CHAPTER 64: 64

NYLAH

I woke up to the smell of hot coffee and freshly baked bread.

My eyes opened to Xavier, staring at me with a cup in his hand.

"Morning sunshine. I didn’t want to wake you earlier than this, but you need to have breakfast." He greeted.

I sat up and glanced at the small table in front of me. He had everything arranged. I had to give it to him. He was thoughtful.

I pulled the table close and devoured the meal.

"Here. You can contact me with this. My number is already inside. Just tap on the emergency number, and it will put a call across to me immediately." I glanced at his face at first but shifted my gaze from his face to his hand, and I was shocked when I saw the device he handed out to me.

It was a smartphone.

I reached out and accepted it from him.

"Thank you," I muttered

"When did you get this?" I couldn’t help but ask. We were together throughout the previous night. Well, maybe not throughout, but we spent the night together, and he didn’t mention anything like a phone or a surprise gift.

Just when I was thinking about getting a phone.

Xavier shrugged.

"I just felt it was time to have you prepared for any attack. You need to reach me if you are in danger, and that is the safest and most painless way to ensure that." He said.

I arched a brow

"And what are the other ways that are not painless?" I asked.

Another shrug.

"Well, I could have a chip buried under your skin or trackers put in different parts of your body, but that is painful, and I don’t want any scars on your body. Just tap on the emergency number option, and I will be notified. Keep your location on at all times." He added, and I nodded slowly as a smile spread across my lips.

Apart from the safety he spoke about, I could also reach out to Arianna through this medium and catch up with her. Although he didn’t say it, I knew he also thought of that when buying me the phone.

"Eat up, you have all day to admire it. Your tea will get cold, " he voiced, breaking through my thoughts.

I finished my meal and was ready to leave.

He stood by the parking lot, legs at ease, hands folded across his chest, and eyes remained squinted.

I could tell he was having second thoughts about letting me go on my own. I had a driver taking me there, but he wasn’t going to interfere at all. No guards or anyone who would also interfere.

I walked back to him when I saw him standing like he was contemplating.

"I will be back before you know it. You don’t have to come with me, okay? Plus, I know you have me followed even though you said you wouldn’t." He looked at me with surprise, and I smiled.

"Thank you." I continued, making him even more surprised.

"I understand your reason for protecting me, and I am grateful for it. As long as your men will not interfere with my meeting or show their faces, then I am fine with it." I could see his expression morph into an appreciative one.

I slipped into the car, and the driver drove off.

After long minutes of driving through the bushes that made up the pathway to the pack, we finally busted out to the city, I could see cars and trucks speed through the expressway.

Not long, I started seeing the buildings I remembered. A smile spread across my face as memories of the swell time I had in the city resurfaced in my mind.

The car came to a halt in front of Arianna’s home. I was surprised that she hadn’t changed homes. Even after what happened the last time.

Anyone would be scared out of their minds and would run and hide as far as they can. Except, she remained there, hoping I would visit again. That felt like what Arianna could do.

I hopped out of the car and knocked on her door several times before I heard some noises inside.

The door swung open, and I saw my childhood friend standing on the other side of the door.

A squeal escaped my lips as I embraced her so tightly.

She was in a daze, but I didn’t give her the time to register my presence. I clung onto her like if I left her, I wouldn’t see her again.

She remained in my arms, didn’t pull back, and didn’t react.

For some seconds, I was the one clinging to her. Until... I heard my name.

"Nylah?" Her voice was croaked. She was about to cry.

I pulled back and stared at her.

"Yes? Arianna? It’s me, Nylah." She pulled me into another embrace. I thought I was going to break into two halves from the way she held onto me tightly.

***

"Where have you been? How have you been? I thought you were no more, I thought I wouldn’t see you again. Every night, I pray, hoping that you will find me again." She had a lot to say, and I let her pour out her mind before saying anything.

"I found my people, Arianna, my kind. You might not understand now, but I have found my kind, we look alike and do things alike too." I tried to put her mind at ease, but I couldn’t tell her about the pack and the wolves

There was just so much information she could handle. The last thing I want is for my friend to think I am mentally unstable.

"Then what about that dangerous man who took you? Where is he now?" She asked, I could hear the fear and contempt in her voice.

"He is there with me also," I replied.

"I thought you would no longer be here. How is life treating you? You know I didn’t give my life away to see you still struggling..." I teased with the last sentence, but her shoulders slouched.

"I could have moved out of this house after the first incident, but I didn’t want you to come find me one day and not see you. I know I am all you have. You would be devastated." She explained. Just like I thought.

"I have a smartphone now. We can keep in touch. You can move out of here if you don’t feel safe. Don’t hold back from living your best life because of me." I replied, and she nodded.

"After your last visit, two men came to see me. They asked me to pick between remaining in this house and moving out to a better place. They refused to say where they were from or who they were from, so I didn’t reply. The next day, the landlord texted me and said my flat had been purchased. I no longer pay rent."

My eyes widened.

"Really?"

She nodded slowly.

"The next day, I saw the documents of the house in my mailbox. Those men never showed their faces here again."

I shifted my gaze so she wouldn’t see my expression. I knew just one person who could do this,

Xavier.