Ayla and Alexander had made their way to town, just as the trio of guards followed a little way behind.
Scarlet Crest was old but thriving in its own way.
To Dominic, Phoenix, and Raphael's surprise, it was lively, but they never cared to get the name of the town they visited often.
When they went after Ayla, it was mostly on the outskirts, in an effort not to interact or get caught by the people.
This was different.
Everything was different about their mission that time.
It wasn't at all what they expected, but at the same time, they didn't know what to expect.
Not really.
Now that they had arrived, it was time to find sanctuary.
The team of men noticed that a few of the older, larger buildings had official-looking, large golden shields hanging on them.
Over top of the shields borne the words Scarlet Crest in large gold letters, but it didn't occur to them that it was the name of the town.
After walking a few blocks, they were shocked to see just how big the town really was, with the streets littered with shops, restaurants, businesses, hotels, apartment buildings, and even a school and church along the way.
It was more surprising that they were made of more than just wood and brick, too.
The town seemed mixed with all kinds of building materials, making them look at each other, curious about what this town could offer them, but they tried not to think that way.
They didn't have to go too much farther to find out just what luxuries were awaiting them.
Just a few blocks in, they found the perfect hotel.
As the guards checked into their rooms, they were excited to see them.
The rooms themselves were a mix of light and dark colors, but welcoming, open, and inviting.
When it came to the beds, they were ecstatic that they were comfortable, but they were completely over-decorated.
"Who needs all this crap. Beds are for two things: sleep and sex. What the hell" Raphael exclaimed.
His face was priceless as he held his hands out in displeasure.
Phoenix was laughing at him, but he tried not to.
"If it bothers you that much, just take it off" Phoenix said.
Dominic was now joining, as they couldn't help but laugh at him.
Together, they all did the same thing with the beds that they would occupy.
First thing on the list for the three, remove all of the scratchy pillows and itchy comforter cover.
To their surprise, the big, fluffy, soft pillow and comforters were all okay.
Well, for the time being.
It was certain that if they got hot, those would also go.
None of them could stand to even think of being hot.
They were hoping that wouldn't be an issue during their stay.
After walking in, they noticed that their rooms were all individually temperature-controlled.
Dominic and his men liked that.
They liked that a lot.
Arctic temperature settings were set, and smiles followed.
Those men felt like they held the key to a luxury that they never thought they would have before.
'Everything is different, and I like it' Phoenix thought to himself.
Sure, they had homes that were nice and cozy.
This was all on another level.
The three of them felt fancy in this upscale hotel with the three bedrooms they had acquired.
At home, there would never be a hotel of any kind that had its bedrooms joined together like this.
They were blissfully unaware that they had secured a three-bedroom villa suite, which most common people could only dream of.
It wasn't because they had all kinds of money or wealth; it was because the woman checking them in thought Dominic was extremely handsome with his two young sons, and she didn't see a ring on his finger.
She wanted them to enjoy themselves, so that maybe they would stay longer, and she could approach him.
In addition to comfy beds and cold temperatures, the men enjoyed the personal fridge and full kitchen, mini bar, individual TVs, plus the living room with a TV, personal bathrooms with walk-in showers, and the views the rooms offered.
Dominic even had a private balcony peering into the forest.
He was happy that they accommodated his request of not being too high, because they didn't enjoy being too far from the ground, so the second floor was perfect.
Not as easily accessed from the outside, but able to flee if needed.
They essentially had a temporary apartment.
If they didn't enjoy where they lived so much, they might move to the city and make that their new home.
The idea was definitely tempting.
Better than all of that was the nightlife that was coming alive all around them, at least for the younger two.
The allure was calling to them.
At night, the three of them were in their element.
It was like the moon called to them, no matter what phase it was in.
They never felt more alive than when the beams grazed their skin.
As the moon was creeping its way closer to full, its pull increased.
In a way, Ayla felt it too, because she was always outside in one way or another at night.
She would find a rooftop, alleyway, abandoned car roof, or a field to linger in.
It really didn't matter to her.
Somehow, she found a way to soak up some moon rays.
With the guards settling into their new digs for the night, they decided to watch a few shows to acclimate to their new surroundings before heading out.
