Chapter Ten
They walked steadily through the woods and higher up the mountain; needing the assistance of tree branches as handholds on occasion. Neither spoke until the terrain levelled out somewhat. It was Alek who broke the silence. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Daisy stopped, wrapping her arms around her middle and looked around the area to avoid eye contact. “Not really.” She mumbled.
Alek grit his teeth. Subtle cajoling was not his style and frankly he felt completely out of his depth. Beating a confession out of someone seemed so much easier, but the thought of Daisy receiving even the smallest hurt had his cat roaring. He tried again. “It might make you feel better and I’ve been told I’m a good listener.” He’d never actually been told that. Usually he heard things like ‘You aren’t much of a talker are you?’ which wasn’t exactly the same thing. But if it worked he’d run with it.
Daisy blew out a breath and pushed her booted toe through the snow to reveal the bed of leaves beneath. “Don’t worry about it. I’m just being silly. Let’s get going, the falls are aren’t too much further from here.”
This was getting him nowhere and the fact that she wouldn’t even look at him was pissing him off. Snagging the sleeve of her coat he pulled her around to face him and laid his hands gently on her shoulders. She looked surprised, but he finally had her full attention. “Daisy, I’m your friend. You can tell me anything and I won’t judge you. Something is obviously bothering you. Let me help you.”
When he saw a hint of tears begin to form in those beautiful hazel eyes he nearly panicked not knowing what he’d done to cause them, but then she smiled and his heart jumped. “We’re friends?” She asked barely above a whisper.
Her tone was so hopeful it nearly broke his heart. He smiled and chucked her under the chin. “I’d like to think we are. And what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t listen to all your stories?” He looped her arm around his and tugged her forward to continue their walk. “Don’t make me feel like a bad friend, Daisy. Tell me what’s bothering you.”
Daisy released a small huff of laughter and shook her head. “I don’t even know where to start.” She said.
“At the beginning. Here, I’ll help.” He cleared his throat dramatically. “Once upon a time…” Alek suggested and she laughed outright.
Taking a deep breath, she began, “The town I grew up in was… unusual I guess is the best way to describe it; very old fashioned. Very, old fashioned.” She stressed.
Alek nodded. From what he’d seen of her old town she was being kind in that description but since she was unaware of exactly how much he knew he couldn’t say so. She continued, “They’re so old fashioned that ma- ah, marriages are still arranged.”
She stopped talking as he helped her over a fallen tree. He assumed she was about to say either mates or mating before she corrected herself. It was a rule every shifter child had drilled into them from the earliest age: never talk about shifters to humans. Ever. And as far as Daisy knew, he was human. She would have to be careful about her turn of phrase and he would, therefore, have to read between the lines. It was tiresome when he wanted straight answers, but revealing what he was could very well scare Daisy off for good and have a pack of wolves on his heels. Someday he would tell her, he vowed. When the time was right. Deceiving someone in order to accomplish a job had never bothered him before, but this, with Daisy, it felt wrong.
He had been so deep in his own thoughts that it took him a minute to realize Daisy was speaking again. “I grew up there and honestly didn’t know any better so I didn’t see anything wrong with it. I only knew that I didn’t like the way Lily’s ah, husband treated her. The things he’d say to her were so mean. He was a horrible man.”
Finally he was getting somewhere. “Was? Did he die?” Alek prompted.
Daisy grimaced. “He did, but that’s not what’s bothering me.”
Alek had to stop himself from grinding his teeth together. “Oh, sorry. Go on.”
They broke through the line of trees just then and came to a clearing where there were several boulders surrounding a frozen stream and the falls that Daisy had wanted to visit. She looked disappointed. “I hadn’t actually expected the falls to freeze.” She said as she looked out at the natural sculpture. “Though I guess it is rather pretty.”
“You were talking about what was bothering you.” Alek prompted and Daisy looked startled for a moment before her expression cleared and then she frowned. “Right,” she nodded. “Let’s sit.” She said, settling herself onto one of the boulders that wasn’t overly tall. She patted the space next to her and Alek joined her.
