I couldn't remove my gaze from the mirror. I didn't understand how, but I knew for a fact that where I had been running my fingers across my shoulder there used to be a large bullet wound. All that was left was the tiniest scar that couldn't have been much larger than the tip of my pinkie.
A sharp knock on the door startled me. I jumped, quickly pulling my shirt collar back to its correct place. I ran a hand through my wet hair from the shower I had just taken and stepped toward the door.
I attached my hand to the knob just starting to turn it when the door was pushed open.
"Oops," I said stumbling backward as the door swung toward me. In the door way, taking place of the door, stood Kieran looking godly as ever.
I could tell immediately that he was a bit more nervous than earlier which confused me. His shoulders were tense along with his structured jawline. He watched my every move like a hawk although there wasn't really anything to watch. I just stood there with wide eyes watching him. He was biting the inside of his cheek-that was obvious. His gaze was mainly focused on my shoulder, but also searching the rest of my body for what I'm guessing was more wounds.
"I'm okay. I hit her more than she hit me," I said trying to ease the tension of the atmosphere. It didn't really seem to lessen it at all. If anything, it made it worse. "Is Marilyn alright?"
"Yeah. Bolton got the bullet out. It was coated with silver so she went into shock and it knocked her out. Pack-wolves use them on other wolves when they want to keep them alive for transport. She'll wake up soon," he said still seeming as if he were almost as dead as the redhead.
I didn't know how to calm him. Hell, I barely knew him. I know his first name and that's all. I don't know how old he is or his last name. I don't know anything besides the fact that he's some godly wolf thing.
Gulping back every ounce of fear I had, I felt like I had to do something. I took a deep breath and walked toward him. I slowly reached for his hand. My first thought as I held his hand in mine was that his hands were freaking huge. I felt so small next to him and now I felt almost childlike holding his large hand.
I gave a him a small smile and squeezed his hand in reassurance.
"I'm okay. I swear," I said again. His eyes shifted in color a bit. I didn't mention it.
"You know, my shoulder kind of hurts, though. Think you could rub it a little?" I asked thinking maybe if he thought he were helping me somehow he wouldn't seem so angry.
He nodded with a look in his eye that made me glad that he no longer had a gun in his hand.
He didn't make an effort to move, so I began pulling him toward the bed. I narrowed my gaze on the object that we had been sleeping together in just hours ago.
I honestly thought that was going to be the craziest thing that happened today. Guess I was wrong.
I sat down on the edge of unmade bed with Kieran behind me. Immediately his hands rubbed away at my shoulders. He didn't say a single word, but it was one of the most pleasing feelings I had experienced.
"What's your name?" I asked trying to get some answers to questions that should have been asked days ago.
"You know my name," he answered swiftly.
"You know what I mean." A moment passed before he spoke up again.
"Kieran Mina," he finally said. I thought about it for a moment, a smile slowly forming on my face. "And yours?" He asked causing my smile to fade.
"I don't know, but they call me Arden Aldridge. Well, the nicer of them," I said not wanting to bring up being called The Lunatic. "How old are you?" I said switching the subject from me.
"Does it matter?" He asked adding a bit more pressure to the back of my shoulder making a moan threaten to escape.
"Kind of," I hummed. "You claim to be my soul-mate, so therefore we'd be together. Right?" I asked making sure I was getting my facts right.
"And age matters why?" He asked again.
"I couldn't possibly fall in love with some old man," I joked around. A growl emitted from just behind me and I knew it was from him. I jumped from the sound and turned my head to look at him. His eyes still looked angry, but they were definitely darker than usual. "I was just joking, Kieran," I said softly.
His eyes softened after a few seconds. I turned back around, and he began to massage my shoulder once again.
"So you're not going to tell me?" I asked again. No response. "Can I have a hint?"
"Could you possibly be my father?" I joked again praying he didn't take it wrong again. Thankfully, he didn't this time.
"Highly doubt that."
"So are you like eighteen?" I said making a guess.
"Nope."
"Higher or lower?" I asked thinking he wouldn't be much older than me. I was seventeen, after all. Basically an adult.
"Higher."
"Nineteen?"
"Try again," I huffed wondering how old he actually was. It sounded like he knew this game was going to go on for a while if I kept counting by one.
"So you're in your twenties then?"
"Obviously," Kieran said with a bit of amusement in his tone making me smile again.
"Twenty-two," I said hoping he wasn't much older than that. If I had a father, he'd probably be so disappointed.
Wow, I just managed to make myself sad.
"Yep."
"Well, that's just five years older. I mean it's not that bad," I drug out. "It could even be less because they don't actually know when I was born. It's just an estimate," I said trying to convince myself that the age difference was that bad.
"You're seventeen?" He asked.
"Yeah, I think." I thought he was going to stop what he was doing and walk away or something, but he just chuckled.
