We had been shopping for an hour already, and I hadn't found a thing that I like. Mom tries several times to hold up a dress for me to see, but I turn each of them down. They aren't what I'm looking for, and even though her sense of style is great, I'll know the dress when I see it.

A lady who works here seems to have noticed our struggle, and flounces up to us, a clip board in her hands.

She seems to be in her mid-twenties, with sleek brown hair that she has back in a neat French braid, taming her fly aways with a black headband.

As you could imagine working at an expensive store, she wears a tight, black dress and black leather boots.

"Can I help you find something?" She asks, clapping her hands together, far too cheery for her occupation.

I ignore her while my mother rolls her eyes at my attitude and turns to speak to the girl.

"I hope so," she starts with a sigh. "Were looking for party dresses, for a formal dinner?"

The girl shakes her head with a smile. "Of course, but you're looking in the wrong area! If you'll follow me ladies..."

We follow her, me with a huff, arms folded. She takes into a back room that is well lit, and it has several several racks of dresses.

While my mom thanks the woman, I walk passed them towards a dress that had caught my eye almost immediately.

I pull out the white material, and close up, I can see the rose lace that lies atop the fine cotton. I take it off of the rack and I hold it up against me, looking down at it from my front. Not bad...

My mom looks over and claps her hands, eyes lighting up. "Oh good, you finally found something!"

I look up at her with a raised eyebrow and shrug, throwing the dress over my forearm. "Maybe. Now it's your turn to look for yourself, I don't wanna be out all night."

She nods and gets to work looking around, and I slip out of the room. "I'll try this on."

"Okay." She says, and I walk the distance to the dressing room.

Picking an empty stall, I lock the door and strip off my clothes, save for my undergarments, and slip the dress on. I zip it up in the back, and turn to look at myself.

The dress is a mid-thigh length with long sleeves and a high neck line. It's classy,  not too trashy, and I smile at my reflection. It's a dangerous enough length that I still look like a total bad ass, and the color is perfect. With my white heels and bandeau, this will be perfect.

--------------------

When we get home, I toss my now dry cleaned dress over the back of a kitchen chair, and slip my Ugg boots off and pull my hair back into a ponytail, and put my black muck boots on.

My mom walks in as I change into my barn coat, a heavy, black fleece jacket that has the name of a stable I used to ride at, my name scrawled across the back of it, with her dress over her arm.

She chose a blue dress that has an appropriate neck line and length, and she bought heels and earrings with a matching necklace to go with it. I told her that the dress complimented her blue eyes, which it does, and that it would be perfect. Mainly, because I just wanted to leave.

We also bought daddy a black suit with a blue tie and white dress shirt, so he can match mom and I. He was never one for shopping, and mom rarely made him come, the lucky prick.

"Were are you going?" She asks, setting her keys and purse down on the table.

" Just to say goodnight to Jax."

"Oh, we'll its dark, so take April with you. I'm sure she'll have to go out anyway. And don't be too long, we should figure out dinner."

"Who do you think has been cooking for you the past three years? Don't worry about it, I'll make something when I get back." I finish with a whistle for April. "Let's go girl!"

I trudge through the snow, now mid-calf deep from the snow that had started to fall yet again. April bounds ahead, her tail wagging as she plows through the powder.

I smile, but the pending feeling of being watched makes me jumpy, especially since the barn light is off, leaving me with hardly any sense of sight.

I look behind me nervously, then quickly pick up my pace to the barn. The thought of the black wolf crosses my mind, and how it could easily sneak up in the darkness...

Jeff's words come back to me, and I feel my heart slow, calming down. 'Wolves aren't usually aggressive.'

Besides, Pyrenean Mastiffs were originally bred to watch over flocks of sheep and herds of cattle in the mountains, fighting off wolves and even bears to protect their post. So April would definitely let me know if she heard something, and she would take care of any creeps that might be stalking me from the Shadows of the woods.

I get to the barn and quickly let April in ahead of me, then pull the door shut, flicking the light on.

Jax looks over his stall at me, ears pricked as if wondering whats wrong.

