Chapter 3 And the plot thickens

It was was dark by the time I had packed most of my belongings. A sob tore through my throat. Nothing felt real, everything was flashing before my eyes before I could take a single breath.

Tio entered my room and nodded in a pleased manner. I could do nothing but gaze vacantly as he grabbed my bags and suitcase. He loaded everything into the back of the SUV and then offered his hand to me. I ignored it and slid into the seat, pretending he didn't existence.

"It's not as bad as you are making it out to be." Tio grumbled disapprovingly.

I scoffed.

"Well, how about you get knocked up and then torn away from everything you've ever known. I only had two months left to graduate. I was going to college! Now what am I doing? Going to be some locked away maiden with some freak that thinks he can control my life?"

Tio let out a soft chuckle.

"The boss is gonna have his hands full with you."

I sneered at him.

"You have no idea." I spat.

Tio shook his head and became silent for the rest of the drive.

The house we pulled up to was vastily different from the house Jesse had taken me to just a week ago. It was huge, I'm talking white house huge.

"Where are we?" I gasped.

Tio gave me a creepy smile and slid out of the car.

Well that was comforting.

Out of nowhere, I felt him. I don't know how to explain it but I knew he was coming. I looked up to the top of the steps and there Jesse stood, hands in his pocket at the top of the stairs. He looked like something from heaven, or maybe from hell. Nothing that gorgeous could be any good for my naive heart.

"This is it?" Jesse narrowed his eyes at me. I looked next to me where tio had dumped all of my belongings like it was trash. I crossed my arms and glowered at Jesse.

"Not everyone has a luxurious life." I sniffed.

Jesse's eyes took on that freakish glow again and he stomped down the steps towards me.

"This attitude of yours isn't going to cut it. Either get over it or I'll be forced to teach you some respect." He said, nose to nose with me.

Those cold tingles raced down my spine once again. I needed to remember who I was dealing with. Well, I didn't exactly know who I was dealing with to begin with but he was definitely someone not to piss off.

I swallowed and gave a terse nod. I'll play nice for now.

Jesse grabbed some of my bags along with tio and led me up the stairs then inside. The inside of the mansion was breath taking. A crystal chandelier hung above our heads, glittering against the light. The walls were a creamy beige and the carpet was a brilliant white. I had the urge to remove my shoes so I wouldn't stain it.

"I have some business to tend to. Take Ms. Daniels to the Luna suite." Jesse barked his orders and tio followed like a dutiful soldier.

"What is a Luna suite?" I questioned as I followed behind tio. He lead me up the stairs and down a long hallway.

We stopped at the second to last door and he opened it. He tossed my bags on the floor right beside the huge king-sized bed. It was covered in a blush silk bed spread and I'm guessing the sheets matched. The room was beautiful in a princess type of way. It didn't suit me at all. It had a see-through pink frilly canope covering the sides. The walls were also a light baby pink. Roses sat on a dresser that was in the corner of the room. I could smell their fragrance lingering throughout the space.

"I think barbie threw up in here." I said slowly spinning and studying every inch of the room.

I heard a choked sound, which I assumed was tio chuckling.

"You'll love the bathroom." He uttered before leaving me by my lonesome.

I shrugged, walking over to the soft curtains and touching it with the tips of my fingers.

I sighed and decided to check out the bathroom. Tio was spot on. The bathroom was magnificent. A huge jacuzzi tub sat in the center of the bathroom. White marble covered the floor along with a black bath rug. I was temptes to test drive the tub. There was also a shower, small but nice. The huge mirror was bright almost blinding with the giant round bulbs at the top of the mirror.

I heard a knock an stepped back into the bedroom. I opened the door reluctantly. I wasn't in the mood to deal with Psycho. When I saw the bright red hair I couldn't contain my happiness. I almost tackled Dee.

I squeezed her tight, surely blocking off her air supply.

"Can't... Breath .." Dee wheezed.

I chuckled and pulled back, holding her shoulders.

