Toxic Rose Thorns - Chapter 64: Chapter 64

This house had been beautiful the first time I walked through it. Maria fully remodeled it in a very short period of time and I don't know how I'm going to ever repay her for this. The walls are bare and the bottom of the walls are lined with lights all over the house, the same way they had been in my apartment.
She opened everything up, adding archways where there had been framed glass doors. All except the study space. I look back at her, shocked when I open the doors to find boxes of brand new sewing equipment. The wall around the fireplace was rebuilt to store rolls upon rolls of brand new fabric still in the protective plastic they come in.
"Do you like it? I took the liberty to contact your assistant Cevin. He helped me supply most of this stuff," she says nervously. "If overstepped, you have to tell me. I'm not good at-"
I hug her to get her to stop rambling.
"Thank you. I love it," I reassure her. I hug her properly and my new weird friend makes me sniff her. I immediately pull away covering my mouth. "I didn't mean to do that,"
"That is completely normal for us. You never have to apologize for being you, Sweetness," she boops my nose. "I fully stocked the pantry and all the bathrooms. The place is all yours. We're going. Make it yours,"
I step forward and hug her again. She smiles when I pull away. She looks up at me with what I'm interpreting as respect. She gives me a single nod and turns away to shoo Mr. Knightly and Elliot out.
-Home?- the wolf inside of me speaks up.
"It looks like it," I place my hand on the sketching table before me.
The entire back wall is glass. The view of the beach from here is sublime. I close my eyes, listening to the roar of the waves in the back yard of our home. I clear my throat when I feel someone walking towards me. It's strange how my body's sensitivity is so much more than it's ever been. I felt the vibrations of Knight's steps behind me.
"Where would you like to start?" he asks.
"The twins' room,"
"All right," he agrees.
"First, let me make sure I have everything to make dinner later," I move to go toward the kitchen but stop when I see him stiffen.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah," he nods.
"I can tell something is wrong. It's like a spidey sense," I reach for his hand.
"A spidey sense?" he smirks.
"Tell me,"
"I don't eat food I don't make," he says gently. "I've been poisoned a couple of times,"
"What?" I tighten my hold on his hand. Holy shit. "Okay, would you like to cook?"
"I'll eat what you make me, Angel,"
"Are you sure? I mean I'm not going to poison you. I wouldn't even know how,"
"I'm sure," he laughs reaching up to rub my cheek. "You have an eyelash. Hold still,"
His eyes focus on my skin and the slow fall to the scar on my neck. He pulls away letting out a heavy sigh. I laugh.
"What?" he asks.
"Are you feeling apologetic now?"
He looks me over and smirks. I roll my eyes and turn around to get to the kitchen. I gather some things to make Aizen's favorite. Spaghetti. She put everything together for us. I've never had anyone make any attempts to help me outside of work. I don't know how to express gratitude to someone who is supposed to be close to me. With our babysitter, I just gave her a little extra money and some pretty cool gifts. I don't want this to be that shallow.
The twins are running around trying to find their toys in the boxes in their room. Or rather one room with a tinted glass door that slides open and shut. I am grateful there is a remote because if the switch were on the wall they'd play with it all day and night.
Half the room is painted a soft blush pink and decorated with different sized Pokadots. The bed and furniture are put together, ready to move around. It's just now hitting me that Ayrie's never had her own space or room. Aizen pretty much kept the room the way he wanted it. Clean, well organized, and princess stuff free. While there are plenty of things on his side of the room, her side is empty. There's a toy box in the corner and some stuffies we've collected.
"It's pink," she points at her side.
"Why?" Aizen asks.
"This is your side of the room and that is hers," I tell him.
"We no share?" Ayrie looks between us worriedly.
"Of course you can. Always. You two were meant to be together forever. Remember?" I smile at her. She looks a little less worried but I can tell it bothers her. "You know how you like to go into my room because all the girl stuff is in there?"
"Yes," she nods and comes closer. I crouch down to hug her.
"Well, now we can put some girl stuff on your side. Just because there's two sides doesn't mean you and bubbie can't share still,"
"Are you sure?" she asks.
"I promise. Right, Icy?"
"I'm not sleeping on your princess bed," he shakes his head. The worry on her face disappears and she goes over to him to poke his arm before going to her side.
"What do you think? You want to look for some cute stuff on my phone? I'll let you make a list and you can open all the boxes when they get here,"
"You promise!" she grins brightly.
"Yes," I offer her my phone. She takes it and I pull over one of their beanbag chairs so that she can sit down when she's ready. She looks around holding my phone out in front of her. I go back to the boys.
"Dad can help me," Aizen says suddenly and looks over at Knightly. "Right, dad?"
"Of course," he says without hesitation.
"Okay, I'll check out my room. If anyone needs me, you know where to find me,"
I pause at the door to look back at them. Aizen is telling Knight that he wants his bed to be away from the windows because he hates when the light wakes him up. Knight is looking around as if he's trying to figure out how he's going to make that happen because the entire back wall is made out of the same glass as downstairs. Ayrie glances over at them, but is completely fixated on my phone.
I make sure my watch is synced to the phone and head over to my room. Maria told me that she wanted me to have the master bedroom. It's only right was her defense. My things seem to all be here so I get to work.
For a while, my mind is completely focused on the task at hand. I make the bed and begin to take things out of the boxes. This room is huge. My bed looks small in here and my furniture doesn't help in filling it in any kind of way.
I sit on the edge of my bed and think about all the shit that's gone down in the first month of my moving back here. Everything has completely flipped upside down. I'm not sure what the hell is going to happen to my life.
I reach for the mark on my neck and massage around it, feeling it ache a bit. First things first. I'm a werewolf now, or at least well into transition. I have the spirit inside of me to prove that. I can feel her swirling around like a second pulse.
"Do you have a name?" I ask out loud.
-My name is Midnight.- She answers.
"It's very nice to meet you, Midnight. My name is Phoebe. I guess we're stuck together until death does us apart," I laugh.
-That is correct. I'd like to begin with telling you I've lived many lives. I've had many masters. You are the first I am proud to serve, Phoebe. You've done a very good job with our pups. They're strong.-
The mention of my kids makes me emotional. I sit up letting the tears fall.
"That means a lot coming from you for some reason. Lately, it hasn't felt that way. I don't even know how to slow any of this down for them. I feel like we're getting torn apart. I can't remember the last time I lost control like this,"
-We'll be fine. They will be fine. Perhaps, we can help one another. You teach me of this new world and I teach you about being a wolf.-
"Thanks. That sounds like a great idea,"