Figure of Speech (Halle Shifters)

by Bell, Dana Marie

  “Keeping me safe?” Hope’s gaze followed Sarah’s toward the window. “I can’t decide if that freaks me out or makes me feel better.”

  “Go with option number two.” Chloe stood. “Trust me, Jamie Howard would destroy anything that causes you a moment of pain.”

  “He killed Salazar.” Hope’s smile was grim. “For that alone, it makes me feel better. I’m just not sure I can be mated after…” The smile disappeared.

  “Someday.” Chloe held out her hand. “My mate didn’t want me because he thought I was too young, and I gave up all cope of having him. After my attack, he disappeared and I thought that was the end, that I’d never be what he needed. But I realized that I had to become what I needed first. I had to heal, to come to terms with everything I had lost and what I’d gained. You concentrate on getting well. Jamie will still be there, waiting and watching over you.”

  “And doing his own healing.” Sarah turned back to them, focusing once more on Hope. “When the time comes, when you’re both ready, you’ll know it.”

  “Maybe.” At least Hope looked a little more relaxed and at ease. Chloe hoped she’d helped a little bit, but Hope had gone through so much that Chloe doubted she’d been able to.

  “I have to get going. Jim’s going to worry about me.” Ryan was probably getting bored playing video games on his tablet. Despite her brother’s presence Jim had fussed over her before she’d left. “Hope?”

  “Hmm?” Hope gazed at Chloe, her expression filled with anxiety.

  “Don’t give up, okay?”

  Whatever Hope saw in Chloe’s face must have had an effect, because she nodded. “I won’t. You’re right. I can’t let Tito win.”

  “Call me if you want to talk.” And Chloe meant that. She’d do whatever it took to help heal Hope.

  “Thanks.” Hope glanced toward the window again, to where her mate watched over her from afar. “I just might.”

  “Jim?”

  Jim froze, his hand on the exam room door.

  “James, answer me.”

  He glanced over at his mother, ignoring her sullen scowl.

  She looked like she always had. Her short silver hair was both stylish and efficient. The lemon-yellow capris, bright white polo shirt and tasteful jewelry screamed country club luncheon. Even her white sandals were perfect, without a single mark on them. They looked as good as the day his mother had bought them.

  “I have a patient to see. You can wait in the waiting room, or better, make an appointment.” He threw Irene under the bus without a second thought. “I’m certain my partner would be happy to deal with you.”

  Jim started to enter the exam room when his mother’s vicious tone stopped him dead. “Your partner or your girlfriend?”

  He almost laughed. “You’ve really been out of my life for a while now, haven’t you?” He shook his head. “Listen. I’m marrying a girl named Chloe Williams as soon as she says yes.” He heard a gasp behind him but ignored it. He’d already scented Chloe, heard the tap of her cane as she came down the hallway, and wanted her to know his intentions weren’t just honorable but forever. Her leg had been bothering her that morning so he’d insisted she take the cane he’d bought for her a couple of days ago. “She’s got red hair, the cutest freckles I’ve ever seen, and is the strongest woman it’s ever been my privilege to meet.” His mother’s gaze darted to Chloe before settling once more on him. “Her family is incredible, and they’ve already welcomed me, and Spencer, with open arms, which is more than you’ve done.”

  “I will not welcome your father’s bastard, Jim. I won’t. Not now, not ever.” She clutched the strap of her probably expensive bag and gave him a pleading look that might have worked on him six months ago. “How can you not understand that?”

  “I do understand. All I’ve asked is you respect my decision to have Spence in my life.” Jim crossed his arms over his chest.

  “No. You’re my son, James. Not him.” Wanda Woods crossed her arms over her chest. “Never him.”

  “Fine.”

  She relaxed. “Have you spoken to your father about alimony?”

  Jim rolled his eyes. “No. That’s the place of your lawyer, not your son.”

  She huffed. “He wants me to get a job. Me! At my age!”

  His brows rose. “You’re healthy, smart, and barely over fifty, Mother.”

  “As if thirty years of marriage count for nothing.” Her gaze darted once more to Chloe. “You’ll understand when Jim leaves you for someone else.”

