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Chapter 17
- Howl -

Dedicated @iceqeeun
Wrote this chapter with you in mind. xo

*unedited*
- Clover-

"Your cooking is boom.com ma" Heidi moaned taking another spoonful of her white rice and streamed veggies.

I laughed at her over exaggeration.

Even though I've become use to seeing Heidi around, her presences never ceased to amaze me. Dressed down and all, as she ate my food and danced to the beat of the music playing from her phone, it was still hard to believe.

Mia laughed herself between bites.

"No wonder why Demarco didn't want to go back to work".

"Unless he didn't want to go back to work for other reasons" Heidi teased, raising her eyebrow in my direction.

The mention of his name caused a fluttering feeling in my chest that I tried to ignore.

There was no doubt about it, I liked the man.

It was something that was unsaid, but some how, everyone knew.

"So, you know the shower is about a month away and I was wondering if you'd cook a dish?"  Mia asked with hope in her eyes.

My smile only grew, these girls were becoming friends that I never had, with the expectation of Nola.

They would willingly coming over whenever just to hangout and now they were inviting me on outings.

"Yes, of course!" I said a little bit too excited. "What should I make?"

"Whatever you can, Blair said she'll come and help you if you need her help. She's big on cooking also" she added.

Blair was Jordan's wife who I kept hearing about. She was a school teacher and a mother to their son and a daughter, who was apparently also Demarco's goddaughter.

She was a busy lady to say the least, but even though I have never personally met her I could tell she was a loved individual around here.

"How many people should I cook for?"

"200, give or take a few".

"Huh?" Did I hear her right?

Both Mia and Heidi laughed at my reaction. "We have a lot of extended family and friends".

"Yeah I think I'll need her help after all".

"And I'll help too" Heidi piped in. "Other then my awesome Spotify playlist, I'm a great taste tester".

"That's not really a skill" Denziel said making his way into the kitchen.

"Who asked you?"

Denziel laughed turning his attention to me. "So since you didn't want to do anything too special. I was wondering if you'd like to go out to eat somewhere for diner instead of being trap in the house?"

Dinner sounded nice and I haven't went out to eat since Nola's Birthday back in March.

"Say no more. I could tell from the look on your face you love the idea but you're about to say no".

Denziel was determined to have me do something special for tomorrow. "So it's me and you, dinner tonight at 6pm. Wear something nice".

I knew I wasn't going to win this fight, so I might as well give in.

"Isn't 6pm a little early for dinner?"

"Wait what's the occasion?" Mia asked. Heidi looked equally as confused.

"Well" Denziel started with a huge smile on his face. "Tomorrow is Clovers 21st birthday and she was determined to do nothing".

Both girls stopped eating their food, to focus their attention on me.

"You have us sitting here for the last two hours and didn't bother to tell us it's your birthday tomorrow?"

As if his job was done, Denziel sneaked out of the kitchen mumbling, "I'll leave you girls to talk some sense into her".

"It's not a big deal, I'm only turning 21 and my family usually never celebrates birthday anyways".

It felt like it was the hundredth time that I've explained this within the past couple of days and it was started to give me a headache.

Mia gave me a huge smile, grabbing onto both my hands. "Clover, you are now apart of our family and this family, as you will learn, makes a big deal about everything".

Heidi nodded her head. "Every Birthday is celebrated".

Mia rubbed her belly "every pregnancy is celebrated".

"Engagements".

"Weddings".

"Holidays".

"Death".

The more things that they listed, the more ridiculous the response. But what surprised me even more is that they included me in their family?

They barely knew me, let alone the circumstances.

I thought I was on my way to befriending them but in their eyes, I was already family?

Weirdly, my heart started to race and my face drained of color. As kind as they were I didn't sign up for this.

"The point is, whether you like it not, we're celebrating your birthday" Heidi said once she ran out of things to list.

When I said nothing, they gave me a look as if to ask if I were okay. I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced a smile.

"Thank you?" I whispered, not really sure what else to say.

Hopping out of her seat, Heidi slid her sneakers back on. "I'm going to disappear, I have to make magic overnight. Literally".

She took a couple more bites before abandoning her plate on the counter top.

"I'm coming with!" Mia said hopping off her stool to grab her shoes and meet Heidi at the front door. "Ever since Demarco put me on early maternity leave, I have nothing to do all day and night until I give birth".

Demarco was her boss?

Now that I thought about it, Mia never mentioned what she did for a living and god only knew what Demarco and the rest of the guys did for a living.

