THE OLD APARTMENT

The old apartment looked as if when we had left it. Red leather sofas, glass coffee tables, and a black fire place encased in glass. It was swanky... If a bit dated. As in totally retro level type of dated. There was a red phone with a cord on the sideboard by the entrance.

Everything looked freshly cleaned. Even the curtains. I could smell detergent still lingering in the air.

I found my room. It was my old nursery room, and took a different decoration style. While the rest of the apartment was black, or glass, or shiny, the nursery was a rustic pink wallpaper with tiny green ivy prints. The furniture had been changed though. There was a brand new grey bunk bed where my cot used to be and a pair of matching dressers. The built in wardrobe on the side was left opened and empty. The sliding door to the rooftop garden was left opened too. I guess they were airing the place.

My navy gym bag and Savy's colorful and furry overnight bag were sitting quietly next to the beds. I hung my school coat behind the door. Opps, the inside of the coat now had the burnt odor. I took it off the door and walked across the room to a sliding glass door. Opening it, I stepped out onto some large flagstones and onto a roof garden. If my memory served me right, this garden would lead to my my parent's room too, but for now I was just going to leave my coat lying open on one for the flagstones to air.

Going back into the bedroom, I put my school bag on the dresser of my choice. It was the one closer to the bathroom - which I remembered had a bathtub! Yay! Of course it would still be there. All I needed was my rubber ducky. I wondered what happened to my rubber ducky? I hadn't seen it for years!

Then I took out my toiletries... Aw... The inside of my bag stank too! The magazine! Grrr... I took out the magazine. But I couldn't leave it out to air. It's not exactly appropriate for underaged girls to own a fight dog magazine.

I stuck it back into my bag and zipped it up. Stupid mate. This was all Bell's fault.

In the bathroom, I found soaps and shampoos. Not anything I'd buy myself but they were actually nice ones. For some reason whoever stocked the bathroom for the alpha's daughters had decided on a selection of colorful fruit scented toiletries. It made me laugh, "Humpfft. So cute." But I couldn't help the smile that snuck on my face.

I picked the bottle of red liquid labeled strawberry and kiwi. I mean, might as well.

After the shower, I got dressed into the t-shirt and sweatpants I found in my gym bag. I put on the dark navy hooded vest I was wearing last night too. I didn't think it would match. But it turned out looking understated cool. I guess if you throw various shades of greys and dark blues together, it's hard to go wrong. I headed out to reacquaint myself with the rest of the apartment.

Hi! I'm Sam. Remember the loud slobbery pup who used to live here? I'm back! At least that would have been what I would say if my furniture talked.

But the moment I stepped out of my room, I realized I wasn't alone in the apartment anymore. Someone was here and the intruder wasn't my mum or dad or Savy. I sniffed the air... Male, and familiar, but so faint I couldn't place it.

I listened, the apartment was still and silent... maybe the intruder had left. And instead of robbing our home of the retro antiques, had done quite the opposite.

There were boxes of appliances, and large paper bags all over the living room floor. There was stuff on the sofa and coffee table. It was like someone got drunk, bought the entire shopping mall at Gate City, and vomited the stuff all over our apartment.

I tried to look around but there were too many bags to wade past. What in the world...

The front door suddenly unlocked. I heard the quiet whirr and click. The door opened and a pile of bags balanced on a large box with the picture of a five piece pot set came through the door.

"Killion?" I asked.

The door closed, apparently, Killion was alone.

"Where's Mum?" I asked.

"Still shopping. Harvey's with her. And the girls and Willow and Laura." Killion managed to put the stuff down on what's left of the floor space. "That's the last of it... for now. I'll have to go back and rescue Harvey in a bit. You smell yummy goddess. Like strawberries and cream."

"Stupid." I scolded. But his tone was brotherly and casual, so I couldn't muster much offense.

Killion was trying to get the bags in order. I would help, but I was stuck behind a sea of shopping bags.

"I knew fruit would be a good scent for the both of you." Killion grinned, "Young maiden wolves always have that sweet cream smell."

"You sound like a perverted old wolf." I informed him.

Killion just laughed, "Which makes me perfect. Did you know Savy and Lizzy had officially appointed me your new stylist?"

"Even Luna complimented my taste." He boasted. He had finally managed to clear a pathway to the kitchen and was picking up boxes of kitchenware into it.

"Oh yeah?" I made a pathway to the kitchen, but unlike Killion who had carefully picked up the bags and grouped them into piles, I simply used my foot to shove the stuff to the side. Killion made a face as he watched me wreck a path through the expensive bags.

"I was trained to shop clothing and houseware for the alpha family." Killion informed me.

Beta magic again.

"Oh." I suddenly had an idea, "Be right back!"

I turned back into my room. Killion immediately bent over to pick up the crushed paper bags I had kicked aside to check them. By the time I returned, there was a neat pathway and Killion was at my door with a two bunches of bags.

I let him into our room. Seeing my school bag on one of the dressers, he put down one of the bunches of bags next to it. Then he placed the other bags by the other dresser. "Clothes for the both of you."

In turn, I passed him the singed copy of CROWN CAGE, "Keep this for me."

Killion raise a brow at it, and then he sniffed it, and then he looked at me.

