospective communities. So trigger warning?)
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Cian knew that Wren had her job at the school and K-mart in the morning. For the first time in a long time he was impatient. He was on the verge of losing control of his wolf. That hadn't happened since the pack had left Ireland. The next afternoon couldn't come soon enough, since Cian no longer had pack business to conduct, he took his Ford F-150 over to Nice N Eazy Trailer park.
It was a long drive from his country home and on the wrong side of town. There were potholes in the dirt road and a general rundown appearance. Double wides with broken windows were scattered around the trailer park. Wren didn't deserve to live here, no one really did. To Cian's surprise despite the chilly weather, there was a man on the porch drinking beer and smoking a joint. He was 1/2 way through a six pack and butts lay scattered about him. He was unwashed and seemed to pose no agreeable features.
"Nice truck you got buddy....need something? Weed..guns..something stronger? Lots of rich people like yourself come out from the city for stuff. I usually can provide, or at least I know where to get it." questioned the man as he winked. With his wolf senses, Cian noticed that the man smelled like Wren and three other women.
"Oh, Wren and I had a nice dinner last night. She left her scarf at my place. News said we'll be getting a huge blizzard on Wednesday. There's going to be lots of snow, bitter cold and lots of wind so I thought I'd bring it to her. She's a beautiful lady. We wouldn't want her getting sick wouldn't we?" stated Cian to the man.
"That's sounds a lot like Wren...going out to some expensive dinner with you and wasting all MY hard earned money. That woman is never here to cook dinner for me. What a lazy and ungrateful cow! Ya know I'm out on the road all week, truckin...all I want is a clean house and a hot dinner when I get home...like every real man expects from his wife. I'm sure a tough guy like you knows what I'm talkin about. You probably keep your woman in line. But, Wren is never here for me! Plus we used to get it on all the time. Now she's always working and too tired to get it on. Isn't that typical of women? I'm a man. I have needs." pouted Layton, his voice was full of contempt. He spat and a gob of yellow spittle landed on the porch.
Cian was starting to detest this man even more. He already knew that Layton physically assaulted Wren. But, hearing him verbally assault his wife to a complete stranger made Cian think still less of him. Cian wanted to do something for this tough woman. A woman like Wren deserved to be treated like a queen.
Wren reminded Cian of his mother. He hadn't thought of his mother in years. She'd been a tough lady putting up with all his father's crap till the end. Cian was certain Wren was like his Mom, despite her complex situation, Wren was determined to survive and endure. Cian knew she deserved better than that. He was determined to give it to her.
"Uhmm...I'll just wait for her to get back so I can give it to her. We never really finished what we were talking about last night. She's a really interesting woman. Caring, you know?" stated Cian. Surely, Layton would say something kind about his wife?
"Whatever dude...she does what she does...ya know? She should be home soon...the woman usually stops by to have a quick dinner with me before she heads to Pizza Hut. It's not fooling around but it's something you know. " stated Layton bitterly.
Cian went to sit in his truck. He was worried that he would lose hold of his wolf if he stayed around Layton any longer. He watched Layton microwave some pizza rolls and grab another beer. Layton did nothing to clean the house. There were dirty dishes that needed to be washed but Layton left them in the sink.
Layton sat on his porch, drinking and smoking, waiting for Wren to come home. There were no more pizza rolls for Wren to have. There seemed to be nothing for Wren at this dilapidated house. Cian couldn't help but wonder why she stayed.
Layton's cellphone rang. "Lexi baby, so glad to hear from you boo boo. I'm stuck down here with the wife...you know she can be SUCH a bitch--honey do this, honey do that...I'm always out truckin and workin hard...I can't be here doing things. But, I'm missing you and wish I was back with you. I ought to be hauling a load up to Bozeman in a couple of days. You be a bad girl now and sneak away from the hubby for a few hours, meet me in my cab and we can voulez vous...if you know what I mean. So see ya in a couple days, boo boo."
Layton must have noticed Cian's glare of disapproval. "Tinder friend up in Bozeman...she can suck the Chrome right off my truck...if ya know what I mean. She just loves riddin my BIG long haul. I can see a dude like you knows what I'm talkin about. Got lots of Tinder friends on my route and all the chickies love riddin my long haul.." Layton took another swig of his beer and tossed the empty bottle in the front yard. Where it shattered.
