by B. L. Dawn
Raising her hands defensively, Tatum backed herself toward the door. “Everything’s fine, Eddie. It’s all going to be okay.”
He walked toward her. Oh shit! Tatum put speed behind her movements. Pushing Oliver through the door and down the stairs, she threw him in the car. She ran around the other side as Eddie ran out of the house.
Locking the car doors, she pushed her key in the ignition and threw it in reverse. Her heart was beating so fast, and vomiting was a good possibility. Eddie yelled something from the porch, but Tatum couldn’t hear him from the pounding in her ears. Slamming her foot on the gas, she left skid marks pulling out of Eddie’s driveway and threw the car into drive, peeling out at warp speed.
She looked in her rearview mirror. Eddie was standing in the middle of the road. He ran back to his house. Shit! What had she done? The plan was to go in, bring up mystical beings in a conversation, make it sound cool, reveal to him that she was a mysterious creature, and have a happy ending like in the movies. Eddie liked movies, right? He should’ve handled the conversation a lot better. I mean, seriously. What the hell, Eddie?
The SUV came to a sudden stop, throwing Tatum and Oliver forward.
“Why is this happening to me!” Tatum screamed out.
The engine wouldn’t turn over when she turned the key. There were no clicking noises.
Bing! “This car has been stolen. It is now on lockdown.” A voice spoke through the speakers. The sound of doors locking sent Tatum into a full-on panic attack. The windows wouldn’t roll down, and the doors wouldn’t open.
“Holy shit!” Tatum gripped her stirring wheel, almost pulling it off the car. “He’s turning us in. They’re going to probe us.” Tatum climbed around in her seat, looking for something to break the window, but there was nothing.
“Probe us?” Oliver looked around in panic.
Maybe if she yelled for help, someone could break the window from the outside? She turned back around in her seat and banged on the window, screaming for help. Oliver did the same on his side. Nothing like seeing a big guy lose it. Something caught her attention in the side mirror. It was a silver truck parked behind her. Tatum stopped screaming for help. Oliver was still going to town on his side of the car.
Without warning, Eddie was standing outside her door. “We need to talk!”
Tatum shook her head. The more she thought about it, the more she didn’t mind the window between them.
Oliver stopped pounding on his window. “Ask him to help us out of here.”
“He’s the one who trapped us in here,” Tatum growled.
Eddie held up his phone and tapped on his screen.
Tatum jabbed her finger at the window. “You were my friend, you bastard!”
Weren’t they friends? She had thought he would understand and maybe even be honored to know a secret like this. He would have known the truth about her and her kind. Now that vision was gone. The hope for IDs, poof, gone. Her friendship with Eddie, poof, gone. She was probably going to be in a cage somewhere or on an examination table. She wouldn’t even have access to a phone.
The locks on the SUV clicked to the unlocked position. Eddie pulled the door open before Tatum could pull it back. She tried to jump out and run for dear life, but Eddie blocked her, putting his knee between her legs. Pushing him into a neighboring bush to get away was her next plan. Destiny knew she had the strength to do it.
He grabbed her face in his hands. “I’m sorry!”
Tears stung her eyes. She tried to hold it back, but her chin wobbled, making her more embarrassed. A few tears escaped, running down her cheeks. Traitors!
“Aww…now. Don’t cry. I’m sorry. I am. I should have handled that better.”
Eddie helped Tatum out of the car by pulling her into a hug. “You were coming to tell me about something important, and I acted like a scared asshole.”
Tatum nodded on Eddie’s shoulder, leaving wet marks on his shirt.
“Forgive me. Okay? Come back and talk to me. I don’t care if you’re an alien or Cousin It. I’m going to be here for you. I promise. I’ll try to keep the freaking out down to a minimum.”
Eddie stood back. “Okay now, enough tears. Get in the car and bring it back to my house. It should work now. Just turn the key.”
Oliver was standing at the rear of the SUV, staring at both of them. “That was beautiful.”
Tatum wiped her face, chuckling at Oliver. “Get in the car, Oliver.”
