by Amira Rain
"Yet, he didn't do his eye spell on Kaylee, though...like maybe he thought she might be immune to it."
"Nobody thinks that's why he didn't do it on her. More than likely, he just didn't do it on her because he was having too much fun chasing her and terrifying her. That's what Forms love. Causing fear and hurting people. Apparently even little girls.
“Forms are basically undiluted evil. It's like they can't even think; they just act on an evil impulse, like some sort of robots. So, no. I'm sure no reasoning on the bear's part, or thinking that Kaylee would be immune, was the reason the bear didn't try the eye spell on her. He was probably just enjoying having his sick fun with her. Besides, everyone thinks that he probably can't do his eye spell completely at will.
“He can probably only do it a certain number of times within a certain time period. Because if he could make his eyes glow bright red like that and knock everyone unconscious at will, however many times in a row he wanted to, he probably would have immediately done it again when Eric, Nate, Matt, and all the other wolves started coming around again after he knocked them out.
“But, obviously, he didn't. And thank God for that. Matt said that as long as his eyes were still faintly glowing red, which they were during the entire fight, all the wolves were still weakened, which is how the bear was able to get away. And which is why they still have to more or less stay away from him, no matter how many times a day he can or can't do the eye spell. As long as his eyes are even still glowing faintly, he's still a danger to our men."
"And what about the other groups of shifters on the island? The other wolves, and the bears, and the dragons? Won't they help?"
Laura shook her head, sighing. "No, and for many different reasons, the biggest being that all those other groups are having their own supernatural troubles right now. The dragons help us by doing a bit of aerial surveillance of the island and sharing what they're able to learn from that, but that's it. They can't, or won't, offer us any more help than that, at least for the time being.
“So, all of us in Clearwater are on our own right now. On our own, stuck at an impasse with an evil bear who'd like to kill us all. And meanwhile, all of us women are just going to have to live with the fact that we won't be seeing much of our men until Eric can think of some solution for how he and his men can attack the bear and take him out. I think he's planning on having a council meeting tomorrow night to discuss some options."
"Who's allowed to go to council meetings? Do you think I'd be able to go?"
"As Eric's special guest on the island, probably. Usually it's just council members and their wives, and a few other esteemed people in the community, like Bev, but I think Eric would make an exception in your case. Why? Do you have some sort of an idea for taking out the bear?"
I was quickly developing one.
With my mental wheels turning a mile a minute, I stood up straight from my slouch against the filing cabinet. "Before we lock up, do you think you can go through the clinic with me and help me find some ammunition to go with that gun Bev used yesterday?"
*
I knew what I wanted. I wanted my night with Eric and Nate. I wanted everyone on the island to be safe. I was also having thoughts that I might actually want to stay on the island forever. There was just one thing standing in the way of everything I wanted. A bear who could do some sort of a spell with his eyes.
Standing in my office, Laura shook her head, giving me just the hint of an eye roll at the same time. "No way. You're absolutely nuts. Whatever you're thinking about involving yourself and the gun, let me just tell you right now that there is no way in a thousand million years that Eric will ever agree to it. Ever."
"He's not exactly my boss, though, is he?"
"Well...he kind of is. At least as far as your employment here at the clinic."
I'd forgotten about that aspect of our relationship.
"Oh. Yeah. Well, he's not exactly the boss of personal decisions I make and actions I take independently, is he?"
"Well...he actually is your boss about those things, too, at least for the most part. He's our alpha here in Clearwater, Liz. That means that what he says goes. Particularly when it comes to people making plans and decisions about actions they plan to take against an enemy."
"Well, he may be the alpha here, but I have my own mind, and I plan to tell him that my mind is made up. I'm going to end this whole mess and take out the bear Form by shooting him. I have a lot of experience with guns from many, many trips to the shooting range with my gun enthusiast father, and I'm a good shot. I know I can get the job done. I'm really the perfect person to do it. Who better than the only person who can get near the bear without being instantly knocked unconscious? I'm the only person who can get the job done, actually. I don't see how anyone else can."
Heaving a sigh, Laura grabbed her purse from the doorknob of my office door and slung it over her shoulder. "Look. I'll admit that on some levels, your thinking makes sense. But I've seen the way Eric looks at you. I'm not exactly sure what the nature of the relationship is between you two at this point, but I'm not blind. I've seen the two of you together, and I've seen the way he looks at you with caring in his eyes. Because of that caring, there is just no way in hell he's ever going to let yourself be put into a dangerous situation.
“No one likes you single-handedly going up against the strongest Form that has ever come out of Black Lake. No way, no how. I'm sure Eric is still having waking nightmares about seeing you being attacked by the bear yesterday, and he will for a long time, I'll bet."
