The Darkness We Hide

Gareth knew that Richard was near, he could sense him. Even with Michelle wrapped protectively in his arms as they watched an old movie he still felt the bastard lurking nearby.

“Sleep,” he whispered into her ear, lacing his words with mesmeric power.

He felt her limbs grow heavy as his words took hold. Soon she was snoring lightly, her body curling closer into his embrace.

Sliding Michelle to the side, he made sure she was safely wrapped in blankets before moving to the window. Edging aside the curtains slightly he looked up and down the street trying to see where he was hiding.

Finding nothing, he turned back to look at Michelle’s sleeping form. Was it really the fact that she was a lycan's destined mate that drew Richard to her like a moth to a flame> Even as she slept, her aura glowed softly.

Making a decision, Gareth grabbed his phone and walked into the bathroom, making sure the door was closed tight behind him.

He hadn’t planned on moving things with Michelle so quickly, but he could no longer ignore Richard’s stalking. Enough was enough.

Dialing his aunt, he waited for her to pick up.

“Hey kiddo,” Nancy said without preamble. “I’m heading out in the morning. I should be in Seattle by tomorrow evening.”

“Good,” he breathed, running his finger through his tousled hair. “I need to get Michelle out of the city. I can sense Richard, he’s close, I can feel it.”

“Okay,” Nancy sighed, her mind racing to come up with an idea.

“Hey,” she shouted, causing Gareth to quickly pull the phone away from his ear. “Didn’t your folks used to take you pups to the coast when you were young? I think it was called Bay Bridge or something.”

“Bainbridge Island,” he corrected, remembering fondly playing in the surf with his brothers and sisters, on two or four legs.

“That’s a great idea,” he agreed, peeking out the door to make sure his loud outburst hadn’t disturbed Michelle. “That far out we should be able to sense Richard much easier than in the city.

“There’s too many ways he can mask himself here,” he added.

“Well,” Nancy sighed, “that just added another two and a half hours and a ferry ride to my day. Text me when you’ve found a hotel and I’ll meet you there.”

“No hotels,” he replied flatly, “I don’t want any place he can back us into a corner.

“I remember mom and dad rented a cabin,” he continued, his mind already racing ahead with his plans. “I’ll try to get something like that.”

“Alright,” Nancy yawned, “just let me know the final destination and I’ll be there.”

“Thank you Aunt Nan,” Gareth said, truly grateful to have her on his team. “Drive safe.”

“See you tomorrow,” she replied, ready to sleep.

Gareth let Michelle sleep on as he called Anna, one of the best contacts in the lycan community to find what you wanted.

Upon hearing his name, she immediately became helpful, willing to do anything he asked. She’d never had the opportunity to assist an alpha of such prestige before.

“I have your family’s file in front of me sir,” she simpered, making Gareth cringe. “It looks like the only thing I can get you on such short notice is the same cabin your family has stayed at before.”

“That big place?” Gareth asked, remembering the cabin being large enough to accommodate his siblings, cousins, and all the adults. “Isn’t there anything smaller?”

“I’m sorry,” Anna replied, desperate not to disappoint such a high and well-respected member of the lycan community. “If there was anything else I could do, I would, but I just don’t have anything else.”

“Fine,” he grunted, not wanting to be showy, but happy that it was at least a place he was familiar with. After endless summers, he knew every nook, cranny, and hiding place in and around the old place. It would be very hard for Richard to sneak around without him noticing.

Hanging up the phone he returned to Michelle’s side, gently coaxing her back to wakefulness with kisses

“I have a surprise,” Gareth said later that evening over breakfast. “I rented a cabin on Bainbridge Island across the Sound for us over the long weekend.”

“A cabin?” she asked, looking dubiously up at him. “When you say cabin are we talking outhouse and no showers or are we talking running water and cozy evenings?”

“The running water kind,” he explained with a laugh.

“Oh thank God,” Michelle breathed, "I'm not against roughing it, but I usually wait until it's a lot warmer."

“So is that a yes?” he prompted, looking hopeful.

“Yes,” Michelle said, reaching up and kissing him. “Of course yes. I would love to get out of the city for a few days. I just have to get someone to cover my shifts.”

“Do you think that will be a problem?” Gareth asked.

“Shouldn’t be too hard,” Michelle replied, shaking her head. “I haven’t taken any time off since Richard, so I have the vacation hours, and Sylvia is getting married in a few months so I know she would love the extra tips.”

Looking up, she noticed how still Gareth had gone, the muscles around his mouth tightening in an angry grimace. Too late she realized that this was the first time she’d talked about Richard in weeks and the mere mention of his name had Gareth seething, his eyes glazing in rage.

Carefully she reached up and gently touched his hand.

Jerking at her touch, he seemed to come back to the present and saw the sadness and concern on her face.

“I’m sorry,” he said, quickly taking her retreating hand. “Just hearing his name, I can’t stand the thought of him ever touching you.”

“Then don’t think about it,” she said with a small smile, “think about hours on end alone, in a cabin, sipping cocoa, all the fun we can have.”

Returning her small smile with a larger one he rose and pulled her with him to the bedroom, ignoring her halfhearted protest about finishing the movie.