She's a Little Runaway (Alek)

[Christine Montgomery]

Once again Christine found herself knocking on his door in the middle of the night. This time however she had a packed duffel bag slung over her shoulder.

It hadn't been a pleasant conversation by any means when she told her parents she was leaving. They had initiated the conversation by chastising her yet again for leaving the castle without supervision. The fight had escalated until Christine simply told them she was leaving packed her bags and walked out of the castle without looking back.

It wasn't the smartest move as she hadn't looked for a new place to live yet, but she would manage somehow.

Her first thought was to go to the Avalon, but there were so many memories there she couldn't bring herself to do it. There were other hotels of course, but one by one she tossed them out. In the end she didn't quite want to be by herself yet, so she went to the one place that had felt like home since she'd been kidnapped.

She chewed on her lip and wondered what Alek would do.

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

It took a while for Alek to answer the door as he had been on the far side of the house. Luckily it was not raining tonight, though there was a chilled wind that blew at him as he opened the door. Christine was standing on his porch, flooded in moonlight.

"Another enchanting surprise," he said as he saw her. He looked to the duffle on her shoulder and furrowed his brow. "Off to New Zealand then, love?" The middle of the night was a strange time to start a voyage.

[Christine Montgomery]

"Actually...I decided to stay." she said twisting her hands in front of her. She hadn't really thought this out, and was now starting to feel uncomfortable.

"Here with you...if you don't mind...just for a couple of days." she was still twisting her hands and giving him a weak quasi 'please' in the form of a smile.

It faded as she continued to talk, to explain "I kind of just packed a bag and left, and now I'm realizing how I lack impulse control, and this is totally rude of me so just forget I asked. I can go stay at a hotel. I'm sorry for bothering you." she turned to leave. Her entire body rigid with embarrassment her face flushed and hidden from him.

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

His brow raised in surprise as she invited herself to stay with him and his sister for "a couple of days." He could see she was uncomfortable having not thought out her plan and was now second guessing her assumption that he'd easily welcome her into his home. It was a strange demand in the middle of the night, but an appealing one.

He had faltered the last time she was here. Foolishly he thought he had some feelings for her and stopped himself before he could take her. Having had time to reflect, he knew now that those feelings were insecurities perpetrated by the lasting effects of self doubt his father had knocked into him. But he was not the pathetic wolf his father had thought him to be. 

Alek smiled as he realized he now had a second chance at gaining a leg up on his abhorrent brother. "At least give a guy a chance to invite you in," he said charmingly as he stepped back, opening the door further to welcome her in.

[Christine Montgomery]

She stopped in her tracks, a slow smile of relief showing on her face, she schooled herself to have a calm expression before turning back and facing him.

"For a second I thought you were going to make me find a hotel." she teased with gratitude as she approached him at the door. Her bag plus her made the doorway a tight fit and she lingered in front of him for a half a second longer than necessary, her eyes fell to his lips then back to his eyes as she gave him a half smile and entered the house completely.

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

"I hardly think its appropriate to turn away a beautiful runaway in the middle of the night." One side of his mouth curved upward into a smile. He waited until she was fully inside before shutting the door. He turned slowly to face her.

"This is two nights in a row, love. I'm not opposed to midnight guests, but a bit of explanation would be welcome." He took her duffle from her shoulder and set it against the wall, his eyes trained on her face.

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine took a deep breath preparing to tell him the reluctant story, she stuck to the facts and briefly explained that the situation at home had become too stifling.

"So I packed a bag and left. Did I mention I lack impulse control?" she added, "I just need a place to crash for a few days while I stake out apartments."

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

Alek was fairly certain she had other friends she could have gone to for a place to stay. And he was pretty confident that Christine knew he would recognize that, and yet here she was like a lamb to the slaughter. He just needed to make sure Lex didn't interfere with his plans, luckily she was working so much lately she was rarely home, but when she did show up she could make a mess of things. Alek would need to be smart about handling the two fiery women in his home.

"Then a few days you shall have," he said with a smile.

He picked up her bag and walked past her, gesturing for her to follow. He led her down a corridor in the opposite direction of his office, she had yet to visit this side of the expansive house. The corridor ended after passing only a few rooms and they were met with two staircases; one leading up to a second floor and one leading to what would appear to be a basement. Alek took the stairwell to the second floor.