"I'll have a gun this time, though. I'll be able to defend myself."
"He won't care. He's an alpha, a protector. It'll be his natural inclination to want to keep you completely safe. He won't want you to get anywhere near the bear, even with a gun. You could still be hurt."
"But if the bear isn't killed, he could come back to the village, and I might be hurt anyway, along with a lot of other people, including the kids. I think everyone here in the village can agree that that was way too close of a call with Kaylee yesterday."
"I don't disagree with you there, and I know Kaylee's parents, who are eternally grateful to you, don't either."
"Is her father a council member by any chance?"
"Well, yes, but Eric, as alpha, has the final say about everything. The council is just there to discuss ideas and help him. And sometimes they take votes on things, but...it's kind of just symbolic, because Eric can veto anything. Which doesn't really bother anyone, because he's always been a good, strong leader who protects us and does what's best for us, and despite what happened yesterday, he still is.
“He, along with everyone else, was taken off guard by the bear's new ability, but eventually, maybe at the council meeting tomorrow, Eric will think of some way to get rid of him for good. He's probably already got some ideas; that's probably the whole reason for the meeting."
"Well, I'm definitely going to it, because I want to propose that he at least consider my idea."
"I seriously doubt he will. You're more than welcome to try, though, of course. I just think you've got quite a battle ahead if you think you can convince Eric to let you put yourself in harm's way."
Giving my head a quick shake, I reached over to my desk, grabbed my purse, and slung it over my shoulder. "Good thing I've never been one to shy away from a battle. Now, please help me find some ammunition."
A short while later, after we'd found the gun Bev had used, as well as a box of bullets to go with it, and after I'd loaded the gun and put it in my purse, Laura and I left the clinic. I walked with her to her bungalow, then continued on to mine, thinking about how I was going to get Eric to agree to my plan.
I realized I could simply tell him I'd be leaving the island if he didn't agree to it, the same way I'd gotten him to agree to inviting Nate to join our intimate activities, though I realized that the two requests were apples and oranges. Also, telling someone that they had to allow me to do something dangerous or else I'd leav
e seemed just a bit manipulative and immature, not to mention that I really had no intention of leaving the island any time soon. If Eric called my bluff, I'd have to come clean.
After a stop at my bungalow to drop off my purse and change clothes, I went for a stroll on the beach to do some further thinking while enjoying the feel of warm sand between my toes and the sight of the crystal clear turquoise water. Despite it being after five, the sun was still high in a cloudless sky, warming my bare shoulders as I walked.
With a slight shudder, I recalled all the winters in New York City I'd endured, and I thought how I might never have to endure one again. I was becoming more and more convinced that I could be happy living in the balmy paradise of the island forever, though not just because of the weather. The prospect of aging very slowly appealed to me quite a lot, too, of course, as did the idea of spending time with Eric and Nate.
Though first, before I could think any further about a possible happily-ever-after on the island, I knew the bear form had to be dealt with.
I ambled along the beach, carrying my sandals in my hand, until the sun began to sink, eventually realizing that I was just going to have to present my proposition to Eric in a mature, rational way, and try to get him to see reason. It probably wouldn't hurt if I got a few other people on board as well, I figured, like a few of the council members and maybe Nate.
Despite being incredibly busy, the following day dragged by. Though I was trying to think positively, I still couldn't help but feel a strong sense of apprehension about that evening's council meeting. If Eric said no to letting me go toe-to-toe with the bear, armed with what I was now thinking of as my gun, I wasn't sure what my plan B would be.
I supposed I didn't really have one. I would have to convince him; I couldn't fail. Failing would mean that everyone in Clearwater would have to continue to live in danger indefinitely, and it would mean that my possible happily-ever-after on the island would be delayed. It would also mean that Eric and Nate were going to have to be away for long stretches of time until who knew when, a thought I couldn't stand.
After glancing at the clock frequently all afternoon, I left the clinic early, around four-thirty, and went for a relaxing swim in the warm waters of the ocean, trying to alleviate some of my anxiety about the council meeting, though it really did little good. The time alone gave me too much time to contemplate what Eric's response to my idea was going to be, and the more I contemplated, the more negative my thinking became.
Once home, I showered, dressed in a pale yellow sundress, and then called Eric just to make sure it would be all right if I came to the council meeting later that evening.
He said it would be fine, then paused before speaking again. "You're more than welcome to come, but why do you want to? Is there any specific reason?"
I'd been hoping he wouldn't ask me this.
"Well...I guess I have an idea for dealing with the bear, and I just wanted to float it to you and the council members."
"You have an idea for dealing with the bear?"I scoffed, not sure if I liked where the conversation was heading. "Is that so surprising?"
