Chapter 16


    Gannon POV


    When I asked Abbie what she liked in town, she sounded a bit distant, and I could not bring myself to


    get up and leave her side. She peeled the flesh from her fingertips in a manner that bothered me


    because she didn’t seem to even realize she was doing it. The entire drive home, she was off in her


    own little world, trapped in her thoughts while tearing her fingers to pieces.


    After we returned home, she went to theundry room to start theundry, and I followed her while she


    loaded the washer and waited until she finished it. As she was focused entirely on the task in front of


    her, she had no idea that I was behind her. Walking over, I picked up the basket for her.


    “Come on, I’ll help,” I tell her, and she seems unsure before sighing. “You don’t have to help me,” she


    says.


    “I want to,” I tell her, walking over to the clothesline. I set the basket down while retrieving the pegs.


    Due to tomorrow’s trip with the King, I had this afternoon off. In most cases, I would work having


    nothing better to do. Yet, with Abbie, I rather spend time with her than work.


    “What chores have you got to do next?” I ask her as she hangs a pillowcase.


    “Staff bathrooms, then mopping and whatever rice sends me off to do before I have to go back to


    the guard’s floor, your floor, and do the afternoon sweep of the rooms and restocking, then re-mop the


    floors and prep in the kitchen before serving. Then dinner, back to clear the rooms again and dishes


    plus checking theundry for extra loads of washing,” she tells me.


    “That’s fine, but how long typically does it take you to finish all that?” I ask her, and she nces at me


    over her shoulder.


    “Well, tonight’s roster is full, so 10 pm?” she says, and my brows furrow..


    “At what time did you start?”


    14:30,” she shrugs,


    “Am?” I ask, and she nods, grabbing more linens to hang onto the clothesline.


    “Why so early?” I asked, a little shocked at the crazy hours she was doing for a servant.


    “Damian likes me up to clean the gym before the men go in for training, though I didn’t know you


    trained with them,” she tells me.


    “Damian does mornings, and Liam and I alternate the nights. Mostly I do them. Liam has been filling


    most night hours. His paranoia keeps him awake,” I tell her, handing her some pegs before grabbing a


    sheet to hang.


    “Yeah, he seems a little-“Abbie pauses and I smirk, yet she doesn’t answer.


    “Unhinged,” I offer, and she chews her lip and peeks over at me.


    “He’s nice, though” she shrugs. If only she had seen him in his element, I don’t think nice would be how


    she would describe him. Psychotic, dangerous, a maniac maybe, but nice, definitely not.


    “I’ll speak with Damian. Does he know howte you work?” She shrugs before shaking her head.


    “I don’t think so. But, I don’t mind, it’s not every night I work thatte, and I don’t want to get into any


    trouble,” she says.


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    “Why would you get in trouble?” I ask her.


    “For not working enough” she states, pegging thest lot of linens on the line before retrieving her


    basket.


    “How about I help you finish your chores, and when we are done, we can go for a run? I will clear it with


    rice and Damian.” I tell her, and she looks toward the forest. Her eyes light up excitedly.


    “Really?” she asked, peering up at me before looking back at the castle.


    “But It will bete by the time I finish,” she says, looking at the forest longingly.


    “I will get someone to cover your afternoon shift. Come on, show me where to first,” I tell her, nudging


    her toward theundry doors.


    “Are you sure? It’s rather boring. I’m sure you can find better ways to spend your time,” she says,


    setting the basket on top of one of the washers and checking the others that were still running.


    “Hmm, I would rather hang out with you,” I tell her, and her face heats.


    “Why?” she chuckles, grabbing some cleaning supplies. “You’re prettier than Liam,” I snicker, and she


    raises an eyebrow at my words.


    “Where is Liam anyway? Usually, both of you are together,” she says, and I follow her upstairs to help


    her do her chores.


    “Probably harassing someone while working, or maybe with Dustin,” I tell her with a shrug, and she


    nods.


    I follow her around, helping herplete her chores before I tell her to grab a bag so she can put her


    clothes in it. While she does that, I went to clear it with rice.


    “You like her, don’t you?” riceughs, and I roll my eyes before sighing.


    “Maybe,” I tell her, and she shakes her head with a softugh.


    “Go on then; I will get Ester to cover for her. Have fun,” rice says, shooing me away. I let the guards


    on duty know we would be out in the forest by the river before notifying Damian about my whereabouts


    before going upstairs and shifting. I pack a change of clothes before knocking on Abbie’s bedroom


    door.


    “What did rice say?” she asks, nibbling on her lip as she peered out the door.


    “She got someone to cover for you, so we are free to leave,” I tell her, stepping into her room and


    grabbing the small bag sitting on the bed before grabbing her hand and tugging her downstairs. We


    step into the woods, and she wanders off toward a tree. I wait for her to shift when shees over to


    me with her uniform in her mouth. I crouch down, stuffing it in the bag before running my ws through


    her fur. She purrs, zipping in and out of my legs when I stand.


    Iugh, and she jumps up, pressing her paws on my stomach and rub her face, pressing my wolfish


    head against hers. “I’ll race you,” I tell her, licking her face before taking off before she realizes I just


    licked her. I hear her growl before hearing her dart after me.


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