When I See Her Smile

by PA Vachon

  “Yes, take me home,” I answered.

  “Sure, let me get the keys to the truck, and we can go,” he agreed easily. I had hoped he would put up more of a fight for me to stay, but I was glad he was being so easy going about it.

  We got into the truck and drove in silence to my mom’s house. Once in the driveway, I opened my door and turned to tell Trevor goodbye. The look in his eyes was so distant and cold. I hoped I hadn’t ruined everything with asking to come home. I leaned over and kissed his cheek. He watched as I got out of the truck and walked to my front door. As soon as I opened the door, I heard his truck pull out of our driveway and head down the road. I guess this was it. I hoped to hear from him again, but I had my doubts. I walked into the house and headed for my room to think before I had to be back at work in the afternoon the next day. As I turned to close my door, I could see my mother watching me from the living room. It was going to be a long night.

  I was just about asleep when I heard banging on the front door. I heard mom answer and then I heard the crash of breaking glass. I jumped from my bed and headed for the hallway to see what was going on. I opened my door and standing on the other side was the bane of my life.

  “Alan, what the hell are you doing here? It’s the middle of the night!” I asked.

  “I need to talk to you, Becca, but you keep putting me off,” he sneered at me. “I am here, and we are going to talk!”

  “Fine, Alan. Let’s talk,” I said trying to humor him, all the while wondering where my mother was.

  “Not here, we need to go,” Alan said. “Come on. I know somewhere we can go to be alone so we can talk.”

  “Alan, I have to work tomorrow,” I answered. “Can’t we just talk here? I’ll make us some coffee, okay?”

  “We have to leave the house,” Alan nervously replied, worried that the beefed up, nosy guy from before would show up and stop him from talking with her. “I promise I’ll bring you back once we have a chance to talk.”

  “I don’t really trust your promises, Alan,” I said. “You promised you loved me and would never cheat, and look how well that turned out.”

  “What happened with Jerry was a mistake, babe,” Alan said in a slightly raised voice. “I need you back; Jerry meant nothing.”

  “Whether Jerry meant anything to you or not, Alan,” I said shakily, “I can’t be with someone who can’t be faithful. Jerry was my best friend, and I walked in on you guys playing hide the pickle in his ass, Alan. His ass! I don’t care where you stick your dick anymore, but it definitely won’t be in me.”

  I saw headlights pull into our driveway as I chastised Alan for his cheating. I wondered who could be here so late. We never had company this late at night. As I was about to tell Alan to take a hike, I heard Trevor calling my name through the screen door.

  “Rebecca Ann, I need to talk to you, love,” Trevor said. “I know I said I would give you space but I need you to come with me now.”

  I was happy that Trevor hadn’t heeded my wishes. I needed him right now. I was glad that he was here to rescue me from sausage hiding Alan.

  Chapter 6

  ~Trevor~

  I watched as Rebecca Ann walked to the front door of her house and opened the door. Then I had to get out of there. So many things were swirling in my head that I didn’t know which end was up or down. I couldn’t believe Janet was back, and what the hell was she doing here? She had left the state and headed east, the last I had heard. I was confused, not about my feelings for Janet but for my need to keep Rebecca Ann close, and yet at the same time, I seemed to be pushing her away and keeping her at arm’s length. I headed back to the compound, turning the thoughts over in my head and trying to make sense of it all. It was to no avail, as I was more confused than I had been before. I parked the truck once I reached the front of my cabin back at the compound and sat for a while, turning more of my past over in my head, back to the day that Lauren was taken and later that same day when Janet returned from wherever she had disappeared to before our fight with Hatchet.

  Janet walked up to Trevor, and with a sneer, yelled, “How could you take the man who made me feel everything?”

  “Janet, where have you been? I was so worried about you,” Trevor said in confusion, not sure what was going on.

  “Don’t be a fool, Trevor. I was the spy on the inside for Hatchet,” she said. “You and your clan took my soul, and now I’m here for some payback.” Janet moved forward quickly, so quickly that I didn’t immediately see the knife she held. By the time I saw the knife, all I could do was turn away, hoping to deflect the blow, but it was useless. I turned and the knife she plunged into my back came within millimeters of taking my life, but it did accomplish scarring my soul, leaving me bleeding, and killing my hope a little more each day. As I lay bleeding, waiting for the end, my heart was breaking. I never thought that this would be how I would go out -- alone, a broken spirit of a man. I could hear the others making a grab for Janet, who had shifted and taken off at a run for the forest.

  I didn’t see her again until today when she attacked my mate. My one true soul mate, whom I loved with every fiber of my being. She was my one and only. I loved her like a fat kid loves cake. I wanted her to be in my life, to be my mate forever, as long as we both had breath in our bodies. For as long as we both lived.

  I finally got out to head inside after agonizing over my past and trying to incorporate my future. As I walked toward my front porch, I noticed a commotion off by the main building, so instead of going inside, I headed for the hubbub.

  I reached the far side of the building just as an explosion ripped through the air, throwing debris up and raining down on the few of us that were standing next to the building. I looked at the damage and yelled out, “Marcus, Marcus, where are you?”

  “I’m here, but I can’t find Regan or Rory,” he said in a panic. Rory was his almost two year old granddaughter. Regan would never say who her father was, although I definitely had my suspicions that I would never share. You could see the sadness in her eyes when she looked into Rory’s startling green eyes. It was a look that showed pain, longing, and a touch of disbelief. No one was more surprised when she returned after being on a mission for the Enforcers with a much more rounded stomach than when she had left. She was well into her sixth month of pregnancy and not as open as she had been. We thought it had to do with Hatchet and his attempts at overthrowing Marcus and his plots to hurt Lauren. Little did we know that in the end, it would be so much more than that. I still wonder where Rory’s father is after all this time and I wonder if he knows what he is missing by being gone.