  Jim immediately stood between his mother and Chloe. “Don’t. Do not drag her into your drama. She stays drama-free.”

  His mother scowled. “What is she, fifteen? You’re more like your father than I thought.”

  “Get. Out.” His teeth were clenched as he desperately tried not to howl at his parent.

  “May I?” Chloe’s sweet scent wrapped around him, calming him. “Mrs. Woods, I presume?”

  “Not for much longer.” Wanda relaxed her grip on her bag.

  “Is all this really worth losing your son over?”

  Wanda seemed perplexed. “What do you mean?”

  “Look at your son.” Chloe’s hand landed on his biceps. “Really look at him. He’s exhausted, he’s angry, he’s hurting. Is this what you wanted?”

  “He’s always been melodramatic.” His mother’s annoyed sigh was one Jim had heard many times before. “And it’s not like you were around to get to know him, were you?” She tilted her head, and Jim wasn’t quite fast enough to stop what his mother was about to say. “How is your ex-boyfriend, by the way?”

  Chloe glanced up at Jim. “I don’t—”

  “Oh, don’t play coy with me. I saw my son when you were dating what’s-his-name. Were you even legal then? And he’s in charge of the police.” His mother looked delightedly scandalized. “Imagine the scandal if that got out.”

  She sounded positively gleeful. It wouldn’t matter if it was all a lie. Gabriel Anderson would lose his job and any chance at a respectable one for the rest of his life. “Why are you doing this, Mother?”

  She glanced at him with what seemed genuine regret. “I want alimony.”

  “Talk to your lawyer.” Jim threw his hands in the air. “There’s nothing I can do about it. Father no longer speaks to me, remember?”

  She shrugged. “He would if you got rid of his bastard.”

  He growled, the sound no longer human. He turned away from his mother’s stunned expression toward Chloe, lifting a hand to her cheek. “Go in and talk to the patient for me, pretty.”

  Chloe’s eyes went wide. “What about—” She pointed to her lips.

  He kissed her forehead. “It’ll be fine, I promise.”

  She bit her lip, but straightened her shoulders. “Okay.” She opened the door with a ready smile. “Hello, Mrs. Stanley. How is Van Gogh doing today?”

  The door shut behind his mate, and Jim felt free to let loose on his mother. She’d just proven she was lying through her teeth. She knew exactly who Chloe was, and planned on using his mate to force him to do what she wanted.

  Jim wasn’t going to allow that. His mother would keep her poisonous claws away from Chloe, or else. “You’re not welcome here.”

  “James—”

  “No. We’re done. Once and for all, done. I want a divorce.”

  She blinked in shock. “Excuse me?”

  “I am not your lawyer or your husband. I’m your son, and you’ve done nothing but abuse that relationship since the moment you and Dad decided it was over. I’m sick of hearing you bitch, Mother. Get out of my business, get out of my practice and stay out of my life.”

  He turned on his heel and marched to his office, too upset to deal with any of the patients waiting to see him. How dare she come in here and threaten his mate over something he had no control over?

 
He carefully shut the door, unwilling even in his anger to upset his patients. He leaned back against the door and blew out a cleansing breath, trying to get his rage under control.

  The last thing he wanted was to hear a knock at his door, but Chloe’s scent was on the other side. “Yes, Chloe?”

  “Um, Van Gogh has a big boo-boo on his bum-bum.”

  Trust his mate to get him to laugh. He opened the door to find her holding a folder to her chest, her eyes wide and bright as she looked up at him anxiously. “A what now?”

  Her shoulders shook. “A boo-boo on his bum-bum.”

  “Your words or his mommy’s?”

  “His mommy’s.” Chloe followed him to the exam room, glancing around anxiously. “Your mother?”

  “Gone, I hope.” He wasn’t certain if forgiving her would even be worth it at this point. She’d been a good mother once, but his father’s philandering had soured her. “I’m sorry. We’ll need to warn Gabe about her threats.”

  “Mm-hm.” She opened the door into the exam room with a cheery smile. “I brought Dr. Woods, Mrs. Manly.” Chloe winced. “I mean, Mrs. Stanley.”

  Mrs. Stanley shot Jim an uncertain look. “Hello, Dr. Woods.”

