by Fay Walsh
When she got in, she realized that it looked just like it did the one time she had been in there. Her dad called her when she had first moved in, to explain the situation, and to explain that this was his turf. She looked around, noticing the strewn papers, and the way everything was put together. She noticed a few questionable papers on the table, and she moved towards them, touching the papers that she had in her hands.
“Poaching?” she asked herself.
She looked at it, noting that everything was laid out. They were papers that proved there had been poaching activity in the area, and as Nikki read them, something stirred within her.
“We are looking for the bears that are in the area. There’s been a recent invasion, and we know that you have experience in hunting. If you can find and eradicate these bears, then you'll be richly rewarded,” she read.
She then looked at another paper. It was in her dad’s writing. When she read it, her eyes widened as she scoured over the contents.
“Hello. I have been doing some research on the bears here. I fear that they’ve become a part of our life more than ever. I have been watching my daughter’s movements as well. Something about this is strange, but she may know about this. I've been trying to get the information out of her, but she’s not budging. I'll be working more on this later,” she read to herself.
As she read it, her eyes immediately widened. How dare her father use her like that? So that’s why he was acting so strange. She couldn't believe that he was working with whomever this was, and the fact that he didn’t even bother to tell her sent anger through her body.
She felt angry, realizing that her father lied to her all this time. The way that he did this, pretending that he wanted to protect her when all he was doing was hiding secrets from her made her clench her fists in rage.
“What the hell,” she said to herself, throwing the papers down in frustration.
She felt anxious about what this would mean for Billy more than anything, however.
“Fuck. I can’t let this happen,” she said to herself.
She didn’t want her dad to hurt her and the rest of them like this. She knew for a fact that it was indeed the beginning of something worse, of something that would only get more and more awful over time. But, she also realized that there was more to this story than what was being said.
“I need to go talk to Billy,” she stated.
She grasped her phone, quickly heading out of the office. She didn’t know if Billy would even talk to her right now, or if he was at work. But, she had a bad feeling about all of this, and she wanted to tell him before it was too late.
Chapter 13
Billy headed back home after he got Nikki safely back, feeling great about what had happened. He was relieved to know that she was okay and that things would be all right, but in Billy’s mind, lingered a constant worry.
He had feelings for her, feelings that were different from what he had experienced in the past.
Billy wanted to say something about this, tell the others about it, but he feared what they might say. Right now though, Billy kept to himself, holding himself back and figuring out what to do next. He did wonder what Travis and the other guys might think, but for now, he was content with the way everything was. He definitely wanted to continue being this happy.
When he got back, he noticed Travis alone in the dining room. The other shifters were gone, and Billy stepped forward and sat next to the alpha.
“Where’s Alana?” Billy asked.
“She’s tired. Went to bed. I couldn’t sleep,” Travis said.
“Yeah. I get that,” Billy said.
“You look happy. Did something happen with Nikki?” Travis asked.
Billy blushed, but then, he sighed.
“I guess I can tell you, Travis. Since I trust you,” he said.
“Of course. I mean, you’re a part of our clan. I'm always here for you,” Travis said.
“Well, I met up with Nikki tonight, and… we ended up having sex. It was amazing, if I'm completely honest with you,” Billy admitted.
“Really now? I'm surprised. Good job,” he said.
“Yeah. I did use protection, because I'm not sure where to go with this, and I'm trying to figure out what the next course of action is. But, I'm happy, Travis. For the first time in a long time, I'm actually really happy,” he said.
“I can tell. I noticed for a long time that you were acting cheerful, but not really. I figured that was just something that you dealt with over time,” he said.
“Yeah. I'm just feeling good, Travis. I'm happy about the way everything is going,” he said.
“Good. You deserve to happy Billy. Trust me, I'm very excited when I see all of the members of the clan doing what makes them happy, actually going through and living their lives. I don't want you guys to just hang around here all the time. I want you guys to find mates, so we can grow together,” he said.
“Yeah. I feel that Travis. It's why I… I really like her. I want to pursue this and see where it goes,” he told Travis.
“Then go for it,” Travis stated.
“I am. Trust me, I'm really trying to,” Billy said.
“Well, just get yourself together, and simply just tell her how you feel,” he said.
“I am trying to. I'm really happy,” Billy said.
“Yeah. You seem like you’re not just pretending to be happy for the rest of us. It looks like you’re actually really happy, and I know that you want to continue to feel this way,” Travis stated.
“I mean yeah. I really am. I want to so badly,” Billy said.
