He was Happy

Chapter Nine. Stand by you

The sun nearly blinded Imee as she opened her eyes. The curtains had been pushed back and the room was glowing with sunlight. She brought a hand over her face as she turned on her other side.

Nearly stumbling as she got on her feet, she looked over to find Patrick gone.

"I'm feeling a bit under the weather. You all go on without me." Imee could hear Patrick say on the other side of the door.

She didn't need to press her ear against the door but she did anyway.

"Are you okay, Happy?" asked one of the dwarves.

"Rest should do me well." Patrick replied.

"I'll stay back with him." She recognized that voice to be Watchy's.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, Doc, we'll be fine." Watchy said.

Not long after the conversation ended did Imee hear the door shut.

"Well they're gone."

"Good," Patrick replied.

Imee reached for the handle and pulled it open. Unsure where to go, she followed their voices until she found herself standing in what she assumed to be the kitchen.

"Look who's awake," Watchy nodded in her direction. Patrick turned around to see Imee standing behind them.

Nervously she tucked a string of hair behind her ear. The corner of Patrick's lips curled up into a smile as he motioned for her to have a seat.

"Morning Imee," He greeted as he pushed her chair forward.

"Is there a reason you're playing hooky today?" Imee inquired.

Watchy laughed and Patrick let out a small chuckle of his own.

"It's easier to keep this all between the three of us. The less people that know of your whereabouts, the better." Patrick explained. He reached for an apple and offered it to Imee.

She accepted it. Blowing on it and then rubbing it down with a piece of cloth, she took a bite.

Patrick and Watchy took their seats as well.

After swallowing a piece of apple, Imee spoke again.

"So..." she allowed the words to hang in the air.

"Did you sleep well?" Patrick asked.

"Yes, thanks to you." She smiled. Watchy raised his brow teasingly, but Patrick ignored him.

"I've told Raphael that you'll be staying with us for a bit. He doesn't need to know why unless you want to share that bit of information."

Imee appreciated Patrick protecting her secret. She could tell that Patrick trusted Watchy more than the rests, so she felt comfortable speaking with him.

"He seems trustworthy." Imee noted. Patrick nodded his head in agreement.

"I'm running away from my family. My father had the bright idea to practically give me away to this horrible Alpha from another pack in order to stop this war between the wolves. I couldn't go along with that. The man is a monster and so are his people. I could never be one of them." Imee focused on her apple once she was done speaking.

"Your father sounds pretty horrid too." Watchy commented.

"Ralph!" Patrick smacked his friend's arm.