by Laura Wylde
“My aunt used to be an explorer. She used to take care of me in the summer time and I would always go on expeditions with her. Now granted, it was never as exciting as my running my own, but she gave me the love of the unknown. She always wanted to know the truth, to get to the bottom of everything, and I guess I must have picked that up from her. I don't know why, but I can't think of anything else that I would want to do. As soon as I was old enough to go to college, that was all I focused on.”
“You sound like you are very close to her.”
“I was. My mother died when I was younger, and my father raised me from the time I was about ten. The only woman I really had in my life was my Aunt Jean. She taught me a lot, and we were very close for a long time.”
“You said that in the past tense.”
“She died a while back. It was actually my last year of college when she died, and she made it so that nobody told me about it. I didn't even know she was sick because she wanted to make sure that I did well on my tests. I wish she would've told me. Those tests didn’t even matter.”
“I'm sorry to hear that.”
“It was a long time ago. I have been out of college for years.”
“Granted, that must have been a lot for you. I can tell just by the way you talk about her that you miss her.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Do you have much other family?”
She shook her head and told me that she didn’t. I know that it was wrong, but I was feeling relieved at the same time. If she didn't have a bunch of family to go back to, maybe the idea of staying with us wouldn’t be so hard. We could be her new family, and I could show her more of the lost city that she could explore. If Tyler was any sort of measurement, there was enough history here to keep her going for a very long time. Her life span would not be long enough to ingest it all.
“What would you say about staying here with us? I can see now that you would fit right in. You seem to have already taken a shining to Eben and Damien.”
That made her face red, and she looked away from me. I tried to tell her that there was nothing to be embarrassed of, but I knew that nothing I said was going to help. She was going to have to make this decision on her own. It wasn't one that I could make for her.
“I don't know, Javier. This is a lot to take on. A few days ago, I was looking for a thermal imaging and some GPS coordinates. Then there was the temple, then you. Then all of you. I am not sure if I'm coming or going right now, and I need some time to think. I need to feel the sun on me. Can I go out for a little while? I won't do anything to cause any problems for you, I promise. I just need to feel the sun on my face for a little while.”
“Of course, Kayla. You are not a prisoner here. You are a guest, and I would like more than anything to make you one of us. All you have to do is say the word. I will give you some time to think. Anything you need.”
Chapter 15
Kayla
This was all just happening too fast, and I felt like I couldn't even breathe. What they were asking of me, expecting of me, was more than I could even imagine. The fact that Javier was asking about my family made me wonder what that meant. What was he thinking about? Surely, he couldn't think that I would just stay here for the rest of my days?
I was still reeling from the night before. I couldn’t believe that I had done that. It was so unlike me, and I knew that I was going to regret it. I didn't know how, just that something was going to happen. This wasn’t natural, any of it. I knew more than anything that I had messed up.
The sunshine felt good on my face, but it didn’t feel the same. I thought I was going to get this great relief, but that wasn’t the case at all. I knew that there was nothing that I wanted more than to go back down there and do it all over again. It was all I could think about. That just made me feel even worse because I knew that it was the last thing I was supposed to be thinking about. I was supposed to know better. I really was, but I didn’t want to think about what made sense. None of this made sense.
It felt like I was supposed to be here. As soon as I had found the temple, I knew that I was supposed to be right where I was. There was this calm that had come over me, and I still felt it as I walked around the perimeter. I knew that there were some very angry women after me, but all I could think about was what Javier had asked me to think about. It was a hell of a lot to process.
I started to wander a little further from the temple. I was sure that everything had happened for a reason. I was here for a reason, but what exactly was it? I really didn’t get what was going on. I didn’t understand how this could all be real, but I knew that it was. I knew that even if I hadn’t seen them shift, they could. All of the stories in town were true, and I had laid with two of them. The idea that I could already be carrying their child made me really nervous. I didn’t even know what that would look like.
I wasn’t paying attention and I was getting further away from the temple than I thought. My feet fell against some of the ruined shards that came from the ceiling. I knew then I was getting too far because I had told Alice to put them far away from the ruins. I wanted to go over them later, but now they were under my feet.
I moved back, and I heard the stones move with the motion. I don’t know why they were so loud all of a sudden, but then it hit me why. Everything around me was silent as a mouse. There were no insects or animals making their noises like they always did. Everything was quiet, and every hair on my neck started to stand up straight. I had felt this way before.
There was no sound, and I looked off into the thick brush. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t dark yet, the brush was so dense that it appeared that way. When I saw a pair of eyes glowing at me in the same way as I had seen before, I knew exactly what it was that I was looking at. The only problem was that this time, I knew that it wasn’t a good pair looking back at me. Not at all.
I knew then that I had to get out of there as fast as I could. I didn't know who it was, but I had a feeling it was one of those women who were yelling last night. They didn't want me here. They had made themselves very clear. And now I was afraid of what was going to happen. I shouldn't have left the temple and the underground, but I had figured that I would be safe out here. I wasn't that far from Javier, but now I realized that I was too far away.