“Well, there you go Billy. You can be happy. You deserve happiness like the rest of us. I noticed that you’re acting a lot different as well. You’re not putting some facade forward to pretend that you’re happy. You legitimately are. I think this is the right thing for you,” he said to Billy.
Billy blushed, realizing that everyone could obviously see what he’s going through. He let a deep sigh, looking at Travis and spoke.
“Yeah well, there's a reason for feeling this way,” he said.
“Do you want to talk about it,” Travis asked.
Billy paused. He had never told Travis about how he felt, about the truth behind his actions, about what really happened when he was younger. He kept all of that to himself for a reason. He never told a soul the truth about who he was. When Billy thought about it, a part of him wanted to admit everything, but deep down, he wasn’t ready yet. He did like Travis, and the rest of the guys, but he sure as hell wasn’t ready for whatever would happen next.
“I want to tell you guys but… I'm not ready to say anything about it yet,” he said.
“Fair enough. I understand that. I mean, we all have our own strange ways of acting. I know that you mean well, Billy, and that you're trying to do the right thing for yourself. But I know that this can be challenging,” Travis said.
“You could say that. Yeah, I am trying to do the right thing. And when I will do the right thing, I will finally feel good. But… I'm still figuring that out as I go along,” he admitted.
“Well, you should do what makes you happy. And if Nikki is what makes you happy, then, by all means, do talk to her. I feel like the two of you are going to really have a great life together. I have a good feeling about this one,” he said
“But you haven't met her,” Billy said with widened eyes.
“Don’t need to. I see what she does to you, Billy. I see that you’re livelier than ever before. I see that she’s making you feel good, so why should I judge you on anything else? As a leader, I do encourage you to go for it, to see her, to actually experience life with her, and to be happy. I know that it’s hard for you to actually let your feelings grow, but I know for a fact that you’re doing the right thing, and I know that you’ll get it,” he said.
Billy nodded, looking at Travis and grinning.
“That makes two of us,” he said.
“Good. Do what works for you, and do what makes you h
appy,” Travis stated.
Billy looked at Travis, giving him one last grin, and then, he headed over to his room. He closed the door, feeling a lot better about everything for a moment.
“I wonder if I can let her in completely, or if it will be another instance of me holding myself back,” he muttered to himself.
There was a lot to figure out, and Billy still had something on his mind. The next day, Billy worked through what he should do in his spare time. He wanted to tell her the truth, what had happened to him in the past, but he didn’t know if she would understand. The buzzing of his phone interrupted him, and Billy stood up as he picked it up.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey, Billy. Listen, there's something strange going on,” she told him.
“What do you mean?” he inquired.
“Listen I… I want to meet outside and talk. I can’t tell you over the phone. Do you know Old Dan’s? Meet me there, and sit in the back,” she said.
Billy sighed. “Is there something big happening? Did you dad hurt you?” he asked.
The last thing he wanted was to fight off a parent, but he would protect her, no matter what would happen next.
“No. I can’t explain over the phone, just meet me there,” she stated to him.
“Alright. Will do,” he muttered before turning it off.
He had a bad feeling about whatever would happen.
He made his way over to Old Dan’s. One of the hole-in-the-wall establishments in town. He sat in the back, ordering a beer and waited for her. She stormed in and sat down across from him. The look on her face told him that something was wrong.
“Okay, spill it. What the fuck happened?” he asked.
“It’s my dad. We had a huge fight, when you got me home, which was actually pretty awful, and I know that my dad is acting this way because of something. He kept telling me he was trying to protect me from something. I didn’t get it myself, but he was very cryptic,” she said.
“I see,” Billy said. He feared that her dad might be overbearing, but there was something about the way that he was acting that set him off.
“Yeah. He was very against me seeing you, and we kept arguing. It turned into shouting, and I was surprised that my mother never came down to say anything. But, she didn't want to get involved, I think. I have a feeling that’s the reason for this,” she said.
“I understand. Sometimes parents don't want to get too involved. I mean, I don’t really get it, but maybe she was asleep,’ he said.
“Yeah. My mom doesn’t come out to check on me anymore. I have a bad feeling about that too. I mean, she’s nice and all, but there is something about her that bothers me,” she told him.
“I understand. It sounds like there is a lot you’re trying to work through currently, and you don’t know how to begin doing so,” he told her.
“That’s not all though. After we fought my dad started to give me the silent treatment. He wouldn’t even look at me. I thought it was because we fought, but he was almost trying to erase me from his mind for some reason. I feel a little betrayed as well,” she said.