Eddie pointed to his phone. “Don’t drive away, or I’ll stop your car again.”
Five minutes later, they were in Eddie’s house. He tried to gain his composure but looked like he was failing. His hands kept switching positions—inside his pockets, by his sides, making lines through his hair—until he placed them on his hips.
Eddie threw his hands in the air. “Okay, enough waiting. Tell me! I can handle it.”
“It’s better if I show you because you’re not going to believe me until you see it for yourself.”
Eddie closed his eyes and took a deep gulp of air. “Hold on.” Putting his hand over his heart, he took another deep breath. “Okay, I’m ready.”
Tatum looked around. “Oliver, I need you to step outside. And don’t come back in until I come get you.”
Oliver cocked his head to the side, looking confused. Oliver walked to the door, glanced back at Tatum and Eddie, then stepped outside, shutting the door behind him.
Tatum locked the door. Eddie’s handsome face was strained. He looked at her, fidgeting with his hands. Facing away from him, she moved with caution, trying not to startle him. She took off her shoes and socks, pulled her shirt over her head, and unfastened her bra. She looked over her shoulder. “You still doing okay?”
Eddie stared at her, rubbing the sweat off his hands onto his pants. “You’re not going to look like Freddy Krueger, are you?” Eddie wiped his brow, mumbling, “Keep your shit together, man.”
“Eddie?”
“Yeah, sorry. I’m okay.”
Unbuttoning her pants, Tatum pulled them down. “Are you ready?”
“Am I ready? To be honest, if things were different and you were undressing, I’d say, ‘Hell yes, I’m ready!’ But right now, I’m just trying to deal.”
Tatum shook her head. “All or nothing.”
Tatum’s body shrank as she moved in a fast blur. Caramel-brown fur stretched over her and covered the surface of her wolf. She stood on four paws, turned with her tail tucked under her wolf form, and hunkered down to come to him.
Eddie stood there with his mouth hanging open. They stared at each other for a long time.
Oliver knocked on the door. “Is everything okay in there?”
Eddie jumped up and pushed his mouth back in place. Lowering himself to the floor with one leg crossed over the other, he kept eye contact with her.
He reached out his hand, holding it in the air as she crawled over, nuzzling Eddie’s gentle hands with her head. Moving closer, she let him have easier access. He relaxed, using both hands to rub down her back. She stretched out across his lap, enjoying the rubdown. Chuckling at her, Eddie continued to stroke her brown fur.
Oliver banged on the door. “You guys! Is everything alright?”
He’s going to break down the door soon.
“Yes, just give us a minute!” Eddie scratched behind her ears and rubbed under her chin. She rolled over in his lap, exposing her belly. Was it weird that she was enjoying this so much? No one had ever touched her like this, and it was nice. Eddie rubbed her chest and belly as she wagged her tail.
Eddie chuckled again. “I could get used to this. At least you’re not a green alien.”
“Come on, guys, what are you doing in there?” Oliver pounded on the door a couple of times, making the door unstable.
Eddie looked at the front door. “Well, go ahead and turn into a human. The big guy isn’t going to stay out there much longer.”
Tatum rolled of
f his lap, moved away, and shifted back. She got her clothes back on, not looking at Eddie. Now that she was in human form, embarrassment turned her skin pink. Did she really roll over and expose her belly? For Destiny’s sake, she needed to get laid.
Tatum sat down on the floor, pulled her socks and shoes on, and tied her shoes. Eddie walked over, patted her head, and headed for the front door to let Oliver in.
Oliver grunted at Eddie. “Well, it’s about time! You’ve been in here forever.”
“It wasn’t that long.” Eddie shrugged him off. He walked back over to Tatum, pulled her to her feet, and swung his massive arms around her in a big hug. He leaned in toward her ear. “Thanks for trusting me. I won’t tell a soul.” He kissed her cheek and let her go. “I guess you want IDs for more wolves?”
“Shifters. We’re called shifters. I need IDs for the shifters in my pack. We need to start working and making money. Our race is withering away, and unless we start living alongside humans, we’re not going to make it.”