"Well, that's a year older than I thought," I turned and gave him a weird look considering most people thought I looked older than I am. It was weird having him think I was younger. "What? You take on more masculine features like your height and your adorably broad shoulders which make you seem older. I knew you wouldn't be as old as you look. I'm not stupid," he said monotonously.
Did he just call my shoulders adorable? So technically, he said I'm adorable. Right?
"Um, okay," I said slowly thinking for a moment, "did you just say I resemble a man?" I asked recalling the 'masculine features' comment.
"Like I said before, it's because you're the daughter of a alpha or beta most likely. You have masculine features because you are supposed to be naturally stronger and more intimidating than others, especially your siblings." Kieran explain.
"Why would I have to be stronger than my siblings if I even have any?" I asked truly curious. Kieran sighed and moved his hands from my right shoulder to my left.
"Because way back when, alpha children had to fight for the Alpha title. Now, the oldest is handed the title because everyone realized it only made sense considering that they were the oldest thus the strongest."
"I don't understand your people," I said baffled by the confusion that I always seemed to have when Kieran started talking about werewolves.
"Because you didn't grow up with them. I don't understand some things humans do, but shit happens I guess."
"I guess," I said quietly looking at the bed. I didn't really know what to say after that because I didn't really understand anyone. I didn't understand people or werewolves. I didn't understand why someone would want to take a baby from their mother or why someone would want to kill a stranger in the park. I barely understood myself.
"Why isn't Marilyn that then?" Marilyn wasn't at all like me. She had the most womanly figure I'd ever seen. She had literally everything I lacked. Her blonde hair that ran down her back past her breasts that people would pay to have down to her butt that was perfectly rounded followed by long, tan legs. She was perfect and everything I wanted to look like growing up. Even now.
"We aren't like pack-wolves," he answered, disgust just rolling of of him in waves at the mention of pack-wolves.
"Why do you hate them so much?" I asked remembering Marilyn thinking I was one when we first met and she wanted to kill me.
"Pack wolves and rogue wolves don't mix," Kieran stated, confusing me.
"But you're a shredder?"
"We're practically the same, just not as liked," he said simply.
Something about the way he said it with no problem didn't sit right with me. I turned around and say criss-cross in front of him. He watched me in confusion as I took his hands and held them.
"I don't know why these pack-wolves don't like you guys, but I like you," I said reassuringly.
"Pack-wolves may be the ones who would do anything to obliterate us, but they aren't the ones that bother me," he said lifelessly looking at my hands.
"Then who does?" Kieran huffed, ignoring my question and pulled me into his broad, muscular chest. His grip was tight but comforting.
"I'm sorry I'm not very good at this. I wasn't raised to comfort."
"I'm not the one who needs comforted. You're the one who seems like you have an issue," I countered. I felt his chest vibrate as he chuckled.
"Just barely," he said. I furrowed my brows although he couldn't see it since I was shoved against his chest.
He confused me more than anyone. I didn't understand why he wouldn't tell me anything. I didn't understand why he does what he does. He was confusing and that angered me.
"Why do you always say that you do what you do to protect us?" I mumbled into his chest. He didn't reply for a while. We just sat there wrapped up with each other. His body heat made me feel about ten times hotter than usual.
"Why do you ask so many questions?" He asked making me huff in frustration.
"Why are you avoiding the question?"
"Because," he began seeming a bit tired of my pushy questions, "I'm not my parents." I pulled away from him with questioning eyes. He didn't seem at all bothered by what he had just said, but my mind was buzzing with questions.
"Your parents?" I asked watching his eyes flicker from hatred to the same stoic, green orbs as they normally are.
"Yeah," he breathed out. I knew right then that pushing the subject would get me absolutely no where.
We sat in silence just watching each other until he pulled me back into his chest with a sorry. His hand rubbed my back up and down, and I couldn't ignore the sparks that shot everywhere his hand moved.
"Do you think there's a chance that I'll find my parents? My siblings?" I asked wanting him to answer honestly.
"No, because most likely if you do," he said holding me tighter into his chest, "they'll kill you."
I gulped knowing exactly why he would say that. Because as long as I was with Kieran and his pack, I was a shredder too. That I understood.
_________
Finally updated. Yes.
Idk how I feel about this chapter. I was back and forth about updating it but this needs to go up. I said I was king to update Wednesday but I couldn't figure out how to finish the chapter.
By the way I have answers to all of your questions so drop them in at anytime.
It's about to get really lit up in here. This is the start of something CRAZY aaaaaaaaand I'm excited.
This was just some Kieran and Arden time aaaaaaaand there will be more I promise.
KIERAN IS SO DIFFICULT TO WRITE. URGH. I have reasons for writing about him the way I do but it's so difficult creating dialogue for him.
I am going to try to do a fast update.
And I would love it if you would all help to get this higher in votes because I'm reaaaaaalllllyyyyy trying to pump out the best chapters possible.
I love you so so so much.
Oh and I'm still kind of thinking about YouTube. Should I?
Okay love you all. Stay awesome Gotham. 12/20/15
Ps. Picture is a total spoiler of what is to come.