“Are you cold?” he finally asked after she’d shivered a few more times.
She shrugged her shoulders. “A little; it seemed warmer last night.”
“It’s the moisture seeping into the cave; it’s raising the humidity, so it feels colder,” Gabriel said. Then before he lost his nerve, he asked, “Do you want me to come and sit next to you? It might help.”
Bethany studied him for a moment then said, “I think that would be okay.”
Gabriel’s heart leaped in his chest, and his body was filled with a delicious feeling. He got up slowly, like it was no big deal, but he was tingling all over at the thought of being that close to Bethany. When he laid down beside her, his feet stretched out in front of him, she scooted closer and leaned back against him, then sighed deeply.
***Bethany***
Bethany felt herself warming up almost as soon as Gabriel laid down next to her, and it was a relief not to have to keep her body stiff to keep from shivering. She scooted a little closer and laid down with her back against him, thinking that his fur was softer and warmer than any blanket she’d ever had.
“You are warm,” she said, feeling her eyes drifting closed.
“All shifters are, but werewolves are even warmer,” Gabriel said, but his voice sounded strange.
“Am I squishing you?” she asked, shifting around, thinking that he was uncomfortable.
“No, but this might be more comfortable,” he said, rolling to his side.
Bethany curled up with her back against his belly and covered herself with the blanket. “Mmm, that’s nice. I think I’m finally warm.”
It had been such a long day, and she was so tired that in only seconds she drifted off, but not before she mumbled, “Goodnight, Gabriel; thank you for taking care of me.”
“It was my pleasure, sweetheart,” he said, which were the last words she heard before sleep took her to the land of dreams.
When she woke the next morning, the sun was just beginning to shine into the opening of the cave and Gabriel was still breathing steadily and evenly under her head. She laid there not moving for a long time, feeling the warmth of his body and the softness of his fur, and wishing that they had more time together.
It made her smile to think that only a few days ago, she’d been afraid of him. Now, she’d discovered someone who seemed to understand her, someone who didn’t look at her like she was damaged in some way. But then she realized that he might not know about her, might not know that in a family of shifters, she was an outcast, a regular human with no special gifts.
Just thinking about telling Gabriel made her stomach hurt, made her think of all the terrible things her father had said to her over the years, the threats he’d used to keep her under his control. Not even her brother Dillion knew how awful their father had been to her, how his constant abuse had affected her, how at times she’d wished she’d never been born.
Shivering at the memory, she pushed it from her mind and tried to concentrate on the present moment. Just then, as if he’d sensed her distress, Gabriel said, “Good morning.”
Just the sound of his voice filling her head made her instantly feel better. “Good morning,” she said, then sat up and turned to smile at him. “I don’t think I’ve ever slept better; I hope you slept okay.”
***Gabriel***
It was midmorning before they’d had breakfast, put out the fire and cleaned up the cave. Bethany was standing in front of the box of emergency supplies, mouthing a list of what they’d used over and over, trying to remember what they’d need to put back when there was a commotion in front of the cave.
First, they heard raised voices, then whoops of joy, followed by someone calling their names. The voice was a long way off, so it was hard to tell who it was. “Stay there; I’ll be right back. It’s probably Jessie and Dillion, but just let me make sure.”
Bethany nodded, then picked up her crutch and held it like a weapon. “Okay, I’m ready,” she said, a fierce look on her face.
Gabriel’s heart leaped and that warm feeling spread through him; she looked so cute standing there with the stick held out, like a little girl playing war games with the boys. But he had no doubt that if pushed, she wouldn’t hesitate to use that stick to defend herself, and that made the warm feeling inside him more intense.
He wasn’t sure if it was a relief or not to walk out of the cave and find Jessie and Dillion standing there. “It’s about time you two showed up,” he said to Jessie, knowing that Dillion couldn’t hear him.
“You could have done a better job of leaving us a trail,” Jessie said out loud, making Dillion frown and give them both a dirty look.
“I hate it when you two do that,” he said. “Where’s Bethany? Is she okay?”
Gabriel looked over his shoulder at the cave just as Bethany came limping out the opening. “I’m right here, and I’m fine; just a little bump on the head and a twisted ankle.”
Dillion rushed past him, almost knocking him aside, grabbed Bethany and hugged her. “I thought I’d lost you again,” he said, then pulled back and looked at her. “Are you sure you’re okay? I mean...” then he turned and looked over at Gabriel.
Bethany laughed and pulled away from her brother. “I’m fine really, Gab... I mean, the wolf took good care of me,” she said, nearly using his name.
Gabriel looked over at him quickly, a frown on his face, but he ignored him and walked away from Bethany and Dillion. Seeing them together reminded him that her place was with people, that their time together was over, that it was time for him to go back to the forest where he belonged.
Turning back to Jessie, he said, “I think I’ll just leave you all here. I’ve done my duty, and you don’t need me now.”
Bethany pulled away from Dillion and hobbled over to him; she looked a little hurt. “Don’t go yet; stay with us until we get home,” she said, the look in her eyes making it impossible to say anything but yes.