“I overheard my parents talking one night that they planned to approach Garrett Foley about a match between us.” She made a face as if she’d smelled something gross. “Garrett was a lot like Lily’s husband – a bully, only worse. He was mean to anyone weaker and I’m pretty sure he enjoyed it."
Alek knew exactly the type of man she spoke of and had to clench his jaw to contain the growl that rose in his throat. Picturing his sweet and gentle Daisy under the thumb of someone like that was enough to make him see red; his inner cat clawing to the surface.
“But he was strong and that’s what my pr- my townspeople considered important. Pairing me with someone like Garrett so that my weaknesses were less likely to be passed on to any children we might have. Happiness is never a factor in those pairings.”
She shook her head and continued “I had a friend who lived next door to me growing up. His name was Bryan.” She smiled fondly, her eyes on the frozen falls though he doubted she actually saw them, her mind in the past. “He and I were a lot alike.” She turned and glanced at him with a rueful little smile. “Neither one of us were considered strong or very useful to the community.”
Alek wanted to put his arm around her and pull her in tight. He wanted to assure her she was stronger than she knew and that she was indeed useful but he held himself back and let her continue. “Bryan was never very physical but he had a wonderful mind; always taking things apart to see how they worked.” She laughed, “His head was always so full of ideas that he’d constantly forget where he put things.” Then her laughter dried up and her voice came out in a near growl. “He may not have been strong but he was definitely useful had they just opened their eyes and truly seen him.”
Alek knew from what he’d witnessed of that particular pride that that would probably never happen. Not with the current leadership at least. They were so rooted in the past that they would sooner die out than embrace change. “What happened?” He asked, knowing instinctively that this story wasn’t going to have a happy ending for her friend.
“I was so upset about the thought of being mat-, ah, married to someone like Garrett Foley that I went to Bryan and convinced him that we should be together. I told him that if I convinced my parents we had already been intimate that they would allow it.” Her lower lip began to quiver and her eyes filled with tears as she looked at him for a moment before turning back to the view of the falls. “They were so angry when I told them, I thought for sure they would cast both Bryan and I out.” She shook her head, “But we were okay with that; had been expecting it. Being cast out seemed better than the alternative and we had made plans for exactly that outcome.”
Alek took her hand in his and squeezed. “But that’s not what happened was it?”
“They killed him.” It was barely a whisper, but he heard. “They said it was an accident, but I knew better. He was so sweet, and wonderful, and gifted, and they killed him. Because of me.”
Her tears were flowing freely now, and the sight was causing an unfamiliar tightness in his chest. Unsure what he should do, he patted her back awkwardly for a moment until Daisy turned and threw her arms around his neck. He stiffened slightly; the last person who had hugged him was his mother, but he wrapped his own arms around her and stroked a hand down her back. He liked having Daisy this close. He actually felt the beginning rumblings of a purr and he foug
ht to push it back down as he continued to pet the female in his arms. His shoulders and spine began to relax, and a feeling he hadn’t felt since he was nine years old settled like a blanket around him; contentment.
Chapter Eleven
Daisy knew she was taking unfair advantage. Her tears had stopped but Alek was stroking her; petting her from the top of her head to the bottom of her back in long glides and her cat was reveling in the contact. She had to swallow the urge to purr and rub up against him in thanks. Just a few more moments. That’s all she needed. A few more moments to enjoy the attention.
Lily had been the only other person she had told about Bryan. After he’d been killed, suspecting her parents had had a hand in his death, she hadn’t been able to face them. So she’d gone to stay with Lily and Hank. She may not have liked Lily’s husband, but Lily had always been her safe harbor and, as always, had taken Daisy under her wing. Unlike Alek, however, Lily had heard the story and berated Daisy for her actions. “Honestly, Daisy, what did you expect? You can’t defy the wishes of the pride without consequence. I’m just glad that you’re okay.”
“I’m not okay.” She had replied, only for Lily to snap, “You’re alive aren’t you?”
