Chapter Nine

Alpha Artyom's scent was fresh in the air as if he had been here within the last few hours... but he was not here when I woke up. I was back to human as well as in changed clothes. Someone had bathed me and clothed me while I was out of it. I felt different from last time... I felt a little bit calmer now... as if I were accepting what happened... Casimir is dead and there is nothing I can do to change that. I must go on because that is what he would have wanted me to do... but now all I want is to live and nurture this hunger inside me my wolf was after.

There was a deep desire to cross the boarders back into Camren's territory and hunt him down... the worst part is I do not know why I felt that way... was it longing to mate with him next or was it because I wanted to kill him because he is guilty for what happened to Casimir?

I changed into a fresh change of clothes since I did not want to be stuck in lounge wear. I picked out an oversized red/black stripped shirt, tank top for underneath, and a pair of black ripped skinny jeans as well as a set of thin leggings to layer up. I did not like how cold the home was despite everything being so luxurious about the private penthouse. I kept the house slippers on as I made my way downstairs for the first time since being here.

Downstairs was a huge foyer that divided two areas of the home. One way led to the lavish living area where it was clearly made for hosting and the other was for a chef's kitchen. The doorway to the elevator was being guarded by two thug looking men in agent-like suits. Their eyes hiding behind the sunglasses and earpieces they wore lead me to believe that they were the security team put here for some reason.

Would they let me go out?

Am I free to leave?

My heart raced slightly as I felt a sense of unsureness settling into the back of my head as I walked straight toward the host's area. I went out onto an open terrace when I realized the doors were open. My chest ached as the chill of the mountain went up my spine. I tucked my hands under my arms and walked over to the edge as I realized there was nobody out here. Why is it so cold here?

The town was still frozen in a sheet of snow. Not much has changed since coming here. The town seemed baren on the outsize but underneath there was a sense it was booming inside of the buildings. It was almost as if there was an underground nightlife here that I don't know anything about.

Glancing over the city I stopped as my eyes landed on a rooftop nearby. It further down the hillside and easy for me to see over. The exit door was flung open as someone ran out of it in a rush. I put a hand over my mouth a bit surprised to see anyone... really. I flinched as a gun went off and the one running out onto the rooftop dropped as if they had been hit. A few people came out onto the same roof. They were dressed similar to the way the security team was... I flinched as they picked the guy up by his feet and took him to the edge of the roof and hung him over the edge.

Artyom walked out across the roof then. It was not hard to recognize it was him. He went over to them, but I could not make out what he was saying as he gave a nod toward one of the men and they let their prey go. I gasped as I watched the man fall to his death. Artyom suddenly looked my way, and I ducked down. My heart raced in my chest as the mere thought... I was not supposed to see that rushed through the back of my mind. What is that about? I crawled away from the ledge and went inside. When I was clear of the windows I rushed upstairs and went inside the room to seek sanctuary there. I was going to lock the door but froze when I realized there was no lock to the door.

That is weird...

Who does not install locks on their doors?

Panic settled in as I tried to rationalize what I saw. Was I in trouble for seeing that now? Was he going to come here and do the same thing to me? Did I just witness a murder? My feet paced the room as I could not decide on what to do. I ran over to the open racks where coats were hanging and grabbed a fur insulated one and put it on before shoving some boots on and left the room. I went back downstairs and straight toward the security guarding the exit out of here and went to walk past them, but they closed the distance from each other to block my path.

"I'm going out," I told them as I stared past them toward the exit.

"You're not authorized to go out," the one on the left told me as the other pushed me away from them.

"Who said so?" I asked as I backed away from them and threw my hands up when I realized this could get messy. The guard relaxed as I surrendered without a fight.

"Alpha Artyom has requested we keep you safe here while he is gone. It is for your protection. He said if you did want to go anywhere, we would follow. But I do not suggest leaving... It is safer here, Ms. Cromwell."

I stared them both down as I bit my lower lip. In other words, I am not allowed to leave. I backed away from them as I shook my head in disbelief. I shook my head as I motioned for them to move.

"Let's go," I told them as I decided to try out... leaving with them.

"Where to?"

"Where is Beta Aimee?"

That would be a good enough excuse to get out of here. If I could get to her... see her... ask her... If Artyom did not lie to me then she would be seeing visitors right now and I can find some comfort in being here.

"Beta Aimee is not seeing visitors right now."

They did not budge as if they had no real intention of leaving. What is going on here?

"I do not care, let us see her anyway. Surely you two can get me a visit with her. Tell them it is Artyom's demand."

"You shouldn't use his name so lightly."

"How about you call him and ask," the other suggested he had been quite the whole time.

They want me to ask for permission to leave in other words.

"I don't have a phone," I muttered.

He dug into his pocket and pulled out an old flip phone where he opened it and dialed a number but did not hit call yet as he handed it my way.

"Ask for him," he suggested.

I took a deep breath as I took the phone from him and hit call. I held it up to my ear to wait for an answer. The phone picked up suddenly.

"Hello?"

"Hi is Alpha Artyom nearby?" I asked nervously as I realized it was not him on the phone. I heard the phone be shuffled from one ear to the other as a quick exchange of muttered words were said.

"Who is calling?"

"Tell him its Jossie."

I blushed in embarrassment. This is stupid... I heard my name being said on the other line before the phone went silent for a moment before an out of breath voice sent me shivering.

"Jossie," he called out through the phone... It was him it was Artyom. "What's the matter why are you calling me through the security's phone?"

"I... I just want to see Aimee, but they said she is not taking visitors," I whispered through the phone in shame. Why was I bothering him? He was probably busy, and this could have waited... Did he see me earlier? He does not sound like he did...

"Hand the phone back to the security," he told me as he sounded a bit relieved. I paused as I looked at the team that looked to be ease dropping. I held it out to them and the one it belonged to grabbed it. He nodded into the phone as I could not make out what was being said.

"Yes sir.... In pajamas... No has not been up long... No... Yes sir..." the guard said before giving the phone back to me. I held it back to my ear.

"What did you say?" I asked nervously.

"I will see you at the hospital. We will grab something to eat when you are done seeing her," he told me. "So, make sure to change your clothes before leaving, Jossie." My heart fluttered slightly as I heard the phone click. I looked at the guys.

"I'm gonna be just a few minutes, so be prepared to leave." I gave the phone back before heading back upstairs. I went into my room and grabbed the first thing I saw to wear and put it on as my mind raced to get to see Aimee and ask her what she knows is happening. I would not get any answers here. Artyom was clearly dangerous to some extent... I just do not know how dangerous... but he doesn't want me dead... or I wouldn't be here. So to some extent I can trust him.