by Clara Cody
“What do you want?” I snapped, breezing past him.
He darted in front of me, shoving a bouquet of flowers in my face. “Here.” He gave his best puppy-dog face. “I’m sorry.”
“Just go away,” I said, unlocking the door.
Emma was just coming out of the kitchen, a bowl of salad in her hand. She glared at Chris. “I made the shithead wait outside. Want me to call the cops?”
“What? No, don’t call the cops. I can handle it.”
“Okaaaay,” she said, going up the stairs and munching on a forkful of salad.
“She’s gotten a whole lot bitchier in the past few days,” Chris said, following me inside.
I didn’t bother closing the door, since he would be leaving soon, anyway. “Yeah, that happens when someone screws over your best friend.”
Another one of his trademark sighs that made me feel like a four-year-old. “It was just sex. It meant nothing to me. She meant nothing to me.”
“Ugh, and that’s better?”
“Uh…yeah.”
“Okay, so I do mean something to you, then?”
“Well…of course” He shrugged. “We fit together.”
I snatched the flowers from his hand. “Then what the hell are these? How many times did I tell you that I hate flowers? That they make me sad ‘cause they are already dying? How many times did I tell you that the only gift you could ever give me that was a guaranteed hit was chocolates?”
“You don’t expect me to buy you chocolates, do you?” He scoffed. “That would be like buying a junkie just a bit of crack.”
“Uh, you’re the worst. I’m tired of listening to you put me down. I’m fine the way I am, in fact, I like the way I am! I don’t have to be a size four like Nurse Crusty-Clam. You guys deserve each other.”
“Lacey, come on. I said I was sorry, didn’t I? What else do you want?”
“Congratulations, Chris, you’re sorry for fucking another woman while we were dating. You’re officially a mediocre human being. Happy? Now, please do me the gigantic favor of fucking straight off!”
His eyebrows narrowed. “What the hell is wrong with you? What do you expect here, Lacey?” He took a step closer, towering over me. “Look at me. You think you’re going to do better?” He grabbed me by the arm. I felt myself shrink under his tight grip. I’d never seen him like this. He was always kind of a jerk, but never this domineering before. “Frankly, I’ve tried to be patient with you,” he continued. “But I think it’s about time you stop acting like a spoiled little brat—”
Before I even realized what was going on, Chris flew backward, eyes wide as dinner plates. Sean had him by the back of his jacket and slammed him against the wall. “I think that’s about enough of that,” Sean snarled, looking him dead in the eye. “Lacey, honey, may I have those flowers, please?”
“Uh, sure.” My hands shook as I handed Sean the bouquet. I stayed behind him, relieved that he was here. Even a little excited.
“Now, shithead, don’t you have something to say to Lacey?”
“Who the hell are—”
With a flick of his wrist, Sean smacked Chris in the face with the flowers. Petals scattered, floating to the ground. I gasped, covering my mouth as Chris gave an undignified sputter. “What the—”
“Nope,” answered Sean, smacking him again.
I sat down on the couch and crossed my arms, trying not to laugh.
“I’m sorry, okay?” Chris blurted out.
Smack!
“I’m really sorry!”
“Better. Now, for what?”
“For cheating!”
“And?”
Chris stared blankly. “And?”
Smack!
He looked between me and Sean. I crossed my arms and cocked my eyebrow, barely able to hide my grin. “And…and for…calling you fat?”
Sean held up the flowers threateningly. “Is that a question?”
“No, no! I’m sorry for everything. I was a shithead.”
“So, you’re sorry for being a shithead?”
“Yes! Yes, I’m sorry for being a shithead!”
“And you’re going to leave Lacey alone after this?”
I practically shook with laughter. His face was bright red with a few little marks from the flowers, but nothing that wouldn’t disappear in fifteen minutes. He glared at me. “You’re damned right.”
“Good. Lacey? Is there anything you would like to add?”
I shook my head. “No,” I snorted. “I think we’re good here.”
