The Alpha's Siren Song

Chapter 6

I spent my first day alone at one of the local parks. Eddy was complaining that he didn't have enough time to do 'old man stuff' and wanted some space. That was the wonderful thing about Eddy. He was always so cut and dry, always said what he meant. He was getting sick of me always hovering around and he told me.

To be fair, the place we were staying in what much smaller than the farmhouse. I could hear every snore and sneeze that left that man's mouth and it was slowly grating on my nerves. I was so grateful for everything he had done for me, but I was used to singing in my car alone on my drives to work and spending quiet time in the barn or by the stream. We lived very independent lives, always staying out of each other's way. Here, it felt like everything costed money I didn't have or I felt guilty for not including Eddy.

When he told me he was sick of me, I grabbed my little purse and darted out of that house. It wasn't particularly thrilling, but walking was free. I knew that Eddy would hand over a fistful of cash if I suggested that I wanted to go to a museum or was craving a coffee, but I was trying to hold my own. He had already paid for my plane ticket out here and somehow found us accommodations. The least I could do was entertain myself on my own budget.

Besides, who knew when I would be able to come back to Scotland. Not soon, that was for sure. I couldn't afford it, even when I wasn't missing work and risking job loss to keep myself safe. But it felt like home, almost more than Canada ever had. I knew it was because I was always so close to some kind of water and the humidity hung in the arm like a constant embrace.

Eddy loathed it, but I couldn't think of anything better.

Still, I decided to go to one of the parks farthest from the sea, but still within walking distance. It would be my mild dose of exploration for the day. Scotland had much to offer beyond angry seas and quiet streams.

It was a quiet park, small and tucked away from busy streets and shops. A few children ran over the grass, giggling and squealing as they played. A woman walked a dog who pranced beside her.

This was the perfect place to take a breath.

I pulled out my old, tattered book from my purse and began reading. No matter how many times I moved, my books were always in my luggage. They were as important to me as my toothbrush and clean underwear. Wherever I went, they came. I loved them and I couldn't always afford to replace them. Leaving them behind was like leaving a part of myself behind.

Even though I had read this book at least twelve times I was fully enamored with the twisted tale of a young thief and an inexperienced mage. There were parts where I wanted to sigh dreamily and clutch my book to my chest while staring off in yearning. But I wanted to go unnoticed, at least for a little bit. I kept my head down.

Not that it mattered. Even when silent, I had an allure that many men couldn't resist.

"What are you reading?" a man asked.

My head snapped up as terror swirled around my heart. But the voice was not Nero's and the face before me was youthful, probably just barely eighteen. He was not a man, more of a boy with his cheeky grin and expressive eyes.

"An old favorite," I replied, raising the book to cover my eyes. Couldn't he just read the title on the cover? Of course not, because he hadn't come to talk to me about the book. It was just a poor attempt at an ice breaker.

"You probably get this a lot, but you're beautiful."

"You're right, I do get it a lot."

"You have a strange accent, where are you from?"

I knew that he was trying to be nice and he was just taking a gamble and shooting his shot while he had the chance, but I had had this exact conversation with about seven guys in the time I had been here.

"I'm from Canada. I'm just here on a vacation," I replied, pointedly turning the page.

"That's really cool. How long are you here for?"

"I have two more weeks here, then I'm heading back home."

"Have you enjoyed your time here?"

"Yes, it's been nice."

"Well, have you seen everything you'd like to see? I'd be happy to take you around town. Glasgow is just over a two hour train ride from here if you've seen everything. Inverness is even closer."

I raised my eyes from my page to smile at him. What he was offering was really sweet, even if it was just my blonde hair and wide eyes that he was after. I knew that my looks were enough to make decent men say and do stupid things, but did he really think I was going to hop on a train with him and let him take me to another city? Even without my battered past I would have a hard time saying yes. didn't he know what happened to women on a daily basis?

"I appreciate your offer." His face fell away from optimism now. My rejection was gentle but clear. "I just want a couple of days of relaxation, I hope you understand."

"But, there has to be somewhere you haven't been."

"Oh, absolutely, but this is how I chose to spend my vacations," I stated. I raised my book to cover my eyes again, feeling a little guilty but just wishing he would disappear. 

"But I can take you to all the secret spots that no tourists know about. Come on, you only have a couple days left and it's not like I'm asking for-"

"She said no," another man barked.

I knew that voice. It had spoken to me so softly by the sea. He had told me he couldn't take his eyes off me. I had ordered him away.

My gaze lifted from my book, curious as to who my defender was and worried that he might chase this poor man off just so he could do the same. My eyes swept upward. I started at dark blue jeans, roaming over the thick sweater that covered wide shoulders, saw a sharp jawline and a crooked nose. 

And green eyes that made my gut clench. 

Oh no.

~~~Question of the Day~~~

If you could ask your pet three questions what would they be?