Enemies or mates?

Chapter 5

A screaming banshee is what wakes me the next morning. I don't bother moving as I glare at screaming phone which vibrates on the table, coming dangerously close to falling off the night stand. I almost wish it would, but snatch it before it shatters against the pure white carpet. I take a second to glance at my wallpaper before I groggily get out of bed and struggle to lift the heavy suit case off the floor. It thumps onto the bed where I leave it while I shower and brush my teeth.

I meet Mark in the brunch area where we each grab a bowl of oatmeal, toast, orange juice, and yogurt before taking our seats. There's minimal chatter as people come and go, and Mark will occasionally try to start a conversation but I let it fall flat. Instead I ask, "Have you started the speeches for the presentation?"

He shakes his head yes as he wipes his mouth with his paper napkin. "You'll be meeting with the King in two days, so I'll have all notes for you by then if you can schedule a time that we can iron out the details. The presentations will be in a week so I would suggest having a run down with the other Alpha's before then. They've agreed to meet with you three days before but wish to be left alone until then. "

"I'll be speaking with them everyday till the treaty is signed. They'll get over it. Can you bring the notes that you have so far. I have no problem writing the reports or presentation. " He nods slowly and stands to leave, but gives me a quick bow when other alpha's enter the room with plates of food. They glare at me on their way up to their rooms but I here there murmsrs of laughter as Mark tells a joke.

After breakfast I walk, room to room, to discuss the treaty. By mid-afternoon my head pounds from a mixture of arguments, stress, and annoyance. I take a nap before I head down to the pool and a soak in the hot tub.

"I have decided that we need one of these things in every room of the house. " I tell Mark as he slides in next to me.

By nightfall, I'm ready to murder the next wolf that even opens his mouth, so the dinner table is silent except for our chewing. People glance around nervously at each other, but not a word is uttered until I've gone up to my room. I fall asleep with thoughts of the twins and Alex, and remind myself to call them tomorrow.

The next week and half is filled with paper work and preparation for the signing. Between our continued participation of breakfast with the vampires and commenced group exercises that are suppose to be a bonding experiment, I fall into bed each night and am out before I hit the pillow.

Four days before the signing, I wake to my normal alarm, but not with my normal morning vigor. I try to stand but stumble and clutch my stomach as it roils and my head spins. My clothes cling to my damp body and every beat of my heart echo's throughout my skull. I gently lay back down, and reach for my phone blinking back tears from the pain the light brings to my eyes. I call Mark who answer after three rings. "Hello," he says and I flinch at how loud he seems.

"Don't talk," I whisper. " I have a migraine so I don't think i'm going to go to breakfast. Reschedule the conference of wolves for tomorrow or you can give it, but I won't be there and I would like to present my plans."

Mark is silent for a moment. I can hear his teeth grinding together through the phone. "Ivy can't you just fight it today. I have Excedrin migraine in my bag."

"No I can't. It hurts to bad and I'm pretty sure if I stand up i'll puke. Talking to you alone is difficult cause I can't concentrate. Please just call everyone and tell them tomorrow will have to do. I'm going back to sleep." With that I hang up and do exactly what I said I would, but I turn restlessly. I hold a cold wash cloth over my stomach and forehead with my feet parallel to the wall. It does nothing to lesson the pain. By midafternoon, my stomach knots from being empty, but I can't stand up to get food.