“Well, no. You see, the girl is a cur – a human born to wolves.”
“I know what that term means. Even if she is, I'd rather you didn't use that label in my presence. It's disrespectful.” Jeff's eyes had narrowed.
“Yes, of course! I didn't mean to offend you, Alpha Hennison, but that is the reason I've not contacted the local law enforcement. She is human but out of deference to her family and because I'm not sure how she would behave, I've decided to handle the matter myself and not involve either the humans or the council. I'm sure you understand the delicate position I'm in.” He flashed him a smarmy smile.
Jeff's stomach dropped into his feet. If he was unwilling to involve either the Council or the local authorities, then something was definitely off. Add to that the fact that it involved a human female supposedly harming a werewolf and the warning bells screamed in his head. Over Simon's shoulder, he saw the concern on his mate's face, her school plans forgotten for the moment. Without a doubt she was thinking the same thing. Turning his attention back to the man, he nodded slowly. “I see. If I may ask, what has this human done?”
Simon's long fingers plucked a speck of dust off his immaculately starched slacks. Raising his eyes, he looked directly into Jeff’s eyes, which agitated his inner wolf. The animal started to snarl and growl, clawing at the prison of Jeff's mind. THEY were the alpha here and that pompous ass staring him in the face was a blatant challenge. Jeff wrestled dominance from the beast and forced him back down. It took several moments but he finally managed to get himself under control.
Simon continued, showing no acknowledgment of Jeff's internal struggle. “She killed someone – a member of our pack, almost a year ago.”
The emotion that briefly touched his face was gone so fast that Jeff wasn't sure if he had really witnessed it, and in a flash, the cold exterior was again in place. A chill crept up Jeff's back, wrapped around his neck and squeezed. Behind the visitor, Miriah gasped and pressed her fingers to her lips in shock. Jeff gently shook his head at her as Simon whirled around, fixing his gaze on her. Jeff growled and quickly made his way around the desk, passing the man and going to his mate, stepping between the two protectively. “This is my mate, Miriah,” he intoned. Taking her hand, he whispered, “Why don't you go home and I'll be there when we've finished our discussion.”
She nodded and quickly left the office, shutting the door behind her. Jeff turned and eyed Simon. “Please excuse the interruption. Now you were saying this human girl killed a wolf? Pardon me if I sound a bit skeptical, Simon, but I know of few humans who can harm a werewolf.”
He coughed again. “Perhaps not many humans can, but even a cur, I mean a human can get lucky. I have two witnesses to the deed, so I am completely confident I know exactly what happened.”
Jeff sat back in his chair and thought for a moment. “Alright, let's say I believe this preposterous story that a human girl killed a werewolf in your pack. You're a long way from Mississippi and given the amount of time that has passed, why come here to look for her now?”
The man hesitated a moment, then sighed. “We have actually had people looking for her all over the southern part of the U.S since she disappeared. We had no leads until I came across her diary a few days back. Since then, I've been searching through the packs in this area.” Leaning back, he thrust his hand into his front pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper, tossing it onto the covered desk. Jeff picked it up and smoothed it out. It was a page torn from a child's diary, complete with unicorn and a cursive 'Dear Diary' logo underneath. The page was crinkled and smudged with age, but he could make out the words written in an uneven child's scrawl.
Dear Diary,
Today, Mumma let me go to see a movie with the other kids. I didn't want to go at first because I knew that Lucas, Jeremy and Henry would be there and they always tease and make me cry. But I'm glad I did go. It was about a little girl who was really sad because she had to live in a house with a mean family that treated her bad. Then she found a magic ball and got a wish that came true. She wished to go live in a place called Virginia where her Gramma lived. They had pictures of Virginia and it was so pretty! The trees were all painted up in colors and there were mountains there and lots of open places to run and play. The girl was happy there. My Gramma doesn't live in Virginia because she went to live in Heaven, but It was so pretty I knew she would like it there. I want to go live there someday so I can be happy too. I found a ball and wished on it but nothing happened. Tammy saw me and said I was silly for trying because wishes don't come true. I'm going to keep trying anyway, just in case. If I could go live somewhere else, it would be in Virginia.
