by Tamar Sloan
Noah frowns. “What’s up?”
Mitch is already heading to the passenger side. “We need pickles.”
We’re both smiling at the urgency in Mitch’s voice. Noah opens his door. “I can get them. No need to come.”
But Mitch is already climbing in. “No way, bro. She said she was going to clean to take her mind off the missing ingredient for the banana split.”
Caesar glances at me in alarm and I shrug a sorry. Within a blink, he’s disappeared around the side of the house.
Noah is chuckling as they click themselves in. I’m kinda glad to be going out. Tara takes cleaning to possessed levels. Craving and nesting at the same time is a dangerous mix.
I wave goodbye as they leave, then glance at the gleaming grey truck. It’s time to return this sucker to who it belongs to.
As I drive to the Inn I realize Noah’s right; the truck is a pleasure to drive. It quietly purrs, accelerates discreetly and powerfully, the leather interior all cool and matching. But I don’t care. I’m not accepting any more of my mother’s gifts.
There’s no car in the driveway when I arrive, but that doesn’t mean much. Alexis parks in the garage. Considering it’s morning though, she’s likely to be at work, which is just what I need. I’d rather not deal with the icy anger at what I’m about to do.
I knock on the door, going through the motions. No one can claim I didn’t try. To say my jaw slackens when I hear laughter from the other side would be an understatement. My hand flops to my side, wondering who’s in there.
When the door opens, the shock has my mouth snapping shut. I take a step back, knowing my eyebrows are somewhere in the stratosphere as my mother stands before me. I quickly school my features to match hers.
She scans me from head to toe, like she always has. Her cool expression doesn’t change. Then she notices what I’ve parked in the driveway. A manicured brow spikes up. “So you’ve received it.”
I cross my arms, no longer intimidated by her arctic manner. There’s nothing my mother has that I want anymore. “I’m returning it.”
Alexis seems to tighten, her chin pulling in a little. “You’ll need your own transportation.”
“Noah’s truck does the job fine.”
“You’re tying yourself to him. You need some independence.”
I was tied to Noah before we were born. Plus, thanks to her, I’ve had enough independence to last me for the rest of my life.
“I’m fine.” I can’t help the sarcastic snipe that slips out. “Thanks for caring.”
Alexis sucks in a breath, and I’m surprised the barb seems to have hit. Not that it matters; I’ll be leaving tomorrow. It’s time to call Tara and get a lift back.
“Who is it, Alexis?” A male voice, smooth and cultured, carries from behind her.
Alexis turns and steps back as a tall man comes to stand before her. Well groomed, as I’d expect anyone in Alexis’ house to be, he tugs on his suit as he smiles at me. He’s familiar. I know I’ve seen him somewhere before.
“Ah, the star of Alexis’ winning promotion. How wonderful to finally meet you, Eden.”
The marketing awards last year. This is the English dude who came second after Alexis’ winning ad, the one that sold me out.
I remember the laughter that tinkled out as I knocked. It seems my mother is entertaining some hot shots, probably for some million-dollar project. “I wasn’t staying. I just had to bring something back.”
“You didn’t interrupt anything. Come in. I insist.”
Only James with his perfect hair and perfect suit and perfect English accent could make those words sound like they were a request. Alexis glances at James, probably wondering why the heck he’d do something like that. She wants me here as much as I want to be here.
She rests a manicured hand on his arm. I’d say she’s about to let him down gently, telling him exactly what she thinks of that suggestion. “That’s a good idea. I’ll grab something to drink.”
What? A good idea? And did she just say something to drink?
James leans toward her a little as Alexis brushes past him. “Not my first, my dear.”
I don’t see how Alexis responds to that because she’s gone, apparently to get some refreshments. James stands there, holding the door open, a polite, expectant smile on his face.
Good manners have me walking in, realizing this guy would be a formidable force in the marketing industry. How do you say no to such cultured, seemingly genuine politeness?
At least we won’t be alone. The rest of the people involved in this manipulative industry are obviously in the lounge room.
But as I walk into the familiar but never welcoming cottage, I see that there’s no one else here. Just me, Alexis and James. I stop, the dining table to my left littered with papers, Alexis and James to my right.
That was Alexis laughing? I don’t think I’ve ever heard my mother laugh. I lift a hand to my forehead. My poor brain isn’t coping with these revelations, and they are making the world spin again. Now is not the time for the world to start shifting again.
“Are you okay, my dear?” James is stepping forward, concern crinkling his face. “Maybe you’d like to take a seat?”
I straighten. This is not a place I can show weakness. “I’m fine, thank you. I…just haven’t been here for a while.”
“All the more reason to take a seat.”
James pulls out one of the dining chairs and I take a seat even though I know how uncomfortable they are. These straight-backed pieces of art were made for aesthetics rather than comfort.
I glance at the papers spread across the dining table, realizing a couple of them are maps. The one in the center is the biggest, the tightly spaced topographical lines outlining a mountain range to the north, a slow, sensuous river to the south, and dense forest covering most of it like a blanket.
James notices me looking. “Our upcoming project.”