He didn't respond.
"Look, Eric. I just want you and the council members to hear me out. That's all I'm asking. And if you don't like my idea, then you can just say no, of course."
Now it was Eric's turn to scoff, and he did, loudly.
"Something tells me that whatever idea you have in mind, me saying 'no' won't be the end of it."
I thought about how well he knew me already.
I sighed, sinking down into the plush couch in my living room. "Is a strong-willed woman a problem for you?"
"That depends on what said woman is going to be strong-willed about."
"Just promise me you'll hear me out and consider my idea before making a decision. That's it. Just promise me that."
Eric hesitated so long in responding I wondered if the call had dropped.
"Liz, I'm not completely clueless. I can tell what you're leading up to. The fact that you were the only one not affected by Gabriel's glowing-eye spell the other day was not lost on me. I just knew your wheels would start turning. But if you think for one moment that I'm going to let you-"
"I have a gun." I flew up from the couch and began pacing, clutching the phone. "I have a gun, Eric, and I know I can be effective with it. I grew up shooting with my dad. I used to be able to hit a target dead center from-"
"No way in hell. You must be joking. Are you actually proposing that you head out to Black Lake by yourself, take on Gabriel by yourself, and simply shoot him dead?"
"That's exactly what I'm proposing."
"And it would be just that easy, wouldn't it? Not a thing could go wrong."
"I'm not a complete idiot. I know things could go wrong. That's why I'd have backup."
"No. This is not happening."
"Just like that, huh? Just because you're the alpha, and you're saying it's not."
"Exactly. Just because I'm the alpha, and I'm saying it's not."
Breathing heavily, I stopped pacing and glared out at an expanse of sand and palms in front of the bungalow. "So are you telling me I shouldn't even bother coming to the council meeting tonight? You're telling me that I can't even share my idea with everyone else?"
"Correct. And in fact, I'm now forbidding you from coming to the council meeting, and I'm now placing you under house arrest for the evening. And do know, Liz, that you'll be under guard."
I gasped, wondering if I'd actually heard him correctly. "House arrest? Just who in the hell do you think you-"
"After the council meeting, around nine, I'll be over to visit my beautiful prisoner, and I'll be bringing Nate along with me. I've arranged to have some of my men cover our positions in the jungle tonight, meaning Nate and I will be free. And we don't intend to waste a second of our time off."
CHAPTER SEVEN
In response to what Eric had said, I sputtered for a long moment or two, literally seeing red. Beyond my living room windows, which I was still glaring out of, the sun was setting, coloring the sky in brilliant shades of ruby and dark, fiery orange.
"Oh, you think you're going to seduce me even after wholesale rejecting my idea after barely listening to it? You think you're going to get me into bed, with me being as mad at you as I am? Good luck, Eric. Good luck. I wish you well with your thoroughly pointless endeavor."
With my commitment from the previous evening to deal with Eric in a mature, rational way now all but forgotten, I fought an urge to hang up on him by hurling my phone across the room.
"Nate and I will see you around nine, Liz. I hope your imprisonment won't be too torturous until then."
He ended the call, leaving me fuming. I was mad at him for not even pretending to give my idea to take out the bear careful thought. But I was also mad at myself, because when he'd said he and Nate would be coming over, I'd instantly developed a slight fluttering sensation low in my belly, despite the fact that now I didn't want to feel fluttering of any kind in regards to Eric.
With my arms folded tightly across my chest, I paced around the living room, watching the deep reds of the sunset fade to pale peaches and yellows, then lavenders and blues. I probably paced a total of a mile or two, my feet padding on the hardwood, though the activity did little to relieve a feeling of tension seeming to tighten every muscle in my body, nor did two-and-a-half glasses of wine I had with a few bites of dinner, either.
The wine did, however, make me tipsy enough and angry enough to pick up the phone and call Eric around a quarter to nine, despite the fact that he was due over in fifteen minutes, and I knew it. I didn't care, though -- I didn't even care if he was still in the council meeting. In that case, I was just going to leave a voice mail. I just felt so angry with him that I couldn't fight a desire to tell him one particular thing right that second.
I paced around the kitchen waiting for him to pick up, taking another long drink of wine while I did so. After several rings, he answered, and I did not eve
n say hello before launching into what I had to say.
"You underestimate me in all possible ways. You underestimate my strength, and you underestimate my bravery."
There was a long pause.
"Are you finished?"
"Yes."
"Well, I'll respond by saying-"
"Oh, and you also underestimate my desire to help people I care about, like the people of this island. I like the people here, Eric. I've made friends here. I care about the people here. You underestimate my desire to help solve problems and eliminate threats to everyone's happiness and safety, instead of just sitting around like some wilting tropical flower."