"I hope this room will be to your liking," he said as he pushed the door open and let her enter before him. The room was spacious and filled with ornate furniture of red mahogany. There were large windows who curtains were pulled shut, but when opened would look out over the woods that their property backed up to. The wallpaper was a soft blue regent pattern and on the far wall was the faded outline of where used to hang a large painting, which was currently slashed and tossed in a corner of the closet. Alek had long ago forgotten about his family's portrait that hung in his mother's room.

[Christine Montgomery]

"Wow..." she said entering the room and taking in the high ceilings, "I guess I've never really seen beyond your study that I just assumed I'd be sleeping on a couch. This is..." she smiled her eyes finally settling on him.


She pursed her lips to the side "Are you trying to impress me Mr. Eiriksen?"

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

Alek laughed as he set her bag on the bed. "If I wanted to impress you I'd have shown you the library," he commented. The house was very large, though nothing compared to the mansion Christine's family lived in. But as werewolf royalty the Eiriksens did quite well for themselves.

"Of course if you'd prefer to sleep on the sofa I'm sure we could make arrangements," he added in a cheeky manner.

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine resisted the urge to ask about the library, but her interest was clear as her features lit up. She also resisted the urge to ask where his room was.

She was playing with fire when it came to Alek. She was attracted to him that was true. He could also make her laugh and feel comfortable. But she knew she was still in love with Dorian, and she didn't want to complicate things.

"It's lovely. Thank you."

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

He noticed her interest immediately and decided if she was to spend a few days here she would need to know her way around. It was rather late, but both he and Christine seemed adept at keeping late hours. He was a creature of the night, after all.

"Would you like a tour?"

[Christine Montgomery]

It was dawning on Christine how inappropriate her actions were, though she didn't regret them, she did want to moderate her boldness.

"I'm sure you've got plenty of things to do other than escort me around. I know where the bathroom is. I'm solid." she said sheepishly placing her hands in her back pockets.

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

Alek nodded, taking no offense to her polite refusal. "The kitchen is back through the corridor at the other end of the house. Make yourself at home to whatever you need."

He headed toward the door but hesitated just before leaving. He turned, attempting to keep his face neutral so as not to raise any suspicions or intrigue her. "You have free reign of the place while you're here, but please stay out of the basement. It's not safe."

She was an adventurer, it would be hard to not entice her by his request but if he played to her kindness and desire for affection it might win over her spirit of exploration. And he couldn't have her wandering just anywhere.

[Christine Montgomery]

She raised a brow at his request, "Is that where you stash the bodies?" she teased.

Before she could promise to stay out of the basement she turned serious, "Thank you for taking me in Alek. You always seem to save me."

She gave him a small smile, and a part of hear heart constricted as he stood there. He was always saving her. If only she had met him before Dorian.

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

"Remember how much you like me tomorrow. Today was an anomaly as my sister made me seem charming in comparison, but I can assure you I am a beast in the morning." Alek turned and left, shutting the bedroom door behind him. He headed down the stairs, then turned sharply and took the second staircase toward the basement.

At one point this floor served as something of a small dungeon. Alek had been locked in one of the rooms as a child during full moons whenever his father felt he had not proven himself worthy of joining the pack on their hunt that month. Lex would bring him food and water, she was the only one who visited him while locked away. Even though Eirik would be gone all night with the rest of the wolves and would have never known if she defied him, Adelina followed her husband's orders and left Alek alone as a wolf pup.

But these bad memories were not why Alek didn't want Christine wandering around down in the basement. The room where Alek and his most trusted wolves conspired was full of his plans for European domination. Intimate details of his pack were locked away in that room. And most importantly, Alek's worst memories of his youth were kept in secret. The lasting effects of his father's abuse did not need to be connected to specific memories. Had Alek kept them inside his head he would have likely gone insane. Magic was a wonderful gift that allowed Alek to extract the images from his head and lock them away.

Alek checked that the door at the foot of the stairs was securely locked, then headed back to the main floor and to his room.

[Christine Montgomery]

The day had been all together too eventful and Christine had no trouble falling asleep on the luxurious bed. Like all large houses, there were sounds and happenings that might have kept her up were she not so exhausted.

She'd begin her search in the morning and do her best to be a good house guest. The more she thought of it the more audacious her behavior had been. She hardly knew Alek and yet she seemed to throw herself at him at every possible opportunity. Was she merely running away from her heartache or running toward something new? She didn't know, but perhaps living with him - even just for a few days - would give her an opportunity to find out.