Chapter 42

Once the delicious dinner was finished, and I was near bursting, I always ate way too much, we all went into our small kitchen to rinse the dishes, I took Raph's and rinsed it, he gave me a look that said, 'I could've done that.' And I gave him one that said, 'But you're our guest.'

Our silent conversation was cut short by my mom, "Mr. Rivers." She said.

"Hm, oh please call me Raphael." He replied. I gave him a look, but he didn't catch it.

"Okay, Raphael why don't you bring your bags inside, Brad can help you." My mom asked politely, more of a demand though really.

"I can?" Brad said, to which I laughed, "Yes Brad, I'm sure you can." I said sarcastically as I put the dishes on the rack.

"Okay." He said, upset with my words. He wasn't always friendly.

Once Raph had left, Ulyssa hopped up on top of the counter as I drank some water.

"So?" She asked, I had a feeling about Raph.

"So?" I asked back.

"The hot guy, Raphael! Do you…?" She whisper shouted, I gave her a little smack, "Ulyssa! Please." I said exasperatedly.

"Are you gonna invite him to the Fall Fair?" She asked, ignoring my comment.

I stopped, considering this. I would love to bring Raph to the Fall Fair.

"Maybe. But you have to leave him alone. Don't say anything to him, like you usually do." I said pointing my finger at her sternly.

"What do you mean I can't talk to him? He's gonna be staying here isn't he?" She asked.

"Yes, he is but don't say anything rude or I'll…" I didn't know what I'd do, "Just please, be nice and not annoying." I said pleadingly.

"What're you talking about? I'm never annoying." She said sarcastically with a smirk.

I gave her a look, but I knew that it was pointless.

When Raph and Brad were done unloading the luggage, we all sat down in the living room. Brad made a point of sitting next to me, "What's with all the new clothes?" He asked in a hushed voice.

"They were for when I woke up. I was wearing my pajamas when…" I dwindled off, not sure what to say. "Anyway, Raphael bought them for me, with his… sister." Yep, here we go, I just made up Raph's sister.

Brad just nodded.

My mom and dad were talking with Raph, about his job, which apparently he was a manager for a company I'd never heard about. My dad had, but my dad has heard about nearly everything.

Once the conversation had quieted down I asked, "Mommy, question. I know I've asked this before, but why didn't you tell the police I was missing?"

She pursed her lips and looked at my dad. I waited, "We didn't tell them, because you're twenty years old, almost at least, and we all thought that maybe you'd decided to leave. We didn't know you'd been kidnapped, we're sorry honey." She said apologetically.

"It's okay, I'm here now." I said with a slightly forced smile. 'They really thought I would leave?' I thought, hurt, 'Do they really think I'm that shallow enough to do something like that?' I pushed the thoughts away and focused on the conversation.

~~~~~~~~~

Raphael watched as Brooke's calm, happy expression became forced. He knew why, her mother had basically said, 'If you ever disappear without reason for seven days, don't worry because we won't.' He was clenching his fists and had closed his golden eyes. His wolf had wanted to growl at her family the moment he saw Brooke stiffen slightly at her mother's words. But not Bradley, his wolf liked Bradley.

He thought back to just a few minutes ago when Bradley had helped him bring his bags in. Bradley had noticed the shopping bags with Brooke's stuff, but didn't ask any questions and hauled them inside. Raph himself carried the rest.

He walked through the front door and went down the stairs, he followed Bradley's scent to a room at the base of the stairs. It was a rather large room with a queen size bed in the middle, and a dresser beside it. But other than that it appeared mostly to be a storage room, there was boxes upon boxes piled in there. Bradley put the bags down and ran a hand through his brown hair nervously, "Sorry about the mess."

"It's no problem." Raph said, then added, "And those are Brooke's, so you can put them in her room."

Bradley looked at the bags confused but then he regained his bored demeanour and moved the bags to Brooke's room, which was directly beside Raphael's room.

Bradley came back and stood in the doorway, effectively blocking Raphael's exit. Not that he needed one. After Bradley had stared at him for a full five minutes, he asked, "Can I help you?"

Bradley looked him straight in the eye, they were of near equal height, and said, "What do you want with Brooke?" He asked threateningly, his brown eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Raph thought of how to answer wisely, and then he questioned himself, 'What do I want with her? I want to protect her, to care for and comfort her, and most of all he wanted to claim her as his.' His instincts all told him that she was his, but he had not marked her or mated with her so that the world would know. 'That she is mine.' He thought.

So instead of answering him he asked Bradley a question, "What do you think I want her for?"

Raphael could see the wheels turning behind those dark brown eyes, he took a deep breath, then said in a deadly tone, "Don't hurt her."

Raphael was surprised at his words but didn't show it, "I would never." He affirmed Bradley in an even voice.

"Good." He said, then regarded Raph one more time, then turned and walked up the stairs.

Raphael followed him.

He sat down and began discussing careers, politely, with Brooke's father, Mitchell. When the conversation had finished Brooke spoke up and asked her mother why they hadn't reported her missing.

Raphael himself was confused.