“All right then. The lady says you can go.” Sean released him, shoving the flowers into his chest. “Now, do what she said and fuck straight off.”
For a split second, Chris looked like he was about to say something. Instead, he turned on his heel and stormed out the open door, throwing the flowers to the ground on his way to his car.
I slammed the door behind him before jumping up and down with a squeal. “Oh my God!” I laughed. “That was probably the most satisfying thing I’ve ever seen!”
He wasn’t laughing, though. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close. He was shaking. “I could have beaten that guy to a pulp for touching you like that. He’s an idiot who didn’t even almost deserve you. I think you’re perfect.”
“Thanks. I needed to hear that.” With a grin, I leaned in, finding his lips soft and welcoming. His hand buried itself in my hair, holding me close. It felt so good to be wrapped up in his arms, pressed against his hard chest. It took everything I had not to fall into him and take him upstairs to my bedroom. “Hmmm,” I purred. “That’s nice.” I opened my eyes and looked up into his dark brown irises. “But I have work to do, remember?”
He sighed. “Right…work.”
“Why’d you come here, anyway? I thought you were going to the bar?”
“Your phone.” He pulled my cell phone out of his back pocket. “It must have fallen out when you fainted before.”
“Thanks.”
“Anything for my mate…I mean—”
“No, it’s okay.” I grinned. If this is what it meant to be a mate— feeling accepted, loved and protected— I could get used to it. “I kind of like it.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Ah, shit! I swore as I pulled up to the bar. Any good feelings I had thanks to Lacey wore off almost immediately. A handful of old trucks were parked out front, a group of men standing by the door. A much bigger crowd than usual at this time. Something was up and judging by the looks on their faces, it wasn’t going to be something good.
As I approached them, Herb, the town pot-stirrer and apparent ringleader met me. “Can I help you?”
“What the hell happened out here?” Herb asked, crossing his arms.
“Yeah, we been hearing that there’s a bear or something tearing up cars.”
Great, just what I need. A lynch mob. I shrugged. “Did you talk to Todd? He was here before talking to the kid who owned the quads. I don’t know anything that he doesn’t know.”
“But maybe you seen something? Out here, away from the town. See anything strange?”
I swallowed hard, not liking the way they were all staring at me. Like they were hungry. “No. Haven’t seen a thing.”
The group seemed disappointed. Herb shrugged. “Don’t mean nothing. Could still be a bear out there. I still think we should be out looking for it.”
“It’s not hunting season, Herb. Besides, I’m pretty sure you need a special license or something.” Not that a license would stop a redneck like Herb from hunting what he wanted. It might give some of these other guys pause, though.
Herb just crossed his arms. “Maybe I’ll go and talk with Todd, after all. See what he thinks should be done about this.”
“Good idea.” Todd was young and a good guy, but in a small town like Kodiak Cliff he might not want to upset the natives. Go along to get along sort of thing. I hoped he wouldn’t let Herb push him around. “Well, see you boys around.”
“You opening u
p soon?” Herb asked, stepping up behind me.
That’s just what this gang needed. Booze for a little liquid bravery. That was probably exactly what Herb had in mind. Get the boys liquored up and go and see what Todd had to say. “Not till five.”
“Come on, boy. I think it’s extenuatin’ circumstances.”
“See you at five, old man,” I added in retaliation for calling me boy. I walked in the bar and shut the door behind me.
“I’d lock that if I were you.” Larry appeared from inside the kitchen. “Those sons-a-bitches kept coming in here, bothering me while I was waiting for you.”
I nodded and locked the door. “Thanks for coming in.”
He shrugged. “I was in the middle of a Sudoku, but I can just do it here too.”
Yeah, like every other day you’re working. “I’m gonna need you to open today.”
His lip curled in a snarl.
“And close.”
“Goddammit!”
