Wolfish Affection (UNDERGOING HUGE AMOUNTS OF EDITING)

Wolfish Affection - Chapters 14- 16

Fourteen - Taylor

We drove quickly, stopping at lights twice. All the time we drove, our hands remained linked together, even when I had to change gear. I didn't have to say anything, because being together was enough for us.

I pulled into the gravel driveway and shut off the engine. I looked over at Fran, trying to gauge what she was thinking. She was gazing intensely at the red brick building, looking at every illuminated window, as if she was trying to decide which room lay behind it.

"How...how did Nick afford all this?" She murmured.

"He's rich. That's how." I said, also looking up at the house.

"But...He's only, what, twenty?"

"Twenty-Five." I corrected gently. "He inherited it from his father after he left him and died." I added bluntly.

"Wait. Nick's family abandoned him?" She queried, her eyes wide.

I nodded in confirmation. "He was eighteen. But I never told you."

Fran made a cross over her heart. She climbed out of the car, still staring at the house. I got out of the car and stood next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist. She flicked her fringe away from her eyes and turned to face me.

"So this is home for you?"

"Yeah. A much better home than my real one."

She slid my arm away from her waist and gently took my hand. I stared at her eyes for a second. It was as if her eyes had been blessed by emeralds. I forced myself to look away from her face and lead her to the front door, into my home.

Fifteen - Taylor

I knew even before we reached the kitchen that there was something wrong. There was no loud music blaring from upstairs and Nick wasn't in the lounge reading the paper. I led Frances down the hall and through the dining room, a room that we never used. I stopped in front of the kitchen door and put a finger to my lips, motioning for her to be silent. She nodded and nervously licked her lips. I slowly pushed the door open, the sound of Nick's voice echoed through the house.

"Jack, you absolute idiot!" Nick roared. "How could you do something like that?"

"It's not you're like Mr Perfect!" Jack shouted back. "It's not like you haven't bitten anyone!"

Nick was turning red with rage. "Get. Out." He growled. "Get out of my sight!"

"With pleasure." Jack spat, storming past us. "Eavesdrop much?!" He shouted as he stalked past us.

My head swam. My breathing was ragged and my head felt like it was going to explode.

Jack had bitten someone.

Sixteen - Frances

I couldn't believe it. Jack ran away from home so he could not be a wolf. Being bitten ruined his life. Now he had ruined someone else's life. I heard Jack storm up the stairs. I pushed past Taylor, into the kitchen so that I could talk to Nick.

"Who did he bite?" I demanded.

Nick sighed and rested his head in his hands. "A young girl. She's about seventeen, at a guess, but she could be older. Blonde hair."

My stomach tightened. What if Jack had bitten Sophie? "Long or short?" I asked shakily.

"Long-ish. It's past her shoulders."

My stomach relaxed; Sophie had a shoulder length bob. "Where is she?"

"In the basement." Nick sighed. "She's still in shock. This could be one for you Taylor."

I looked at Taylor, who nodded dutifully and said, "I'll do my best."   

"I'm coming too." I whispered.

Taylor's face paled in shock. "No. It's too dangerous."

I looked at Nick pleadingly, batting my eyelashes. "Please Nick!"

Nick sighed again and ran his hands through his hair. "Whatever." He groaned. "Just try not to get killed."

I grinned, ran up to Nick and threw my arms around his neck. "Thank you, thank you, and thank you!" I chirped. 

"I'm still not happy about this." Taylor grumbled as he led me down to the basement.

Nick's basement wasn't like a regular basement. The walls were covered in drawings, paintings, photographs and bookcases, stuffed full of books. Lots of books. There were so many, they overflowed onto the floor in tottering stacks.

Instantly, my eyes found Jack's victim. She was sat in the far corner, furthest away from the stairs. She was hugging her knees and rocking back and forth, muttering to herself with her eyes closed.

"Not going to change. Not going to change. Not going to change." She muttered each time she rocked forward and back.

Taylor reached out to touch her hand. The girl instantly slapped his face. Taylor grunted in pain and backed away as if this girl was a rabid dog that would bite at any second.

"Frances, maybe we should leave. Maybe go talk to Jack." He suggested, rubbing his jaw where he had been slapped.

"No." I said bluntly. ""You said we could do whatever I wanted to do and this is what I want to do. I want to help her."

Taylor sighed and shoved his hands into his pockets. "Alright, whatever. But if you get slapped, I won't be sympathetic."

I rolled my eyes and stuck my tongue out at him. I swallowed my pride and walked towards Jack's victim.

I sat down on the floor next to her, leaning my back against the cold wall.

"This sucks, doesn't it?" I groaned.

The girl nodded, her eyes still closed. "Not going to change. Not going to change."

I was getting annoyed with her continuous muttering, but I decided to be patient with her. "

"You got a name?" I asked, using the same phrase I used when I met Taylor for the first time.

"Ali." She whispered, opening her eyes. They were blue: a startlingly familiar blue.

"Taylor." I breathed. "You might wanna come here."

Taylor walked over and crouched down in front of Ali. Their eyes were the exact same.

"I think we're related."