Chapter 2
20 Years Later
P. O. V: Fallon
I am exhausted. I hate travelling to the human realm. I hate dealing with the humans and all their paperwork and red tape. After 6 weeks of phone calls, meetings and filling in forms, I’ve finally got T.J.’s car on its way to the territories. He just had to have it. He wasn’t concerned with the logistics of getting it back home, as usual he just told me what he wanted, and I was expected to do it. I know it’s not really his fault I’ve always done whatever he wanted, whenever he asked. I’ve been in love with T.J. since we were kids. He had never noticed; I wasn’t on his list of wants.
The small plane bumped and rolled to a stop. I slowly lifted my head of the window. This trip had really taken it out of me, I couldn’t wait to get home to my own bed. The doors of the plane slowly lowered, so I grabbed my carry on and exited the plane, onto the tarmac. There was a car ready and waiting for me. The airport staff were already loading the luggage into the boot. I was having to stay at the B&B on the small island for two nights before we would be in The Territories.
The boot slamming closed pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up to see the chauffeur standing by the back door waiting on me climbing in. I turned around to face the plane and the airport staff again.
“Thank you everyone for the as always, pleasant flight. I hope you all have a wonderful day and thank you for your time and service.”
I turned back to the car and made my way to the back seat. I nodded a thanks to the chauffeur as I got in. The door closed and we were pulling away a few minutes later. I leaned my head onto the window again, enjoying the coolness of the glass against my skin. I just wanted to go back home, but there were six other girls who were joining me on the trip back to The Territories, at least it wasn’t just me. They would be joining me either tonight or tomorrow, then we would be in the Territories the day after.
We soon pulled up to the small B&B. It didn’t look like much. Just an aged 3 story cottage, absolutely nothing remarkable, but in our world looks could be deceiving. The B&B was in fact The Gate to The Territories. We would all wake up the day after tomorrow in the same B&B but instead of being on this small, deserted island of the coast of Scotland, we would be right in the heart of The Territories. It was quite disorientating if you weren’t used to it. I would have to help the girls who had never been before.
I felt sorry for the poor girls. They were being forced to go by The Council. From what T.J. had told me some of them had been born in The Human Realm, had never stepped foot in The Territories before. They might have a hard time adjusting, I would have to keep an eye on them.
The chauffeur opened my door, cutting of my worries for the incoming girls. I stepped out the car. I stood and took in the building in front of me you would never know to look at it that it was one of the most magical buildings in the world. As I was looking it over, two young men came out the front door to take my bags. It was the usual boys who worked here. We had gotten to know each other over my many trips to the human world to collect things for T.J. They were good kids, always looking for anyway to help.
I rummaged around in my bag for my purse. The B&B was all paid for by T.J. in advance, but I always like to tip the boys well, they worked hard to help their family., The boys were brothers and came from a family of 8 pups. Their poor mother had just lost her mate and was taking it hard, so the boys and their older brothers had all gotten jobs to help pay for the things their mum and siblings needed. As I said good kids, they would make good pack wolves too once they were a bit older.
I walked up the steps and into the B&B. The older witch who ran the place was as usual behind her desk working away. Eventually she realised I was there and looked up.
“Oh, Fallon, It’s you lovely. It’s been a while, it’s so good to see you.”
“ You to, Mrs Anderson.” I said with a genuine smile, I love this old Witch.
“Fallon how many times must I tell you it's Pearl to you?” I laughed as she walked around the desk to give me a huge, motherly cuddle, another reason I loved this woman, she wasn’t shy to give out love, even if sometimes it was tough love.
“You know me Pearl I just always want to show my respect for my elders.”
“Less of this elder’s nonsense, I’m still 22 at heart.” She laughs out.
“How are my boys doing? I saw them grab my luggage.”
“Oh, you know them. They act like everything is normal all the time. They won’t ask for help. They only thing they let me do is give them first choice of any overtime.”
“Oh, Pearl I wish they would let us in. All I want is to see them happy.”
“Me too, love, until they do, there isn’t much we can do. So, you get your butt upstairs and have a rest. The other girls won’t be here until after dinner so do you want me to send you up some food in a few hours?”
“As always, you know just what is needed, that sounds perfect.”
“Great, well you head up, here's your key and you’re in room 12. The one with your favourite view once we get back.”
“Oh, you spoil me. Thank you, Pearl” I gave her a huge cuddle. This woman made my horrendous trips to the human realm worth it. I loved her like you would a favourite Aunt.
I left Pearl to her work. As I started climbing the stairs to the first floor, I heard the boys coming down. I already have a tip in my hand ready when we eventually met. I had learned early on that if I tried to give them more than the normal amount, they wouldn’t take it. Pearl and I had come to a little agreement instead. I paid money every month to Pearl who gave to boys’ overtime at the B&B. I had to talk Pearl around to start with, she had already been giving the boys as much extra work as she could afford and didn’t want me paying for work, she would get the benefit of. She eventually agreed when I told her I was getting really good value for money, not only did I feel like I was helping the boys out, I also felt better knowing she had more help around here, and both she and the boys got to keep a little bit of pride.
