The Choice (The Choice Series Book 1)

by Heather Gillette

  “What? What did you say?” I asked as I looked at her.

  “Are you okay? Amber asked. “You haven’t said much about what happened. You know you can tell me anything, right?” Her eyes pleaded with me to let her help.

  I knew what she saw when she looked at me. A bandage on my right wrist: scrapes on my knees and forearms, even bruising on my cheek where Jeremy had hit me. I looked down and realized my dress was ripped in several more places. I nodded but I just didn’t even know where to start. Let alone explain to her what I was feeling. Heck I didn’t even understand what I was feeling.

  “I just don’t know what to say Amber,” I say, as I look in her big brown eyes hoping she understood. I could tell she does.

  She grabbed my hand leaning into me. We walked close together the rest of the way home. I loved how she could read my body language. How she knew what I was thinking. She’s my best friend and I love her.

  Finally we arrived at our cabin. I smelled the flowers hanging from the porch as we walked inside. Amber waited for me to shower and change into some clean pajamas. By the time I was done getting changed Grace was knocking on the door and letting herself inside. I noticed the bag of supplies she brought to fix me up.

  I saw Grace mouth the words to Amber, “Has she said anything yet?”

  Amber shook her head no. I knew they were just worried about me. I didn’t know why I was having such a hard time telling them what happened.

  I guess it was better to get it over with…“Okay, I know you want to know what happened. So maybe if you just ask questions it could help me get it out.” My fingers twisted together in my lap nervously.

  “Okay what happened? How did they get to you?” Amber blurted out.

  “It all happened so fast, I was walking to meet my dad for breakfast. Jeremy showed up on the trail. He knocked me to the ground, hit me and then choked me until I passed out. He must have drugged me because I didn’t wake up until evening. I didn’t even know where I was. I was so afraid because I didn’t know if you guys were going to be able to find me.”

  Grace reached for my wrists and I nod because I knew she was asking if she could clean them.

  “I noticed you have a bandage on your right wrist. Did they bandage you up?”

  I start thinking about Jason and how kind he was to me. “Well Jason bandaged me up after…”

  I was quiet, and I could tell they were holding their breath. I didn’t say anything. I just watched as Grace put medication and re-wrapped my wrists and ankles. I couldn’t help but see how really pretty Grace was. She had short blonde hair and sapphire blue eyes. She had a slender build and medium height. I knew she was nervous after I stopped talking, because she nibbled on her lower lip.

  “Did they, you know hurt you, hurt you?” I looked down and shook my head no and then yes.

  “Uh, he didn’t uh you know. It wasn’t for not trying but he did hurt me.”

  “Who hurt you? Was it Jeremy and who is Jason?” Grace asked firing off question after question.

  “Jeremy tried to… hurt me but Jason, his best friend, was with him and stopped him.”

  Amber started brushing out my hair. She did that because she knew it soothed me. Grace reached in her bag and handed me an icepack, after breaking it up in her hands. She said, “You’re going to need to put this on your face, it’s swelling.”

  I did as she instructed. It was cold on my face but also soothing in a way. I could feel the heat dissipate from my face from the cold ice pack. “Thanks Grace I really appreciate it.”

  The three of us ended up sprawled out on the queen bed. Our legs all spread out totally invading each others’ space. It was crowded but comforting. Amber reached into the pine nightstand and grabbed a big candy bar out. It was my favorite, Symphony bar with toffee. She opened it up and handed each of us three squares. I held it to my nose and inhaled the rich chocolaty smell. It made my stomach grumble; making me realize I hadn’t eaten anything all day. They both laughed and I smiled. We ate our chocolate in silence and I didn’t mind.

  After licking the remaining chocolate from my finger I finally asked, “How did you find me?”

  “We tracked you by your smell; it was difficult at first because we lost it on the road. We thought they had taken you in a vehicle. Enoc found your smell further down from the road. Enoc was the first to notice you were missing. He took off and searched the whole time.”

  “So I wasn’t imagining that you all have a unique smell?”

  “No, but I am surprised you noticed. What do we smell like to you?”