She looked down, and Billy immediately knew something else had happened to her. He looked into her eyes, and then, she reluctantly spoke.
“I called you out here today not because of this. There was something else that happened. In truth, I'm a little scared to admit this, but I need to. Someone needs to do something,” she stated.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“It’s about what I found in my dad’s office. I knew that something was off, something about all of this that was eating away at me, but when I found the evidence, I immediately grew worried,” she stated.
“What did you find?” he asked.
“Well, apparently my dad has been keeping track of the bears in the area for starters. I knew that my dad hunted, but he always told me it was skunks and squirrels, and that’s all I saw. But, it seems like he’s been called to hunt down bears in the area. I don’t get it, but I feel he has something to do with the signs that we saw on our date. The one about the Hunter’s Association,” she told him.
He nodded, taking a moment to let all of this sink in.
“I see,” he said.
“Yeah. My dad has been acting so strange, and I hate that it’s like this. I feel like... I feel like there is so much happening that I don't know what to do about any of it. I feel like there is something bigger going on here. I don't know why the fuck my dad is into poaching, or what happened, but ever since I came back, he’s been different. At first, he was a little distant, but then, when I met you, we started to get into more and more fights. It’s almost like he doesn't want me around because of you. Do you think he… he knows who you are?” she asked.
Billy thought about that. He had never met her father in his life, and he wondered if there was a chance that he somehow knew about Billy. He wondered if he had any connection to his past, but he doubted it.
“I honestly don’t know for sure. But this whole thing sounds very familiar,” he said.
This felt like the right time to tell her about what happened to his parents. The whole poaching thing set him off a little bit, making him feel slightly on edge as he heard this. She looked at him, and then, after a brief moment, he spoke.
“It sounds all too familiar to me,” he said.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“It’s just… I've heard this story before, and I know that it’s not something that ends well. That’s why I'm worried about you Nikki. I'm worried about what will happen to you if you do go against your dad. I don’t want you to attract the wrong attention to yourself,” he told her.
“I'm not trying to, Billy. Trust me on that,” she said.
“I know. I just… I want you to be safe and sound,” he told her.
“Thanks, but don’t worry. You seem on edge though. Do you know about this?” she asked.
He felt like he was on the spot. While he did feel like he knew a little bit about it, it wouldn’t be enough to really discern what to do next.
“Sort of. It’s hard to explain, but the truth of the matter is, this all sounds very familiar and I'm trying to figure out how to use any of this to protect you,” he said.
“So you do know. I mean, if you want to talk about it, we can,” she said.
“I'm not ready yet Nikki. I'm going to be honest with you, but it’s not going to be easy for me to talk about it. Please respect the fact that I'm not ready to talk about this sort of thing with you just yet,” he said.
“Don’t you trust me?”
“It’s not that, Nikki, it’s more like… what I'm about to tell you is a bit difficult for me. It’s hard to explain, but when I think about it too hard, it makes me sick to my stomach. The truth of my life is simple: I have trouble talking about this sort of thing with people because of how hard it can be to discuss this,” he told her.
“I get it. I'm sorry for asking,” she said.
“No, you’re fine. It’s a bit hard on my end. I've wanted to tell someone. It sits there, festering like an old wound in my body, and I want to just scream it to someone. But, I fear that the person who finds out will use it to their advantage, and I feel vulnerable,’ he told her.
”You don’t have to feel that way. Trust me on that,” she told him.
“Thanks, Nikki, you’re too kind,” he told her.
“I'm trying to help as best as I can. I know that it’s not easy for you. I want to be that person who is there for you. I mean, I don't just have sex with any dude,” she told him.
“I know. Thanks, Nikki,” he said.
“I mean, I'm trying to understand as best as I can. Which means that while I honestly don't fully get it, I respect your wishes,” she said.
He looked at her, grasping her hand and holding it. After a brief second, he grinned and made her feel more relaxed.
“Don’t worry about me. I'll be alright. Just be yourself, and be smart. If you notice anything else about
your surroundings that you need to discuss, let me know and I'll watch for you,” he told her.
“Thanks, Billy,” she said to him.
Billy got up and left the old restaurant with a slumping feeling. Nikki might be in real danger in her own home and Billy felt on edge. He didn't want to worry her though. He wasn't ready to tell her that things weren’t as simple as she imagined. That her dad had some secrets that he refused to tell her.
Billy would be there for her, no matter the odds. The weight of his responsibility, of what might come about because of his choices, hung heavily over him. He wanted to find something, anything to make this feeling go away.