Mission day one would be recon.
Those included shows like bounty hunter shows, and party life shows.
They weren't sure if it was actually helpful, but they enjoyed it, nonetheless.
Not too far from them, Ayla was putting on a brave face.
It was time for her to embrace her new surroundings herself.
She decided to have faith and continue as planned, following Alexander to his home.
Before they made it there, they stopped and picked up the few things she had stashed around the city.
Clothes here, and odds and ends there to go with it.
Alexander took a mental note of everything as he watched.
All the places she stashed things were clearly places she had stayed for a minimum of a night.
The thought made his heart hurt as he collected her things into his left arm, noticing they all resembled a sort of camouflage.
Mostly, her clothes were dresses, black, dark greens, dark browns, and a few pairs of dark jeans with accompanying dark shirts.
The only thing she had that wasn't dark were her white shoes.
That actually made him smirk a little, 'white shoes' he thought, 'why white shoes'?
She didn't have much, but it wasn't nothing.
Actually, she had a little bit more than she thought originally, but that just made her feel better.
Slowly, they had made their way all over the town, in hopes that she had collected everything.
Now that she was confident, she had all of it, or at least the majority of it, they headed to his home.
As they made it to the door of his apartment, her nerves were having a hard time settling.
Alexander was a very perceptive person.
It was possibly because he was trained to be perceptive, but he knew she needed a little something to help.
Without saying a word, he pulled up the hand he was holding and gave it a gentle kiss.
She smiled a little, and she let out a tiny puff of air that told him she exhaled a little.
He did it again, and she looked at him.
That was his goal.
Once her face was looking in his direction, finally, as he finally planted just a tiny kiss on her supple lips.
Her eyes closed, and she felt like she could breathe.
Goal accomplished.
All he wanted was for her anxiety to calm down just enough for her to be able to breathe.
However, his hands were full.
He had her clothes in one hand, and he was holding her hand with his other one.
Alexander didn't want to add to the stress by telling her what to do or guiding her with words.
Instead, he used his instincts and hoped she would follow.
"I'm okay. Really, I am. I want to do this" she said as she stood in front of the door.
It sounded like she was still trying to convince herself, not him.
He looked at her, unsure of what to say exactly.
"Okay" he said.
She looked at him, and then he continued to speak.
"Whenever you're ready, we will go in. No rush. I know it's a big change for you. Everything is different. I will stand out here as long as you need. I'm here to protect you".
After he stopped talking, he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
Encouragement.
That was all she needed in that moment, was encouragement.
Looking down, she felt a feeling she couldn't describe as she talked to him.
"It's not what you think. I'm ready to be here. I want to stay. I can't remember the last time I had a real home with someone who actually wanted me. It's just..."
There it was, the but.
She was about to tell him why she couldn't do it.
The reason she couldn't go through those doors and be with him was...
"Well, if I'm being honest, I didn't get all the facts before agreeing to this".
His face became flat.
Unable to show any emotion as the words met his ears.
"I am not quite sure what you mean. I'm going to need a bit more information. In my mind, I feel like I am fairly certain I gave you all the information" he explained.
Alexander was making his best attempt to stay neutral in his feelings.
Ayla knew that he was upset, so she had to explain.
"No, you misunderstood what I said. Yes, you told me everything from your side. I, however, don't have all the facts. I don't know anything about your roommate except that he will hit on me. I don't know whether I need to worry about him. Is he a threat to me? What does he look like? WHO is he? How can I stay somewhere and feel safe if I don't have all the facts about where I'm staying" she asked.
That's when it clicked for him.
Everything is different for her.
Not only is she in constant fear of being kidnapped, but she is also a female with normal fears that every female has.
Which fear is the unknown roommate causing her?
Then he started thinking that it shouldn't even be normal for all women to have a general fear of all men.
It isn't right, but they all have the same fears.
They had to be extra cautious about everything.
He felt so stupid for not thinking about it.
He didn't have to think about those kinds of things like her.
It took him a minute to come up with a remedy and give her a response.