Jeff pushed the paper back across the desk and sat back. “Well, I haven't seen any strangers around our pack in the last few months,” he answered truthfully. “But, if you will give me the girl's information and a phone number where you can be reached, I'll do some checking around.”
Simon nodded curtly. “The girl is nineteen years old, about five and a half feet tall, maybe a little shorter, and obese. She has blonde hair, blue eyes, and light skin. Her name is Alexandria Rogers. Oh yes, she's blind.”
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The last of the dishes were put away and the counter-tops sparkled. Zandria pushed the glasses up her nose and smiled. Her surgery was scheduled for tomorrow, so they had done the bread baking earlier and the last of the fresh loaves were already cooled and ready for delivery later that afternoon. Since getting her glasses, she spent more time at the bakery, helping Audrey prepare things for the rest of the week; doing things she never thought she would be able to like taking orders and checking recipes. Her reading was still very elementary but she was learning by doing and that made her happy. Well that is for at least for the time she wasn't with Cayson. The two had been practically inseparable this past week.
“I'm going to go now, Audrey,” she called out.
Audrey stuck her head out and grinned. “Sure thing, hon. I'm going to finish cleaning up the mess the guys left back here then head home. Have a great time on your date tonight and good luck tomorrow.”
Zandria's face turned a bright pink. “Thanks!” she called out and slipped out the door. Stepping out on the porch, she stretched and looked around. After years of near total blindness, it was still somewhat of a novelty to be able to see even as much as she could currently. Dr. Jim said she should be able to see even better and not have to use glasses after the surgery, but she didn't care. If this was the best her eyes could get, she would still be happy. She'd lived with so much worse for most of her life.
Quickly she hopped down the steps and started across the commons towards her home, humming softly to herself, her thoughts on the plans for tonight. She and Cayson had become so much closer in the last week, thanks to her new-found confidence. When she thought about all the days she had been miserable thinking her vision was some sort of punishment for her singing curse, she wanted to scream. It wasn't from a curse, it was a birth defect and one that could be easily fixed. Pushing her glasses up on her nose again she couldn't help but grin when she thought about tomorrow. In the morning, she was going to Roanoke with Carson, Chase and Cayson (say that three times fast) for lens replacement surgery. By Saturday, she will throw away the glasses and see everything even more clearly than now.
She stopped and leaned against the wall. Just the thought of her mate brought a smile to her face. She closed her eyes and smiled dreamily. He was so strong, handsome and loved her with a ferocity that came close to scaring her. Ever since the night she got her glasses, he had stayed with her in her cottage, sleeping chastely in the bed with her and holding her all night. Not one time had the nightmares resurface. She sighed happily. He hadn't pressed her for more, though she knew he wanted it. Truth was, so did she but it wasn't right to commit to him until her past was cleared up. She laughed. She could fool herself all she wanted, but she was committed to him, hook line and sinker. Opening her eyes she pushed away from
the wall and resumed her trek to her house. Tonight, she would tell him everything and they would work it out together. Tonight, she would agree to a mating ceremony and spend the rest of her life with him. He had brought it up several times but she wouldn’t discuss it because of the secrets that were still waiting there between them. Tonight she would clear it all away so they could finally be mated and bonded.
Reaching a hand out to her side, she let her fingers slide along the peeled log side of their alpha's office/pack room as she walked. Cayson would be here soon to take her to town for a mini shopping spree. Since they would be spending the night tomorrow in a Roanoke hotel, she wanted some new pajamas to wear. It seemed silly she knew, but she was facing a brand new life complete with a new family, new outlook (pardon the pun) and a wonderful new love. That deserved a little something special. Since Cayson was going to be there, that something would be lacy and feminine and hopefully knock his proverbial socks off. Last night she had scoured the web for something perfect and found it at a little boutique in Rocky Bluff. She couldn't wait to see the look on his face when she wore it for him. Her lips curled in a little smug grin. If she had anything to do with it, the nighty wouldn't stay on long anyway.