  He smiled reassuringly at Mrs. Stanley. “Okay, Chloe, show me what you saw.”

  Chloe snapped on fresh gloves and showed him the wound, her hands shaking. Her left hand lay across the dog’s back, holding Van Gogh steady. The big retriever merely panted, its eyes curious as Chloe probed the wound with her shaking right hand.

  “It seems shallow enough. A few stitches and it should be fine.” It was a clean cut, not a bite wound. “How did he get this cut, Mrs. Stanley?”

  “Long story short, my boys were playing ninjas with my kitchen knives and the dog got excited.”

  Jim looked up at her. “Are they all right?”

  She smiled sweetly. “Eventually they’ll be able to sit down again, but otherwise they’re fine.” She sighed wearily. “I swear, it’s like trying to raise wolf pups.”

  Jim coughed. “I can imagine.”

  “Foam swords?” Chloe’s words were carefully measured as she put together the suture kit Jim needed.

  “What?” Mrs. Stanley looked at Chloe in confusion.

  “Buy them foam swords.” Chloe began cleaning Van Gogh’s wound in preparation for the stitches. “They can’t hurt each other, or Van Gogh, with those.”

  Mrs. Stanley’s brows rose. “Not a bad idea. If they’re going to ninja each other, at least they won’t get too damaged that way.” She shook her head as Jim started stitching up her dog. “I’m just glad no one was badly injured.”

  “Who’s watching them now?” Jim began carefully closing the cut, enjoying the way Chloe quietly crooned to Van Gogh the whole time.

  “Their father. And man, is he good with guilt. By the time I had Van Gogh loaded in the car they were in tears and begging us to make sure Van Gogh lived.” She shook her head again. “You think you’ve made your home safe, put things where the kids can’t get to them, but it’s amazing how resourceful they can be when they really want something.”

  “What did they do?”

  “They pushed chairs over to the cabinet where I’d hidden the knives, grabbed what they wanted, and before I could stop them they’d already hurt Van Gogh.” She shuddered. “I’m just glad it wasn’t worse than it was.”

  “You’ll need to make sure the knives are locked away.” Jim finished up, cleaning up the suture tray before taking off his gloves.

  “And the cheese graters.” When Jim looked at her, Mrs. Stanley rolled her eyes. “Please don’t ask. That was not a fun emergency room trip.”

  “What gave them the idea to be ninjas?” Jim patted Van Gogh on the head and helped him get down on the floor. The dog would be fine. It was his mommy who was having a meltdown.

  “Something about teenage turtles who just happen to be ninjas.” Mrs. Stanley took hold of Van Gogh’s leash and snapped it onto the dog’s collar. “Thanks, Dr. Woods. Thank you, Chloe.”

  “You’re welcome.” Chloe smiled at Mrs. Stanley. “And good luck with your mutant turtle wannabes.”

  “Ugh. Thanks. I’ll need it.” She shook both Jim and Chloe’s hands and left the exam room.

  “Wow.” Chloe started cleaning the exam table. “Think she’ll be all right?”

  “Yeah. Her kids are a handful, but they’re bright. She’ll figure it out.” He kissed the back of her head. “Just like ours will be.”

  “Scary thought.”

  “But true.” Jim held open the exam room door for her. “How’s your leg?”

  “Weak, but it doesn’t hurt.” She kissed his chin. “Thank you for the cane, by the way.”

  “You’re welcome, little vixen.” He would do just about anything to make her life easier.

  “Now get back to work, Doc.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He watched her limp away, smiling like a big old sap. Between Chloe and Spencer, he had all the family he needed.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “So.” Barney leaned back, tilting the dining room chair onto two legs. How it held the huge Grizzly Chloe would never know. His cowboy hat shadowed his eyes, and the corners of his mouth were turned down in a barely visible scowl. “Who the fuck is the other white shifter?”

  They’d finally managed to arrange a time when all of the Hunters were free to discuss Chloe’s dream walk. Chloe had gotten some chili and biscuits started, and they were just waiting for everything to finish cooking. In the meantime, they had already begun talking about the dream she’d had with Fox and Lion. Spencer had given up his makeshift bedroom for this meeting, keeping George occupied while Chloe and Jim moved the furniture around. They’d put Spencer’s bedroom back together after everyone left for the evening.