"What are you doing here??" My eyes began to burn with tears. The pregnancy hormones must be starting.

"James lives here as well. He drug me out of my house and had a talk with my parents. I was completely dumbfounded when they agreed." Dee said almost absently.

"Can you stay here with me??" I pleaded.

Dee sighed then shrugged.

"You might have to ask Jesse that." She looked apologetic.

My carefree, bubbly best friend was apologizing for some psycho's actions.

"Well, let's go then." I said, wrapping my arm around hers. I had no idea how to navigate this monstrous building but I was sure I'd find Jesse somewhere.

"I don't think we should be roaming around..." Dee said quietly, her eyes darting around the large hallway.

"They will get over it." I rolled my eyes.

When did the roles become reversed? Dee was usually the hot tempered one and the kill now ask questions later type. Yet she was being timid and unsure of herself.

We walked down the steps and Tio was waiting at the bottom.

"It is not safe for you to roam around the packhouse by yourself." He scolded me as if I were a misbehaving child.

I rolled my eyes.

"I need to speak with Jesse." I demanded.

Tio was about to open his mouth when a throat cleared behind him.

Jesse had just walked out from behind a large closed door.

"What can I do for you." He said patiently.

His eyes were dark and venomous.

"I want Dee to share my room with me." I said, I wanted to pat myself on the back I sounded braver than I felt.

"And why is that?" He leaned against the wall casually. Tio looked at him and he waved him away.

"She's my family. She's all I have left and it won't sting so much if she is near me." I felt my throat squeeze, I prayed I could hold it together long enough to get back to the room.

Jesse tilted his head.

"If you would have unpacked you would have seen that Ms. Boykin's belongings were already in your quarters. I'm many things, Lyla, but heartless is not one of them." He said cooly.

I nodded.

"Thank you." I gulped.

It was hard to believe I shared such a passionate night with someone so cold and distant. I couldn't help but wonder why I was here. It wasn't as if we were going to try a relationship.

"I'm going to go upstairs, you guys need to talk." Dee said, squeezing my arm.

Jesse stood and nodded towards the door he had exited.

I followed behind, clenching and unclenching my hands.

Jesse walked behind his desk and took a seat. I sat in the chair in front of the dark mohogany desk.

"Jesse what am I doing here?" I asked, twirling a stand of my hair around my finger. I was having the hardest time trying to keep my gaze averted.

"There are many reasons why you are here. The most important being that you are carrying my heir." He said nonchalantly. As if it were just a fact, nothing of importance.

"Alot of people get pregnant but they never get forced out of their homes. I don't understand... I need to go to a doctor for checkups, I need to work to provide for my baby... I need to finish school." I pleaded, my eyes finally meeting his.

"I will provide for the baby and you of course. As I said before I have enemies. Coming here is not only to keep you safe, but your foster mother as well. As for doctor visits, you will need a specialist. As you are already aware, this baby is special. As for your education, you can do online work or whatever you please. "

I sighed. I was beginning to see that there was no arguing with this man.

"Why do you have enemies? And speaking of my foster mother why did she agree to this? She said I was yours, like she has been expecting you." I shivered at the thought. I'm ashamed to admit it wasn't only fear, it was also excitement.

Jesse pressed his lips into a thin line then began to rub his jaw. I could tell by the look in his eyes that there was more, so much more than I could comprehend going on.

"I can't tell you everything. You will need to learn the majority of it by yourself. I can only tell you I am a very powerful force and last weekend was not the first time we have met." He said cryptically.

Great. That just left me with more questions. I thought back on how strange Dee was behaving. It was as if she knew something and the knowledge she had received was not without it's dangers.

I narrowed my eyes at the beautiful man Infront of me. My nails dug into my thighs to keep my mind from wandering, it was something I did to stay focused. I've had ADHD as long as I could remember and I had developed several coping mechanisms to keep myself from bouncing off the walls and losing my attention.

"Dee knows whatever it is. Doesn't she." I accused. My lips turned down in a frown.

