~Brielle
The next day, I’m on high alert.
Chase just made everything much harder, making him further ahead of the game than me by a mile. I need to know what he is planning, which means I need to get inside his head before he gets inside mine. I’m not sure how to do that exactly, when I can hardly tell the difference between Ren and Chase at the best of times.
I decided to spend most of my time outside, since the landscapers had finished while I was taken, and the entire place is looking beautiful. The gardens are blooming, the grounds safe enough now so I could stand right on the edge of the cliff to look around.
As I look to the coast of the mainland, I feel a slight pull in my chest. I wonder how my family are doing. Do they care about where I am now?
I doubt it.
The lake around Ren’s isolated island looks stunning this morning, the warm, beautiful day leaving the surface smooth and glassy. The colour is more of a rich emerald green then blue too, which I can tell many will enjoy today on the coast. Tucking a piece of stray hair behind my ear, I straighten. That is not my life anymore. I have more important responsibilities.
Suddenly, all at once, I hear burst of girls laughter coming from the other side of the manor. It continues, slowing down to soft giggling, but whatever is happening, it’s including very elated girls.
Walking toward the manor, I decide I need to see what is going on. The only girls here should be working inside.
When I round the house, I can barely believe what I see.
All the girls I work with and used to sleep in the same area with all stand in the middle of the lawn, surrounding something. They all giggle and laugh, wearing barely anything on their bodies. I approach quickly, unsure why they are out here and not doing their daily work. I even see the chef standing there.
“What’s going on?” I question, pushing through the group to try see what everyone is so entranced by. I’m more than surprised to see Ren standing in the middle of the group, shirtless, looking around the group of girls, a triumphant expression on his face.
His back faces me, until he turns around of for a moment, and I see my favourite green eyes is dull and lifeless, the blue one blazing bright and clear.
Chase is back.
Before I have a chance to catch his attention, someone pulls me back through the crowd by my arm until I am right at the back again. It’s Mabel, who looks just as excited as the rest of the girls. Of course, I would expect her to be ecstatic about a shirtless Alpha bringing all the girls out here.
“Hey, don’t try ruin this okay, the girls are happy for once. We never get a day off,” she warns me, to which my expression morphs to utter confusion. A day off? The manor is a constant running place, how could they have a day off?
“Why is he doing this?” I question, motioning toward Chase, who Mabel will assume is Ren. Since they haven’t spent much time with him, they won’t notice the eye difference.
“I think he just wants us to have fun.”
Confused, I shake my head at her, unable to find words. This doesn’t feel right, and I’m not sure what Chase’s intention are with these girls. Before I have a chance to get up the front and question him, he starts leading all the girls toward the edge of the cliff. Past all the loud talk of the girls, I can’t hear what he is saying to the ones up front.
I follow the group, curious and worried about what is going to happen. We all walk down a small path down the cliff, not stopping until we reach the bottom which extends onto a small cove and beach like area.
“Don’t be afraid to go out and swim, this is your day off,” Chase says, clapping his hands together. Everyone cheers brightly.
What is going on?
Pushing past everyone, I try to approach Chase, however, other girls surrounding him, all pining for his attention. They think he is Ren, and not only is he unbelievably attractive, but for once, he is showing interest in them. Of course, it is Chase, trying to do something I can’t quite grasp. All I know is I need to put a stop to it.
“Alpha, can I talk to you?” I ask after I attempted to politely pull a girl away from him. She seemed offended, but knowing I am his assistant, no one questions it. Chase, however, looks down at me with a raised brow.
He turns his entire body to face me, taking an intimidating step forward. I don’t match is back, not wanting him to think I’m scared of him.
“Now you want something to do with me?”
“Come on, I need to speak to you,” I insist. The last time I spoke to Chase, he had kidnapped me, and wasn’t planning on taking me home for quite some time. And out of jealousy too. I’m assuming he is doing this to make me jealous. Oddly, it bothers me, but I shake that out of my head.
“Well, I’m going swimming with the rest of these girls, so you can join me if you like,” Chase says. With that, he turns, moving toward the lake with all the other girls following him. Some splash him, falling into the depths, enjoying their day off.
I would be happy for them, if I didn’t know how evil Chase is. He turns and looks at me. There is something teasing about his expression. Something taunting.
I hate that I have to comply with him.
Shedding off my shoes, I contemplate keeping my shirt on, but don’t. If he wants to be mad about me walking around in a bra, he can all he wants. I stride toward the edge of the lake, letting the first small wave of water wash over my toes. I shiver, but still step in until it reaches my hips, and I am facing Chase again.
He looks at me playfully, eyes lingering for a moment too long on my torso. He has dipped under the surface, dark hair messy, holding the water. Some of the other girls have swam away now I’m talking to him, more interested in splashing in the depths with their friends.
“I need to talk to you in private,” I murmur, looking around, hoping none of the other girls would notice. Chase swims furthers out into the lake. I reluctantly follow him.
“Now you want me?”
“I’m not playing around. Please, I just want to talk, in private,” I beg him softly, following out until I’m out so deep only the tips of my toes touch the soft mud on the ground. Chase swims adeptly, not worried by any means. His body, so sleek and muscular, perfect for swimming. And not to mention, all the girls in our proximity are enjoying it.
Chase rolls his eyes, but finally surrenders. He motions for me to follow him back on shore, which I do so gratefully. He takes me around the edge of the cliff to a small covered off cove area. It’s sheltered with small pools of water surrounded by small rocks.
I watch as Chase settles down on one of the rocks, resting his feet in the pool. A slight sheen of water remains on his back and torso, glinting in the light.
“Where is Ren?”
“You really don’t like me do you?” he murmurs, looking up at me. I can’t quite tell if he is joking around and teasing me, or if he is truly affected by it. I move to sit down on another rock opposite him, trying to get at his eye level.
I lean forward on my knees. “What are you doing here? What do you want from this place? Why are you trying to terrorise me?”
Chase licks his bottom lip, leaning forward close to me. “It’s simple. I’m having fun.”
I grit my teeth. I know for a fact that is isn’t as simple as that. He isn’t here for fun, however, he surely likes teasing me, and making my life as hard as he can. Although, he can’t hide the fact he kidnapped me for a reason. He was jealous to the point he wanted to take me away from here.
“I’m not going to stop until I know why you are here,” I tell him, intentionally not mention how I’m going to ensure he leaves Ren’s body forever.
Chase smiles softly, looking at me with lazy eyes. “There’s something so enticing about you. I think I’m going to like fucking with you. And I think you’ll like it too.”