It had seemed heartless at the time, but Lily had been right. Daisy was the one who put the plan in motion knowing how little chance she had of success. She had talked Bryan into it, argued her case, and finally convinced him only for him to lose his life because of her. She wasn’t so naïve that she didn’t have a basic understanding of how things worked. She knew there would be repercussions when she hatched the plan, she just hadn’t thought they’d actually go so far as to kill. It had turned her stomach but it had also truly opened her eyes for the first time.
Alek gave her one final pet and then gently gripped her upper arms to pull her back from him. Using the knuckles of one hand he stroked them over her cheeks to dry her tears. His hands were cold since he wasn’t wearing gloves just then, but it felt good on her hot face. It had been a risk telling him about Bryan, telling an outsider anything about pride life, but she hoped he wouldn’t ask any questions she couldn’t answer. For the moment, he simply gave her a soft smile and said, “Better now?”
Daisy nodded and then blushed when she saw the wet spots she had left behind on his black coat. She smoothed her hand over it, trying to dry it with her mitten. “I’m sorry I cried on you.”
She saw his shoulder lift in a shrug. “It’s okay.” Taking her hand in his he pulled it away from his jacket. “Don’t worry about it. It’ll dry.”
She nodded again, not sure what to say. She watched as Alek stood up from the boulder and walked closer to the falls; his back to her. “What did your sister do when you told her what happened?”
Daisy shivered from the cold that seemed to wrap around her in his absence. Tucking her chin down deeper in her coat she said, “She let me stay with her. She knew I couldn’t stay at our parents’ right then.”
“Wasn’t she married at the time? Mrs. Potter said your sister’s husband wasn’t exactly,” he paused as if trying to find the right word, “accommodating.”
“He was an ass.” Daisy said, barely keeping the snarl out of her voice. “But he welcomed me at the time. I think he enjoyed having another person there to marvel at his greatness.” She finished, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
“Is he the one who scarred her?”
Daisy reeled back from the question. “How did you know about the scars?”
He glanced over his shoulder at her and then shrugged before he turned his attention back to the falls. “Mrs. Potter of course.”
Daisy frowned. She didn’t remember telling Mrs. Potter about Lily’s scars. Yes, she had told Mrs. Potter plenty of things, but she didn’t recall telling her about that. Mostly because Daisy didn’t like talking about it. But if Alek knew, then surely she must have. Well, actually, on second thought, Mrs. Potter may very well have heard it from Flora when she went to have her hair done. Just because Daisy was uncomfortable talking about it didn’t mean the rest of the town had any reason to avoid the subject. She bit her lip in indecision and then stood. “We should probably head back,” she said glancing up at the sky hoping for an excuse to change the subject. No ominous clouds hovering and still hours from dusk. Maybe an appointment? Yes, an appointment would be convenient right now.
She started walking back toward the trees without waiting for Alek, but she heard his boots crunching in the snow and knew he was right behind her. It was several minutes before he said, “I’m sorry if I offended you, Daisy. I didn’t mean to.”
She waved away his concern but kept walking as briskly as the terrain would allow. “I just don’t like talking about it since it was my fault.”
Daisy heard Alek’s step falter and then stop, probably shocked by her words. She stopped as well and turned to look at him. For once he didn’t have his stoic mask in place. She had actually unsettled him. She turned back around and continued to walk. Maybe he was wondering if it was safe to be alone with her. She’d already admitted to scarring her sister and getting a man killed.
She hadn’t heard him start walking again but suddenly he was in front of her, his hands gripping her upper arms. “Tell me what happened.”
She gazed at him for a moment, wondering what he would think of her when she told him. She shook her head and let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Lily was always the perfect one. Gorgeous, smart, fierce, whereas I was the disappointment, silly, clumsy, a failure, but Lily never held that against me. She was always there to help me, bolster me when I needed it, and cover for me when I messed up.”