I got to my room and opened the door. My luggage was already on the bench at the foot of the bed. There wasn’t much point in unpacking, so I decided to leave it there, I was only here for two nights. I walked across to the big bay window on the other side of the room. It was one of my little happy places. Many nights I had spent curled up on the seat with a good book or watching the storms off the coast. There wasn’t much of a view while we were here in the human realm. Just a flat barren island, no plants or trees, no animals and not a single other building other than the B&B and the small aeroplane hangar and runway on the other side of the island.
I sat down with my legs tucked under me and looked out towards the sea. It would have to be a good book tonight, the sky was all grey and the sea was calm, not a storm cloud in sight. Goddess, I hope that this is the last trip for a while. Everyone seemed to take more and more out of me. I got lost in my thoughts of what T.J. would be wanting next and if I would mean more travelling. I had no idea I had sat so long, and it wasn’t until someone knocked on the door making me jump, I realised it was dinner time.
I opened the door to find the boys each holding a tray with huge grins on their faces. Despite my low mood I couldn’t help but smile back. I nodded my head towards the room and stepped back to let them in. In one corner of the room was a small table and two chairs. The boys put the trays down on the table. Before I knew it, I was wrapped up in the biggest bear hug from them both.
“We’ve missed you, Fallon. It feels like months since we saw you.” Reilly mumbled into my hair.
I couldn’t help but giggle, “it’s only been 6 weeks or so.”
“Feels like longer. At least this time you’re with us two nights not just one.”
“Are you boys working tomorrow as well?” I enquired as they eventually released me.
“Yeah, we are. Pearl got extra from the council so that she could have help when everyone arrived. So even though we are too young to find our mates this time around, we are at least getting plenty of extra hours.”
“I hope you boys aren’t working too hard though. I know you do a lot at home as well.” I really did worry about these two, so young to be taking on so much.
“Our brothers and sisters have been helping out a lot more with us doing more hours.”
“That’s good I suppose. How is your mama doing?”
“The same really. She gets out of bed now to have her meals. It's not a lot, but it is a huge step in the right direction.”
“Hopefully she is on the mend, and you can go back to your mischievous old ways in no time.”
“Who us? Fallon, you know we are perfect angels, no idea where you get this, mischievous ways nonsense from.” The boys headed towards the table, trying to hide their chuckles as the lifted the lids of the trays.
I ended up sitting at the table with Reilly while Rex sat on the floor, and we all had dinner together. I liked spending time with the twins and with them all stuck here till the day after tomorrow we were as well having dinner together.
“So, one of the other girls is coming in a couple of hours. Do you fancy helping welcome her with us?” mentioned Rex as he put away their dinner things on the trays.
“Why would you need my help boys? With those dimples and all that charm you two have she wouldn’t even notice I’m here.”
“Well, she has never actually been to the territories before, she was born in the human realm. We’ve been told by the council to help answer any of her questions, but Rex and I have never been further than the island in the human realm. We have no idea how it differs from our world. We’re both kind of worried about saying something wrong.”
I let out a long sigh as my shoulders drooped a bit. I still felt exhausted, all I wanted now I was fed was a nice shower and bed. All it takes is looking at Reilly and Rex’s puppy faces for me to cave though. Damn boys and their dimples. They were going to leave a trail of broken hearts if they didn’t meet their mates at 21.
“Fine I’ll come down and welcome her. I don’t know how much help I’ll be or if I’ll even be needed. Pearl will be there too.” The boys gave her huge, big grins. “On one condition though.” their smiles dropped a little. “You take those dishes down and get them clean and away for Pearl while I have a shower to freshen up.”
“You’re the best Fallon.” It was Rex that hugged her; he was usually the quieter and more reserved of the two.
“Yeah. Yeah. Now move it the two of you, you’ve got dishes to do.”
The two pups bounced about making sure her room was back to being spick and span. I was holding the door open for them when they both leaned in and gave me a kiss on the check, making me blush.
“Thanks Fallon” the two of them chorused at the same time, which at least made me chuckle instead of blush.
Once they were out the door, I closed it and headed to my suitcases. I pulled out some jeans and one of T.J.’s shirts, along with my toiletries bag. I had a habit of stealing one of his shirts when I had to go away, they were comfortable and with the right styling could look smart casual. They also had to bonus of smelling like him until it was washed again, which this one had been at the hotel I was staying at in the Human realm. I decided to wear it again because being this close to home was making me homesick.
I was all showered and dressed, ready to go down and find out who we were welcoming before they got here. I was sitting on the chair where I’d had dinner with the boys. I was looking at the bed rather longingly. I just wanted to sleep. Seems I just couldn’t say no to helping someone out.