Something caught her attention and she stopped underneath one of the high windows to the alpha's office. With it closed, the muffled voices where somewhat indistinguishable, but there was something about it that called to her. The hair on the back of her neck stood straight up as leaned in closer, raising up on her tiptoes and splaying her hands on the wooden wall. Part of her was a bit remiss to be eavesdropping, but there was something that pulled her attention - like it was a matter of life and death that she know what was being said. “... were saying this human girl killed a wolf? Pardon me if I sound a bit skeptical, Simon, but I know of few humans who can harm a werewolf.” There was a cough followed by the voice that she remembered as if it were branded into her very soul. “Perhaps not many humans can, but even a cur, I mean a human can get lucky. I have two witnesses to the deed, so I am completely confident I know exactly what happened.”
Fear rose up in her and threatened to smother her in its icy clutches. The voice of her nightmarish past, the embodiment of every horrific dream, Simon Windstead, was in that room. He had found her again. She pressed her knuckles into her mouth to keep from screaming and hurried away from the building as fast as she could. In her panic, she almost tripped over a small truck resting on top of a pile of dirt and kicked it aside unthinkingly. She had to get away, now, before they realized Simon was talking about her and she was turned over to him. “Stupid!” she groaned to herself as she climbed the steps. “You let down your defenses and now he'll have you again.” All the previous thoughts of a life with Cayson evaporated in the face of her past in that room. She had to get away before someone got hurt, before Cayson got hurt. Nodding to herself, she made the decision. If she wasn't there then Simon would leave and they would all be safe from him.
Throwing the door open, she closed it behind her and did something she hadn't done in weeks, she locked it. Grabbing her slightly bulging backpack from a chair, she opened her drawers and started stuffing more things into it; a jacket, extra shoes and a raincoat joined the jumbled mess already residing inside. Thank goodness she was partially packed for the trip to Roanoke. She will be out of the village in just a few minutes.
“Zan?” There was a gentle knock on the door. “Ready to go?”
“Cay,” she mumbled softly. In her panic, she had completely forgotten about the promised shopping trip. Quickly, she slammed her emotional shields down and prayed he didn't feel her fear. She called out forcing her voice to be calm and even. “Hey, I have a horrible headache, I'm going to lay down for an hour or two and get rid of it. Can you, maybe, come back a little later?”-
“Want me to come in for a bit?” His voice was full of concern. “I can lay down with you or I can get Terry or Chase to come take a look.” The door knob wiggled.
“No!,” she yelled in panic then calmed herself again. “No, that's not necessary. I'm going to lay down for a bit. I'll be fine.” She lied then hummed just a bit to keep him from becoming suspicious. She projected trust, honesty and calm into the soft tune.
There was a hesitation then a soft, “Ok. I'll check back with you in a couple hours. Feel better, baby,” followed by the sounds of him walking down the steps of her porch.
She let out the breath she had been holding and returned her attention to the backpack. If she could sneak off the lands, and if Jeff didn't bring Simon to her house immediately, maybe, just maybe, a couple of hour's head start could get her well away from here. Then, if luck was with her still, once she made it to the highway, she could bum a ride from someone to put even more miles between herself and her past. Yeah, that sounded like a good plan. The more distance she had behind her, the safer everyone would be. They wouldn't know what kind of person her former alpha was; they would believe his smarmy ways and lies until it was too late. She bit her lip and stared down at the bulging backpack. Even now, it may be too late.
She tugged the straps tightly over the flap and looked around. Picking up the pillow and blanket off her bed, she rolled them up together and used the belt off her robe to secure it to the backpack. Now what else? Money. She opened her dresser drawer again and pulled out a small wooden box, of which the inside contained her entire fortune of $284.77, all of which she had earned by working in the bakery. She hurriedly stuffed it into her jeans pocket. Speaking of bakery, she would need food.