Jessie sucked in a deep breath and stared at Bethany. “Can you hear him?” he asked, looking from one to the other.
Bethany nodded, wondering if she’d done something wrong. “I... umm... well his voice is in my head.”
Jessie’s mouth came open in shock and Dillion crossed over to where they were standing. “What’s going on?” he asked.
Jessie closed his mouth and looked from Bethany to Gabriel a few more times before he said, “Nothing. My brother wants to leave us here, but I think he should come with us.”
It took them a while to make it back up to the main road. Bethany walked as much as she could but had to be carried most of the way. When they got to the truck and Dillion helped her in, Gabriel turned to disappear into the woods, but her voice pulled him back.
“I’ll see you at the farm,” she said, looking him directly in the eyes.
He knew that he was prolonging their separation, but it was impossible to resist Bethany when she looked at him that way, so he nodded his head. It took him far less time to make it to the farm since he didn’t have to stick to the road, and while he waited for them to get there, he found himself wondering what he was doing.
But then the truck pulled up, and Bethany stepped out, and he knew. He was falling for her, letting his feelings grow, which was a mistake because there was nothing he could do about them. Cursed to live his life as a wolf, the kind of love that most people experienced had always been out of his reach.
He stood well back from the jubilant reunion that was going on as the rest of the family poured out of the farmhouse. Thinking about slipping away, he backed farther from the group, sure that Bethany had forgotten all about him.
But then she saw him and hobbled over to where he was sitting almost in the trees. She reached out and stroked his head. “Thank you for taking care of me,” she said, but there was more in her eyes than gratitude.
His heart pounding in his chest, a strange tingling deep in his belly, he said, “It really was my pleasure, and you took care of yourself most of the time.”
/> Bethany looked at him for a long time, then hugged him, her arms barely reaching around his massive chest. When she pulled away, he said, “I have to go now, Bethany. I can’t stay here.”
“Why not? This is your family,” she asked, a pout appearing on her face.
He got up and walked a few steps away from her to stop himself from giving in. “I can’t. I don’t belong here, as much as I wish I did; it just doesn’t work for me to hang around.”
“When will I see you again?” she asked tears in her eyes.
“I don’t know,” he said, feeling terrible but knowing he had to let her live her life among people, “it might be a while.”
“But I like spending time with you,” she said, the pout appearing again.
“I like it too, but there’s an entire world out there just waiting for you. I’m a solitary creature, Bethany, and that’s not what you need right now,” he said, then turned and ran for the woods, sure that he couldn’t resist her much longer and that it was best for her if he were gone.
Chapter Five
***Bethany***
Bethany stood and watched Gabriel disappear into the trees, feeling an acute sense of loss, one that left her feeling empty and drained. But then Dillion came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.
“I’m glad you’re okay, and I guess we have him to thank for that. I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” he said, turning her around to look into her eyes. “Are you really okay?”
Bethany wasn’t sure how to answer his question; physically she was fine, but emotionally she wasn’t so sure. Something had happened to her over the last couple of days; she’d found a strength inside her that she hadn’t known she possessed, but it wasn’t just that making feel her off balance.
Watching Gabriel disappear into the trees, she realized that they’d formed a bond, a bond that felt unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. Part of her wanted to follow him, wanted to turn her back on her new friends and family, and disappear into the mountains with him.
But she knew that her place was here, that what she was feeling might only be the result of her lack of experience in the world. She’d never had any real friends, only the servants who took care of her, and they were only nice to her because they felt sorry for her.
It occurred to her then that Gabriel might feel the same way, might only see her as a scared, helpless little girl. She pushed that thought away, reminding herself that she wasn’t that little girl any longer.
Dillion was still waiting for an answer. “I’m better than I’ve been in a long time,” she said, and the smile she gave him was real.
He searched her face for the truth, but in the end, grinned back at her. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving; let’s go see what Sophie’s got to eat.”
Bethany took his arm and limped toward the farmhouse, but before they turned the corner, she looked back over her shoulder once more, hoping to see a glimpse of white in the trees. Of course, there was nothing there, Gabriel was probably already far away from the farm, on his way back to his life, a life that was a mystery to her.
When they finally got inside, everyone began to fuss over her, and she let them, deciding it was easier than fighting it. Soon, she was installed on the couch in the living room, a tray of food on her lap and everyone sitting around watching her eat.
It was a bit overwhelming to have eight adults plus Danny and Kara’s baby all packed into the room, and Sophie must have seen the look on her face. “Why don’t we give Bethany some space? We have a lot to talk about, but it can wait.”
“The baby and I will keep her company if the rest of you want to go eat,” Kara volunteered.
Bethany looked over at Jessie’s sister, whom she knew had survived a childhood with a man very much like her father and smiled at her. “I’d like that,” she said, meaning it.
She hadn’t gotten to know Kara or her husband Danny very well yet but had a feeling that she and Kara could become close. When everyone had finally filed out of the room, Kara said, “That’s better; it was feeling very crowded in here.”
