32 Going to Montreal

After I'd walked up to my room I'd decided I would shower. I hadn't in a few days and I felt greasy and dirty. Something that made me roll my clicking shoulders and writhe in my skin.

El-kor had never offered to bathe me in anything but acid.

I gingerly took off my loose clothes and dumped them in the laundry basket. I pulled a new bath mat out and tossed the old one in the laundry—a habit of mine—then started the water.

As soon as I stepped in, and began to work the water into my greasy mat of hair, I raised my eyes to the ceiling and spotted a black dot.

My vision immediately began to black out and I swerved my head and saw another then another. Soon they were everywhere, crawling over my skin. My breath hitched and my vision blacked out completely as they dug into my eyes.

"Brooke… Brooke…"

I blinked and then snapped my head up, my heart pounding at an unsteady pace. I swallowed and noticed that I was still in the shower, the water had been turned off and I was sitting with my legs pulled flush against my upper half. I blinked again when I registered pain from my blunt nails digging into my palms.

'Someone had called my name…' I forced my drifting mind to focus.

I lifted my eyes, my pulse now somewhat calm, and met gold eyes. But they didn't glow and instead were dark. Thomas.

"Brooke?" He asked with worry clear in those eyes, "Are you alright?"

I blinked and did my best not to show my anxiety at him seeing me like this: naked and recovering from an arachnophobic panic attack. I closed my eyes as I pictured the black dot once again in my mind.

My head craned back and my body relaxed when I saw that there was no black dot.

"I'll leave you to get dressed. Alpha wants to talk with you." He said. He then got up from his spot on the bath mat and walked out.

He spoke to someone out in my room, but he shut the door and the voices became muffled.

I started the water once more and shampooed my hair and washed my body down. I released a sigh, feeling almost content. Showering always helped, but sometimes it triggered me. I made my mind go blank as I turned off the water and stepped out.

I wrapped a dark blue towel around my body, it reached just below my knees. That was nice, must be James's. Curious that it was in my bathroom, must be Raph's, but I don't recognize it. I shrugged.

I walked out of the bathroom, not caring about the scars that riddled my body. Even though I did care, deeply. I was just ignoring it.

James, Thomas and Thresh were all sitting in my room. I bit the inside of my lip and looked to my robe that was hanging on the coat tree.

James was looking at me longer than usual. I made no movement that demonstrated my discomfort at the fact, and I kept my face blank. I strode to the coat tree and dropped my towel as I pulled the robe securely around my slightly damp shoulders.

I turned back and tied the robe on. I didn't focus on the three stares directed to me as I began to walk to sit on one of my armchairs. My fingers landed on the black cotton surface and I began tapping my nails to root myself.

"Brooke…" Thresh started, I focused on my fingers as they met the black fabric in a rhythmic manner, "I'm sending you to Montreal."

My fingers stopped.

"As you know," He continued in his normal bored tone, "Your mate killed my brother Zelus, and now that pack is under my control. I'm sending you to Montreal to ask and discuss with Kratos what his position is on the matter."

I scoffed weakly, my gaze now fixed out the window, 'You want me to ask him not to interfere.' I said and I met his eyes. He tilted his head and I noticed that he'd understood my eyes. Something he was able to do every so often.

"I do. And you will." He stood and scratched the base of his gelled blonde hair, "Besides, he likes you."

He left and Thomas stood to look at me in concern, "You'll do it?"

I blinked at him, 'Do I have a choice?'

He sighed, "You always have a choice, Brooke." He walked to the door but stopped with a hand on the post, "Be careful over there."

I swallowed and pulled my knees up to my stomach, my soft robe draping over them.

"So… we're leaving tomorrow." James said from next to me on the small couch.

'Sounds like Thresh. Wouldn't expect anything less. It's surprising that we're not leaving within the hour.' I replied with my eyes now on the white shag carpet.

He got up and left. An hour later I'd dressed in pyjamas and packed some clothes for the trip. I sighed, Kratos was someone I'd always felt more relaxed around, but… now that my gift was gone would I still feel the same?

I walked down the stairs with my thoughts resting on the possibility that Kratos may be able to reach into my mind.

My feet wandered into the kitchen and I found James standing in front of the stove. He always looked strange in front of normal sized things; almost everything in the Pack was designed to suit Lycans. All of the counters were higher than average, same with the doors and appliances, all of the furniture too.

But James was taller than most Lycans.

He was standing, his neck craned as he ducked below the cooking range. He tasted the sauce and then walked to the fridge.

I walked towards the stove and tasted the sauce myself. I pushed my hair behind my ear so as not to get it into the red pasta sauce.

I mulled over the flavour. It had plenty of salt, probably didn't need pepper. I smacked my lips and walked to the spice cupboard. We don't need garlic or onion powder. It needs some basil, it already has some oregano and bay leaves.

I shook the container and added what looked like the right amount.

"Basil?" James asked from just behind me. I jumped and looked to him before glancing back to the sauce. I shrugged and tasted it again.

It still needed something…

My fingers drummed against the granite countertops as my foot tapped.

Twisting my lips I walked to the baking cupboard and pulled out some sugar. Pinching some between my fingers I sprinkled it into the sauce.

"Sugar does not go into spaghetti sauce." James stated and I simply put the sugar away. He tasted the sauce and said nothing. I felt victorious and tempted to smile again. I swallowed and pulled a plate out.

We ate the meal in silence. I really did enjoy eating pasta. I chewed slowly and watched outside the windows. The days were getting brighter, spring would be coming soon.

I finished my meal and placed my plate on the counter then retreated up the stairs.

Tomorrow I would be meeting with Kratos. I thought back to my first meeting with him and relaxed. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad.