Daryn looked with anger at the man who was standing a few feet away from them. He was one of the senior employees of the Silver House responsible for leading the Marketing team, which managed social media. Daryn's gaze darted to Dawn who was so pale that he didn't have the heart to leave. "Ask them to carry forward. I will join them later."
The man pursed his lips and nodded with reluctance in his demeanor. "Okay," he said and left.
Once Dawn had downed two glasses of water, she said, "You go Daryn. This is an important tournament for you and a very important day for me. I need to show it to all over here that I have returned and not afraid of them." Even though she was trembling with unknown fear, her voice was resolute. How could she be scared of that neotide? The only way to show her steadfastness was to persist there and if she walked out of the golf course at that moment, her enemies would win.
Daryn brushed aside a lock of hair that was sticking on her forehead due to sweat. His little neotide was being brave. He caressed her cheek and kissed the crown of her head. "I don't want you to worry over this matter baby. Do you trust me if I say that I will take that bastard out as soon as possible and rip his limbs apart personally?" He was planning on doing that now. "I want you to go home in the safe havens of the Silver Mansion. I will join you in a few hours."
Dawn leaned her face in his broad hands as he caressed her cheek, the warmth suffusing her body. She kissed his palm and said, "I will stay here. Please don't worry."
He took a deep breath knowing that no amount of pleading her to go back to the safety of Silver Mansion would deter her decision.
Suddenly Dawn saw that the restaurant was surrounded by the security personnel who had accompanied her to the golf course. She smiled. Her husband had called these werewolves through the mental link. She patted his hand and said, "Thanks darling." She felt reassured.
"You are welcome. Just don't stray anywhere. I will keep checking on you every now and then."
"Okay," she said. "Now off you go!"
Daryn kissed her back and left. He joined his group on the next green.
Dawn's mind went into a plethora of theories regarding the presence of the neotide. Who could that be? And how did he know about her presence? Either he was a fool to encounter her or he was backed by the people who must have sent them to scare her off. If the latter was the case, then she knew she had a long investigation in her hand. In fact it was good that he showed his face. This way she knew that he was alive and she had full plans on taking revenge. She sucked in deep breath thinking about the fateful day when her father was also murdered. Those thoughts consumed most of the next three hours that she waited for Daryn to finish.
It was 1PM and guests had started coming back after finishing their games. Lunch was soon to commence. The Starter announced to the guests on the microphone to proceed to the main lawns for lunch and prize distribution ceremony. Guests trickled one by one. They smiled at her before leaving for the main lawns in front of the clubhouse and adjacent to the dining hall.
When Daryn came, he rushed to his wife and asked, "How are you feeling?" This was the fifth time he had checked upon her in the last three hours.
"I am absolutely fine baby!" she replied. "But you must be hungry."
"I am famished!" he declared.
Dawn knew that being a Lykae he needed his nourishment, which was twice more than that of a human.
"Then let's go," she said and held his hands.
By the time they reached the main lawns, Dawn noticed that the area had been nicely decorated. There were red, white and blue balloons tied to the small stalls behind which there were waiters serving food to the players. In the center several small round tables adorned with white tablecloth with no more than four chairs around were placed. On them a small arrangement of flowers enhanced the overall look. On one side a local live band was playing music and a few golfers had begun dancing to their rhythms holding their drinks in hand.
It reminded her of all the golf parties she had attended in the past with her father. Nostalgia hit again. She gripped Daryn's hand tightly.
As they moved forward, from the corner of her eye she saw Bree rushing towards them. She was breathless by the time she came up. "D—"
Dawn narrowed her eyes at her and Bree corrected herself immediately. "Mr. Silver, please come this way," she waved with her hand to the table, which was right in the front of the small dais. She ignored Dawn completely.
Daryn nodded pleasantly and followed her with Dawn beside him.
When they seated, Bree called a server and said, "Get some refreshments over here as soon as possible." The server nodded vehemently and dashed. Then Bree turned to Daryn and said, "I know how hungry you must be. That's why I was on the lookout for you so that as soon as you come, snacks are ready." She gave him a big smile.
"Thanks!" Daryn replied courteously hoping to dismiss her. But the girl remained standing.
Dawn poked her tongue in her cheek feeling irritated by Bree's disposition. She yawned and gazed away at the dancing group. Bree saw that and gritted her teeth. She had planned a lot of things for Dawn in this short period of time. She was going to strike her so hard that she would never ever come back to the golf course again—and she would strike her twice.
A Vice President of the Company and two senior golfers who were a part of his group joined them at the table with their wives. They bantered and poked fun at Daryn as to how he was checking on his wife every now and then and how he couldn't play properly. Bree watched them all with jealousy geared towards Dawn.
The server returned with a tray of food. Bree took the plates and laid them in front of Daryn. "You must eat this," she pointed at the cheese balls. Then she picked up the plate with pasta in red sauce and placed it in front of Dawn. With a smile plastered on her face, she said, "This one is specially prepared for you because I heard that you are pregnant. It has many herbs and is very light."
"Oh wow!" said one of the wives sitting there. "Bree you are really very sweet to have gone to this length. Our sponsor's wife does need special care. She looks so pale." The woman gave Dawn an affectionate, motherly gaze. "Pregnancy can be really stressful. And the fact that she has been patiently waiting for him for the function, she surely deserves the best care and attention."
Bree smiled at her. "Yes Ma'am, that's what I had in mind." Then she turned to look at Daryn and added, "Did Dawn ever tell you that I used to play with her in her group before she dis—" Bree bit her tongue, "Before she stopped playing?"