Shaking off his hold she started walking again. “The town was setting up to celebrate the summer solstice and I talked Lily into taking me to the mall so I could get a new dress.” She stopped and looked at Alek, “She hated the mall you know. Lily doesn’t like crowds.” Getting her feet moving again she continued. “But, Lily, being Lily, took me anyway.” A long sigh. “While we were there, we ran into a group of guys around my age, some older, and they were flirting. Lily told me we had to get going but I was enjoying the attention and begged for just a little more time. So she humored me. She just stood there waiting, letting me soak it all up, and feed my ego. She didn’t even speak to any of the guys. That didn’t matter to Hank though.” Daisy lifted a hand to her cheek and slid her fingers over it. The same spot where her sister now bore scars. “By the time we got home, someone – I have no idea who – had already told him that we’d been seen at the mall acting like sluts.” Her eyes shot to his and the slid away, her cheeks hot with a blush. “His words.”
“So he marked her.” Daisy jumped slightly at hearing the angry rumble in Alek’s voice.
“He said it was to let everyone know who she belonged to.”
Alek nodded. “Is that why you ran away?”
Daisy tripped over her own feet and would have fallen flat if Alek hadn’t caught her. Stroking his thumb over her cheek, he murmured, “You can tell me, Daisy. I can help you, but I need to know what happened. Talk to me.”
She looked at him for a moment before she pulled away and quickened her pace. Panic was settling in her chest, a painful tightness. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” A slightly hysterical laugh. “We didn’t run away. Lily and I chose to leave after her husband died. We just wanted to start fresh somewhere new. That’s all.” She made a chopping motion with her hand. “That’s all there was to it.”
Alek didn’t say anything, just continued to follow slightly behind her. The quiet was making her anxiety worse and she was sure she could feel his eyes on her, probing for, and discovering all her secrets. Glancing at her wrist – not that she was wearing a watch, but it seemed like a perfectly acceptable gesture at the time – she said, “I ah, have to get back. I forgot I was meeting some friends.”
More silence. Daisy was practically grinding her teeth to make sure she didn’t say anything to further incriminate her and Lily. As soon as she saw Mrs.
Potter’s house she broke into a run with a shouted. “Got to go! Thanks for the hike!”
Chapter Twelve
Daisy stayed on pack lands for the next several days and she did her best to avoid Lily as well. She still hadn’t told Lily about Alek or that because she had told him some of their history he had come too close to guessing the truth. She couldn’t bear the thought of Lily looking at her with accusation in her green eyes, or worse, pity. Daisy messed up again; poor, silly, Daisy. What did you expect? She’s not very bright after all. Thoughts like those kept her in bed well after Lily had left to go to work and had her staying in town until late. She spent most of her time at the hair salon or at the bed and breakfast with Constance Tully. She had even stayed over a few nights, using the excuse of binge watching shows with the she wolf. Other times she spent hours out taking walks in the woods with her bobcat shadow. She didn’t know if it was paranoia settling just under her skin, but every time she was outside she felt like she was being watched. She was growing overly agitated and jumpy.
A jump and a slight yelp from Daisy when Lily, who had come home early from work one afternoon, came up behind her that had Lily raising an eyebrow and then narrowing her eyes. “What’s the matter with you?”
Daisy had smiled weakly and let out a nervous laugh, “I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine. When was the last time you shift?” Lily asked, her look turning to one of concern. Before Daisy could answer Lily began stripping off her clothes. “Come on, twitchy. Let’s go for a run. It’s been too long for me too.”
Daisy had to admit it felt good to release her cat. She and Lily had chased each other through the woods, sharpened their claws on the bark of a fallen tree, and rolled in the snow. Yet through it all, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being observed. It could be one of the wolves on patrol or out for a run themselves, but she didn’t think so. She’d been told her entire life that she didn’t have good instincts, but right now, what few instincts she had, were screaming that a predator was watching. She scanned the area, but could see nothing unusual, even with the enhanced feline vision. Lily had much better instincts and she didn’t seem concerned, neither did the bobcat who had joined in the run. But Daisy couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that she was being hunted.
For Her: A Malsum Pass Novel Page 6
