“What were you thinking?” asked an exasperated male voice.
I opened my eyes and found Brandon leaning over me. His wet hair looked incredibly handsome. “You saved me?” I asked quietly.
He nodded his head. “Yes.”
“I thought you wanted me to die?”
He frowned. “Why on earth would you think that?”
“A lion never saves a drowning rabbit. It just waits for the corpse to wash up on shore.”
He dropped his head. “I’m sorry that I insulted you and hurt your feelings. I shouldn’t have said those things, but that’s no reason to drown yourself.”
“My mom died,” I whispered.
He looked at me with pity on his face. “I’m sorry.”
I reached up towards him and touched his cheek. “Why did you save me?”
He leaned into my hand. “Because all I can think about is keeping you safe.”
He did like me. I sat up and kissed his lips before I thought better of it. He held still in shock a moment and then kissed me back. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me as the waves splashed up over us. He pulled back and looked at my face. “Why?”
“Why did I kiss you?” I asked a little breathlessly.
He shook his head. “Why did you jump off the cliff?”
“Mark used to bring me here and jump with me. I just did it for something distracting, but then as I drifted to the bottom of the ocean I couldn’t move my arms and…I didn’t want to.” I looked into his eyes. “I wasn’t planning on killing myself and now the thought scares me, but when I was under the water it just felt right.”
I shuddered and he wrapped his arms around me, hugging me against his warm body. “You’re safe now. We better get you back to the house to dry off though.”
I tried to stand up, but dizziness made me sit back down. “I don’t think I can walk yet.”
“Victoria!” yelled Mark from the cliff. I turned and waved to him to show that I was okay. He dove off the cliff’s edge, diving perfectly into the water. I always envied his flawless diving position.
Brandon growled. “I don’t like his fascination with you.”
Mark swam to shore and bent over me. “Are you alright? What happened?”
I wrapped my arms around his neck to calm him with my touch. “I’m fine. I jumped off the cliff, but dove too deep. Brandon saved me.”
Mark pushed me back and looked into my eyes. “Your Dad is freaking out. You’re sure you’re okay?”
I nodded my head. “Yes, but I can’t walk yet.”
Mark picked me up without hesitation, cradling me against his chest. “Everything’s alright, Victoria. The pride is here for you. I’m here.”
It was the same thing he said to me every time I was scared or something happened to make me sad. The words reassured me a little bit and I closed my eyes as they started walking.
“Thank you for saving her,” Mark whispered to Brandon when he thought I had fallen asleep, “I’m sorry for being rude to you before.”
“It’s alright, Beta. I know it’s difficult when a new lion comes into the pride.”
“She is everything to this pride, without her, we would have no sun,” Mark whispered as he nuzzled my wet hair.
“May I ask you something without you getting angry?” Brandon asked.
Mark whispered, “I shall try my hardest.”
“What are your intentions towards her?”
Mark exhaled loudly. “I’m her protector. Her Dad assigned me the task when she started visiting for long periods of time. She would be pissed if she knew that her Dad assigned me to watch over her so I make sure to make it seem like I just want to hang out with her. Don’t misunderstand, I do enjoy spending time with her and she’s one of the most important people to me, but I have no desires towards her. I started flirting with her when she was fourteen because I could see that she enjoyed it. It means nothing, but makes her feel special.” Mark stopped his rant and turned to look at Brandon. “You like her, don’t you?”
“She’s pretty and I enjoy being near her and I can’t stop thinking about her, but…” Brandon growled. “I’m afraid when I’m near her.”
Mark laughed. “Do not tell her that!”
Brandon sighed. “I know. I’m just so scared of hurting her.”
“She’s not as fragile as a human, Brandon, but her heart is. Do not lead her on if you can’t stick with her. She is as devoted as any lion mate would be and she has our longevity. The decision is yours, but if I were you I would decide soon. Her Dad will not be pleased if you break his little girl’s heart.”
The cold air pressed harder against me, making me shiver. “Cold,” I whispered. Mark started running, but that made the air press harder against me. “Brrr.”
“Hold on, darlin’ only a little ways to go.”
“Fire and hot chocolate,” I whispered.
Mark laughed. “I’ll get you both as soon as I can.” Mark stopped running and set me down on the ground beside the camp fire. Brandon lit the wood already there while Mark went into the house.
Sarah ran out to me and picked me up. “Stupid boys. We need to change her.” I let her carry me to my room and strip me from my bathing suit. “You gave us all a really bad scare,” she whispered as she searched through my things for sweatpants and a sweatshirt.
“Sorry,” I whispered as my teeth chattered together. “I just needed to run,” I answered honestly.
“I know honey.” She finished getting me dressed and then carried me back out to the fire which was huge now. Mark handed me a steaming mug of hot chocolate and then draped a blanket around my shoulders.
Mark sat down beside me and rubbed my arms. I leaned my head against his shoulder and asked, “What’s going to happen to me?”
“You are going to move here and you’re going to live with the pride. You will go to school and join the cheerleading squad.”
“The others won’t like me being around,” I whispered. I was sure that a lot of the teen lions who indulged my presence occasionally would not like my being here permanently.