A ghost of a smile touched Jesse's lips.

"She knows what she is required to know. She will enlighten you to an extent but even she must learn what the meaning of all this is." He shrugged.

He yanked open a draw and tossed me a credit card along with a set of keys.

My eyes widened.

"What is this?" I said, holding the keys with the tips of my fingers as if it were a poisoned trinket. I didn't bother touching the shiney metal card winking at me under the light.

"You are not a prisoner. You may go where ever you would like, within reason of course. The card is for you. I assume you will need new clothes in the coming weeks and some things for the child's room. Tio will show you where the nursery is."

I was bewildered. No, that was an understatement. I was beyond confused, I was completely struck dumb.

"If you don't mind there is some things I need to take care of. I will send Quin to get you when dinner is ready." He dismissed me as if I were nothing.

The feeling stung my chest. I had assumed he must have cared to some extent if he went so far as to force me to move in with him. Perhaps all he really cared about was the baby which was fine with me. Atleast that's what I told myself.

When I got back to my room I exhaled in relief when I saw my best friend sprawled out on our bed. She seemed like her usual self again, sighing contentedly as she sunk further and further into the pillow top mattress.

I plopped down next to her and yanked a small strand of her hair.

She hissed, sitting up like a rocket.

"What was that for?" She glowered.

I smirked. Some things never changed.

"You and I have a lot to talk about." I crossed my arms.

Dee huffed and flung herself back onto the bed.

"I'm not sure you even want to know Lala." Dee muttered under her breath.

"Well atleast tell me what happened between you and James."

Dee sat up and scooted to the edge of the bed to sit next to me. She brought her knee's up and hugged them, leaning her chin on her knee caps.

"Well, he said that we were what's called fated mates." She rolled her eyes as if that was complete nonsense.

My brows rose.

"I guess it wouldn't be so bad if he wanted a so called fated mate but he basically can't stand me. One minute he's trying to set me on fire with his eyes, the next he's trying to cram his tongue down my throat." She growled.

I smiled. They sounded like a match made in hell.

"Okay, say you are fated mates... What does that mean?"

Dee squinted and licked her bottom lip.

"It's soul mates. He also told me he isn't human but didn't elaborate. I can't tell if he's certifiably crazy or he lives in some fantasy world in his mind."

I couldn't hold back the hysterical laugh that bubbled out of me. My sides began to hurt and I had to wipe tears of humor from my eyes. I sobered immediately when I realized Dee looked far from amused.

"You can't be serious. Dee, babe please don't tell me your buying that crap." I said grabbing her arms and giving her a soft shake.

She looked into my eyes and I knew she was serious and taking what James said serious.

I cleared my throat and dropped my hands.

"Okay. Well, how about after dinner we call it a night early and we can revisit this.... Intriguing scenario tomorrow." I squeezed her hand reassuringly.

Dee nodded and her shoulders relaxed.

Quin, the darling middle aged woman that was supposedly the chef as well as the care taker of the so called pack house was amazing. The minute she slammed my door open and squeezed my insides out I decided I liked her. Not to mention her homemade ravioli was an orgasm in my mouth. I ate two whole bowls full and felt no shame whatsoever.

It was a little awkward sitting at the large table that could fit atleast thirty people. Dee and James were exchanging heated glares that both made me blush and at other times made me cringe. Jesse paid me no mind, he didn't even bother with conversation. By the time everyone was finished I was ready to bolt.

"If you'll excuse us." Jesse said putting his hand on James'shoulder, effectively ending the mental massacre that was taking place at the table. I almost wept in relief.

Dee and I began to clean our plates when Quin walked into the dinning room and shoo'd us out.

"I am so tired.." I mumbled as we trudged up the stairs. It felt a lot longer this go round then it did the first two times.

"Ditto.." Dee pouted.

We finally made it to our destination and Dee and I obviously had the same ideas we belly flopped onto the bed and then there was nothing. Only the sweet dark endless sleep that my body craved so desperately.