"My roommate is home now. If you would like to meet him, I would be happy to be there and stay by your side. I won't let anything happen to you. He is a good guy and would never let anything happen to you. He will help protect you just as I will. He, too, is a bodyguard. I know I said he would hit on you, but I only said that because I was trying to sound like a macho guy. Again, whenever you are ready, when can go in. If you changed your mind, I could take you wherever you decide to go instead".
His word about the roommate didn't mean anything, and he knew it.
Guys vouch for their friends all the time.
It would be up to her and his friend to build that trust.
She knew she didn't want to leave.
Standing outside the door made her feel like an idiot.
There was only one choice left.
She took in a deep breath and reached for the doorknob.
"I was supposed to do that for you, ma'am".
He quickly placed the hand that was once embracing her other hand over the top of the one now holding the knob.
"Together it is instead" he smiled.
Alexander was doing his best to subdue her anxiety, and it was working in a way.
Finally, he got her to open the door.
Then, he got her to step over the threshold.
After what felt like forever, he got her to close the door again behind them.
That was a major step.
If it were anyone else, maybe it wouldn't be, but this was the lone girl who had survived for so long, without anyone.
She allowed him to bring her home.
It was more than that.
Ayla let him take her into his home and allowed him to protect her.
Now it was time to show her that he was worthy.
Alexander didn't expect this to be easy, but he was willing to work for it, because somewhere deep inside, he knew she was worth it.
Just as the door closed, he could hear his roommate coming around the corner.
"Julius, we have a guest. Please be respectful" he shouted.
Ayla looked over at Alexander, confused as to why he would shout that instantly.
"I thought you said he was a good guy. Why would you have to remind him to be respectful and tell him you have a guest" she asked.
"You will understand in three...two...one...SLAM".
She could hear feet running away from them and a door slamming shut almost as soon as he finished saying one.
"He was naked, wasn't he"?
Alexander couldn't help but laugh as he nodded.
"He wouldn't have run off if he wasn't".
"Thank you for saving me from being scarred. I don't know how I would have handled that" she smiled.
"Simple, the same way you will handle everything else from this point forward. With my help".
He bent his head down to kiss her forehead.
It didn't take long for Julius to re-emerge from his room with shorts and a t-shirt this time.
The mysterious roommate was curious to see just who Alexander had brought home with him.
More so, he wanted to know where he had been.
There was no sense of privacy as Julius hollered down the hall.
"So, is this who you disappeared with for all this time"?
It wasn't hard to get that answer when he rounded the corner.
"Yep" Julius answered for himself.
He was in a chipper mood to see Alexander back and with a girl, so he felt like toying with him.
"She is gorgeous. How did you get your hands on her"?
There was nothing secretive or private about this roommate of his.
Alexander didn't know how exactly to answer that.
"It just happened".
Julius's face had a smile plastered on it.
"Does she know it happened" he chuckled.
Alexander rolled his eyes and smiled.
"Of course she does. That's why she has decided to come stay with me".
Julius about choked on the orange juice he had started downing.
"I'm sorry. You guys met how long ago? Like last night. Had to be, because you never mentioned her before that. You went out to get dinner and never came back. It's been like a day. What is going on? Is she, like, a witch or something? Are you okay? Blink twice if you need my help, either of you".
Alexander started laughing and shaking his head.
"Speaking of dinner, I'm starved, want to order in with us" Alexander asked his roommate.
It was clear that he was avoiding the topic and didn't want to discuss it.
Something was clearly up, but Julius didn't feel like it was his business.
He decided to wave the white flag for the time being.
"Is she staying, staying, or just staying" he asked to clarify.
"I don't really see the difference. Just know that she isn't going anywhere. She is with me, and I am protecting her" he said with a tone of finality in his voice.
That made more sense to Julius.
Dame in distress, what man could resist that?
Julius nodded in agreement at the last statement his friend made.
"Then, I will protect her, too. If she is with you, then she is important" he said, as any true best friend would say and mean.
There were no questions, no sense of hesitation from the roommate, just dedication to his friend and the girl he brought home.
Alexander licked his lips.
"Now that everything is settled, let's order some food. I know the two of us are hungry. After that, maybe we can think about hitting up the town".
Ayla looked at the two of them, confused.
"You don't have any questions, you trust him, and you want to take me out there"?
Suddenly, there were questions, as the two men looked at each other and back at Ayla.