Run.

Family

I wasn't looking forward to going back to the house, but Alexis was growing more and more tense by the minute so I knew it was time we made our way home. She liked the idea of me being behind the safety shield Melanie had up.

As if reading my thoughts, she got up, giving me a full view of her bare body. She walked over to my clothes that were hanging on a branch, felt them and tossed them over to me. They were dry. I pulled them on whilst she got dressed as well, all the while her eyes remained on the murky water of the lake. She was so at peace here.

She helped me up and threw her jacket over my shoulders before offering her back to me again. I hopped up without hesitation and we began walking back to the car.

I was glad she made this decision to take me out of the house. It has solidified our relationship a bit more to me. I was still a bit apprehensive about her but she was making a conscious effort to show me things would be different now. We were more communicative and I liked it.

We made it to the car too soon and I looked back at the woods longingly. I never liked the outdoors but I took it for granted, now after being stuck in a house twenty four seven I wanted to memorise the every single thing about my day out.

I turned my head though and got in the car, buckling up and waiting for Alexis to strap herself in. She was still looking around, she didn't like the idea of someone just jumping out into the road. A crash couldn't kill her and probably couldn't kill me either, but we didn't want to test the theory.

Soon enough though, we were on the road back home. I knew what awaited us there. An heir, a witchy ex and two possessive males. I took Alexis' hand and she turned her head with a soft smile on her face. She looked so happy, happier than I had seen her ever.

I couldn't believe it had only been two weeks since we'd met. It felt like so much longer.

I was pleasantly surprised when Alexis let the windows down and our hair went wild with air. I heard her chuckle and turned to see her watching me fight the hair out of my mouth. I tucked countless strands behind my ear and rolled my eyes at her.

Too soon though, we pulled up to the front of the house and Alexis pulled into the driveway after opening the gate. I felt the shield as we got out and it felt suffocating but I digressed.

Alexis seemed significantly more relaxed and I shrugged off her jacket as we walked into the house where the smells of all the other creatures in the house attacked my nose.

The first to greet me was Cassandra, my protege, who pulled me into a hug as if she hadn't seen me for years.

"I was concerned." She pulled away and quickly took a step back as her eyes locked with Alexis' warning ones.

I wished the pair would get along. I wanted Alexis to feel about Cassandra the way I did. I held no romantic urges towards the girl, all I felt was a motherly fondness. I cared for her like I would my own daughter, she was my heir. I wanted Alexis to accept Cassandra, I wanted her to look at Cassandra with half the care she looked at me. Overall, I wanted us to be like a small family.

"I was with Alexis, why would you be concerned?" I scoffed.

Cassandra opened her mouth to answer but was cut off.

"Oh good, you're back." Demi's voice rang throughout the house and I turned to Alexis' mother who pulled me into a hug as well.

"Why is everyone so worried?" I asked as the woman pulled away.

By now Alexis had retreated to the kitchen where I could see Chuck pouring her a glass of bourbon. She was drinking more than usual lately, I wondered if it affected her, I wondered if she was drinking due to stress and worry over me.