by Meg Ripley
He looked down at his hands. His voice was tight. “I hope you can.”
So that was it. He had feelings for me. He regretted ending things. But he still didn’t think he could be with me.
“You’re wrong, you know.” I walked down the porch steps and looked over at him one last time. “You think I deserve better than you, that somehow you can’t give me everything I want. Well, all I want is you. So, you’re wrong if you think somehow that’s not enough for me. There is no one better than you. All of the disasters I’ve been involved in since you have proven that. I attract men who…are not you. You were the best thing that ever happened to me.”
He walked inside and closed the front door softly. I stood there for a moment, but when it was clear he wasn’t coming back outside, I got in the car and left. I had no idea what I would tell my friends; this was the opposite of closure. Maybe they’d have some insight to share, some glaring reason I couldn’t see that would explain why he wouldn’t be with me. I wiped the tears falling from my eyes as I drove back to the site.
10
Owen
I heard my phone buzz and groaned. I’d told them only to text if there was an emergency—something no one else could handle—and now my phone was going off again. I didn’t even bother to look at the screen. I reached my hand out from underneath my blankets and pushed my phone off my bedside table.
All day, it’d been the same.
“Just checking in.” Ezra.
“Making sure you’re still alive.” Mason.
“Hey, the guys said you’re sick or something? Won’t get out of bed? Call me.” Noah.
I’d heard from every member of my clan; the ones closest to me, more than once. I got that they were worried. But they didn’t get that sometimes, even the Alpha needed a few days to himself. To drink himself into a stupor. To deeply regret all the decisions he’d ever made in his life. To stay in bed sleeping all day, if that’s what he wanted to do.
The light outside my window told me it was nearly evening. Again. I wasn’t even sure how many days it’d been anymore. I’d taken a few days off from work to stay away from Addie. I’d done the right thing. I hadn’t gone to talk to her, using the Aiden thing as an excuse. But then she’d shown up. Checking on the ibis. Yeah. Good one. Okay, so she did have a degree in ecology and a genuine interest in animals and the environment, but who would drive over here just to check on a bird with a broken leg? Addie would, my mind answered. And Addie did. Even if she had other reasons to talk to me, she might have called for no other reason. That’s just how she was. She was perfect.
I reached my hand out again, this time to grab the bottle. It was almost empty, but I swallowed the last bit of whiskey and sat up. I rubbed my eyes and let them adjust to the room. Clothing sat in piles on the floor. Empty beer bottles littered the side table, along with wrappers and boxes from take-out food and delivery. I picked up a half-eaten burger and sniffed it, then put it back in its wrapper.
That had been the one interruption I hadn’t minded as much. Ezra and Mason had stopped by, which annoyed me, but they’d brought me a huge bag of greasy food. And they just left it when it was clear I didn’t want to talk or run. I couldn’t shift when I was like this; it would be too easy for them to pick up on everything I was feeling. I had to get control over myself before I could let them in like that.
I trudged to the kitchen, wondering what beer I had left and what food was in the freezer. My walkie, which sat on its base near where I kept my keys and jacket, crackled.
“Earth to Owen…” Ezra said.
I snatched the walkie off its base and held down the button. “Do not use work equipment for personal communication.”
“Owen! This isn’t, man. We need you.”
I set the walkie back down and returned to the kitchen. They didn’t need me. There were plenty of well-qualified Rangers employed by the park. Any of them were more than capable of handling any situation that might arise. Tonight was the last night of Addie’s reservation. I’d be back at work tomorrow, after check out time. After I was sure she was gone and I’d never see her again.
“Owen!”
I heard him all the way in the kitchen.
“I know I’ve been bugging you when you said not to, but this is an actual emergency!”
I shook my head. Like I hadn’t heard that one at least twice over the last few days. It was an emergency that no one could find Conner—until they’d realized he’d left his phone at home. It was an emergency when a fellow Ranger called out sick, leaving a gap in the schedule. Until they’d called another senior Ranger and got him to cover. Whatever “emergency” it was this time, they could figure it out without me.
I snapped open the top of a fresh can of beer and took a gulp. I had just enough beer and alcohol to get me through one more night before I needed to restock. If it was already getting dark outside, then I was already behind schedule. I took another long sip.
I heard the car door first. Cursing under my breath, I went to look out the window. Ezra. Did he never learn? Maybe it was time to get a new second. Mason could be moved up in the ranks; that might not be a bad idea.
I made him pound on my door for several minutes before I finally opened it. “If someone isn’t dead or actively dying, you are turning around immediately and leaving.”
Ezra hesitated. “Even if it involves Addie?”
“Especially if it involves her.” I couldn’t even say her name out loud. It’d been the only word I’d been thinking for days.
“Okay…” Ezra turned on his heel and took a few steps away.
He knew me too well. “What?”
He shrugged and didn’t turn back. “I thought you might want to know about this, but you’re right. I’ll get someone else to handle it. Have a good night.”
I narrowed my eyes and watched him get in his car. What was this game he was playing? I didn’t want to give in, but if there was some kind of emergency with Addie, I did want to know, despite what I said.