Our? Alexis is collaborating with someone?
The clacking of heels on the wood floor announces my mother is back. She carefully places a tray with a carafe and some glasses—I didn’t even know we had a carafe—on the end of the table. “A set of luxury eco cabins. We’re going to tap into the ecotourism market.”
My mother is going ecologically sustainable? I seem to have lost my voice, most likely because my brain is too busy processing all of this. I look up from the map, noting the proximity Alexis and James are standing in.
James steps forwards. “We thought you’d like to see, since you have such a strong conservation focus yourself.”
I glance at Alexis. I can’t imagine she’s been talking too much about me. She stands there, stiff and silent, and as always, I have no idea what she’s thinking.
I look back down at the map, and when my gaze processes what’s actually on it, it doesn’t move. In fact, it freezes, my eyes widening as I take in what I’m seeing.
I stand, my chair scraping back on the timber floor. “You can’t build here.”
Clack, clack, Alexis moves to the table. “We’ve analyzed the data. This is an ideal place for this sort of venture.”
Alarm spikes through my veins. Surely this can’t be what I think it is. “No, I mean this land, it’s not yours to build on.”
James looks like he is tensing, but then he smiles again. “That is only a matter of time.”
“What?” My voice is sharp and high, reflecting how my heartbeat is feeling.
Alexis crosses her arms. James may be slow on the uptake, but she’s picked up on my rising panic. “We intend on purchasing it.”
My hands bunch tight and hard. “That land is not for sale.”
Alexis tilts her chin. “How do you know?”
I glance back down at the map. Those lines are so familiar because I’ve walked them with Orin, I’ve flown over them on the back of a white wolf as he carried me through the trees.
My Bonding was amongst those sweetly curving lines.
I point to the angry red sh
ape that has captured a chunk of the reserve, a slice of Mother Nature that holds the Glade. “Because this is state land. No one can purchase it.”
Not even hungry tourism moguls looking to exploit it.
James glances from Alexis to me. “It was passed in Congress. Dozens of bills have allowed federal government to turn over acres of public land to the state. It’s about maximizing private profits through resource extension.”
Sounds like loss of protection for acres of land to me.
“No.” The single word whooshes out as I collapse onto the chair.
“We thought this would be something you’d be happy about.”
I see James stepping toward my mother, but my mind is too full to process what his words, his spending time in Alexis’ personal space, means. The Glade, the sacred space of Weres, is up for sale.
And my mother is trying to buy it.
I shoot up again. “You can’t do this.”
James tucks in his chin. “But why not, my dear?”
Man, he’s lucky he’s English, because those last two words are starting to wear thin. “Because that land is virgin forest. You can’t develop it.”
Alexis’ arms tighten until they look like a pretzel. I doubt James notices that her eyes narrow just a little. “It’s up for sale no matter what. That’s why we elected an eco-village. If we buy it, the land use is sustainable and as minimally destructive as possible.”
“Exactly.” James is nodding. “We can use it to educate tourists about this unique area. It will have a strong conservation focus.”
No, no, no. “You can’t buy it.”
I don’t know whether I should aim this appeal at James or Alexis. James seems to have a heart, but we barely know each other. He’s unlikely to take my wishes into account. But although Alexis should be able to see how important this is to me, the likelihood of her stopping this because I’ve asked her to is…
I turn back to James. “You can’t.”
James glances at my mother, clearly confused. “I don’t understand, Alexis. This was going to be—”
My hands are fists at my sides, and my head feels like a pressure cooker. “I don’t care what you thought. This is wrong.”
Alexis drops her arms, taking in a breath. “We already have investors. It’s too late.”
The pressure explodes, creating a maelstrom in my head. The room spins, Alexis and James moving in a way that makes me fell nauseous.
Good grief, not again.
Chapter Six
“I’m watching her repeat my mistakes, James.”
“You don’t know that’s what this means. Let’s not jump to conclusions.”
“It’s exactly what happened to me. I’m telling you, she’s—”
I sit up, hand to my forehead, acknowledging I just fainted again. An image of Dr. Martinez telling me she needed to see me floats through the swirling fog in my mind. Maybe I do need to get this checked out.
“Are you okay, my dear?”
James is crouching beside me, and I discover I’m lying on the leather couch. He must’ve caught me and carried me over. “Thank you, but I’m fine.”
I push myself up, annoyed that the image of my mother is still moving, until I realize she’s pacing. She pauses but doesn’t come any closer. “What did the doctor say?”
“That I’m fine. I’ve had two big shocks in as many days. This isn’t that big a deal.”
Alexis steps forward, stops, then steps back. “You need to get this checked out.”
Her words slide through my memory. It’s exactly what happened to me. Surprise has me straightening. “Why? What do you know?”
Alexis snaps back like I just slapped her. “That you’re repeating my mistakes.”
Even James sucks in his breath at that one, but those words don’t sting anymore. I wonder what image Alexis has painted of herself that this man has considered going into business with her. When he moves to stand beside her, placing a hand on her arm, I finally acknowledge that their relationship is probably more than just business.
Not that I care. Right now these two are the greatest threats to the Glade we could have imagined.