The problem was that I didn't want to run. I knew that if I turned around to run, I wasn’t going to see it coming. I didn't think I was going to be able to stop it either way, but I just kept backing up, waiting for those yellow eyes to come at me. I just knew it was going to happen, and I was waiting for it, bracing myself for the impact.
I heard something coming up behind me, and I just wanted to look away from the eyes long enough to see who it was. Or what it was. Either way, I didn't think that I had a chance in hell. This was all going to end here, right now. All I could think of was how much of a wasted life it was all going to be. I found the place that I had always been looking for, all sorts of answers to so many questions, but I was not even going to get the chance to really look into it. I thought it was just such a waste.
Then I heard Eben’s voice and then Damien's. I knew then that I was going to be fine. They rushed towards the brush where those eyes were, it was like they knew exactly where she was. I heard Eben say Simone’s name, but then there was fighting, and I was moved towards the temple entrance.
The three men, including Tyler, shifted into panthers. It was happening right in front of my eyes, and I still couldn't believe it. I didn't have time to really think about it though because the guys were ready to pounce. They were getting bigger, and then all of a sudden, there was a huge panther coming out of the bushes towards me.
I don't know what happened next. All I know is that I saw black and hit the ground.
Chapter 16
Javier
I heard the commotion, and by the time I got up to see what was going on, all I could see was Kayla on the ground. I don't know why she was there or what had happened, but I did see Simone and the o
ther women battling it out with the rest of the pack.
I wanted to go to Kayla first, but I knew that I had to help the rest of my pack first. The women were far harder than I thought that they were going to be to handle. I had never seen such hate in their eyes before, but I knew that this was exactly what I was looking at. It was as if everything was all our fault. My fault in particular because I was the leader. I was just trying to save our race, but they had taken it as a personal affront.
There was no reasoning with that, and I knew that we were going to have to take it to extreme measures. The idea of killing any of our clan was more than I could bear, and I was halfway thankful that they got free and started to run off into the forest. I nodded my head to the other three, telling them to go after the women. They had to be caught, and then I could figure out what to do with him.
I looked at the woman on the ground, and I could see that she was still breathing, but I didn't like that she was even on the ground. I had told her that I would keep her safe, and that was not at all what I was doing. She was not safe. She had almost been attacked again, and even though I didn't see any marks on her, it didn't matter. And it had been too close of a call for my liking.
Trying to wake her, I repeated Kayla’s name several times until her eyes popped open and she looked at me. She looked a little bewildered and not sure what was going on, but I told her that we had to get her down below. I didn't know what happen to make her fall down in the first place, but I could feel that she was scared, and I wanted to get her safe. I had told her that she would be safe.
“I am so sorry that this happened to you, Kayla. I know that this is a lot for you, but we really need to get you inside. It is not safe for you to be up here anymore. I think you’ve had enough outside time for the day.”
She seemed to wake up with a start, and her eyes were wide as she looked around the forest. I knew exactly what she was looking for. She was looking for panthers. She was looking for glowing eyes in the brush and the silence that came over the forest. Kayla was still in the moment of fight or flight, and I had to calm her for a minute. Finally, I had to put my arms around her and hold her tight, telling her that everything was going to be okay. That she was going to be okay.
“Where is she? Where are they? I just saw them. Where did they go?”
She had a handful of questions to ask, and she didn’t give me any time to answer before she was asking something else. Kayla was practically hysterical, and I had to shake her finally, trying to get her to snap out of it.
I kept trying to tell her that everything was going to be fine. I didn't know if that was true, especially not at the moment, but I wanted to try to calm her down. I didn't like that she was upset, not at all. And that it was all my fault.
“They are gone. The guys have gone after them, and they're going to bring them back here to face punishment. This has gone on long enough, and you were almost hurt. I don't know what I would've done if something had happened to you. I don't even want to think about it. I just want you to know that you're safe here. I would never let anything happen to you again.”
I felt bad to say that when I had been wrong in the past. I had told her before that everything was going to be fine, but in fact, that wasn't the case. This was not fine. I never should've let her go outside, but she had been so insistent that she needed time to think. With everything that was going on, I was afraid to ask her if she had made her decision yet. I was starting to know exactly what it would be. It was the only answer that made sense.
“We have to get inside, Kayla. That is where you belong.”
“I don’t belong here, Javier.”
“What are you saying, Kayla?”
“I'm saying that I shouldn’t be here. I know that you think that I'm the one who is supposed to help you, but I don't think that's the case at all. I think that I was just a girl who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I don't think it goes any further than that, and it would be silly to think so.”
I started to tell her that she didn’t have to decide yet, but it seemed like she had.