I sigh with relief and smile, walking over to him while April wags around the barn. "Hey, baby," I whisper, my voice sounding too loud in the stillness. " Let me get you some not frozen water." I take his bucket from the hook in his stall and fill it from the faucet next to the tack room door after knocking the ice out.

I replace it on the hook and he drinks heartily, happy for the fresh water. While he drinks, I climb up into the hay loft and drop down a flake of hay, startling April below, making her bark. I smile and apologize, making my way back down the latter. I throw the hay in the stall and give him a scratch behind his ears.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, making me jump, and I curse, taking it out of my pocket. It's Hunter.

Hey, Barbie. How'd shopping go?

I frown down at my phone. I hate him calling me that.

It was fine.

I give Jax a kiss goodnight, and call for April and heading out. I shut the door, and leave the light on for him, so he doesn't have to be left in the dark.

Brrr. That bad?

No.

Did you get a sexy dress?

I guess you'll never know. I can imagine him chuckling as I start to walk, shoving my hands in my pockets.

My wolf doesn't show up tonight.

-----------

Back at the house, I check my phone again ones my shoes are off and I start dinner. I didn't want to answer it while I was walking, in case someone snuck up and grabbed me.

Are you excited?

For the dinner? Not at all. I've been to a dozen of these. They're almost always hosted  by a couple of old people who don't really know what's going on.

I put the Pizza in the oven and set the timer, then check my phone as it buzzes again.

You never know. This time might be different.

I shrug and scoop my dress up from the chair back, and take my boots from the door, and take them upstairs. Ones I've got the dress tucked away safely, snug between all of my other dresses, each costing a small fortune, I answer the text.

I guess.

I head back downstairs to check on the pizza. I guess it could have been easier to order one, but it wouldn't be fair to ask someone to drive way out here, especially when there is supposed to be more snow tonight.

My phone buzzes.

Does me calling you Barbie bother you?

I furrow my brow. How does he know that?

No.

I can tell it does, you don't have to lie.

It's fine, I've been called worse so don't loose sleep over it.

Alright. Hey, Kadin?

What?

You shouldn't be afraid of the dark.

By eyes bulge. Oh great spoonfuls of Nutella. He is stalking me!

Are you serious?

Its all I can think to say. The timer goes off and I slide the pizza out, setting it on the stove top. I think about calling mom out, but I can hear her in the shower upstairs, so I decide to wait for her. I'm not hungry anymore anyways.

You want to know how I can tell?

I'm about to send him my reply when he sends another text, answering it for me.

Everyone is afraid of the dark.

My jaw all but drops. That's his big ordeal?

I am not. Of the dark, or of stalkers.

My hope is to scare him off, or hint to him that I think he may be following me.

I'm not stalking you, promise.

Right, you're just really weird then.

Lmao, no doubt about it, Barbie Girl. You said there are wolves around your house?

I swallow and text back.

Well we live in the woods, so yeah, there is.

He takes an abnormal amount of time answering.

My mom comes down the stairs in a pair of silk pajamas, her hair wrapped in a towel. "Mmm, pizza. But you know that isn't good for your diet..."

I hold up a hand and make a wafting motion with my hand. "True, but just smell that. Are you going to deny it now?"

She smiles. "Nope. Let's eat."

---------------

I'm get ready for bed when Hunter answers me finally.

Those wolves won't hurt you.

What? I leave the conversation at that and tuck myself in, patting the bed beside me for April. She jumps up, the frame creaking under her weight, and I pull the blankets around my shoulders, cuddling into her thick fur.

--------------

I'm up before my alarm, and I let April out quickly before rushing back upstairs. It feels like the temperature dropped ten degrees since last night.

I throw on my barn jacket and boots, pulling on a ball cap and run outside to take care of Jax.

There isn't any new signs of my wolf being here or around the barn last night.

Once I get back, I shower quickly, having washed my hair last night, and then put it into a bun.

I pull an over sized hoodie from my dresser and pull on a pair of jeans, and call it an outfit. I swipe some mascara on my lashes and slip my Uggs on my feet, then head down stairs.

The conversation with Evens last night was strange, and a little tense. He was being really weird. My conclusion to his behavior is that he is either stalking me, or he's psychic. Seems legit.

