Who We Become

CHAPTER THIRTY

OSCAR

My life had gotten so hectic with everything that was happening that I hadn't had any time to paint, at home or at my studio. I decided that I would spend the entire day in my art studio painting.

I had a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach for the whole day before I left, but I chalked it up to pregnancy. I couldn't let anything get in the way of me getting work done.

The feeling didn't go away the entire drive to my studio, just to be on the safe side I grabbed the pepper spray from the glove compartment. I didn't always find a need to keep it on me, I lived in a very nice town that was pretty accepting of the queer community. But there were times when a gut feeling had me worrying so much that I had to keep it on me.

I took a calming breath and stepped out of the car, with one hand holding my keys and the other holding the pepper spray. I tried to keep my eyes open for any suspicious-looking people but there was no one out of the ordinary.

I sighed and shook my head as I made my way to the front door of my art studio. Of course, I had to have been just making things up, I had always been more paranoid than others.

"Excuse me?" I jumped at the voice, I turned to see a man, taller than me; about six feet. He had short black hair and I couldn't see his eyes due to the sunglasses he wore. "Do you own this building?"

I was confused by the question but slowly nodded my head. "Yes, well, just this part. I rent it as an art studio from the strip owners, there's actually a few available over there if you're interested." I said as I pointed to the south side of the strip mall.

"Thank you," he trailed off, I smiled and moved my keys to my pinky finger so I could hold out my hand.

"Oscar. Oscar Wilson." I said as he took my hand in his in a firm handshake. His smile turned into a disturbing grin as his hand tightened around mine.

"Perfect," He placed a finger to his ear and yelled. "Now!"

The sound of screeching tires filled my ears, a white windowless van sped down the road toward us. My body moved before I could think as I lifted the hand he didn't have in his grasp and sprayed him in the eyes with pepper spray.

He shouted in pain and let go of my hand to rub at his eyes. I darted into my studio and locked the door behind me. I quickly ran to the back of the building and called Duncan.

The phone barely rang once before he answered. "What's wrong? Something feels wrong."

"I-I need you. Please hurry," I whimpered through the phone as I heard the man banging on the front door. "I-I don't know if the door will hold, I-I don't know what they want."

There was some noise on the other end of the line, and then the call was disconnected. I jumped as a few moments later, I heard glass breaking.

I held my breath as the sound of crunching glass made its way to me.

"Hurry up, we need to find him. There's no way he didn't call the alpha." One voice said.

"I don't like this Derek, we should leave. Especially if the alpha is on his way." Derek scolded the other person for using his real name.

It was silent as they continued to look for me. I curled into myself and prayed to whatever god there was that Duncan would get there before they found me.

"Shit!" Derek yelled as the sound of intense growling filled the air. I didn't move as I heard them fighting, I wouldn't dare until Duncan himself came and told me that I was safe.

Slowly the growls lowered until it was silent. I still didn't move from my hiding spot but I did uncurl myself. I sighed in relief as Duncan's legs came into my view.

"Oscar?" He called worriedly and sighed happily as he watched me crawl out from under the table. "Oh, my Goddess. I never want to go through that again." He wrapped me in his arms making my quickly beating heart finally slow down.

I smiled as I breathed in his scent, I nuzzled my face into his chest.

"Oscar, did you hear their names? What did they want?" He asked as he held my face in his hands, he looked at me worriedly checking if I was hurt.

"The one that tried to grab me was Derek, but I didn't hear anything else. He was fine until I told him my name, then he wouldn't let go of my hand. I-I think they were trying to kidnap me."

"He touched you?! Take you? No one is ever-" He cut himself off and took a breath. "We need to think, who would want you gone? Who would benefit from it?"

It was like a switch was flipped in me as I realized who could have wanted me gone. The one person that had been tormenting me since I arrived, the one that had threatened me time and time again. The one that wanted my Duncan all to herself.

"Madison." I all but growled out in anger. "Dunan," I said as calmly as I could with my anger beginning to boil over the edge. "Take me home please."