Mark growled. “They will learn to accept it or they will have to answer to me,” he said vehemently.
“You’re the best protector ever,” I whispered.
Mark sighed. “You heard that, did you?”
I smiled and snuggled closer against him as he rubbed my arm. “I’ve known for a while and I only flirt with you because it’s fun.”
“You’re not mad?”
I laughed. “No. I actually like knowing that you’re my protector. Besides, it makes the females jealous when I get to order you around and they don’t.”
Dad walked out of the house and sat down beside me. “Are you alright?”
“Yes. I had a bit of an accident, but Brandon saved me.”
Dad turned to Brandon who was sitting on a log behind us. “Thank you.”
Brandon smiled. “You don’t have to thank me.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, “I just wanted to take my mind off it. I didn’t mean to endanger anybody.”
Dad patted my hand. “It’s alright. Do you want to talk now?”
“When do we go get my stuff?” I asked instead of talking to him about mom’s death.
“When you’re ready,” Dad answered.
“Can we do it tomorrow?”
He nodded his head and pulled me away from Mark to cuddle me on his lap like he used to when I was little. “I’m sorry, Victoria. I’ll try to make your transition as easy as possible.”
I relaxed in his hold and whispered, “I’ll try not to be a brat.”
Mark and Dad laughed loudly. Dad said, “That’s the best we can hope for.”
The idea of going to school here frightened me. I only knew the pride kids and only half of them really liked me. The other half thought I was a spoiled brat. Sure they greeted me happily when I arrived, but only because to them I was a pride member and the pride is always happy to see members that have been missing fo
r a while. That didn’t mean they liked me. That’s why they kept to the back parts of the forest while I visited.
“I’m going to change and go for a hunt,” Brandon said.
“The pride is going on a hunt in a little bit. Can you wait?” Dad asked.
Brandon nodded his head. “Yes. I’ll just go visit with the others until you call.”
I watched Brandon walk away and wanted to apologize, but held my tongue. Despite the harshness of our words I couldn’t let the kiss turn into something that it wasn’t. He might be attracted to me, but I still wasn’t a lion and he wanted a lioness.
I sipped on my hot chocolate and leaned against my father. I knew he was hurting as well, despite being the one who left, he hadn’t mated with another woman. To the lions your mate was your mate until she died. Now, she was dead. Dad would mourn her alone at some point, but I was hopeful he would take a new mate, perhaps Sarah, relatively soon.
I stood up and kissed my Dad’s cheek. “Go hunt. I’ll be fine here.”
Mark stood. “I’ll stay.”
I shook my head. “No, you need to hunt too. I’ll be fine. The Minters pack won’t be stupid enough to try to attack me twice in one day. Besides, they wouldn’t dare come to the house.”
Mark opened his mouth, but Dad said, “Okay. Promise to stay in the house?”
I nodded my head. “Yes, sir.”
He hugged me tightly. “We’ll leave in the morning to pick up your things.”
I shuffled into the house and waited until I heard the lions roaring together in their before picking up the phone and dialing Sandy.
“Hello?” she answered nervously.
“It’s me, Victoria.”
“Hey!” she said excitedly. “I didn’t think you’d be calling me this summer.”
I didn’t feel like going through the formalities so I got straight to the point. “Sandy, my mom died.”
She gasped and then asked in a whisper, “How did it happen?”
“Car crash.”
“Are you okay?”
No, but that wasn’t necessary to talk about. “Yeah, but now I’m going to be moving with my Dad.”
“Oh no,” she whispered. “That means you and Brandon aren’t coming back for the next school year?”
“Right,” I whispered. “I’m coming tomorrow to pack my stuff and it would mean a lot if you could come over and help.”
“Of course. What time do you want me there?”
“One in the afternoon would be great.”
“No problem. You’re still going to email me and visit me, right?”
“Duh,” I said lightheartedly. “I’ll even send you pictures of my Dad’s friends.”
She giggled. “Score!”
“I love you, Sandy.”
“I love you too, girl. Be strong.”
“Thanks.”
“Bye.”
I hung up the phone and sat down on the floor. I should be sadder about my mom dying, but I felt the worst about leaving my friends and school behind. Here I wouldn’t be popular or cool. Here I would be the Alpha’s daughter and the new girl that hangs out with the strange kids, but isn’t as cool as them.
I listened to the pride calling to each other and hunting and fell asleep on the floor of the living room, wishing I could run with them.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Victoria,” Brandon whispered, “It’s time to get up.”
“Why?” I asked, “Why are you waking me up?”
“I’m going with you to get the few things I left at your house.”
I sat up and stretched. “I’ll be ready in five minutes,” I said without looking at him. I walked to my room and changed clothes and then stood in the bathroom staring at myself in the mirror. I looked haggard. It took five minutes just to brush my hair, but I looked much better and felt it was worth it.
Mark, Dad and Brandon were talking quietly in the living room when I came in. I walked to Mark and leaned against him for comfort. He wrapped his arms around me and I exhaled. “Ready?” I asked.