“Ezra!”
He rolled the window down and stuck his head out. “Yeah?”
“What’s going on with Addie?”
He gave me a smug smile before getting back out of the car. “Well, it’s not directly about her, exactly.”
I gave him the finger and turned away, slamming the door shut behind me.
“There’s been an attack!” He shouted through the door. “I saw croc tracks. Got a turtle nest. Horrible damage. Killed a mother and destroyed her eggs.”
Okay, this sort of thing happened. It angered me, sure. The crocs knew better and this was a serious crime. I’d be calling the conclave if it was found to be true that the crocs had done it. But it wasn’t exactly an emergency if the turtle nest was already destroyed. If any turtles had been alive, the emergency would have been getting them to the vet, and he’d made no mention of that. So, what did it have to do with Addie?
“Not hearing any sort of emergency,” I said. “And you’ve been demoted. Tell Mason he’s my new second.”
“Hey! I’m just doing my job here, man! But fine, whatever. Maybe I don’t want to serve an Alpha who’s such a heartless jerk.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Well, anyway,” he said, undeterred. “I thought you’d want to know since there was a word written in the mud near the nest. A name. After all that’s happened, I wouldn’t just ignore it.”
“A name?”
“Addie. Whoever did it wrote ‘Addie’ in the mud near the nest. We don’t know if they were trying to set it up to make it look like she did it. I mean, it’s pretty stupid if they were because obviously, there are crocodile tracks and who would write their name where they committed a crime? Most of us think it’s a threat. To you.”
He waited, then continued when I didn’t say anything. “We also got a call from the conclave. The crocs are complaining that bears are coming on their land. Named you, specifically.”
Of course. When I’d gone to the party, I hadn’t b
een careful. I’d gotten close and they’d picked up on my scent. But crocs went places they weren’t meant to and we went places we shouldn’t all the time. No one ever bothered to say anything unless something happened. Nothing happened when I went to the party except I saw Aiden and Addie together. Maybe her rejecting him pissed him off and somehow, they connected her to me. If they’d been asking her about me, then there was some connection happening.
I pulled open the door. “Show me.”
Ezra nodded and pulled off his shirt. We shifted and ran through the woods. Almost the moment I changed, there was clatter in my head.
Owen! How are you? Hailey.
Glad you’re back, man. Mason.
Me too, Conner chimed in. Ezra can’t run this clan. Don’t ever die.
Hey! I’m here, too! Ezra added.
I’m only here to check on the situation, I thought back to them.
Let me know if you want help. Mason again. Good guy. He made a good third.
Ezra led me to the site of the attack. Sea turtles were highly protected in the park; all animals were protected, of course, but some who were close to being on the endangered list were protected differently. In this case, no one was allowed to disturb a sea turtle in any way. All the clans in the area knew this. This was a blatant attack, and a horrible sight.
Sea turtles made what we called a nest, but was really just a hole in the muddy sand near the water. They dug the hole, the females laid their eggs, and they stayed to incubate them until the eggs hatched. Whoever made this attack killed the mother turtle, smashed and feasted on the eggs, and left the hole of the nest decimated. And, just like Ezra had claimed, near the nest in the mud was written “Addie,” deliberately surrounded by crocodile tracks. It had to be shifters who did this.
I’m going to kill that asshole, I thought. Has anyone called the conclave yet? This is a punishable crime.
Not yet, Ezra thought to me. We were waiting for you. We thought it’d be better if you contacted them.
He was right. It was part of an Alpha’s duty to do those sorts of things.
Maybe in this case, seeing as how it’s so personal and all, I’ll just handle things on my own, I said.
On your own, with me to help, Ezra corrected.
No. Stand by, but I’m going to find that jerk. He wants a piece of me? He wants to taunt me like this? Then I’m going to take care of it myself.
I took off running back to my cabin. I could feel that Ezra was following me. I could feel the questions coming from the linked minds of the clan and Ezra’s gently urging of them to wait. Fine. He could take care of the clan.
And I’d take care of that asshole, Aiden, once and for all.
I dressed, put my gun in its holster at my side and slid my knife into the top of my boot. Then, I got in my car, took a moment to pound on the steering wheel to release my anger, and took off. Wearing only his shorts, Ezra stood on my porch and watched me leave. He’d probably follow me; a good second would. I wouldn’t stop him, but I also wasn’t going to get him involved in this fight. This was between me and Aiden, and it would be coming to an end that night.
I drove to the bar where Ezra, Mason and Conner had encountered the crocs many nights back. When I didn’t see Aiden, I asked around. How convenient that no one knew where he was. I then drove over to the airboat dock and had much better luck. As I pulled up, I saw Aiden walk toward the building.
It seemed that their tours were over for the day. I guessed it was hard to convince people they were seeing a rare sight if it was too dark to actually see. Night hadn’t quite fallen, but it was close.
I slammed my door shut, which made him look my way. Aiden paused with his hand on the door, watching me.
“We need to talk,” I said.
He laughed. “Oh, do we?”
“Was it you?”