Like all of the smaller cottages in Sapphire Lake, she didn't have a full kitchen. Most of the packs citizens ate together in the pack room; wolves were social creatures and took joy in fellowship at every given chance. What she did have was a small table with two chairs, a sink, microwave oven and a tiny dorm size refrigerator situated in one corner. Throwing open the cabinet above the microwave, she pulled out everything she could find and stacked it on the table. Cookies, chips, beef jerky, snack sausages, small tubs of applesauce and peach slices went into a canvas bag. The bananas and oranges on the cabinet quickly joined them along with her last fuji apple. She poked a half loaf of fresh honey walnut bread on top and closed it up. It wasn't much but it would at least give her meager money cache some relief while on the road.
Her eyes fell on a bag of her favorite chocolate truffles that Cayson had given her yesterday and slid them into the pocket of her jacket. Leaving him was going to be almost impossible, but there was no way she could stay, not now. All the previous assurance that she would share her life with him had died when she realized Simon was here, in her home pack. If she would have had time to tell him, to beg him to believe her, then maybe they could have faced this together. It was too late now, she lamented, but maybe she could at least put a doubt in his mind. On impulse, she pulled out a piece of paper and a pencil and began to write. Her handwriting was horrible and childish (her sight had left her before she could perfect it), but she was at least able to print legible.
Cayson
I have to leave and by now you know why. I had hoped that Simon would never find me again, but he has. Please don't believe what he says about me. I swear to you I didn't do it. Please, don't trust him. I wish I could stay but I can't now that he knows where I am. I don't want him to hurt you or your family, so please don't look for me. I don't want to be found again. Thank you for everything. I really wish things could be different. I love you more than I ever thought it was possible and if things had been different, I know we would have had a lovely life together. I'm so sorry!
All my love,
Zandria
She hesitated then added 'I will never know happiness like this past week. Thank you for that' to the bottom, kissed the note and placed it beside a box of microwave popcorn. Rereading it, a tear landed on it and she wiped it away. Her heart was breaking just from the thought of leaving him behind but she knew this was the right decision. Picking up the canvas bag, she put it over her neck and arm, settling it against
her hip. The backpack followed: she slipped both arms through the bands and seated it comfortably on her shoulders. At least this time, she wouldn't be leaving everything behind. She had been so lucky to find Sapphire Lake the last time. Moving to the back of the house, she pulled aside the curtains and looked through the window facing the woods. Seeing nobody around, she looked back over the little house that had been her home for most of a year, then with a heavy heart, slid the window open and slipped out.
“Goodbye Cayson,” she mumbled softly and darted into the welcoming shadows of the trees. Above her heart, the mark that bound them together began to burn and pulse and something deep inside twisted and ached. She held back a sob as every heart wrenching step took her further away from Sapphire Lake and Cayson Hennison.
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“So, what do you think?” Jeff sat at the table across from Miriah and tossed back a swig of black coffee, with a contented 'ahh'. He watched her pour herself a cup and join him at their table, reaching for sugar and cream.
“I think we should talk to Zandria. We don't know anything about this Simon, but I do know her and I find it hard to believe that she would harm anyone.” She finished doctoring her drink then took a sip of the brew sighing contentedly. “Tell me you think she could.”
He set the mug on the table and leaned back. “We really don't know anything about her. She showed up mauled and almost dead on our lands. Then we get her well again, she refuses to say anything about her past, where she's from or what happened to her. I've said from the beginning that there was something peculiar about her.”
“Yes, I admit she is strange,” Miriah reached over and patted her mate's hand gently, “but you heard what Gretchen said about her being a fatavoce. Who knows what that poor girl has been through and who or what has harmed her in the past. If someone was trying to use her gifts against her will...”
Broken Melody (Luna's Children) Page 5