“You can’t buy that land.”
Alexis’ face is unmoving. “It’s for sale. If we don’t, someone will.”
James smiles. “And we’ll be protecting it whilst allowing people to enjoy it. It’s the best possible outcome for all.”
It’s the worst possible outcome.
I look from one to the other. “You’re not going to change your mind, are you?”
I must be seeing things, because Alexis’ shoulders seem to sag. “We’ve been working on this a long time. Why can’t you see this for what it is?”
“You,” I point an accusing finger at her, “destroying the area I love?”
I seem to have pushed a button, because Alexis inflates. “I thought ecologically sustainable would be something you’d want!”
I pull back. Something I’d want? She was thinking of what I’d want?
I stand up, glad the room stays still, and head for the door. I’ve had enough of revelations. I’m barely processing the ones I’ve already been dished up.
“That would have been convenient, wouldn’t it, Alexis? That this was something I wanted.”
I turn away, glad that the room stays where it’s supposed to be. I’d like to walk out of here with some sort of dignity.
I’m out the door before there’s a response, nor do I bother to see what she thought of those words. I need to get out of here and talk to my pack. We’re up against more than we realized.
No words follow me as I head down the front path, glad an escape is in sight. I’m at the gate before I hear the door open and shut behind me.
“Eden.”
I turn, even without hearing James’ cultured English tones I would have known it was him. He’s the only one who would use my name.
Hand on the gate, I can’t help the defiant look I throw him. “How did you know my name, James?”
He stops, frowning.
“What?”
“Can you tell me how you discovered my name?”
He stares as he searches his memory. “Of course Alexis would have—”
“Did she? Can you remember the moment she said it?”
James’ mouth opens then shuts. “I’m sure she would have…”
“Well then, at least you’ve heard my mother say it.”
I’m out the gate without waiting for a reply. Let James chew on that knowledge for a while and then let’s see if he thinks that Alexis and I can have a relationship. I power forward, stretching my legs to take the biggest steps I can so I can get away as quick as I can, ignoring the twinge of the cut the bear left me with. I’ll text Tara when I get to the main building, there’s no way I’m waiting around here.
A couple of cars drive past, but I don’t pay attention. How do we deal with this and Kurt? But when one toots its horn, I turn around. Seth is hanging out of the cab of his truck, dark brown hair whipping in the breeze as he waves.
I step into the parking lot on my right and he follows, not sure how I feel about having someone to talk to right now.
Pulling into a bay, he walks over and wraps me in a hug. Seth and I have had an unusual bond since he lost the Were part of him and became human. The day he saved my life as Dana was about to attack me showed he’d finally realized the mistake he’d made aligning with Kurt. But it also meant he collided with Noah. All it took was one scratch to draw blood, and now we’re both misfits in the land of Were, wondering exactly where we slot in.
“Hey, Eden. Didn’t expect to see you here.”
I pull back, taking in his smiling face. “I was returning something. What are you doing here?”
Seth’s hand comes up to rub the back of his head. “Dropping off a patient for Emily.”
Ah. My smile becomes knowing. “Looks like she found a new helper, huh?”
I’m not sure, but I think Seth blushes. “Some r
ich lady’s poodle had a toothache. She was more than willing to include pick-up and drop-off in the dental treatment.”
It’s heart-warming to see the positive that can come of everything that’s happening. “So things are going well?”
“It’s early days, we’re trying to take it slow. I have a whole history that she can never know about, and I’m still figuring out…well, me.”
It’s hard not being able to tell Seth that I understand some of what he’s going through. I’m a leader of a network of supernatural beings that many believe I don’t belong to. But at least I don’t have to hide it from Noah.
“She wants this too, Seth.”
The few times I’ve been at Shoshoni Vet Centre there’s been an extra bounce in Emily’s ponytail, a sparkle amongst her freckles. Reuniting with Seth has changed her world.
“She’s said that.” There’s both heaviness and hope in Seth’s tone.
I nudge him with my shoulder. “Not to mention she’s the best vet in the state.”
Seth shrugs. “There’s no way I could have stayed away.” He pulls up a wry grin. “I’m only human, after all.”
It’s not the first time I’ve heard him say that over the past few weeks. It’s like he’s testing out his new self, one that has meant he can be with Emily, but one that meant he’s lost a big part of his identity.
I reach out to grasp his arm. “I’m pretty sure Emily loves you irrespective of who you were or who you’ll be. Believe me, you have no idea where that can take you.”
The smile that my words spark is the broadest I’ve seen. “I can see why Emily hired you on the spot. You’ve got a way with people, you know that?”
I look away, and the movement sparks another wave of dizziness. I stare straight ahead, knowing I need to get this checked out, but knowing there are bigger things on our horizon.
Seth peers a little closer. “You don’t look so good. Everything okay?”
I chew on my lip as I glance around. This Glade decision will affect him too. The parking lot is empty, but I still take a few steps toward the trees. Seth follows, his smile fading.
When we’re at the edge of the forest, the trees at our back and the Inn before us, I sigh. “I just found out the Glade is for sale.”