So the only person that didn't work for Demarco was Heidi and this Blair girl that I have yet to meet.

However, despite most of them working for Demarco they were still strangely close. As if they were a - family.

Was this the family they were trying to include me in because Demarco and I weren't together.

And no matter how much I liked him, I don't think I'd be able to get into a relationship with him.

I followed the girls to the front door in a daze.

"I'll swing by around 9am to pick you up so we can go shopping" Mia said before both girls yet again caught me off guard and hugged me.

I hugged each one of them back, watching them walk to Cleon's car and take off with Heidi driving.

After they left, I couldn't bring myself to go back inside the house. Instead I sat on the stairs of the porch.

My mind was fuzzy.

I went through this before but here I was again. I can't possibly be falling for a man that was a leader of a gang or whatever this was.

Yes he's kinder towards me and have been nothing but considerate since I've took are of him while he was sick but this life was not for me.

It was very clear that Mia and Heidi both were very aware of what their husbands did for a living but I'm not cut out for a life like that.

Throughout my four weeks here, we've argued, made up, accidentally shared a bed, cuddled one another and I cried in his arms.

Last night we were even flirting a little. Threw text and in person.

Thinking about Demarco made me miss him not being home more. I cussed out loud, mentally kicking myself.

What happened to the girl that was trying to escape from day one? She was independent and had a plan.

That girl got too comfortable.

And that girl started to fall...

I refused to say what I started to fall in.

I sighed deeply running my hands through my hair, tears filling my eyes.

I'm not sure how long I was sitting out front in the chilly autumn air but it was long enough for my finger tips to become numb and my ears to turn cold.

Just as I was about to head in, from a distance I heard leaves crumpling. This wouldn't have bothered me if it were a normal autumn day, but unlike a normal autumn day, today there was no breezy out.

Everything was still.

Untouched.

Unmoving.

Except for the movement from the corner of my eye right eye, where the trees lining was that separated the forest from the backyard.

My eyes followed the movement and the more I focused in that area the more I could make out what it was.

A wolf.

A large wolf staring back at me.

It was bigger than the average sized wolf. It's fur was a dark brown color, and it's eyes were hazel. It's fur blended in perfectly with the dry up leaves surrounding it, making it easy to miss.

The wolf didn't move, it just simply starred back at me.

"Lucky charm" I snapped my head to look behind me. Denziel was at the front door looking at me questionably. "What are you doing out here?"

My thoughts of Demarco were long gone. I was now in a life threatening situation and Denziel walked right into it.

I stumbled to stand on my own two feet.

Quickly running over, Denziel helped steady me.

"What's wrong?" He asked noticing my panicked state.

"The-there's a wolf over there".

Denziel entire demeanor shifted. At a speed that was unnaturally fast, he pulled me behind him.

Looking in the direction I pointed in there were trees, leaves, and no wolf to be found.

It was gone.

"It was just there" I told him once we were back safe in the house with the doors locked. "I swear I'm not making it up".

"I believe you". He placed both his hands on my shoulders trying to calm me down.

"We're in the middle of the forest, we're bound to see wild life like that" he said trying his best to make light of the situation but failing miserably.

He had a valid point. But by the look on his face, he was as scared as I was and was ready to defend me if necessary.

It's not like I've never seen a wolf before, because I have. I guess the fact that it was so close, big and well hidden is what startled me the most.

That thing could've killed me if it wanted to!

"What color was it?" Denziel asked.

"What?"

"What color was the wolf" he repeated seriously.

Whether the wolf was pink or yellow, it wouldn't change the fact that it was a dangerous animal that was well capable of killing me.

I paused, trying to collect my thoughts. "It was a dark brown color?"

As if there was a weight lifted off his shoulders Denziel sighed. Dropping his hands from my shoulders and pulling me into a bear hug.

It seemed like everyone wanted to hug me today. And since I was still shaken up, I didn't question it nor fight it.

With the amount of tears streaming down my face, it was comforting.

After a while he pulled away, looking me in the eye. "If you ever want to get some fresh air, let me know and I'll come with you".

I nodded my head, wiping the tears away the best that I can.

"Don't ever go out their alone" he commanded, pulling me back in for another hug.

Something in Denziels voice reminded me of Demarco. And with the way that he was hugging me, it was as if he was scared to lose me.

Trust me, that was the last time I'd ever go outside, in this area, alone.

I thought my biggest worries were being trapped in the house of a gang leader, but the biggest threat to my life was outside of these four walls.

—————

Sorry for the delay
My sister got married last weekend, to say less it's been a BUSY October.

K_26ss