I fill my mug and pat April goodbye before heading out for school.

I close the door of my truck quickly, and fiddle with my keys a moment before finding the right one and slipping it into the ignition. She revs to life, and I turn the volume of my music down, rubbing my hands together while I wait for her to heat up enough for the heat to kick in.

Once it does, I put it in gear and back up out of the drive, snow crunching under my tires.

Flicking the headlights on, I can see all the way down the long, winding driveway.

I follow a snow plow most of the way to school, and eventually pull into the lot.

Several beats later, a silver Chevy pulls in next to me, and when I look over at the driver as I grab my bag and mug, Jeff meets my eyes and smiles.

When I get out of my truck, I stuff my keys in my pocket and he hops down from his truck to walk with me.

"Hey Kadin,"

I glance up at him while I sip my coffee. "Hey."

"I see you survived shopping. Turns out those wolves aren't so bad after all."

"I guess not."

"Buy something nice?"

I shrug. "Maybe."

He raises an eyebrow and looks away. "Bad night?"

"No." I say curtly. "But I'm not looking forward to dinner."

He elbows me gently. "It might be fun, you never know." He opens the door for me and I walk in, him following behind.

"Trust me, I know."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

At lunch, Lisa-anne bounces excitedly in her chair as I sit, and I tilt my head as I set my things down.

She smiles broadly and slips a price of paper over to me.

"What's this?" I ask, taking it cautiously.

"Oh, just open it!" Lisa exclaims.

I raise an eyebrow and unfold it.

There are three different numbers written down, each with a name jotted down next to it.

Lisa-Anne's has a smiley face and heart next to it.

"I thought it would be cool if you had all of our numbers! You won't need my brothers, cus you know, we're in the same house," she babbles excitedly.

I honestly think the reason is that Molly doesn't want me talking to her boyfriend, not that I would have any desire to in the first place, but I notice that's why a lot of girls hate me.

I smile and fold the paper, putting it in my back pocket for safe keeping. "Thanks guys,"

The rest of lunch, Lisa proceeds to babble about our riding plans, and I half listen while glancing at Hunter from the corner of my eye.

He had been glaring at Jeff all day, but he breaks the sequence to look over at me a moment.

I wave over at his table, tilting my head, and he gives a small smile in return.

He's a weird one.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I stare myself in the mirror, the reflection of a pretty girl with blonde ringlets look back, her blue eyes piercing me. I look perfect.

Standing to look at myself one last time in the full body mirror on the other side of my bedroom, I go out the door and to the stairs.

Holding my white clutch tightly, we ride in silence in my moms avalanche.

After what seems like an eternity, we arrive at a big house, even bigger than mine, but the driveway was so long that it seemed like a whole different road.

The house is a beautiful Victorian style painted white, with perfectly trimmed hedges and fur trees that look stunning in the snow.

The whole place looks like it came right from a magazine, perfectly spotless, and when we pull up, I see that they even have a doorman.

A young man comes to park the truck for us, and I hop out, landing gracefully on in heels, and pull my white shawl closer at the chill.

Mom leads us in, and I stay in back with dad, who stands formally in his suit, uncharacteristic for him, though I've seen him like this before. I hold his arm as the door man lets us in with a pearly smile and a tip of his typical doorman styled top hat.

Despite my not wanting to be here, this house and property is amazing, and just looking around would keep me busy enough during moms boring work conversation.

We are greeted by an older man, who has black hair that is greying near his sideburns, with a classy goatee. He wears an impeccable black suit with a red and black designed tie and I can't help but notice his very shiny dress shoes. Snazzy.

He greets my mother with a smile and a kiss to the back of her hand, and then his familiar green eyes sweep over to me and my father behind her. "Your daughter is just as beautiful as you I see, and what a catch you've got yourself, Mrs. Reed."

I look up at my dad, who steps forward to shake hands with the man. "Why, thank you. These girls are the loves of my life."

The green eyed man nods and looks to me. "Oh, forgive me for my rudeness, My name is Donovan Eden. It's a true pleasure to meet you both. Shall we adjourn to the dining room? Dinner will be served shortly, and my son and most trusted friend, also important to this case, along with his eldest, will be joining us shortly as well."

