Seethe: Chapter 4

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Chapter 4

Thomas and Xavier had tried to keep their word in getting me things from my apartment, but by the time they sent someone, the tiny apartment had already been tossed. Someone had gone through and destroyed mostly everything. Not that I really I had much to destroy. Thomas had succeeded in bringing back a few articles of clothing, some shoes and jewelry, and a few of my books. He'd said everything else was unsalvageable. I'd held myself together pretty well after receiving the news. I'd gotten pretty good at hiding how I was really feeling.

Inwardly, I was beginning to dread what exactly I'd made myself the target, but outwardly I probably resembled a calm sea.

I'm not sure if it was the news of my home being destroyed or just him feeling kind, but Xavier gave me the freedom to do as I like with anything in the little cottage. Though not enough free reign to redecorate and toss out all the frilly items. Despite all of the frilly, bubbly brightness of the little cottage, it was starting to grow on me. I'd even started to wear some of the long, flowery dresses. They fit a little baggy, but not enough to make me feel like a literal bag. They usually reached about mid-calf which is where my boots, flat-heeled this time, came in to cover the rest of the skin, save for four inches between boot and hemline. Today's dress was a pale purple button up number with short sleeves and white roses dotting it.

I've been keeping my hair tied back in a single braid, using some ribbon I'd found in a kitchen drawer. The first day or so I spent trying to leave the cottage as little as possible, but the lack of social interaction started to drive me crazy enough for me to find somewhat of a routine. Every day, I'd get up and get dressed before heading over to the pack house to help some of the older women prepare breakfast. Not everyone ate at the pack house, but those who did tended to really go all in. I enjoyed cooking with these women because they'd accepted me almost immediately, not even regarding me as though they'd need to tear my eyes out at any given moment a single time.

I smiled as the now familiar sound of Georgia calling my name from the kitchen reached my ears. I walked in and five pairs of eyes stared back at me. Usually, Georgia, Heidi, Clara, and Vera were the only ones awake at this time. Today, Xavier sat at the counter, sipping coffee as the women crowded around him.

"Xavier was just telling us about how you breathed life back into him."

I raise my eyebrows as my gaze shifts from her Xavier. "I did what now?"

He looks away, embarrassed. "I was just saying that you'd saved me at the bar."

I chuckle a bit, turning my gaze back to Georgia. "You make it sound so much more poetic. I really didn't do much."

Except killed a man.

I give a tiny shake of my head to try and clear the thought from my head. Now isn't the time to send myself into a guilt trip.

Xavier gestures at the women around him. "These ladies were just telling me that you've been helping with meals."

I lean my hip against the counter as I watch his face. I've become a bit obsessed with staring at him every time we're in the same room for any amount of time. "Are you insinuating that I'm putting some kind of Siren magic in the food to poison everyone?"

His eyes widen and he sits straight. "No! No, I would never-"

I cut him off by laughing. "I was kidding."

His face tinges a slight pink. "Oh."

He shifts his gaze to his hands wrapped around his coffee cup and I have to fight my hands to keep them from diving into the hair falling into his eyes.

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