“You’re going to have to be a little more specific if you’re going to accuse me of something.” He took his hand off the door and crossed his arms as he turned to face me.
“Did you come into the park and destroy a sea turtle nest?”
He put his hand to his chest and made a shocked face. “Why in the world would I do a horrible thing like that? They’re protected, you know.”
“To get back at me?”
“I’m sorry.” He laughed. “I don’t even know your name. I’m Aiden Harvey. Nice to meet you.” He stuck out his hand as if I were actually going to shake it.
“Cut the shit, Harvey. You wrote Addie’s name by the nest. You asked her about me. What exactly is the problem? Aside from you being a sketchy croc.”
“Hey now,” he said. “Let’s not go calling people names. I’m sorry your little turtles had their nest destroyed. I truly, truly am. Wish I could get a sea turtle to stay over here where my adoring customers could appreciate it for all its glory. But you know, they just won’t nest here. Funny thing.”
“Maybe it’s because your operation is a big scam. I’m surprised you don’t have a sculpture of a sea turtle to go with your ‘baby gator.’” I made air quotes around the phrase.
“Well, now.” He shook his head. “I didn’t want to believe it when people told me you were a jerk. But coming over like this, calling me names, accusing me of things? That just won’t do. I never did a thing to you. I’m sure the conclave wouldn’t be happy to hear that you came over here, ready to attack me for some little grudge you’re holding on to.”
“I am going to say this one time, Harvey.” I was close enough to poke his chest, hard. “Stay off the park land. Stay away from those turtles. And most of all, stay far, far away from Addie. Do you understand me?”
He smirked and took a step back. “Oh sure. I understand you’re a sorry excuse for an Alpha. I understand that the conclave will be surprised by your actions here tonight.”
“You want to call the conclave? Go right ahead. You should know, they take attacks on protected species much more seriously than anything you’ll try to tell them about me.”
Aiden glared. “You have yourself a good night and just remember, I didn’t attack you.”
“Am I supposed to be thankful for that?”
“One day, the bears will not run this park, you mark my words. The crocs will. And when that day comes, your ass is mine, Bailey. You just remember this moment as the moment you screwed over your whole clan. And Addie? She’ll see the truth, and she’ll come around. Then she’ll be mine. All you have will be mine.”
I shook my head and gave him the finger, then got back in my car and sped off.
11
Owen
When I got back home, Ezra had left. If he’d followed me, I hadn’t seen him. I slammed the door shut behind me and stripped off my clothes. I grabbed a fresh beer from the fridge and carried it into my room, drinking half of it before sliding under the covers and going back to sleep.
Apparently, sleep was not something I’d be enjoying tonight; the pounding on my door was incessant. I dug my phone out of the pile of clothing and glanced at the time. It was late, almost midnight, and I had many missed calls and unseen texts.
As I pulled myself out of bed, I heard someone come around to my bedroom side of the cabin and knock on the window.
“Owen, come out! It’s Addie!” Ezra shouted with his hands cupped to his mouth.
I growled and stormed over to the window, pushing it up with a loud bang. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Dude, this time it’s serious. You’ve gotta get over to her tent. The crocs…” He stopped to breathe, putting his hands on his knees like he’d been running. “The crocs are up to something. I think she’s in danger.”
I was ready to rip him a new one until he said “Addie” and “danger” in the same sentence.
I slammed the window shut and hurried out the door. I was already undressed, so I jumped from my porch, shifting in mid-air. As soon as my paws hit the ground, I was running.
Ezra caught up quickly. One of the crocs called Mason. Told him that somethin
g was going down. Named you and Addie.
No one went to check on her?
I came to you first. We thought you’d want to take care of it personally.
Right. Thanks.
The distance passed quickly. I ran hard, not caring if I lost Ezra or not. I would take this guy down all alone if that’s what it came to. And I wasn’t worried about losing the fight. Aiden had nothing on me and my rage where Addie was concerned.
I saw her tent in the distance as we neared the camping area, and then, I smelled them. There had to be several crocs in the area. I slowed and made sure Ezra caught a whiff of them, too.
Stinks, he said.
On alert, I signaled to my clan, we may need backup.
I heard several confirmations in my mind as others shifted and headed our way. I wasn’t worried about losing a fight between Aiden and me. But I was worried that if there were a lot of crocs, I wouldn’t be able to protect Addie well enough.
They must’ve heard and smelled us. The crocs moved as we closed in.
From what I could see, there had to be at least ten of them surrounding Addie’s tent. I didn’t see her or her friends; hopefully, they were sleeping soundly and had no idea any of this was going on. I did see the car Addie had driven over to my cabin. Damn, I wished they’d chosen to stay out late that night.
I heard a rustling behind us, and when I turned my head, I smelled the crocs more sharply. They had us surrounded along with Addie and her friends.
I’m going to shift back to talk to them, I signaled to my second in command.
Ezra stayed at my side in bear form. He would need to communicate with the clan, and I needed him to be a second ahead of me if something went down. It didn’t take long to shift, but it was long enough when teeth and claws were coming at you.