While she ate, Kara and the baby entertained her, the baby cooing and giggling at her while she listened to stories about all her new friends and relatives. By the time, the tray was empty, she was ready for a nap, and Sophie insisted that she sleep in the guest room.
“I think you should stay here for a few days, then you can decide what you want to do in the long term,” Sophie said, tucking her in like a child.
As her eyes fluttered closed, she realized that for the first time in her life, she had a future. A future that was hers to choose; it was both exciting and scary to think about, and she let her imagination run wild with all the possibilities.
Drifting off to sleep, warm and comfortable in the big bed, she realized that the only thing marring her happiness was Gabriel’s absence. No matter how much she understood that he didn’t belong in this world, she still wished that he could be here with her, giving her advice and teasing her.
Just as she fell asleep, she promised herself that she’d see him again and soon. What they shared was special, and she wasn’t going to walk away from it. There was plenty of room in her life, even for a werewolf who could never be a man.
***Gabriel***
Gabriel watched Bethany walk away with her brother and wished more than he ever had in his life that he could follow them and join the rest of the family. But he just wasn’t up to it tonight, couldn’t bear the thought of having to watch as Jessie repeated his thoughts to the group.
It was a slow and painful process and a stark reminder that he wasn’t really a part of their world. When it had just been the two of them, it had been easy, the time they’d spent together far from awkward. Even when Sophie had come to the mountain, it had been fine.
But as the family grew, he discovered that he was much happier spending time with them during full moons when they all shifted. Instead of watching from the shadows, he could run with the pack and communicate with the people who’d become most important to him.
So, as much as he wanted to step into the farmhouse and follow Bethany, he turned instead and loped off into the woods. But as the miles between them grew, so did the longing to see her again, and he knew that he’d already formed a connection with her, the kind of connection that would only mean heartache in the future.
Hoping to take his mind off the woman who’d enchanted him, he headed for what he considered his home, the pack of wolves that had raised him from a pup. He found them deep in the mountains, in a cave they’d long been using as den, and it felt good to be back with his pack.
The alpha greeted him with respect, a respect that he’d earned long ago, and then he was bombarded with warm furry bodies. Relief washed over him, as his jumbled thoughts quieted, and he was able to embrace the wild side of himself.
He inserted himself back into pack life that night with a sense of relief; as much as he loved his family, they weren’t like him. In the pack, he could let go of his human side, let himself be the wolf that the world saw; here he was safe from the heartache that came when he tried to live in the human world.
***Bethany***
Bethany got up from the table and crossed the kitchen spinning in circles and jumping through the air. “See, my ankle is just fine. I’m all healed,” she said, then sat back down. “I’m ready to get started doing whatever it is that I’m supposed to do.”
Sophie laughed. “You could have just said that,” she said, then sat down across from her. “I guess the question is, what do you want to do?”
Bethany shrugged her shoulders. “That’s the problem. I have no idea. I don’t know what I’m good at or how to find out.”
Sophie patted her hand. “Don’t worry, you’ve got plenty of time to figure it out; you’re only eighteen,” she said. “But you have to start somewhere, think of the things that interest you, and maybe we can find a place to start.”
Bethany was beginning to feel overwhelmed. “I don�
��t know, maybe I’ll just stay up here and help with the farm,” she finally said. “I do like growing things. I had plants in my rooms.”
“Okay, that’s a place to start, but I think you need to get a little more adventurous than that,” Sophie said. “I have an idea; why don’t you spend a little bit of time with all of us? You could go to school with me one day, tag along with Michelle to the museum another, and I’m sure Natalie and your brother will let you help with their restoration on Millie’s house.”
Bethany thought about that. “I could help David at the store too,” she said, warming up to the idea.
“Okay then,” Sophie said, “tomorrow you join the world.”
Bethany plopped down on the bench in the little graveyard on Swensen’s Mountain and thought that it was a peaceful place to be and that she needed a little peace right then. It had been a long week, the longest week of her life if she was honest with herself.
After living alone for so long, she’d had no idea how difficult it would be to suddenly be surrounded by people all the time. Not only was Jessie and Sophie’s house always full of people, if she went to her room and closed the door, someone would come knocking to make sure she was okay.
They treated her like she was a child, and while she understood that they were just concerned for her, she felt like she was going backward instead of forward. It didn’t help that she’d made a bunch mistakes that week: the worst had been leaving the door to the basement of the church unlocked and letting tourists in.
They’d barely averted disaster when they’d come charging through the unlocked door, picking up things and moving them around, nearly breaking several priceless museum pieces. She’d managed to chase them away, but hours of work had been destroyed.
Right then, she’d decided that museums weren’t her thing and moved on to restoration with her brother and Natalie. But that hadn’t lasted long since she tripped over a can of paint almost as soon as she walked in the door, spilling it everywhere. The store had been okay, but her attempts at teaching a disaster, and now she was back where she started.
Her White Wolf: Wolves of Gypsum Creek (A Paranormal Romance Story) Page 3