Table of Contents

+ Add to Library

Previous Next

Chapter 2 Welcome to Havendale

  • Riviera peeks out the window at the brass imposing double gates that lead to her new home.
  • "Havedale?”
  • Riviera watches as two approaching brawny men bend to look in the car. They somehow look like oversized babies on steroids. Just by looking at them, Riviera guesses she is a couple feet taller than them, but she knows better than to try to pick a fight.
  • They had that brooding look, hairy hands, and some sort of weapon in their hands. Riviera does a double-take, only to realize that they aren't hands, but paws with long brown claws that almost seem dirty.
  • "What is your business here?'' One asks.
  • "Mary-Kate Mend-''
  • Mary-Kate didn't even finish her introduction of herself, for the guards' faces light up and an enormous smile appears on their faces.
  • "Yes, Miss Mendes. We have been expecting your arrival, do you have your invitation and card?'' Guard number one ask?
  • He takes the sea-green card from Mary-Kate and scans it over. He types a few things into his table before handing it back to her.
  • "All set, all you have to do is scan your card by the scanner over there when you come and go.'' He points to the scanner on the wall.
  • "Well, have a nice day, and welcome to Havendale.'' They both said.
  • Riviera looks back to watch the gates close behind her mother's car. "Is it too late to leave?''
  • "Will you stop being such a sourpuss? We have a new life now. One that will be better than out there. Tell you what. Instead of unpacking, I'll give you the free pass of walking around and making some new friends. How does that sound?''
  • "Like hell.'' Riviera rolls her eyes.
  • She doesn't understand what her mother meant about a better life in Havendale. It's not like their life was bad. It was far from that. Santa Monica is the best she has ever known, with living close to the pier on a beachfront property that has a pool in the back, going to concerts and meeting celebrities, and driving her Porsche. What could be better than that?
  • And to top it off, her mother is a big shot lawyer who everyone wants her to represent them, well known in Los Angeles and New York, as one of the best and even had features in US Weekly, Niche Magazine, New York Times and GQ Magazine. And that's just to name a few. Mary-Kate is a star of her own who just had to destroy Riviera's life.
  • She didn't like the community of Havedale already.
  • She now understands the rumours that surfaced that it's so exclusive that not even the Kardashians can get in. Werewolves owns and runs the place. That thought still seems so weird and foreign to her.
  • Her mind unwillingly flashes back to the night her mother 'broke the news.'
  • Riviera did nothing but laugh, which turned to screams after her mother shifts before her hazel eyes.
  • Riviera passed out, woke up, and was screaming again.
  • Then she tried to run away, but her mom found her, well, mostly because she was hiding in her treehouse, and it's not like she knew where else to go.
  • "Our house is just another street away,'' Mary-Kate says.
  • "Your house.'' Riviera remarks. She catches her mother's eyes in the rearview mirror and notices them flashing from grey to gold. She sinks back into her seat and watches as the houses and people of the Suburban neighbourhood blur by.
  • It is as if everyone is out today, just to watch the newcomers. Reminding her of the beginning of them.
  • "This is us,'' Mary-Kate announces, pulling into the driveway of a super mansion.
  • "Wow.'' Riviera laughs. She thought that her last house was big, but this one clearly beat it.
  • At the front of the house, Riviera notices her car and two new ones.
  • "Mom, how can you afford all this?''
  • "Perks of being a werewolf.'' Her mother turns off the ignition and steps onto the grey stone pavement.
  • Riviera follows suit. She stops short to read the sold sigh, and the informant attached to it.
  • This beautiful 14 bedroom, 8 bathroom home is selling at a whopping price of $30,000,000 Roos, with 10,150 square feet of luscious greens, a pool and two jacuzzis, a jogging track, and a tennis court that doubles as a basketball court can be yours. All you have to do is call 1-888-555-2705, use mind link or stop by my office."
  • Riviera looks at the realtor, who sports a huge white grin, dressed in a green skirt suit and black heels.
  • "Roos? What the heck is Roos?''
  • "Our currency.'' A soft voice comes.
  • Riviera lets out a small gasp, not at all expecting to get a reply from anyone. She looks the girl up and down. They seem to be about the same age. The girl has light blue hair with black roots, bright honey brown eyes, downturn lips and an upturned nose.
  • "I'm Marsha, just thought I could stop by.'' She smiles. Riviera couldn't tell if it is genuine or not.
  • "Riviera.''
  • The girl nods and looks to the house. "Delightful house. They recently built it.'' She shapes her stubby fingers in a rectangle and acted as if they are a tv screen.
  • The pale, slightly chubby girl suddenly drops her hands to her side and stands still. "I should go. My mom is calling me.''
  • That confused Riviera because she didn't hear anyone.
  • "Well, bye.'' The girl says and sprints off.
  • Riviera looks up at the cherry blossom trees. The largest one has a swing and carvings in the trunk.
  • "Yay.'' She does a half cheer, then goes in search of her mother.
  • Again Riviera is astonished by her new home. The inside has double staircases that lead from the grand foyer to the upstairs, a living room that is big enough to fit 50 people, and too many rooms for her to explore in just one day.
  • "It even has an elevator.'' Riviera presses a random button.
  • She walks around, making her way through the master kitchen that is made of all marble and chrome appliances, with its own walk-in pantry and walk-in refrigerator.
  • On the outside, she sees that the pool has a slide and a grotto with a waterfall, and just behind that is a pool house.
  • "I just might like it here."
  • Just as the words left her lips, something fell from the sky and into the pool. Smashing the entire area under its weight.
  • Riviera's ears ring from the impact. She screams as she watches smoke and fire plummeting from the large metal contraption.
  • She didn't even realize that her life is in danger until powerful arms pull her to the ground and out of the path of rotating blades; she turns her head just in time to see the thing ripping off a part of the house, and if it wasn't for the stone columns, it would have done more damage.
  • "Take her to the sauna.'' She can vaguely hear her mother say, as she pushes her to someone.
  • "Who are you?'' Riviera pulls away from the skinny blonde girl.
  • "Your maid, now come." She pulls at Riviera, who stands her ground.
  • The maid had no choice but to give up.
  • After maybe 10 minutes, the pool area is crawling with men of all shapes and sizes.
  • But one, in particular, catches Riviera's eyes. At first she thought it is Chris Hemsworth. But after looking closely, she notices he has a more striking appearance, black hair, and a very muscular body to match his towering frame.
  • As if he can feel her checking him out, he turns his pair of miss-match colour eyes to her, her pulse quickens and she can feel heat creeping up her neck. It is as if she is drawn to him somehow, as if she knew him.
  • Someone taps his shoulder. He looks at the small blonde, breaking their weird connection.
  • Riviera still refuses to go inside, and all the while she stands there, the beautiful man keeps glancing at her every chance he gets.