  “You know Amber you smell like cotton candy. Grace you smell like honeysuckle. I even noticed that the men even smell. What do I smell like?”

  Amber and Grace giggled and it makes me smile, “Yeah we all have a distinct smell; it is a wolf thing and you smell like the flower sweet pea.”

  “So what happens now?” I asked.

  “We wait to see if your dad, Enoc or Ryan found out anything. Who knows maybe they caught them.” Amber said while she tossed the last bit of chocolate in her mouth.

  “What would they do if they caught them?” I asked. I saw Amber and Grace give each other a look.

  Grace responded, "They will most likely be killed.”

  I gasped, “But what about Jason, I mean he helped me and he isn’t bad like Jeremy. He’s good.” I saw them look at each other with concern. “Would you two knock it off and stop treating me like I am crazy.”

  Amber reached out to touch me. “I don’t want Jason to get hurt.”

  I must have gotten a peaceful look on my face because Amber and Grace both asked, "How did he help you? I mean he was with Jeremy and he helped kidnap you.”

  “I know,” I said, reaching up to touch my necklace but it was gone. It made me sad and angry that Jeremy took it away from me.

  “You do because you’re not acting like it. He was taking you to Caleb and nothing good would have come from that.”

  I raised my eyebrows at her, “You don’t know what he did!”

  Amber jumped off the bed and put her hand on her hip, “I would if you told me.”

  “Okay fine, don’t go putting your hand on your hip.” I mimic her move.

  I motioned for her to sit back down, which she finally did. “Okay, Jeremy attacked me and was forcing himself on me. When Jason heard me scream he attacked Jeremy. He protected me. Then he made Jeremy leave and while he was gone he cleaned up my wounds. He was nice and kind, he wasn’t anything like Jeremy.”

  Amber covered her mouth and then removed it. “You like him? I know that look. It’s the same look you get when you eat Birthday Oreo cookies.”

  I ran my fingers over the bedspread, “You’re comparing him to food?”

  “Well you like food and you always get this happy look on your face when you eat them.”

  Crap she’s got me there but they’re so freaking good. “Look, I am just saying he isn’t like Jeremy. He was nice to me.”

  I looked at Grace, “What about you? What do you think?”

  I kept watching her waiting for her to respond.

  “Well it is kind of romantic the way he protected you and rescued you from Jeremy, but he still did help kidnap you.”

  I knew she could read the confusion all over my face. “That is why it is so frustrating. Please don’t say anything to my dad, he won’t understand” I pleaded.

  She nods, “But if he asks me you know I have to tell him.”

  “What about Enoc?” Amber asked.

  “What about him? He has barely spoken to me since my first day here,” I responded, motioning with my hands.

  “Well I thought you liked him. I thought there were sparks between you two?”

  Shrugging my shoulders, “I do but I don’t think he likes me anymore. I am guessing since I am not a wolf he wouldn’t want me anyway. Come on he doesn’t act like he is even interested. I am just someone he agreed to watch out for; for my dad.”

  They both look down and star
t fidgeting with the quilt. They’re not arguing with me so it must be true. Changing the subject I asked, “Hey Grace you staying here tonight? I am exhausted, is it alright if we get some sleep?”

  I lay down on the bed not waiting for a response. I pulled the covers up to my chin. We were all squished side by side but it made me feels safe not being alone. We all lay like that not saying anything. I couldn’t help remember the smell of sandalwood, the smell of Jason. The last thought before I fell into a deep sleep was of Enoc.

  Sitting at the huge breakfast table Amber on my right and Grace on my left I listened to them as they talked about heading into town to go shopping and maybe watch a movie. I couldn’t help but look around the kitchen. Ryan sat at the end of the table in deep conversation with my father. Both their heads were lowered and I could see the tension in my father’s eyes as he kept glancing up at me and then back to Ryan as he spoke. I didn’t know what they were talking about but it seemed important.

  “Olivia did you want to come with us too?”

  Dazed I realized Amber just asked me a question, “Uh what did you say?”

  “I wanted to know if you want to come into town with Grace and me.”

