Look Me In The Eyes [BxB]

Chapter Seventeen

Mrs. Reynolds and I stared at one another in silence for several minutes. No way was she going to lull me into complacency with her faux kindness. A few moments passed before Cain's mother chuckled quietly to herself. I must've seemed perplexed because Mrs. Reynolds began to explain herself.

"That boy sure does have his father's temper" She laughed. My nostrils flared. "What the hell was funny about the situation? And did she really think I found any of this funny-"

Mrs. Reynolds interrupted my thoughts. "But of course none of this is funny to you."

She stood up and walked over to the window. She sighed heavily, something having caught her attention. She turned back towards me briskly. This time she didn't offer a smile. Her angelic features were set in stone. She started towards me and I began to long for the kind Mrs. Reynolds. The older woman sat on the bed and ran a hand through her hair. 

"David." She said. And for some reason, my heart softened. Maybe it was the slight quiver as she finished my name. Or the veins that I noticed were protruding on her temples. Mrs. Reynolds was tired. Very much so. I'd dealt with my mom crashing after multiple shifts at the hospital so I knew the signs.

Mrs. Reynolds sighed again. "There's so much work to be done" She said abruptly. 

"What do you mean?" I said, barely audible to myself. The words slipped from my mouth. 

At first, Mrs. Reynolds looked taken aback. But she composed herself, a small smile playing on her lips. I began to regret having gave up my hostility. "But maybe if I'm compliant, she'll let me go."

Mrs. Reynolds put a hand on mines. It was surprisingly warm but nowhere near as hot as Cain's. 

"Not as hot as Cain's." She said simply. My eyes widened. "Wha-" I began but Mrs. Reynolds cut me off. She gripped my hand more firmly.

"He's always been hot. Literally and figuratively." She chuckled, losing herself for a moment. But at my perplexing, she continued. "We burn hot." Mrs. Reynolds said as she began caressing my hand with her thumb. "But for you Cain burns so much hotter."

"Uh, I don-" Mrs. Reynolds cut me off again. "He's always had trouble expressing himself. We wanted to let him figure this out for himself."

"Figure wha-?" But again I was cut off. 

"But we had to step in. If we hadn't." She paused and I noticed her eyes began twinkling with unreleased tears. 

"My boy would've burned up." She finished.

I didn't speak at first.  Mrs. Reynolds let go of my hand and wiped away her tears. She turned back to me expectantly. 

"I don't think I understand whats going on." I said lowly. 

And I didn't "Burn up? Cain was always hot but I thought it was his athleticism. And was she implying I was making Cain like this?"

Then something clicked. Why hadn't I put this together earlier?

"You think I can help Cain." I said flatly. 

Mrs. Reynolds laughed again. She grabbed my hand again. "So this was some sick ass arranged marriage bullshit. Oh my fucking god I was about to be sex trafficked."  I felt the sting of tears in my eyes again.

"Please." I began, my voice cracking. "I can't. I-"

Mrs. Reynolds gripped my hand again. "Oh no, we're not going to hurt you." At her words, I felt the tears threatening to spill over.

"I have my family-" Mrs. Reynolds cut me off.

"Shh. Shh. Oh no hun." Mrs. Reynolds let go of my hand to grasp the bridge of her nose. "Cain has done so much damage." She said lowly.

That consoled my tears for a moment. Mrs. Reynolds focused her attention on me once again.

"David." Mrs. Reynolds took a deep breath. "Let's imagine for a second that we live in a world where anything is possible." Mrs. Reynolds fell silent as if she were mulling her words. She exhaled softly and then continued. "And in this world, there are soulmates. Except this isn't just infatuation. It's biological. Your smell. Your smell. Everything about you is perfect for your," Mrs. Reynolds paused momentarily. "Mate. And it doesn't stop there. You need one another. To live."

I was comprehending Mrs. Reynolds' words but, what was I supposed to say? My expressionless silence must've encouraged her because she continued. "And let's take it a step further. Imagine some people are blessed with a-" Mrs. Reynolds paused again. "A gift! And even though it complicates things, there's a beauty to it."

Mrs. Reynolds and I stared at one another. I was speechless. She sounded crazy. "DMT crazy. But what if- NO! That's how these groups get you. Making you think they have the slightest merit then-"

"Lycanthropy." someone said in a deep bass. Deeper than even Cain's. Mrs. Reynolds and I turned our attention to the owner. A large man. Very large. He looked to be seven feet tall. With muscled arms and a familiar jet black mop of hair on his head. I knew instantly this was Cain's father.

"Lycanthropy. Werewolves?"

"Benjamin." Mrs. Reynolds said in surprise, embracing her husband. "You're back?"

"Yes. Ryland told me there was a situation so I rushed back." The entire conversation Mr. Reynolds hadn't taken his eyes off of me. "So they expected me to believe they were werewolves?"  But my resolve was wearing off. The growling. And Cain's eyes. 

"Holy shit Cain's eyes. And the scent. The way I felt around him. She even knew about the heat." My brain felt funny. Not my head. My brain. As if the information it was receiving was just left there in my mind unprocessed. 

I looked up to see both the Reynolds staring at me inquisitively. They exchanged glances, some unspoken conversation happening between them. I opened my mouth to speak but I had no words. Suddenly, my stomach growled loudly.

"Sarah. Let the boy up. He's starving." In my stillness, I forgot about my pain. But when I moved my legs slightly, I felt nothing. I turned to Mrs. Reynolds and she smiled. "Did she?" 

But I decided not to question it. "Maybe I'm drugged right now. Or dead." I tentatively placed one foot on the cold wood floors. No pain. I climbed to my feet and felt absurdly light headed. I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt that weren't mine but being undressed in my sleep was the least of my problems right now. 

"We have some of your clothes here. I'll get someone to bring them. You can shower and then come down to eat." Mr. Reynolds said. I didn't respond; I kept my eyes trained on the floor.

"David." Mr. Reynolds questioned but I kept my eyes on the floor. 

"David!" The main reiterated in a harsher bass and my attention was all his. A single vein protruded from his temple. Mrs. Reynolds just looked sympathetic. 

"We'll see you downstairs. And Cain is going to be joining us." The small amount of ease I had been afforded was gone. I was all nerves. If these people really were what they said they were not only was I their prisoner but I was for their bidding. 

With that, the Reynolds exited the room. Leaving me alone with splintered wood and my thoughts.