Dad nodded his head and headed outside. Mark kissed the top of my head. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
I nodded my head and walked past Brandon and out to the SUV. Paul stood next to the SUV’s passenger door, waiting for me. I didn’t want to talk to him yet, but I couldn’t avoid him either. He hugged me tightly, squishing me against his chest. “I love you, Victoria.”
I closed my eyes to hold back the tears and hugged him back. “I know. I love you too.” He released me and ran off towards his home. “What was that about?” I asked softly.
“He’s worried about you,” Brandon said as Dad climbed into the vehicle. “He wants to help you, but he doesn’t know how.”
“No one here can help me,” I responded too softly for Dad to hear, but loud enough for Brandon. I climbed into the car, avoiding his response and closed my eyes. I wasn’t tired, but sleeping on the drive was the only way I could avoid both of their looks and questions.
We stopped halfway for food and I ate in silence while Brandon and Dad talked about pride business. Brandon kept looking at me, but said nothing. I just pretended I didn’t see him looking at me.
We finally made it to the house and Sandy sat on the porch waiting for me. I hugged her and she sniffled. “We’ll be strong.”
I laughed and we walked up to my room and started packing. She caught me up on the latest gossip and we pretended I was packing someone else’s room to keep from crying.
“You need any help?” Brandon asked from my doorway.
“Nope, we got it,” I answered quickly, not bothering to look up from the box I was labeling.
“I’ll take these boxes down to the car then,” he said softly, grabbing two boxes and heading down the stairs.
“What happened?” Sandy asked. “You two were great friends when you left.”
“I realized that no matter how much I want to be his friend, I won’t be able to stand seeing him with a girl,” I admitted, hoping he was still outside. “I can’t help how I feel about him and I would rather distance myself now than deal with seeing him with a girl later.”
“I’m sorry, Victoria.”
I nodded my head and we went back to boxing up my things. It took two hours to pack up the little that was my human life into the car. Somehow I thought it would have taken longer. I excused myself from Sandy for a minute and walked out the backdoor to my trees. The cherry blossoms drifted in the breeze and fell to the ground almost as though the trees were crying. I sat down against the tree and cried. I had thought I was out of tears, but realizing I had to give up this place, the only place that had ever truly been mine, made everything hurt again.
Warm arms encircled me and I opened my eyes to find Brandon hugging me. “It’s going to be alright.” I shook my head and tried to pull away from him, but he held me against his chest. “Don’t pull away from me. I know you’re hurting and I know part of that is my fault and I don’t like knowing that. I’m sorry for yesterday and the hurtful things I said.”
“You were right,” I whispered.
He shook his head and stroked my hair. “No, I was being a jerk. Please, don’t be mad at me anymore.”
“I’m not mad at you, Brandon.”
He looked at me and frowned. “Then why aren’t you talking to me?”
I stood up and turned away. “We should get back.”
“Tell me why you aren’t talking to me? Why you’re pushing me away?” he asked with anger evident in his voice.
“Because I don’t want to be your female friend and have to see you with another girl!” I yelled, letting my anger think for me. I gasped and clamped a hand over my mouth. “Crap.” I backed away from him and then ran into the house and up to my room. I shut the door and stared at the empty room before me. It mirrored my body perfectly: empty.
“Victoria,” Dad called, “It’s time to go.”
I wiped my eyes and took a deep breath. “Coming.” I walked out of m
y room and almost ran into Brandon who was coming up the stairs.
“Listen,” he started, but I kept walking past him and out the front door towards Sandy.
“Thank you for coming,” I whispered, “I’ll email every day and send pics soon.”
She smiled and hugged me tightly. “I’m going to miss you. You better come out to visit as soon as you can.”
“You know it.” I watched her walk away and felt my last pieces of humanity slipping away. I turned to Dad and whispered, “Let’s go.”
He patted my back and we drove back to the pride. I helped carry boxes into my room even though I knew there was no need since the others could carry twice as much as me and I was really just in the way, but I needed something to do. Sarah helped me unpack everything and then she sat me down in the chair in front of the dresser mirror and braided my hair like she had done so many times when I was a toddler.
“Would you like to go to town with me?” she asked.
I shook my head. “No thanks. I think I’m just going to take a walk through the forest and reacquaint myself with it.”
“You taking Brandon with you?” she asked.
“No,” I whispered, “I’ll probably ask Mark to go with me.”
“Are you going to be okay?” she asked.
I smiled and patted her back. “I’ll be fine.” I left before I started crying and told her the truth. I found Mark with Dad and Brandon. Why were the three of them always together? “Mark, will you go with me on a walk?”
Dad frowned. “I need Mark for something right now. I’m sure Brandon will go with you.”
Brandon stood up and I bit my cheek in frustration. I couldn’t say no now. “Fine,” I whispered.
Brandon followed me out of the house and stayed a few feet behind me as I walked. I closed my eyes and followed the familiar paths by memory. It seemed that yet again I was going to show Brandon my secret spot. I ran my hand along the trees as I walked and took in the smells and sounds of the forest I had grown up in. I walked for ten more minutes and then opened my eyes, finding a wall of ivy hanging over the front of my cave.
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