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CHAPTER 7 Fire at Apt 221

Draven

The sun was setting over the metro turning the sky into a fantastic color of red and orange which reminded me of the leaves of the trees in Chippewa Falls during Autumn. I stood standing in front of the tall windows surrounding my office basking in the last rays of the sun before night falls.

My thoughts wandered back to the time I first shifted in front of Evie at the cemetery where my parents were buried. The sky was also like this, a marvelous blend of red and orange, when a growling brown wolf pounced at us.

I suspected someone would be waiting for me at the cemetery. Since I was being hunted and there was no way for me to enter the wolf pack territory without a fight, I decided if I wanted to send a message, it should be at one place where I knew wolves would be waiting for me.

And my uncle did not disappoint. After five long years, he hadn't given up his search. I was a little insulted though. There was only one wolf stationed at the cemetery.

To save Evie, I immediately shifted into my Alpha wolf named Night Shadow, a gray and black wolf more than twice the size of the brown wolf who had leaped in the air towards Evie. Before he could reach her, I clamped down on his neck with my mighty jaws, impaling him with my long, sharp fangs.

I saw the fear in his eyes as he threw his head back and whimpered in pain while his neck was still in my mouth. Satisfied he was no longer a threat, I threw him on the ground and shifted back to my human form.

"Oh my God! You're a... You're naked!" Evie exclaimed, quickly averting her eyes, looking for the backpack I brought. I smirked. She was more concerned about my nakedness than my being a wolf.

While she readied clothes for me to wear, I approached the wolf who had also shifted back to his human form. I crouched down and discovered the Omega was a childhood friend of mine.

"Tommy, I'm so sorry," I said as he bled out on the grass. I took his hand and held on to it to ease his passing.

"Draven, I'm sorry too. But orders are orders," he whispered. " You must go back. The territory isn't the same. Promise me, Alpha Draven. Promise me, you'll go..."

He suddenly stopped moving, his scared brown eyes wide open, like frozen in time. Blood trickled down the side of his mouth as he let out his last breath.

"Here, I got you some pants and a shirt," Evie said, looking away from me. I quickly got dressed behind a tall tombstone, while Evie examined the dead body laying on the ground.

"Draven, we need to report this to the police," Evie said. "It was self-defense."

"From where I'm standing, it looks like you stabbed him with a dagger multiple times around his neck. Did you touch anything?" I asked, picking my backpack up off the ground.

"No."

"Then we're fine. Now let's go before someone calls the police." She followed me out the cemetery, but things were different after that.

Evie and I never really discussed what happened at the cemetery. After a few months in college, she warmed up to me again and treated me like before. I saw the curiosity in her eyes, but I knew she was leaving it up to me to explain.

There was nothing to explain. I was a freak, an abomination. It was a part of myself that I prayed would disappear.

I poured myself a glass of scotch and returned to my position in front of the windows. I loved drinking. It made me look cool although I never got drunk. Apparently, wolves had a high tolerance to alcohol.

I downed my drink, cradling my glass in my hand. I actually miss this... being alone, having enough time on my hands.

"Draven, you must listen to me," my wolf, Night Shadow, said while I continued to stare outside. "You must take a mate. Every year we grow weak. You must not ignore the path that has been chosen for you by the Moon Goddess. Place your mark on the human you call Evie and we will grow strong, strong enough to take back what is ours."

"I don't want any of it!" I snarled back at him. I was going to argue more, but a soft knock on my door accompanied by the strong scent of blossoming flowers under a spring rain stopped me. I inhaled deeply, marveling at the scent. I sighed, a beautiful sky paired with the most alluring scent. My brain went fuzzy momentarily while my wolf pranced around merrily, obviously very happy to see Evie. He was always happy to see Evie which made me push her back even more. But even if I pushed her away, there was a part of me that couldn't stand being away from her.

I could not deny Evie was indispensable to me. No, I could never reject her, but I didn't want to find her in someone else's arms.

I know I was being selfish, but like I told Mama Agnes, blame it on my wolf self. Evie's place was by my side. I just hoped she stayed content with our platonic relationship.

"Draven, Zuri called a while ago and said she has a client she needs to have dinner with," Evie said, sitting down on a chair in front of my desk. She stretched out her long slender legs and raised her hands above her head. She was so comfortable with me, she didn't care if she looked unattractive. She suddenly took a hair tie from her wrist and put her hair up in a messy bun showing her long neck. I shook my head, shaking away the sensual thoughts I suddenly had of her.

"How about you and I grab a quick bite and go gift shopping together?" Evie asked, unbuttoning her white silk blouse and taking off her blazer. "Honestly, I ordered a few things online for Mama Agnes earlier, but I'm not sure if they'll arrive on time for her birthday tomorrow." She began rolling up her sleeves, quickly changing her outfit from business to night out. She, then, rummaged through her purse for some lip gloss and dabbed some color on her lips and cheeks. Perfect.

It was amazing how she could do that without even looking at herself in the mirror.

"Sure, let's have dinner and go gift shopping at The Grove since shops at Rodeo Drive are closing" I said, placing my glass on my table. "I heard you closed the Kimura account. Congratulations!"

"Data needs to be guarded and we're the best when it comes to data security," she said. "So far, Blake Digital Security is impenetrable."

"And it will keep being that way just as long as I keep the hackers guessing," I replied, winking at her. "As a personal thank you, I'll be treating you to dinner tonight. Of course, you'll be getting that bonus for all the accounts you've closed for this month. You are a valuable asset to this company and I will be forever grateful for all the money you bring into this company."

I thought she would say something cheerful and witty, but she lowered her eyes and began fidgeting with her fingers. She only did that when she was hiding something from me.

I inhaled deeply thinking it may be a boyfriend, but I was hit by her powerful aroma. I grimaced. It must be that time of the month.

I was about to ask her what was troubling her, but she suddenly stopped fidgeting and lowered her hands to her sides, smiling brightly at me. Now, that's the Evie I knew. "You sound like my boss. Should I be calling you Mr. Blake from now on? By the way, Mr. Blake, when do I become COO? I know I'm Vice President, but I think I should be promoted and earn more."

"Don't you earn enough as VP?" I asked, surprised she wanted more money. Evie rarely joked about money. Aside from her mortgage, she sent money to her parents.

"No. I drive a Chevy for crying out loud," she whined. I rolled my eyes. She wanted a new car.

"If you had just listened to me and accepted the suite below mine, then you would be driving a luxury car. Real estate in Los Angeles is expensive and that house you have in that nice neighborhood in Calabasas cost over a million," I argued.

"Fine. I'll sell the house and move in," she quickly said. My heart and my wolf stopped in anticipation.

"Really?"

"No," she answered, sticking her tongue out at me. "Let's go. I'm hungry."

I followed her out of my office towards the elevators. I took a deep breath before entering, to lessen the effect her scent had on me in enclosed spaces.

We had dinner at a nice upscale steakhouse before entering The Grove. We were paying for our purchases when my phone began ringing. I didn't recognize the number, but I answered it, thinking it must be important.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Draven Blake?" The man's voice didn't sound familiar.

"Yes, this is Draven Blake. How can I help you?"

Mr. Blake, this is Detective Malcolm Smith. It says here, you are listed as the next of kin for an Agnes Schultz."

"Yes, she is my aunt," I answered, becoming uneasy. "What is this all about, Detective Smith?"

"I'm sorry to inform you, Mr. Blake, but a fire broke out at Apartment 221 here at Santa Monica Suites. I'm afraid Ms. Agnes Schultz didn't make it."

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