  Taking a bite of my French toast I covered my mouth when I answered, “Yeah that sounds fun.”

  I caught Grace watching me, “So we were thinking we could all get ready at my place.”

  I didn’t answer because Enoc walked in, looked at my dad and something passed between them. Enoc grabbed his own food and sat next to my father and Ryan. My father ran his hand through his hair. His brow lifted and then he looked directly at me. He changed his expression and smiled.

  “Yeah, that sounds fun.” I stood up shoving the last piece of bacon in my mouth.

  I went over to the sink and rinsed off my dish and set it in the dishwasher. On my way back to the girls, I watched Amber stare at Ryan. He looked up at her and she quickly dropped her head back to her plate.

  As I passed by my father he reached out and grabbed my hand. “We need to talk about what happened yesterday. Meet me in my office in fifteen minutes.”

  “Okay.” I was overwhelmed by feelings of distress and confusion. What exactly do I tell him? I mean do I say anything about what happened between Jason and me.

  Grace apparently heard my father’s request and asked, “So what are you going to tell them?”

  I shrugged my shoulders; “I’ll tell them what I told you.” Of course I’m not telling them that I almost kissed Jason. I didn’t even tell the girls that little bit of information. They would think I was insane. Heck I probably am. “So you guys go ahead and I will meet you at Grace’s okay.” I watched Ryan, Enoc and my dad put their dishes in the sink and then headed back down the hall. I assumed they were heading to his office.

  I went and stood out on the back deck. The wind is warm and I could tell it was going to be a hot day. Leaning against the rail my arms crossed in front of me, I looked at the marks on my wrists. They had already healed a lot, considering it just happened twelve hours ago. I rubbed my fingers over the marks. My body shivered remembering the way Jeremy enjoyed hurting me. I heard laughter down below and watched Jane walk with her two daughters towards the pool. Emma stood next to the pool in her bright pink swimsuit and polka dot water wings. She giggled as she jumps into the water splashing Lacey. Lacey climbed out of the pool and did a cannonball off the diving board. Jane watched them as they laughed and played. She smiled at them and it made me smile. I realized my father was probably waiting for me, so I waved down to Jane, “Have fun.” She waved back, “We will.”

  Walking down the hall to my father’s office, I passed David and Alex playing a game of chess. Karen was in the kitchen cleaning up the remaining dishes. She waved as she wiped down the kitchen counter. As I got closer to the office I stopped walking.

  I could hear my dad ask, “So Jeremy and Jason got away?”

  Ryan responded, “Yeah but we need to know what they’re planning.”

  My father must have been moving papers around because Enoc popped his head out the door and said, “Olivia come on in, we were waiting for you.”

  His blue eyes never left mine and they made me nervous for some reason. I couldn’t hold his gaze and I looked away. He didn’t move out of the doorframe and my body brushed against his as I slid by. I heard a throaty rumble covered by a cough. My father looked up at Enoc who moved away from the door and sat down in the red leather chair. Ryan was already sitting on the sofa so I took the remaining chair across the desk from my father. They asked me about the other night and I told them everything. Of course I left out what happened between Jason and me. A few times my father reached across his desk to comfort me. I kept my eyes on my Father while I spoke. After I was through I dropped my head letting my hair cover my bruised face. I didn’t look at Enoc or Ryan because I was too embarrassed by what happened with Jeremy.

  “You can go now if you want Olivia. I just needed to know what happened.” My father stood up and walked around his desk pulling me into a hug. I hugged him back thankful he was here. I let his woodsy smell comfort me.

  After leaving the office I walked towards Grace’s. I wondered why they didn’t tell me what they had planned, or how they are going to protect me. I waved to Ruth who was picking apples from the orchard and dropped them in a basket. She saw me and waved me over. “Hey Olivia, could you help me pick some apples?”

  “Sure, I would love too,” I answered, as I reached up high picking a bright red apple.

  “I heard what happened, you okay?” I shuffled my feet but focused on finding another apple.

  “No, I mean, well it was just so crazy. I am scared that Jeremy will get me again.” I gently set another apple in the basket.

