Little Red

Chapter 38

When I wake up the next morning, Demitri isn't in bed beside me. The air feels stale - he must have gotten up hours ago.  I try not to let this bother me since I know that he has a lot on his plate at the moment.

As I'm getting ready for the day, I find myself wanting to know more about Freya. I don't want to bother Demitri with more questions since this is a touchy subject for him.  But,  I'm too uneasy to ask Freya herself.  I wish Samuel were here.  He would probably be straightforward with me.  Undeterred,  I settle for the next best thing: research.  Luckily, Demitri has some old texts in his office on the bookshelf.

Looking up The Phoenix will also be a good distraction from everything else that's happening, seeing as we can't do much planning until Samuel returns from Blood Moon.  Training has gotten more intense for the warriors, and tensions in the pack are growing.  Everyone can feel a battle brewing on the horizon. 

I lightly knock on the office door, not sure what I'll do if he's actually in there. I have a feeling mentioning anything about her will put him even more on edge, and I've never shown an interest in reading before, so he may ask questions.  There's nothing wrong with reading, and I do enjoy a good book every now and again when I have time.  When I first learned to read, Eli would joke that a book was glued to me everywhere I went.  However, when training became a regular routine in my life, I fell out of the habit.

I realize now that there are a lot of things Demitri doesn't know about me, and I about him. We've never actually sat down and gotten to know each other.  Yet again, there hasn't been time for it.

I make a mental note that when all of this passes, I'll try to get to know my mate better.  I've never been great at small talk or opening up to people, because being labeled an outcast in my pack didn't open the door for much interaction.  But for him, I could try.

Thankfully, Demitri isn't in there when I open the door.  I let out a small sigh of relief and make my way to the large bookcase against the right wall.  All of the books on the shelves are old and worn, their age evident in the creased spines and scuff marks.  I skim the large texts - all relating to mythical history and folklore, which should make my search fairly simple.  I pick out a few promising texts and settle onto the couch to begin reading.

Here we go.  

I don't know how much time has passed when a voice halts my reading.

"You know, if you wanted to know about me, you simply could have asked."  An amused voice says. 

I turn in my seat to see Freya casually leaning against the doorway.  She doesn't look offended; yet, I still feel like a child with her hand caught in the cookie jar.  I would be creeped out if someone was doing research on me. 

"So what would you like to know?"  She asks as she plops beside me.

The uncomfortable feeling from yesterday comes back at her close proximity, and I subconsciously shift away.  She eyes my movement with a raised brow, and I don't realize what I've done until it's already happened.  My face burns as I mentally face-palm.  It seems as though there's no limit to how much I can embarrass myself around her.

"You'll get used to it."  She states matter of factly.

I tilt my head in confusion as I try to decode her words.

"That feeling you get around me.  You'll get used to it."

I've started to notice that she never reveals too much, always leaving me with more questions than before. 

"I imagine you have a lot of questions, so ask away."  She says, gesturing to the stack of books behind me.  She leans back, settling in comfortably.