Cian said nothing, he sat in his truck wondering when Wren would get home. He didn't know what Tinder was but understood that Layton was cheating on his wife with Lexi and other loose women. Cian couldn't understand it. True mates never cheated on one another. If this man had one ounce of self respect he would treat Wren, like the hardworking goddess she was.
Cian supposed it was out of the duty that Wren had spoken to him about last night. He admired her for that. Wren had resilience and did what had to be done. He also had done that with his pack. Cian was sure they'd leave Finn any day now and come crawling back. But, he'd been telling himself that for nearly a year. If Cian was totally honest with himself he missed them.
Cian had been an Alpha for centuries since the pack had first come over from Ireland. He knew that ancient wolf laws were there for a reason, due to them werewolves survived. To be a good Alpha, you put the pack before yourself. It was what Cian believed. It was what he adhered to. It was because of his sacrifices that his pack had survived and prospered. Cian had always put his pack first. The younger wolves, like Finn, might not understand self sacrifice but he did. Pack first, yourself last...even if you suffered because of it. It wasn't easy being an Alpha.
Still a small part of Cian questioned why the Cosmos, after all this time, couldn't let him have something of his own. Cian didn't want anything big of course. He just wanted something unique that he could hold on to--Cian wanted a salve for his lonesomeness. All these years he'd sacrificed so much and worked so hard...after all this time Cian believed he deserved something that was his. The universe owed him that.
While waiting for Wren, Cian sat in his truck waiting until the sunset and a light snow squall blew in. It was a prequel to the big storm that was coming. He watched as Wren pulled up in a battered Corolla. She had bags of groceries. Her old coat was frayed, unbuttoned and askew. Wren had no hat. "Just here for a cup of coffee and a quick sandwich." Wren called out to Layton. Layton just nodded, took another swig of beer tightened his own coat but made no effort to help Wren with all the bags
Cian had been mesmerized by seeing Wren's long coffee colored hair floating free in the wind. But, always the gentleman, Cian got out of his truck, grabbed a few of the grocery bags and walked into the double wide. He was still apprehensive of the situation which he found himself in. Was it proper to be here? Did humans still do this kind of thing? He saw Wren wolfing down cold leftover spaghetti. He supposed it was a quick supper. She looked up.
"Oh...hi.. Cian.do you need something? I gotta be at work in like five minutes. I'm already late. Honestly, tell you the truth, it's almost not worth going in with this bad storm on its way. Nobody will be coming in. No tips you know. Not that anybody in this rotten town ever gives 1/2 way decent tips. I'm thinking about quitting my Pizza Hut job but then where would I work? Somebody's got to bring in the money." Wren shrugged, gave out a bitter laugh and made herself some instant coffee to go.
Cian watched as Wren quickly made her way to the sink and loaded a few stray plates into the dishwasher. She slammed the dishwasher door shut and ran it. Cian knew this woman was nothing if not efficient.
"Well, Wren...I came to bring your scarf back. It's going to get colder and I wouldn't want you to get sick. But, I have another reason for being here. I was hoping you'd come and work with me out at The Wolves' Den. Lots of my help has just moved away. They say they're looking for better opportunities but I'm sure it's just a temporary thing. They'll come home with their tails between their legs soon enough."
"In the meanwhile I could use someone to waitress and clean. My bar isn't that popular or anything. It's also out of the way. But, I'd need you there 8 hours plus a day. You'd have to quit all your other jobs and drive all the way out there. but I'd pay you $40 an hour. Plus tips and reimburse you for gas. So whadda think?" questioned Cian.
Of course, it was a complete lie on Cian's behalf. Cian didn't like lying. It was ungentlemanly and beneath him as an Alpha. Cian had been maintaining The Wolves' Den for nearly a year. He could continue to do it. Cian just wanted to be near Wren. He'd only known her for a day and already she meant more to him that anything else in all his existence. Having Wren work at The Wolves' Den was the only way Cian could think of to be with her. He was prepared to pay any amount or do anything to be with Wren.
As Cian asked Wren to work with him, he was of two minds. "Please say yes. I want to be with you. I want to love you and treat you the way you deserve to be treated. I want to give you the world and take you away from this desolation. I want you to be mine and mine alone. I want you to belong to me body and soul. Say yes, Wren. Please say yes."
