I took a sip of the drink that Miss Jo handed and coughed slightly. I hadn't realised it was alcohol. "Sorry Miss I should have warned you that it was wine." She said regrettably. "It's fine Miss Jo, really." I said smiling at her. She smiled back quickly and nodded. She turned to walk away but stopped after a couple of steps. "Miss, by the way...Happy Birthday." I looked at her questioningly. "Steve mentioned it earlier Miss..." I nodded and turned away heading out the door. I heard the door open quickly behind me. "Miss... Wait please..." I turned back to Miss Jo. "Miss, this isn't my place to say, but I'm only trying to help... I'm hoping when the time comes that you make the right choice..." She turned around and went to open the door. "Miss Jo! Wait a minute. Everyone keeps mentioning things like that and I don't understand. It's becoming really frustrating. Please explain more..." I asked in an almost begging tone.

She sighed and stepped back closer to me. "We aren't ment to interfere Miss....I shouldn't have even mentioned what I did...All I can say is, no matter what Mater Alec does, trust him..." She turned and walked away leaving me just as confused as I was before hand. I sighed and walked back down the hall to join everyone. I stepped out and walked around the edge of the party. People were drinking and talking in scattered groups. They barely noticed me on the edge as I watched them. A group of woman spotted me and walked over towards me.

"So your the brothers little pet?" One of them said in a nasty tone. The others sniggered at it. "I don't even see what the interest in her is." another joined in. "Come girl, what do they want with a simple little human wondering around. Are you just a small piece of entertainment for them?" I frowned at her statement. "Cat..." Lucus stepped up beside us. I had to say for once I was glad to see him. "What are you doing with Evelyn here? Trying to mark your territory a little?" Cat scoffed at him. "Like I need to against a simpering piece of...." He cut her off with a soft growl. "I would watch that tone Cat, you may find your self a little colder than normal..." She huffed at Lucus and walked away with her entourage on her heels. I looked up at Lucus. "Thank you... I think..." He smiled down at me. "I wouldnt go saying that yet..." He then stepped closer and placed his hand on my lower back as he lent closer to my ear. "She wasn't far from being wrong...Pet..." He then stood up with a straight face and looked at me coldly before walking away.

My heart started to race slightly and I was beginning to find it hard to breath. I looked around and spotted the front door open. I walked around the outside of everyone to the front door and stepped outside. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, tilting my head back slightly. I opened my eyes and breathed out. I stared off into the tree line and stepped down towards it. Pet. The word stung a little. I had gone from being just a piece of luggage that got sold to being a pet. I took a couple more steps forward as tears started forming in my eyes. I just wanted to go and hide. Hide anywhere but here. I rubbed my hand across my stomach as I tried to hold in the tears that where threatening to fall at any moment.

"Planning on heading into the forest... Alone...This late at night?" I almost jumped out of my skin. I turned and Alec was standing right behind me. "No...I was, just...I needed air..." I trailed off as I looked away from him. It felt like he could see straight through me. He reached out and lifted my chin gently until I was looking at his face again. "You don't need to hide Evelyn." He let go and I turned away as I felt a single tear start rolling down my cheek. "I'm fine really. I just feel so out of place in there..." I felt him step up right behind me. He placed his hands lightly on my hips and turned me around. "You belong here now, more than any of the other people standing in there." He pulled me to his chest as another tear fell. He wrapped his arms around me gently and just held me for a moment.

He finally let me go and I stepped back smiling at him sadly. "Am I really just a pet to you and your brother's?" His face clouded over for moment. "Who said that? And no. You are nobody's pet Evelyn." I nodded. "No one... It doesn't matter." I shifted slightly on my feet. "Then why am I really here? I don't understand why you would bring a complete stranger into your home and give them everything with out expecting anything in return." He sighed heavily. "It's hard to explain, and I promise eventually I will, but for now I need you to trust that this is your home. Anything you need will be given to you, no matter what it is." I nodded at him. "Can I ask for one thing?" He smiled. "Anything." I looked at him a little unsure. "I've always wanted to learn to ride." He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow so I continued quickly. "It's just...Being my Birthday...I thought...maybe, just maybe... I...