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For a little while, we got to enjoy peace, and whenever we weren't working, Tom and I would often go for a swim in the surprisingly generous pool in Aunt Tempe's backyard.
We often swam seperately, but sometimes at the end of a long day, we'd end up swimming together. I didn't think too much of it, simply enjoying the time I got to spend in the water after a hard day's work. And Tom was good company, so whenever we ended up in the pool together, I didn't mind one bit. 80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnr5qUsjlq
Aunt Tempe never had anything bad to say about it, but she was too focused on calling in favours. Faith was pulling out all stops on her end, and she'd made it clear she'd get me back, or kill me in the process. To her, me being her slave was better than me being free, and she had said outright that if I wasn't returned to her pack, I was better off dead. It was the classic "if I can't have you, no one can", but I had no interest in returning to the packhouse where I'd suffered so many years of misery. And Tom didn't seem to want to let me go. I chalked it up to concern, never dreaming he might feel something entirely different.
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Two weeks after we'd reached Aunt Tempe's house, we got the news I'd feared; Faith was now the alpha, her parents having passed away. They'd been in a coma ever since their failed attack on Dad's pub, and I was more than a little stunned at how quickly they'd succumbed to the malady that had befallen them. Dad suspected Faith had had them killed so she could become alpha and thus take over the pack, and I had a feeling he was right. Tom concurred.
"She never liked being second best to anyone," he said, as we sat on the edge of the pool that night. It was a warm night, the stars were out, and the cicadas were in full voice. Aunt Tempe was meeting with some of her allies, but she'd told us not to worry about the meetings, saying that the less we knew, the better. I was happy to be left in the dark.
"She was jealous I was the eldest, so I guess that makes sense," I admitted. "Still, for her to outright murder her parents so she could become alpha..." I shivered.
Tom put an arm around my shoulders. "Let's not worry about her," he said, kissing my temple. "I'd much rather go swimming." He suited words to actions, jumping into the water, and I smiled before joining him.
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The next day, Dad and Martin arrived, and after the rush of greetings was over, we headed into the house for a family meeting. "Faith wants to parley," Dad opened, as we sat around the kitchen table. "She's not keen on war - so she says - and she wants to negotiate terms. I told her I'd be happy to come to the table, so long as her requirements weren't unreasonable."
"I don't trust this," Aunt Tempe said bluntly.
"Neither do I," Dad agreed. "That's why I've arranged to have the meeting in neutral territory. We're going to meet at Stonehenge one month from now, and Faith and I have agreed to hold off on any hostilities until then."
I didn't like the sound of this one bit. "You know she's going to demand me back," I said.
Dad sighed. "I know," he said, "but that doesn't mean I'm going to tuck tail and run. Faith may have realised she's not going to get you back willingly, and perhaps she's willing to let bygones be bygones. I won't know until a month from now."
There wasn't much else to be said after that, and as I lay in bed that night, I prayed Faith really had turned over a new leaf. I didn't want to think about what would happen if she hadn't - she would start a war to get me back if she was still the same cruel alpha who'd killed her parents so she could rule.
It was not a pleasant thought, and, finally, unable to sleep, I got up and dressed by the light of the full moon shining brightly through my uncurtained window. Crickets were still chirping despite the late hour, and when I stepped outside, the air was surprisingly warm. Summer was determined to hang on, and I felt a little better as I walked over to the pool. The house lay dark and silent behind me as I took my shoes off and hopped into the water fully clothed. I had to muffle my gasp as the first contact raised goosebumps on my skin, but once I'd acclimitised, I took a deep breath and went under.
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It was dark and silent as I dived to the bottom, and as I swam, I let my worries go. Faith was a threat I would deal with in time, but right now, it was me and the water, and I felt safer down here than I did on the surface. Faith couldn't hurt me while I was underwater, and I wished I could stay under the surface and never have to come back up. Old fears had been reawakened, and I swam until I was out of air, before being forced to go to the surface so I could breathe. But I stayed above water only long enough to take some deep breaths before going back under, this time letting myself sink to the bottom.
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When my feet hit the tiles, I pushed off and swam back to the surface, taking in another breath before going under again, letting out all the air in my lungs as I sank to the bottom once more. The urge to breathe was strong now that I had no air, but I ignored the surface waiting for me above. Going to the surface meant facing Faith, and I had no desire to do that. But the pain and pressure in my lungs was too great, and I pushed off, one hand over my mouth as I fought to keep myself from taking a breath while I was still underwater. The contractions were growing horrendously painful, but I managed to break the surface, and I trod water for a little while, getting my breath back, a little shaky at having come so close to drowning, but ironically, feeling more alive. I had no real desire to kill myself, of course, but being underwater with no air, and the surface so far away, had sent a thrill of excitement along my veins that reminded me of how precious life was, and how much I had to live for. I had a father, two brothers, an aunt, and a whole host of other friends and family I had yet to meet. 80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIpbapdapa
And all of them would fight to the bitter end to keep me safe. But that didn't stop me from going under one last time, to push myself to the brink of danger, to let the airlessness in my lungs remind me that there was still good in the world. If Faith did manage to get her hands on me, there'd be this one moment of breathlessness underwater she could never take away from me. 80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fxNSRPjxM
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