Rendered

Chapter 10

Nuzo's POV:

We had been on the road for three weeks, visiting multiple wolf packs. Some were welcoming, while others were lifeless. Throughout it all, Kenny remained calm. However, the exhaustion of three weeks on the road was catching up to us. Our days were spent traveling and visiting packs, and our nights were filled with indulgence. The excessive indulging created a temporary bond between us, but we never solidified it. Despite that, Silver and Grey needed to go for a run and train to stay strong. We also needed training, but there was never enough time for it. Most of our diet consisted of junk food, which wasn't healthy for us.

As we continued our journey, we passed a sign that read "Forest Hill." It was scorching hot at 3 pm in the afternoon. Kenny turned to me and asked, "The next pack is a six-hour drive from the center of Forest Hill. Should we find a hotel and call it a day, or should we head to my plot?" I inquired about the distance to his plot and why I hadn't heard about it before. Kenny explained, "You don't know about it because I made a private purchase when I was 22. It was a cash transaction, and I haven't been there in five years. I have people taking care of it, and it's under high-security protection. It's located by the forest, and the main reason I bought it was that there were no nearby packs. It offers plenty of space for wolves to run and even has an indoor gym." Curiously, I asked Kenny again, "How far is it?" He replied, "It's an hour's drive from here. It's private and secluded, surrounded mostly by trees." Excitedly, I brushed my hand against Kenny's thigh and said, "Let's go there."

The one-hour drive felt longer due to our fatigue. When we arrived at the gate, two heavily armed guards stood in front of the massive black metal gate. Kenny used his fingerprint to open it. The property was equipped with security cameras inside and out. One of the guards greeted us, "Hi boss! It's been a while." Kenny responded, "Hi Tim! Well, I'm here, and we'll probably stay for a few days." Tim informed us that everything was ready and that Cathy would come in the morning to clean and prepare breakfast. He also mentioned that she had left dinner for us. Tim then noticed me and introduced himself, "Where are my manners? Hi, sir, my name is Tim, head of security." I playfully teased, "Hi Tim, I'm Nuzo, the madam of the house," and kissed Kenny's cheek. Tim smiled and said, "Nice to meet you, Sir Nuzo. I'm happy that you've finally settled down, Ken." Tim suggested having a drink and catching up the next day, playing darts for old times' sake. Kenny agreed, and they made plans for it. They exchanged a fist bump, and we proceeded to the house.

The cabin resembled an ancient castle, painted tequila with black roof tiles, and surrounded by trees. It truly was secluded in the woods, just as Kenny had described. Upon entering the house, I was astonished by its elegance. The welcoming room had gold and silver chandeliers, casting a warm glow. Kenny said, "Welcome to my humble abode. Let's go upstairs to settle down. After showering and eating, I can give you a tour, or we can go for a run. Same room or different rooms?" I replied, grinning, "I think that's a rhetorical question. I'll be sleeping in the master bedroom with the man of the house, or should I say, the Alpha of the house." Kenny led me upstairs to a large oak wood door. As I opened it, I was awestruck. The room was spacious, with a double king-size bed, a coffee table surrounded by three vintage couches, a walk-in closet, and doors leading to the bathroom and balcony. Facing the bed was a 100-inch TV and a black chandelier. It was the perfect room, surpassing anything I had ever seen.

"I think it's time we put the bed to the test drive. What do you say, Alpha?" I asked Kenny playfully. He responded, "I'd rather go for a run, shower, eat, and then we can indulge." I agreed, "That sounds like a plan I'd love to follow." I undressed, and dashed down the stairs. Kenny followed suit, still in his human form. "Turn left towards the kitchen. The backdoor leads to the forest," Kenny instructed. I slowed down, allowing him to take the lead. We ventured outside, and in excitement, I turned into my wolf form, and so did Kenny.

We ran around the field for an hour, reveling in the beauty of the well-maintained garden. There was a stream with a fountain near the property's fencing. I paused by the stream to admire the scenery. Suddenly, Silver pounced on me from behind, playfully pushing me into the water. I sprang out, drenched, and chased after him. We engaged in a playful fight, enjoying our time together as wolves. Eventually, Silver darted back towards the house, and I followed closely behind. He led me to the master bedroom's bathroom, where we transformed back into our human forms. After a quick shower, we sat down to eat.

"So, you and Tim seem to be close?" I asked Kenny. He looked at me, assessing my reaction before answering, "He's a cool guy, and I've known him since he was 15. I took him in when he was homeless and made him a guard. Over time, he recruited the others you saw. We used to go out whenever I came to this side. We were quite the ladies' men back then. So, yes, we're pretty close. He's trustworthy, and we've shared some drunken moments. In case you're wondering, he's a married man now." I decided not to inquire further and we finished the rest of our dinner in silence.

As we settled into bed, Kenny brought up Tim again. "Tim is the best dart shooter I've ever seen. Some years back, he even won a lady's heart through a dart game." Kenny laughed as if it were a hilarious story. I ignored him and went to brush my teeth. To my annoyance, he joined me in the bathroom. "You won't believe it, but it took him nearly two years to learn how to use a gun. Now, he handles it like he was born with it," Kenny said, praising Tim's skills. I used the toilet and returned to bed, feeling uninterested in hearing more about Tim. "We should invite him and his family for dinner. You'll love his wife; she's a gentle soul. You know, I actually met her first when I came to this side. I was in my late twenties or early thirties I think at the time. We had a brief fling, and when I woke up the next day, she was gone. Two years later, I found out she was married to Tim. Over the years, I got to know her better, and I must admit, I missed out. Tim is a lucky man. I want my mate to be just like her," Kenny continued.

I switched off the light on my side of the bed and turned my back to Kenny. "Goodnight, Kenny. I'm tired, so if you could keep it down, I would appreciate it," I told him, feeling a hint of annoyance. He didn't say anything and settled himself at the far end of the bed. Perhaps he was upset that I had turned away or maybe he was simply tired. I couldn't tell. As he started snoring, I found myself staring into the darkness, unable to sleep. I wasn't sure why, but something was keeping me awake.

Restless, I moved closer to Kenny and placed my hand on his waistline. He held my hand but didn't turn around. I suppose I deserved that for acting childishly. It was becoming evident that I was developing feelings for him, but I couldn't sense the same reciprocation from him.

"It's time for me to play the final card; it will seal the deal. There's no going back," Grey spoke to me. I knew exactly what he was referring to, and I felt that it was a terrible idea. "I don't think it's the right time for that. Can't we wait until he finishes the search?" I pleaded with Grey. "And risk him finding his mate? No! You've made me Silver's bitch, something I made clear I wanted no part in. There's no use complaining now. What's done is done. Since I don't like sharing, I want us to end this nonsense of mate searching," Grey responded, displeased with my request. "I'm sorry, Grey, but we can still step back from this. Let's not go through with it, and instead, let's find our own mates," I tried to soothe him and dissuade him from his drastic plan. "Sorry for you, but I've been forced to submit to Silver for the past three weeks, and it has demeaned my status as a Beta. I'm no different from any other female wolf, except that I'm stronger than most if not all. I've had enough. We're going through with this, and that's final. I want Silver, and I will have him. Do you understand?" Grey commanded, his tone becoming increasingly unpleasant. Feeling uneasy, I reluctantly accepted his decision. "Goodnight, Grey. We'll talk more tomorrow." I dismissed him, then leaned down and kissed Kenny's head before willing myself to sleep. However, one burning desire lingered in my mind as I drifted off: I wanted Kenny, even though my motives were misguided. I wanted him.