I vaguely wounder why Mr. Eden's eyes are so familiar, but l am too captivated by the beauty of the hall around us, the marble floors, walls and ceiling are a beautiful ivory, the trims and pillars built into the walls a breath taking gold color. There is a red carpet beneath our feet that seems to go all the way down the hall, and disappears around a corner a few hundred yards ahead.

It's so hard to think that such a beautiful place could be hidden deep within the trees, in the middle of Wisconsin. It's like a heaven in the endless snow covered land.

My mother nods, and takes my father's arm, which I had abandoned to wander off to the side to admire a beautifully painted portrait of a smiling, woman with fawn hair and fair skin. She is wearing a red, ballgown style dress, with gloved hands folded delicately in her lap. It sort of reminds me of the Mona Lisa.

"Kadin!" My mothers voice drags my eyes away from the woman's captivating gaze, and up to my parents who had started walking away, lead by Mr. Eden.

I trot after, holding my clutch and shawl closely, still looking around at all of the amazing art work. This place is just surreal.

We are led around the corner, were the carpet does keep going as I thought, and into a room with fantastic wooden doors that nearly reach the ceiling.

Two huge men stand on either side of it, both in suits with their arms folded formally in front of them.

Body guards? This place has everything.

I look both ways through the hall way one more time before entering the grand hall after everyone else. My eyes go wide.

The room has a giant table, that looks like it could seat a hundred people, each spot adorned with expensive looking plates, silverware, napkins and gold rimmed wine glasses. Even the chairs look like they costed a small fortune, with their hand crafted wood backings and red velvet seat cusions.

This place is built for a king.

The walls and floors are made of the same marble as outside, and the red carpeting expands to fit the majority area of the room, save for a hundred feet or so around the edges, were the marble is visible still.

My mother and father get caught in conversation with Mr. Eden, so I'm left standing there awkwardly as I gawk at the dining room. I can't imagine what the rest of the house must look like. I walk over to one of the walls, were a suit of armor stands, glimmering beautiful under the lights.

I run my finger down the blade of the sword in the knight's grip, I tilt my head in awe as I admire the suit. I've never seen one outside of a movie, and believe it or not, I actually really find Mideival times to be infatuating.

"I am sorry for my tardiness, father." An all too familiar voice says, the big doors opening. I hadn't realized they were closed behind us.

Turning around, my eyebrows shoot up at the boy who walks over to my parents and Mr. Eden. "Jeff?" I ask in disbelief.

He looks over at me, not looking at all surprised. "Kadin." He smiles broadly as he strides over, looking very good in a black suit like his fathers, only with a green tie that accents his eyes. So that's were I thought I knew them, Mr. Eden is Jeff's dad.

He surprises me by pulling me into a hug, then quickly away, politely. "You look beautiful."

I take a step back. "You live here?! Holy Nuttella Jeff!!"

He gives a half smirk. " I do."

I scowl. "You never told me. You knew I would be here didn't you."

"Kadin?" My mother asks, looking over curiously. My father looks seething that Jeff touched me.

"Oh dear, you shouldn't scowl like that, it's very unbecoming of you. Do you know Jeffery?"

I glare over at her and fold my arms. "Yes."

Someone else walks in, but I ignore them as my father and I share a look.

"Well, isn't that just amazing how things happen? What a small world!" Mr. Eden chimes, drawing my attention to him. "This is my trusted partner and his son, Jacob and Hunter Evens."

My head practically spins around, and my jaw nearly drops. Good Lord, this just keeps getting more and more weird.

Hunter is wearing a suit and a loosened blue tie, his black hair disheveled as usual.The man next to him looks like his twin, only much older and taller, and with the practiced posture of an important person, not unlike the way Mr. Eden carries himself.

Hunter smiles. The bastard knew too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay guys, like the twist? Maybe, maybe not? Would love to know what you think of it! I posted a picture of Kadin and Jaxon on the side, and I'll post one of Hunter the next chapter.

Thanks for the reads, comment if you can to let me know how I'm doing, yeah?
A picture of Jeff is posted!
~A.