Eddie nodded. “Then this is a no brainer. I need to make IDs. Twenty-two people…I mean shifters, is a lot. It might take a while to get enough social security numbers. Also, it would take a long time to drive all the shifters over here. I could come down with my camera and a green screen to take some photos. When the cards are ready, I’ll drop them off to you. And don’t forget names and birthdates.”
Tatum nodded. “I’ll have to make up some of the years, but I should be able to give you the correct month and day.”
“Can I ask how old you are?”
“I’m twenty-six.” Tatum laughed. “But Grandpa is over two hundred years old.”
Eddie covered his mouth with his hand. “Wow. I have so many questions. Like can you turn me into a shifter? Do you eat people? Is there something special about the full moon? Can you be with humans?”
Tatum laughed. She was glad Eddie was finally on board. “No, we can’t turn you into a shifter. We don’t eat people that I know of. We do love the moon, and yes, we can mate with humans. I’ll answer more of your questions and head back to the farm. You can call me whenever you’re ready to come down. I’ll have the names and dates ready.”
They talked for hours longer than Tatum had planned. But this was a big favor, and Eddie deserved to have his questions answered. If she were honest with herself, she liked sharing her secret with him.
Later that night, Tatum pulled in front of the farmhouse. Oliver went inside to go to sleep, but Tatum stopped and talked to Enoch and Jenny, who were waiting on the porch, rocking in chairs.
Enoch eyed Tatum. “How did it go?”
“Everything is good. Eddie said he would make the IDs. He’s going to bring his camera and green screen down here to take everyone’s picture. When he’s finished with the IDs, he’ll drop them off.”
Enoch’s chest puffed out like a proud rooster. “This is great news. Good job.”
“Thanks.” Tatum yawned and stretched.
“Go inside and eat, then get off to bed.”
Tatum walked into the kitchen to heat a container of leftover lasagna. The microwave whirred as it made steady rotations.
The thought of Eddie rubbing all over her body lingered in her mind, along with the soft kiss he had left on her cheek. Even if he didn’t sexually want her, the feeling of his hands on her body was so alluring. Was she that desperate? Maybe she was.
Maybe she could blame Luke for this. After all, that male had her blood boiling with desire. What if Luke was her true mate? She hadn’t mated with a male yet. Could she be one of the few pure shifter females left? Most likely.
Suppose she bought into the whole human ethical thought process that made her special. Shouldn’t she demand to be treated as such? Why shouldn’t she save herself for a shifter who would be dedicated to her? Saving one’s self for one’s mate should be considered an extraordinary gift. Could she expect it from the males? Highly unlikely, but still, wouldn’t it be better that way? And how awkward did these pack members feel if they were messing around with each other and then they found their mate?
Tatum took her half-cold, half-hot lasagna to the table.
Returning to her original thought, she imagined two lovers leaving each other. “Oops? Sorry. I found my mate.”
Wouldn’t that be awful? The whole crying, love-sick schoolgirl image flashed in her mind, and it made her want to puke. But she was steering more and more in that direction. She wanted to be loved by someone. A true mate was preferable.
Tatum took a few bites of food, shaking her head. And here’s another question: How do shifters know they are true mates? They say that shifters just know who their true mates are. Sure they do. And that was a perfect description. One she’d like to throw in the trash.
Getting up, she washed out her bowl, headed to bed, and went to sleep.
Tatum found herself sitting outside, staring up at the beautiful full moon. The sky was absent of stars, but not clouds. No, they rushed past like cars on a freeway, trying to move on to an unknown location. Tatum sighed and lowered her gaze. Chairs were all over the yard. Standing up, she moved between them. There were folding chairs, rocking chairs, armchairs, and small wooden chairs, all facing one direction. She turned to face the direction the chairs were facing. Glowing extra bright from the moon’s rays sat a wooden chair with a long wooden back. It was a bizarre-looking chair that looked like a skinny rocking chair with four straight legs.