  Barney, surprisingly, seemed a bit grumpy, but she wasn’t sure she had the balls to ask him what had crawled up his ass and died. Instead, she continued to quietly set the table, allowing the two Hunters to mull over what she’d seen and heard in the spirit world. They were still waiting for Gabe to arrive. He’d had to answer an emergency call just before his shift ended, so he was running a little bit late. Chloe was setting a place for Sarah as well, hoping Gabe’s mate would come.

  The men really needed to mend their fences with each other. Gabe and Jim were trying, but both of them were stubborn as hell. Her sessions with Sarah after her beating had helped her mend fences with the Omega, but there was still an underlying tension between them whenever Gabe or Jim was mentioned that Chloe wanted resolved. Gabe was a good friend of hers, who’d stood by her when she’d needed someone who wasn’t a relative.

  Spencer started doing wheelies, much to Chloe’s amusement. “I dunno, but it ain’t me.”

  Barney turned and stared at Spencer, the scowl lightening slightly.

  “What?” Spencer, up on two wheels, started rolling backward, almost knocking Ryan over. “Sorry, dude.”

  Ryan shook his head and sat at the dining room table, a beer in hand. He took a swig and set the bottle on the table. “More importantly, what does Julian’s presence have to do with all of it? If anything happens to him, Cyn will be upset. Then Glory will be upset.” He grinned, his teeth turning into fangs. “Then I get pissy.”

  “Down, tiger.” Barney edged his hat back. “Papa Bear has this one covered.”

  Ryan’s brows shot up. “Oh? Do tell.”

  “I—” The doorbell interrupted Barney. “That must be Gabe.”

  “I’ll get it.” Jim headed for the front door, and Chloe, smelling that the biscuits were just about done, headed into the kitchen. She pulled the biscuits out of the oven and began putting everything together, the hot biscuits smelling like heaven next to the spiciness of the chili.

  She ladled the chili into a serving bowl and carefully picked it up, aware her left hand
could spasm and drop the damn thing all over the place. But she was determined to do this, to make her body work despite its handicaps. She was aware Ryan watched her every move as she took the bowl and placed it in the center of the dining room table with a relieved sigh. “Ryan, can you get the butter for the biscuits, please?”

  Ryan followed her into the kitchen. “How are you, kiddo? The doc treating you all right?”

  She shivered. “Hell yeah.”

  Ryan gagged as he opened the fridge. “Please don’t make me picture anything that involves you naked.”

  She giggled and grabbed the basket full of hot biscuits. “At least I haven’t had sex in a public place.”

  He rolled his eyes at her and followed her into the dining room, where Gabe and Sarah were greeting Barney.

  Barney, on the other hand, looked like a cornered mouse. It only took one look at Gabe and Sarah to understand why.

  Heather stood with them, smirking at the huge Grizzly, her hands on her hips. “What’s wrong, Boo-Boo? Weren’t expecting to see me?”

  “Why are you here, Frodo? Don’t you have a ring to destroy?”

  “You’re avoiding me.” Heather took a step forward. Chloe hoped Barney didn’t see the nerves riding her cousin. Heather was generally afraid of larger men, and the fact that her mate had turned out to be a Grizzly easily Alex’s height, if not taller, had to make her apprehensive.

  “Duh.” Barney took another step back. “I don’t have time to sit around eating elevensies no matter how cute a little Hobbit you are.”

  Heather glanced pointedly toward the steaming chili and biscuits. “Sure does look like dinner to me, Boo-Boo.”

  “Are you one of those people who buys a haunted house and plans their curtains around the ghost’s tastes?” Barney shook his head. “What part of ‘don’t want a mate, go away’ don’t you get?”

  Heather tilted her head. “The whole don’t want a mate, go away part.”

  Barney snarled.

  Chloe set a place for Heather right next to Barney’s chair. If the big, bad-tempered Grizzly was what her cousin wanted, Chloe would help her get him. “Dinner’s ready.” Chloe settled down, smiling when Jim sat right next to her. “Hope you bike it.”