Of Wolves and Oranges

Chapter 11: Elizabeth

I wake up, bruised and sore and a bit confused as to where I am, but as I sit on the side of the bed, the events of the morning return in all their gruesome glory. I change out of the sweats and tank top I had slept in and change into a clean pair of jeans and a blue blouse. I stare at myself in the bathroom mirror, my blonde hair ratty, my eyes red, and the right side of my face already showing the beginnings of the bruise. I brush my teeth and pull a comb through my hair leaving it loose. Then, with the help of a ton of make-up, I camouflage the bruise on my face.

I slide into my hoodie and make my way down the stairs. The house is silent except for the ticking of a grandfather clock in the living room. It is four o'clock and the late afternoon sunlight is drifting through the front windows. I wander towards the photos on the mantel piece. A beautiful family of laughing parents and three little tow-headed boys. I smile, recognising the stoic smile of Max and the proud grin of Ford. The third son, who seems to always be making a crazy face or making bunny ears, must be Richart. School photos line the walls with trophies for rugby and shooting and academics.

I hear the creak of floor boards and turn to see Ford coming into the room. The sun catching his long, curly hair, highlighting the gold.

I move towards him instinctively and his gives me a hug. "Sleep well?"

"Mmm". I have found my new happy place snuggled up against his soft chest.

"Are you up for a walk? I would like to show you my house."

I step away from him and look up, "Yes, actually, I could do with a walk."

We take a short-cut through the forest, which then gives way to grassland, overlooking a valley full of orchards of orange trees.

"I see from the photos that you went to Hilton college. How does a farm boy land up attending a posh school like that?"

He snorts. "Family legacy. We had a trust fund to go there. It suits our wolves well with all the sport and having the nature reserve in the valley to roam in over the weekends. The school understands our special needs and is happy to look the other way, for a large donation or two. How did you recognise the uniform?"

I poke his tummy, "Well I went to the state school at the top of that valley, so we saw quite a few of you guys wandering around town."

"Oo, so I'm slumming it with one of the townies? You know what the boys would say about you guys?"

"Yeah, yeah. Sluts and pregnant by 16? Ive heard it all before. And here I only had my first boyfriend when I was 24!"

"So, first kiss 24?"

"Yup. Here's giving my school a bad name. And you?"

"16."

"Ford, you slut you!" I tease.

"Fine, Golf. Virginity?"

"26, it was messy and awkward."

"17, ditto. But don't worry, I've been practicing."

I growl and hit him with my good hand. "Do. Not. Want. To. Know. Its bad enough Im going to have to see this ex of yours tonight. I bet she's gorgeous."

"Not on the inside. And she doesn't stand a chance next to you, Beautiful."

He didnt deny her beauty, and I figured it was going to be a long evening having to watch this man together with his ex-girlfriend. So, I change the subject to the farm stretched out below us.

"Wow, this is huge. Does your family you own it?"

"No, this is pack land. Our alpha owns the farm and we just work on it. The income gets shared amongst the shifter families."

"So, what does your family do?"

"Well, Mum is in the sales division and Max is an actual farmer, got his PhD in Agriculture but is amazing at fixing anything on the farm. Im going to be using my MBA in marketing, we're wanting to export internationally and I'm going to be heading up that venture. Richart is in the security wing, keeping the farm safe and dealing with outside threats.
Everyone has a role in the good of the pack. We have teachers and plumbers and gardeners and even shifters who work in town but still contribute towards the pack."

I am amazed at how an operation this big could be run so well. We walk hand in hand toward a large house overlooking the valley.

"Ford, this is amazing. Did you build this yourself?"

"Well, with a little help from the pack. I knew what I wanted but I needed help with plans and organising and building."

As he opens the door I smell that the air is musty inside, as though it has been closed up for a long time and a lot of the pieces of furniture have been covered in dust sheets. We enter through the kitchen which is at the back and is open-plan onto a dining area which has a huge table, there is a central living room with a fireplace in the centre of the far wall and retractable glass doors on either side opening onto an outdoor area and pool. Upstairs around the double volume central area I can see doors going off to different bedrooms. Only one door is open.

"Have you actually been living here, Ford?" I ask.

"Well, I arrived home three nights ago and spent last night with my aunt. So yes and no. I feel like Im squatting in the house of my broken dreams."

I look into his sad eyes, then smile.

"Then we just make new memories of this place, Ford. Lets open every single window and let the bad memories out. Then we can get rid of all the dust sheets so you don't feel like this is a mausoleum."

He grins back, "I'll race you. Open all the windows starting from the kitchen. Go!"

I squeal and dash towards the kitchen. Windows are a whole lot harder to open with only one hand, but between the two of us we get them all open and all the dust covers off in record time. We slump down on the edge of the pool and dip our toes in as we look out the view out across the valley. Dark storm clouds are mounting in the west, tinged with pink and white crests, moving down the valley towards us. A grumble of thunder echoes across the sky and a brisk, cool wind picks up.

"Looks like well have to close all the windows again." I sigh.

Ford shuffles closer and pulls me to his side. "Not just yet, Golfie. I just want to savour this moment."

I rest my head on his shoulder, feeling totally relaxed. I look out across the garden. Ford has done nothing with it other than a fence to keep the antelope out, but the rest is just wild grass and aloes, I catch myself dreaming of a garden full of colour and scent.

We sit quietly and watch the storm progress down the valley, the line of rain moving closer and closer, strong winds flattening the surrounding grassland, until the first smattering of rain catches us and we spring up and run back inside pulling the windows closed again. By the time we are done, the storm is in full swing, with heavy rain and flashes of lightning and thunder. We collapse on a large leather sofa, laughing.

"So, do you want to go to the party tonight?" Ford asks pulling me into his lap.

I smile playing with a lock of his hair. "Much as I would love to spend the night here with you, I think I do need to go. And you?"

"It's official, not optional." Ford mimics Maxs deep voice. And I laugh running my fingers through his wild hair.

"Well you can't go looking like that, Ford. Your mountain man impression will have everyone running away."

He grins, "Well it seemed to work wonderfully on you, Beautiful."

"At least let me trim your hair and beard. I'll make the mountain man into a hipster. Do you have an electric razor?"

"I think, for this, we may need a chain saw."