Touring the House

Mari

“ A nd here’s the gym.” Everly opens a heavy white door, showing me the massive space. Dark equipment sits in long rows, up and down in the spacious room. One entire wall is covered in mirrors leading to a small wooden door with a sign that says “ Sauna ” hanging over it.

I say the same damn thing I’ve said about the last dozen rooms. “This is nice.”

Everly has already shown me the massive kitchen, the wine cellar, two over-the-top dining rooms, an indoor pool, a library, a ballroom, and a thousand other useless rooms. It’s going to take me forever to memorize it.

This place is too damn big.

But at least the long tour is giving me the chance to think about what happened last night.

My plan had been to be a sexy temptress, wear Izan out, and then use his phone to search for the Tenus Pack. But none of that happened. Instead, I freaked out and froze up. I don’t know why. I’ve done much worse over the years. Maybe it was because there wasn’t a threat to my brother’s life this time. Or maybe too much time has passed since I was touched that way, and I’m simply broken. Either way, I’m going to have to learn to suck it up until I have the information I need. And then I can leave this place and never look back.

“The home theater is here.” Everly grabs a nearby door as a maid exits. The beta bows to Everly then me, before marching down the hallway. Everly steps to one side, revealing the large room filled with plush armchairs in front of a huge screen. I stare at the thick red carpet.

I wonder how many hours someone has to vacuum to keep the carpets in this place from smelling like dust.

“And just around that corner is the entryway.” Everly points to the right. “But if you get lost, just yell out for me, and I’ll come running.” She leans into my side, and I find myself not pulling away. She really is a very thoughtful person.

“This is a nice house,” I say, trying to find something else to say, but I’m struggling to gather my enthusiasm for a simple tour. After all, all houses are basically the same—kitchen, living room, bedrooms, and a bunch of shit people don’t really need. This house just has more shit than most.

Everly goes on about the art on the walls as we walk, and I nod along, trying not to tug too much at the collar of my dress. The neck is too tight, and the chest is way too big. I glance at Everly’s simple jeans and white top. This dress obviously doesn't belong to her. She’s tall with a lean build, and this was made for someone short with a rather large chest… or maybe they bought it hoping I’d have a large chest.

Feeling a little self-conscious, I cross my arms. My chest isn’t exactly tiny, but my breasts barely fill my hand, which means they probably feel like nothing to an alpha.

“What’s in there?” I ask when we pass two large double doors, desperate for a distraction.

“The boys' offices.” Everly gives a little wave of her hand like it’s no big deal. She keeps walking, but I stay put.

Offices have computers.

“Are we not going to look?” I ask, trying to sound casual.

“Oh, no.” Everly giggles, as if my question is silly or stupid. I want to glare at her, but I keep my smile firmly in place. “We don’t go in there.”

“Why?” My voice edges a little firmer, more annoyed. Everly’s smile falls slightly, and I realize I’m being too forceful again. Swallowing down my frustrations, I tuck my hands behind my back and ask in my sweetest voice, “Is Izan in there? Can we see him?”

I don’t want to see him, but this is the only excuse I can think of.

“Do you need to see him?” Everly’s eyes go wide. Alarmed. She closes the space between us and drops her voice, “Do you need to be tended to?”

Fear slices through my chest, followed by a tingling sensation deep in my belly. I don’t want to be touched again… I think .

I admittedly don’t remember much after Izan started fucking me, but I did wake up with a lingering feeling of… calm ? Maybe that’s not the right word, but whatever it was, I wasn’t upset. I also noticed that I didn’t have any bruises or cuts. I had no idea an alpha could rut without causing some kind of damage.

“I’m good,” I finally say, realizing I haven’t answered Everly’s question. “I just wanted to see my new home.” I glance once more at the mysterious double doors.

Everly pushes out a long sigh, and for a second, I think she might open one of the doors. “It’s not just Izan’s office,” she says. “It’s pretty much his entire back end for his business. It’s accounting and IT. There are all kinds of staff down there. But don’t worry,” she reaches for my hand, squeezing it gently, “this part of the house has a separate entrance and…” she points to a small panel next to one of the doors. I hadn’t noticed it. “No one can get in or out of here without a keycard. We’re totally safe.”

Taking a step back, I look all around, noticing all the added layers of security. The doors have reinforced hinges with noticeable automatic locks along the bottom, and there’s a small camera mounted above us pointed right at the entrance.

This clearly isn’t an option for finding a computer.

I’ll have to find one somewhere else.

“Should we go look at the atrium?” Everly asks as she reaches up and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. I immediately grab it, putting it back. “Sorry.” The beta winces.

“I’m not big on having my hair messed with,” I say, motioning to the mess of waves and curls. “It gets frizzy really fast.”

“I’m so sorry.” Everly places her hands over her heart. “I have straight, boring brown hair.” She grabs a chunk, holding it up. “I could go through a tornado and it would still be limp.”

“It’s not limp,” I say, admiring it. “It’s so shiny. And healthy.” I can’t help the note of envy in my voice.

A voice comes over a hidden loud-speaker, making me jump. “ Ms. Carrel. Mrs. Florence is waiting for you in the east sitting room .”

It takes everything in me not to groan. I honestly thought I'd never hear the grating static of an intercom ever again. I spent two years living in a place where a booming voice broke through my damn thoughts every ten minutes. I was hopeful I’d finally have some peace.

Apparently, there are some things you just can’t escape.

“She’s here!” Everly squeaks excitedly, then her expression drops for half a second as she adds, “I’ll show you to your room once we’re all done. I’m sure the twins will be done with it by then.”

“Done with it? What are they—” But before I can finish my question, Everly grabs my hand, pulling me toward the front of the house.