We all took careful steps inside and entered what appeared to be a greenhouse, although I’d never seen one underground before. It was relatively small with some kind of special lighting. The plants and flowers that surrounded and cascaded around me were really beautiful, with vibrant and rich colors of green, yellow, orange, red, and purple. I was in awe, until Wesley turned to peer at me, and I quickly shifted my expression to indifference and narrowed my eyes at him.
“Oh, there you are, sugah?” a sweet voice squealed in delight.
I glanced over in time to see a strange woman coming from the back of the room with flowers draping in her gloved hands. She was an older woman, wearing a long plain dress with orange sneakers and a wide brim hat with a wreath of fresh flowers wrapped around it. Despite her odd, hippie style, her face was fresh and lovely, her eyes kind.
She passed all the boys and stopped right in front of me. I shifted my feet, slightly nervous as she studied me from head to foot. I was suddenly annoyed. “See anything you like?” I knew the words were wrong the moment they left my mouth.
She straightened and her soft eyes turned hard. “Now let’s get one thing straight right from the start. I’ll not tolerate any disrespect or backtalk. I didn’t allow if from any of my boys, and I won’t allow it from you. Are we clear?”
My face flushed with embarrassment, and I found myself nodding in agreement.
She smiled and her soft expression immediately returned. “Great, sugah. I think we’re gonna get along just fine. Now why don’t you follow me and I’ll take you to your room.”
She continued to talk as she led the way through her lovely space. “This is my greenhouse which my sweet husband made for me years ago. He knew how much I truly missed the outdoors and how much I loved flowers. I spend most of my time in here. My name is Nana Butterfly, and you must be Hope.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m Hope Mason,” I said, nodding as I continued to stare in awe at all the pretty flowers as we made our way to the back and came to a door.
“This will be your room for the time being. It’s small, I know, but since you’ll be working with me in my greenhouse, I thought it would be appropriate for you to stay close.”
My mouth fell open. “I’m what?” I shouted. “No one mentioned that I’d be put to work here.” I spun and came face to face with Wesley. “And I don’t need a babysitter!”
His eyes turned hard. “Well, it appears that you do. And my Nana has been gracious enough to take the job when no one else would. You should be grateful.”
I clenched my hands to keep from punching him in the face. “Well, I’m not grateful—for any of you! I’m leaving!” I stomped passed him and the others, and hurried my way back the way I’d come and no one tried to stop me. I’m not sure how, but before long I found myself exiting the garage and entering the forest. It was raining, but I didn’t care. I hated this place, and more importantly, I hated its pack leader.
Chapter Four
Hope
“Just where do you think you’re going?”
I spun, and had I not known him for his smug voice, I might not have recognized him at all. Wesley’s dark hair was wet and hanging longer around his face, covering part of his left eye, and his shirt was drenched and clinging tightly to his muscled chest. I stuck out my chin defiantly. “I don’t have anything to say to you! I’m leaving this crazy place and going home!”
“I don’t think so,” he laughed, grabbing my arm and spinning me to face him.
“Let go of me, you bully!” I jerked away too hard, slipping in the mud and landing hard on my butt.
Wesley began to laugh which only fueled my already hot temper. He reached out to help me up, but I slapped his hand away. “Get away from me!”
He towered over me, droplets falling from his hair and running down his face. “It’s a good thing you have that voluptuous rumpus to break your fall, huh, Trouble?”
“Shut up!” I yelled, getting to my feet only to slip again.
He laughed louder but this time he took a hold of my arm firmly and lifted me to my feet. Suddenly, he stopped short, his eyes going wide.
“What?” I asked in alarm, following his gaze to the top of my shirt. I gasped. There, dripping from my hair and covering my shirt, was pink hair dye. I glanced back to him and recognized the look in his eyes; an idea was forming. I backed away, raising both of my hands in defense. “No, no, no!” I yelled, but it was too late.
In one swift move, he took me by the waist and slung me over his shoulder as he bolted through the forest in a full run. “You little witch! All this time you had in wash-in color just to irritate me! Well, we’re gonna take care of that right now!”
“What are you gonna do?” I kicked and screamed, fighting with all my strength to break free, with no success. “Wesley, no! Let me go!”
“With pleasure.” He stopped abruptly, and before I could collect my bearings, I was dropped, and submerged, into freezing cold water. I came up quickly, gasping for air. “What are you doing?” I screamed, glancing around and realizing that we were near the bank of a lake, and I was sitting, fully clothed and submerged to my waist.
“I’m washing your hair for you,” he said, towering over me as he reached his hand to the floor, grabbing a handful of mud. He slapped it into my hair and began working it through my wet locks.
“You are crazy! Let me go!” I screamed and fought, which only seemed to encourage him to continue. He massaged the thick mud into my hair and scalp as I slapped and fought until I was exhausted. He dunked my head then. I came up gasping. “You crazy son of—” He dunked me again, and again, until finally he jerked me to my feet and ushered me to the bank.
I stood there in shock, staring at his smug face.
“Wow, now it all makes since,” he said, taking a handful of my hair and studying the flaming red locks.
I jerked to my senses, slapping his hand away and pushing passed him in a rush. “You are a crazy jerk! And you’ll be sorry for doing that to me! You just wait and see!”
“You’re welcome!” he yelled as I ran all the way back to the facility—fighting tears the whole way.
I sloshed through the greenhouse, not stopping as I passed Nana Butterfly.
“Hmm, red hair. That explains things,” she said.
I stopped and turned to face her, ready to tell her off, when she removed her big brimmed hat, revealing a head full of flaming red curly locks. My eyes went wide in total surprise.
“It seems that we have something in common,” she said, her eyes gentle as she handed me the towel she had somehow managed to be holding. I took it and went straight into the small room, shut the door, plopped onto the bed, and cried myself to sleep.
Chapter Five
Wesley
I tossed and turned, trying to get that stupid redhead out of my mind, but it was no use. I growled, getting up from my bed and heading into my kitchenette to get a snack. I opened the refrigerator and grabbed an old piece of pizza from the box. I took a frustrated bite and chewed aggressively, not even taking the time to enjoy the flavor. I reflected back to our little confrontation in the forest. I managed to laugh when I remembered her expression as she slipped and fell in the mud, her eyes going wide with surprise. She looked so cute somehow—so