I put my hands on the bar, leaning in. “Larry,” I started, calmly. “You are, by far, the worst employee I have ever had the displeasure to have forced upon me. You are lazy, unskilled and, frankly, unpleasant. I have kept you around this long because Don wanted you, and it kept that bastard off my back. Plus, you work cheap. But if you don’t work this shift for me, if you can’t handle working one measly day…you’re fired. To hell with Don.”
Larry worked his jaw back and forth for a minute, looked down at his nails, and shrugged. “Sure thing, boss.”
“Good. I’m leaving town. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Okay. Oh, that kid, what’s his name? Ryan?”
I sighed. “What about him?”
“He called a few times wanting to talk to you.”
“I would have been more surprised if the kid hadn’t called. Jesus, it’s not even a real job. Why is this so complicated?”
“Why’d you hire him then?”
I shrugged. “He got laid off ‘cause of his hand. I just felt bad for him.”
He pointed a crooked finger at me. “That’s where sympathy will get you. Nowhere.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re a real humanitarian, Larry.”
“What do I do if he calls back again? You want to fire him too?”
“No,” I snapped, starting towards the door. “Tell him to piss off for all I care.”
“Piss off, got it!”
It was a two-hour drive from Kodiak Cliff. The thought to call ahead and make sure someone was around ran through my mind about a hundred times on the way. I didn’t. I didn’t have the nerve. I just hoped that I would get some by the time I arrived.
Pulling into town was a strange feeling. Everything was the same. It was like a dream, close but far away. The dentist office where they filled my cavities. The mechanic where Dad used to go to get the oil changed. Mr. Thomas still sat outside the convenience store, chewing tobacco. Only this time, he stared instead of waving. Practically nothing had changed. At least not until I got out of town again and made it to the property. It wasn’t just the house that I grew up in at the end of a long, winding driveway. My aunt and uncle had lived in their house next door, and Jason had built his own place a few feet away. I’d even started construction on my own little pad before everything went to shit. Before I turned tail and ran.
The first thing I noticed was the gate. An aluminum steel gate closed off the driveway that led down to the houses. Private property. No trespassing. I opened the gate letting myself through. It was quiet. I didn’t recall quite what was missing, but I knew there was something. The houses were strangely dark. It was only five o’clock, so everyone might still be working. But no, it wasn’t that. It was something more. My aunt and uncle’s place, for example, had red wood panel siding and a green roof. It didn’t look like they’d just stepped out. There was dirt caked around the windows and leaves spilling from the eaves. Jason’s house was the same. Only our house looked like it was lived in still. I stopped in front and stepped out.
The screen door creaked, and Jason stepped out holding one hand over his eyes to get a better look, the other behind his back. When his eyes finally took me in, he smiled. “Sean? That you?”
“Depends on what you got behind your back?”
“Oh,” he said, pulling a shotgun out. “This…just in case, you know?” He set it on the porch to lean against the support beam. He came down the stairs and threw his arms around me. “Goddammit!” he said, voice choked. “It’s good to see you!”
I took in a deep breath, pressing down the emotions that threatened to show themselves. “You too,” I answered, patting him on the back.
He stepped back, taking me in. “Damn, you’ve grown! Look at you. You could be alpha, if…Wait, are you an alpha?” A pained look crossed his face. “Did you find a new clan?”
“No, Jason, that’s not why…I didn’t leave just so I could be an alpha.”
“Right.” He nodded, visibly relieved. “Come in. I was just going to have something to eat.”
We stepped inside, and I followed my big brother to the kitchen. He opened the fridge. “You’re in luck. Silvia came by yesterday with some fried chicken. Want some?”
My mouth began to water immediately. Silvia used to babysit us when Mom and Dad were out. She was the only one who knew our special circumstances. She made the best fried chicken in the world. “Gotta beer?”
He turned, opening his hands wide. “What do you think?” He handed me a plate of cold chicken and a beer before sitting down next to me at the old wooden table.