  “You know while you were gone, Enoc was worried about you.”

  Stopping I turned to look at her. “That surprises me. He acts like he doesn’t even like me. He barely talks to me and well I don’t know why.”

  Ruth reached out to touch my shoulder, “Trust me he really cares for you. Enoc was terrified when he couldn’t find you.”

  I turned to look for another apple. “Well how come he doesn’t act like it?” I picked another and hand it to Ruth.

  “Maybe that is something you should ask him.”

  “Ruth I am scared. What if I tell him I like him but he doesn’t like me back? Then it will be really awkward between us.”

  Ruth reached up to pluck an apple from the tree. She tossed it to the ground after she found a worm in it. “Then you should ask yourself Olivia, is it worth the risk asking Enoc how he feels?”

  I was scared to ask. I was afraid that I had imagined the connection we felt when I first arrived. Plus he was an Alpha and I was a human. What could Enoc possible see in me? I couldn’t decide what to do. I had to think how nice it would be if he was interested in me. This was when I needed Amber. I sat and picked apples with Ruth just thinking about things. Ruth was silent and I enjoyed that she didn’t pressure me to share my feelings. The sun peaked through the treetop leaves, warming my body. The warm wind was cool as it blew across my damp skin.

  Once we were finished Ruth hugged me saying, “Just think about what I said. Don’t forget to come and see me sometime.”

  “Okay, thanks for just being here for me.” I hugged her back tightly. “Do you need help carrying that back?”

  “Don’t worry I got it, you better get going.” I turned waving goodbye to Ruth as I headed to Grace’s cabin.

  Before I knew it I was standing at Grace’s cabin. I knocked and then opened the door. “Hey I am here,” I say as I stepped inside.

  “Come on in! We’re in the back.” I heard Grace reply.

  After we are done getting ready we headed out to Sunshine. That’s what we call Amber’s Toyota Tundra Truck. It is a quad four by four and bright yellow. I watched Amber as she walked, her long brown hair in a high ponytail. She had on a pair of blue jeans that hung low on her hips. Her black v neck t-shirt had a batman
symbol on it. Her accessories were gold bracelets and gold studs. She always looks so relaxed. I love that about her. I smiled when I saw her laugh at something Grace said. Watching Grace I noticed how slender she was. Her light blue silk blouse lifted up to show her naval when she raised her arms. Her tan shorts and sapphire jewelry were simple and flattering. I was in a purple sundress. This one has an empire waist, to help me look thinner than I really was. The material was chiffon with front pockets a collar and a few buttons. The white gold bracelet I had on was supposed to match my necklace. I reach up to touch my necklace and realized that I didn’t have it on anymore. I saw sunshine so I yelled “shotgun.”

  We all climbed in. It smelt like vanilla because of the tree hanging from the rearview mirror.

  “So where do you ladies want to go to first?” I asked.

  Amber answered, “There is a nice boutique off the main street in town. It has some new things but also some used. It isn’t that expensive so that’s a plus. The town is small but at least it has a small movie theatre.”

  I flipped the visor down and started to run my fingers through my straight hair. Pulling back the hair on the left side of my head I re-pinned the simple barrette.

  “So tell me about the guys in the pack, anyone interesting?”

  “Ha, you mean about Enoc or someone else in particular?” Amber asked while she raised her eyebrows at me.

  Grace laughed in the backseat.

  I asked “So what is the deal with Enoc? How long is he supposed to be here?”

  Grace replied “I heard just until they get things figured out with you. Then he has to get back to his own pack. Word is that your father saved his life once and he is here as a favor to him.”

  I can’t help but wonder if Enoc’s kindness was only because of what my father did for him. “Do you know what happened?” I asked Amber.

  “Yeah Ryan said that one night when Enoc was younger he had accidently wandered into hostile territory. Enoc ended up fighting three other shifters. Your father intervened and stopped them just as they were about to kill him. Enoc had a severe bite to the neck and shoulder. Enoc had also lost a lot of blood. Your father gave him some of his blood to help him heal faster. After he improved your father took him back home.”