"Don't ask. If anyone else asks, it's yours." I told him.

That would be perfect. I grinned. I'm so smart.

"Sure. Okay." Killion agreed easily. He left the room with my magazine. I followed him and he picked a few bags and brought them to what used to be a small study room. Now I saw it had been converted to another bedroom.

"Why are there bunk beds here too?" I asked from the doorway.

"In case Harvey needs a place to crash the night." Killion easily dropped the magazine off on top of the desk by the door. He opened up the cupboard next to it and threw in the paper bags. I guess those were clothes for him.

"Oh yeah, Killion, could you buy me a car?" I asked. I took out the debit card from my pocket.

Killion froze as if he could not believe what he was hearing. He looked at the card in my hand and asked carefully, "What kind of car?"

OMG he was exerting a lot of effort just to mask his excitement.

"A dark blue one." I told him. "Dad said he wants the card back along with a report of some kind."

"An expense report?" Killion asked.

"Yes." I said, recognizing the term, "Also you're in charge of driving and maintenance."

Killion grinned, "Leave it to me."

"Don't get anything too flashy." Now I'm beginning to worry about handing the card to him like that.

Killion held out his hand for the card, "Sure, like I said, leave it to me goddess."

I hesitated. Killion took the card from me, "I know just the car."

"It has to be dark blue!" I said, And practical too!"

"And cool and sleek and the exact color of your hair." Killion added. He was flipping on his phone, and showed me a picture.

Looks like Shannon wasn't the only guy who kept pictures of his dream car on his phone? Did all guys do this?

"It only has two doors." I observed.

But the color was really nice, a metallic super deep blue.

"It's got four seats inside." Killion assured me.

"It looks too cool." I said.

"Not with me driving. We'll match your new alpha wardrobe, goddess." Killion assured me.

"What alpha wardrobe?" I asked.

All it took was one fire for my whole life of belongings to be wiped away. My kindergarten sweatsuit, my torn jeans...everything. And before I could even think what I wanted to do with this blank slate, it seemed to have been already filled up.

"Never mind, just deal with the car." I said. I needed to go back to my room to check out the clothes.

"So this car? Alternatively, we can do a double cab pick up truck." Killion offered.

I froze... "In dark blue?" I asked.

"Of course." Killion assured me.

I narrowed my eyes at him. And then I asked, "Which do you prefer?"

Killion looked uncomfortable for a moment before he answered, "The truck would be more practical for hunting and such. The car would be more presentable."

"Yeah, but which one do you want?" I pressed.

Killion sighed, "The truck could be really useful for your 'personal projects'."

That's right, my 'personal projects'.

"I can ask Harvey to rig it like his. You can transport wolves, weapons, equipment, very practical." Killion said.

"But you prefer the car." I realized.

I thought about it for a moment. A truck was definitely more practical. Killion seemed to think so too. His earlier enthusiasm which he could barely disguise had all but faded back to his usual benign self.

"Let's get the car." I decided.

Killion looked surprised, and then he spoke seriously, "This would be your car, goddess. You should choose what is best for you."

"Just get the car, Killion." I stepped away from his room.

Killion had to work very hard to keep his cool when he answered, "Yes, goddess."

Hahahaha... I left him to have his own private celebration over a car. I hoped I was not making a mistake.

I returned to my room. I'm supposed to do my homework till Mum got back, but now that Killion said those things about my wardrobe... I probably should just take a peek.

If I didn't like the clothes, I could at least send them back with Killion to return to the store.

The first bag had something black, which was promising... A bag? Oh no! A black leather jacket! I put it on immediately. I was so happy. T.T

It wasn't punk or biker looking either. It was fitting. It had pockets in the right places. And it was seriously soft.

I can't believe my mum allowed it.

I opened the next bag before I even took off the jacket. T-shirts, OMO I loved them immediately. They had faded graphics printed on it.

One of them had a Buttercup from the Powerpuff Girls saying "Don't call me princess!"

Another one with rainbows said, "Always be yourself, unless you can be a unicorn. Then always be a unicorn."

The last one had a low power battery printed on it.

I was grinning by the time I saw the third one. There was also a white thing with patterns cut into it which turned out to be a dress. The kind you could wear for a proper tea party. And leggings, in two shades of grey, navy blue, and black. All solid colors.

Next bag was from a sports apparel brand and had a pair of white high top trainers and a box of socks in white, grey, and black.

From the same store was another bag. This one had sports bras, joggers, and a gym jacket. everything was in black, or grey, or navy except for the gym jacket which was blue. Oh... And a blue grey cap at the bottom of the bag. I put it on.

Killion came in to find me sitting in a pile of opened shopping bags. He was carrying an armful of clothes hangers.

"This feels like all the Christmases ever combined together!" I announced.

Killion had laughed at that. He hung the hangers into the opened wardrobe.

"How did you convince my mum to get me stuff like this?" I had to know.

"I merely pointed out that these were basic essentials and should be bought with the next five years in view." Killion shrugged it off lightly. He paused when a mind link came, frowning just a bit, "Harvey wants me back at Gate City. I have to go. Is there anything else you need?"

I shook my head. I could live in joggers and t-shirts for the rest of my life without complaint.