I bit into the chicken, tearing the tender, juicy flesh from the bone. It pulled me back, ten, fifteen, twenty years. I could still hear the sounds of my younger brothers, sisters, and cousins running in and out the doors, my mother yelling about dragging mud through the house. I looked around. It was so quiet now.
“Where is everybody?”
He took a deep breath. “That’s what I tried to tell you; why I wanted to find you. It wasn’t the same after you left. After Dad died. After Mom…well, things changed. First Luke and Dana took off. They didn’t go far at least. Amanda still comes around sometimes, when she’s not busy with school. God knows where Sam ended up. He took it the hardest, I think.”
“He and Mom were close.”
“Then people came around asking questions.”
“What kind of questions?”
“About it.”
I swallowed hard. “Really? What did you tell them?”
“Nothing. We knew it was safe with you, but that you weren’t safe with it. We didn’t say anything. But then the questions turned more serious. People, first pairs, then groups, started showing up, looking for it. Sam got beaten up pretty bad. He always had a mouth on him.”
“Who?” I locked eyes with him, feeling my temperature rising. “Who did it?”
“A pack of wolves. We got them back, though. They haven’t shown their faces around here since.”
My stomach twisted in on itself. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”
“No, it’s not.”
“If I was here, if it was here, I could have protected you. Protected them. If the amulet—”
“Shhhhh!” he hissed sharply. “Don’t say that around here. I don’t know if anyone’s listening.”
“Jesus Christ, Jason. How are you living like this?”
“What else am I going to do? This is my home. I’m the alpha now, Sean. I can’t leave. I can’t run.”
“The alpha of what? There’s no one here.”
He sat back in his chair. “You’re here.”
“That doesn’t count.”
“Yes, it does. Because I know now you’re back.”
“I’m not back. I can’t come back here. You know why.”
“Maybe not back here, Sean.” He set his elbow on the table, holding out his hand towards me. “But we’re back together. We’re going to be a clan again.”
His hand stood in the air, waiting. I looked away. “I just came to ask y
ou a couple questions.”
Jason closed his hand into a fist and lowered it to the table. He leaned back and snatched up a piece of chicken tearing off a piece. “Shoot.”
“Does anyone else know where I am?”
He shook his head. “Not that I know of.”
“Has there been someone looking for me?”
“You in particular? No. I mean, Dana did for a while. A long while, actually. But she gave up, eventually, went on with her life.”
I remembered little Dana on her prom night, looking up at me, her big brother. I pushed the chicken away, not feeling too hungry anymore. “How did you find me then?”
“Time. I knew you’d go far enough that it wouldn’t be easy, but also that you’d never really leave, not completely. I also knew you couldn’t live in a city or even a small town. It would have to be a village or hamlet. I know how you love the forest, so you wouldn’t have gone too far south.”
“Okay, okay, I get it. Show-off.”
“Why do you ask? Someone else find you? Are you going to move again?”
I thought of Lacey. I didn’t want to move again, and I certainly couldn’t ask her to uproot her life, not when she’d just done that for her last boyfriend. “I don’t want to. And, I don’t really know if I was found out. There’s another shifter. A bear. I’ve never seen him, never smelled him before. He just turned up last week.”
He shrugged. “It happens. Probably just looking for some little piece of his own to call home. You think he’ll challenge you for the territory?”
“I don’t know. He went after…a friend of mine.”
“A friend, huh?” He smirked. “A friend-friend?”
“Grow up, man.”
“Sorry,” he said, holding his hands up. “Don’t shoot.” He took another bite. “You ran him off, right? So he’ll probably move on, find some new place that doesn’t already have a big mean ol’ brown bear living there.”
“I hope you’re right.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“I told you, Miss Brooks, I don’t want you bothering my campers with this.” Park Ranger Pruwitt sat on the edge of his desk looking down at me, crossing his arms as if disappointed. Pruwitt was a big man, in frame, face and gut especially. His office was in a small cabin, tight and confined, and smelled like a combination of dust, oak, and sweat. Joan, his secretary, sat outside the door at an even smaller desk.