“You just need some time to think, Kayla. With everything that is going on, I can't imagine that you have had time to really think about any of this. This is a big decision, and I wish that you would take your time with it.”
“I thought you said that it was my choice to make?”
I agreed with her, even if it was a little reluctantly. That was exactly what I had told her, but that was when I was sure that she would go with it.
“I did say that it was your choice to make and I meant it. I just want to make sure that you have had the time that is required for such a big decision. I don't want you to make up your mind when you are feeling so rash. The last few hours must have changed your thinking a little bit.”
“I don’t think anything is going to change my thinking, Javier. I’m sorry.”
“Let’s get you in and get you to bed. I am sure everything will look different in the morning.”
I realized then that there was no reason to argue with her. But I needed her to stay the night. I was convinced that everything would look better then, and I would be able to figure this all out. I don’t know why I was convinced of it, but I was. I just needed a little more time. She couldn’t leave us right now.
I moved her into my room, hoping that she would like the large bed and the soft furs. It was a step up from her temporary room. I wanted her to see how well she would be taken care of here. I would make sure that she had everything that she needed.
Moving to the bed, I laid her down and kissed her softly before moving away. I wanted to jump on her like Eben had done, but I knew better. I was going to have to hold myself together for a time, no matter how hard it seemed.
“We will talk in the morning. I will be outside, waiting for you. All you have to do is holler. I’ll be right here.”
I really wanted her to call for me.
A few hours later, she did holler, and it wasn’t done on purpose. Kayla was in the middle of a bad dream, and I didn't realize it until I rushed into the room. For a moment, my heart dropped, and I thought something had happened to her. It was only then that I realized how badly I didn't want that to happen. I wanted to keep her safe, no matter what I had to do.
“What has happened, Kayla?”
Her eyes were wide, and I could see the fear in her face. She was trembling as I pulled her close to me, and she let me hold her for a minute. Then it was like she realized what was going on, and she pushed me away.
“I have to get out of here. I don't want to stay here any longer, Javier. You said that you would let me go home. I want to get out of here.”
My heart sunk when I heard that. I had known that it was going to happen, deep down I knew that she was going to leave, but it didn't prepare me for the feeling that had come over me now. It was the last thing I wanted her to do, but I knew that there wasn't going to be any way to persuade her otherwise. I had given her the choice, and she had made up her mind.
“I will let you go, Kayla, but you have to promise me that you will never come back here. You can't come back here, it won't be safe. And you have to promise not to tell anybody about us. Take everything you’ve learned and go home. Never write a book about us, never tell another soul. If you can agree to that, then I will take you back to the town.”
Her lips quivered, and I could tell that there was a lot to my conditions that she didn't like. I was asking her to give up the biggest find in her life, most likely that biggest ever. She knew everything about us, and she could expose us, but I was true to my word. If she promised not to say anything, I would let her go.
“Fine, I won't say a word to anybody. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you guys. You have been very good to me, but this isn't for me.”
I put my hand up and told her that she didn't have to explain. The real reason was that it was kind of painful for me to hear it, and I didn't want to know. I didn't want to know why she was leaving because it didn'
t matter. All that mattered was is that she was. Kayla was going to be gone, and I hated the feeling that it left in me.
“If that is what you want, Kayla, then I will not try to stop you. But you will have to allow us to escort you to the town. It wouldn’t be safe for you out there by yourself. Not when the females are looking for you. Hang tight for a minute, gather your things from your room, and we will take you back in a little while.”
She thanked me, and I could tell that she meant it. The problem was that it was killing me inside, and I walked away before I showed my true emotions. That was the last thing I wanted to do right now. She had made her decision, and I was just going to have to live with it. It didn't matter how hard it was going to be, a promise was a promise.
I told the others what Kayla had decided, and they had about the same reaction that I did. Eben especially wanted to talk to her, sure they he could get her to change her mind, but I told him that there was no use. He wanted to argue with me, but I was the leader and what I said went. I didn't want to hear anymore static from the rest of the pack. It was bad enough that it was happening, I didn't want to talk about it as well.
We led her out, and with the help of several of the other shifters from the rest of the clan, we made sure that she got to the town safely. While I knew that Simone and the others were quick to start something, I knew that they wouldn't do it in town. It was the only way that we could get supplies in and out, and they didn't want to jeopardize their own livelihood.
Kayla had promised me that she would call her funder as soon as she got back to town. She was going to tell him that it was all gone, that it had been lost or that it caved in. I really didn't care what she told him, as long as they got the hint and didn't come back.
As we were walking away, I could see her on the phone and I could see the distress on her face. She started to get louder, trying to explain herself, and her voice got even more hysterical. I watched her face fall, and tears started to go down her face. I didn't have to hear the other side of the conversation, I knew what was being said. Kayla was being let go, and she was not taking it well. I was watching the woman who I cared for get her dreams taken from her, and I can't say that I liked to know that much.