A loud explosion rang out in the night. Tatum jerked up alongside Natalie. They both scrambled out of bed, Natalie stumbling over the blanket that entangled her legs. Tatum reached over and pulled her across the room. Ben and Susan raced down the hall before Tatum made it to the door. Following the smoke scent, Tatum and Natalie ran upon a scene that stopped Tatum dead in her tracks. What the hell is going on?
A grain silo bellowed hot flames with spirals of smoke lifting in the sky. The top of the building was bent back with jagged edges. Dark clouds rolled from the silos, blotching out the waxing moon that hung in the sky as flames licked the air.
Jenny ran toward the hot flames screaming, “No.” Enoch flew past them, pulling Jenny’s screaming form away from the barrage of heat. He picked her up as she gave into hysteria.
James ran up to Natalie’s side, pulling her into his chest.
Natalie sobbed and cried as James stroked her hair. “How did this happen? I don’t understand what…how…just how?” Natalie’s voice was so broken.
“Foothill Farms. We have a fire.” It was Eli’s voice, Tatum realized.
She should have thought of calling 911. Her mind wasn’t working right. Frozen and confused were just a few things she was feeling, but her broken heart was the biggest one. Jenny and Natalie had taken them in, and now this had happened to repay her kindness.
Tatum looked over the pack members, meeting Cade’s eyes. His appearance seemed to be pleased, his eyes showed signs of a smile. The slightest twitch was at the corner of his mouth.
Did he do this? Or was he just happy it had happened? Luke’s eyes met hers, and then he looked down at his feet.
She kept her eyes on Cade’s face, growling low in her throat. He looked over at her, and that wiped the expression off his face. Tatum lifted her two fingers to her eyes and pointed them back at him. That’s right, asshole. I think it was you.
His jaw started to tick, but she didn’t give a shit. If he had something to do with this, she was going to make his life a living hell.
The pack all stood a great distance away, but it didn’t stop the heat from pushing out across the land. The smoke was burning Tatum’s eyes and nose, making the pain of losing the silo even more unbearable.
The Hale family huddled together. Owen started ushering his mate and three daughters away from the scene. Birdie was trying to comfort Chloe, who kept asking what had happened. Tears were falling down her swollen red cheeks. Her curly dark hair was a fuzzy mess, and she wore pink pajamas that looked like the
y had been brand new, but now sprinkles of soot covered the material.
The others talked in hushed murmurs. Red lights reflected off the once shiny silo. Tatum backed up along with many others, trying to make room for the firemen.
Humans in unwieldy yellow suits carried thick hoses across the lawn. They sprayed water on the silos, soaking the grain and ground, drowning hopes and dreams of safety and prosperity.
Enoch and Jenny talked to the firemen, and after hours of soaking the inferno, they were finished.
In the end, the fire stopped raging, and only smoke remained. Firetrucks rutted out mud paths on the once vibrant green grass as they made their way off the farm’s property.
Slowly, the pack members made their way back to the farmhouse. Many of them sat around until dawn broke. Enoch ordered them all back to their rooms. Natalie didn’t come to bed that night, and Tatum figured that she was with James.
Tatum was exhausted, but the feeling of constant sadness remained. She lay in bed, unable to sleep. She stared up at the ceiling, only seeing Cade’s eyes. A growl filled the air.
Chapter 19
When daylight arrived, Tatum stood up and headed out the door. She stormed outside, walking around the house toward the silo. What had made the silo explode? And was there anything she could figure out about the silo if she took a closer look? Coming to the corner of the house, she saw Cade picking something up from the ground. She headed his way.
He studied the item between his fingers. Cade’s eyes shot up to Tatum. With a jerk of his body, he walked in the opposite direction.
“Hey, Cade.”
He stopped with a grunt and turned back around.
Tatum walked up to him. “You looked a little too happy about the fire last night. Care to explain?”
Cade’s jaw ticked again. “I don’t need to explain shit to you, female.”
Tatum crossed her arms. “Is that so? I bet whatever you put in that pocket just now would prove my theory.”
Cade chuckled loudly. “That’s fucking hilarious. You have a theory about who done it?”