  I rushed to help look in the rubble of our main building, struggling to move the mortar, brick, and roofing materials that had fallen from the building when it exploded. I stopped after clearing a path to listen. I could hear a faint whimpering coming from the northeast corner of the building, farther away from the blast area. Although there were still many obstacles to get to the far side of the building, we all made quick work of the mess. Once we reached the rubble and tables that were overturned, I could still hear whimpering, only louder this time. I started to move tables and other remains out of the way. I got to one table that was still upright. Bending down and looking under the filthy cloth, I found Rory balled into her mother’s side. Regan was not moving though, and her breathing was labored. I grabbed Rory up and handed her to the next person behind me so that I could reach Regan’s side to check her over. I heard her moan in pain as I rolled her to her side. At least she was alive and could feel something, anything, even if it was pain. Pain was better than nothing, but the threat of paralysis was still not out of the question. I yelled behind me for the paramedics to be called. We needed to get both girls checked out as soon as possible. As the paramedics loaded the girls into the ambulance, I went looking for Ian and Marcus. I found them both on the other side of the destroyed building, arguing in loud tones.

  “Hey, what’s going on?” I asked.

  “Janet and the ot
hers escaped during the explosion,” Marcus sneered. “Our small building couldn’t hold them, and someone here helped them escape with a diversion.”

  Ian looked off towards his house before saying,

  “Lauren and the kids are fine, but I need to get back to them. Trevor, you should go and get your girl. There is no telling what Janet is capable of.” Ian walked off towards his cabin, and I watched as the door was flung open and Lauren and the boys crowded around Ian and pulled him inside.

  I left the compound after checking on Regan and Rory just before the ambulance left to pick Rebecca up at her mom’s. On the way there, I turned over my past in my mind, wondering how to tell Rebecca about that disastrous time in my life. I knew I needed to tell her but I just didn’t know how to start. Telling her about my polar bear the day before had been much easier.

  Rebecca hadn’t even blinked when my polar burst from my skin. I hadn’t explained about fated mates, wanting to first tell her of my previous devious lover, but maybe I’d just call Janet my past girlfriend instead of lover. There was no reason to piss Rebecca off and make her mad at me so early in our relationship. There was plenty of time for that later when she was finally mine.

  I pulled up to Lisa’s house to see Rebecca talking to her ex. Alan, what a douche. I still couldn’t believe that Alan had cheated on Rebecca and with her best friend, Jerry. I didn’t like that she was outside. She should be inside, where it was safer and she was around people in case Janet should show up like she had the night before. I needed to tell her that she needed to stay inside. Next time she had to wait for me, or better yet, I’d leave a little earlier to pick her up.

  I knew that Rebecca Ann wanted some time, but it was just too dangerous for her to be on her own. I needed her to understand that her safety would have to come first.

  “Rebecca Ann, I need to talk to you love,” I said. “I know I said I would give you some time, but you need to come with me now.”

  “Trevor. I told you I needed some space,” she whispered as she wound her arms around me in a fierce hug. “But I’m glad you’re here.”

  “I know babe, but I really need you to come with me,” I said again as I held her to me. “Janet and the others got away, and I need to take you back to the compound. I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her, which is pretty far.”

  Rebecca laughed at the image he brought to mind, despite being angry that she couldn’t mull over the things that had occurred earlier in the day.

  “Fine, let me deal with Alan, and we can go,” she said. “But don’t think this is me giving in. I’m still unhappy with you and I have a lot to think about.”

  Alan watched with curiosity and anger. Who did this guy think he was trying to take Becca from him? He was Alan Stein, and no one took what was his. Becca would come running back; he knew she would. What happened with Jerry was a one time curiosity and wouldn’t happen again, although it had been one of the best experiences of his sexual life. Jerry letting him dominate him by fucking his ass was a complete turn on. Becca would never let him have any ass time. But he could fix that if she would just be reasonable and listen to his apology.

  “Alan, I’m done telling you that we’re over,” Rebecca said. “I don’t want to have this discussion with you again. We’re done, over, kaput. You need to leave me alone. I’m trying to start a new chapter in my life, and it definitely doesn’t include your cheating ass.”

  “But, Becca-” Alan began.

  “No, Alan, we are done. I have to go,” Rebecca cut him off and headed for my truck.

  Once in the truck, I looked over at Rebecca Ann, amazed that I had found my mate and that she was a sassy, sexy ball of contradictions. One moment she was insecure, the next she was flaying your skin with her quick words. What a woman.

  “Trevor, let’s go,” she said. “I need sleep and a break from pushy men.”

  I could tell she was angry and not just at me. Alan must have said something that really set her off, and then I arrive to throw a wrench into her planned thinking time.

  “Rebecca Ann, I’m sorry that I didn’t give you more time and space,” I said. “But Janet and the rest could really hurt you, and I can’t risk that.”

  “Trevor, I’m tired of the bullshit,” she replied. “Why do you care so much? We haven’t even had a real conversation up to this point. We fucked, I don’t know what we’re doing.”

  All I could see was red but I wasn’t angry at Rebecca. I was angry at myself for not telling her what she is to me. I was angry that Janet had made me so mistrustful that I couldn’t be open with my one, the person who held my heart and soul in their hands.

  “Rebecca Ann, I care because you are it for me,” I said on an exasperated sigh. “You’re my soulmate, the one person in the world that fate picked just for me. Because your granny was right. We turn into big ass, furry bears and have only one true love.”

  I looked over at the passenger side to see tears sliding down her beautiful cheeks. I reached across the distance between us and wiped one tear away. She turned her head and looked at me with her heart in her eyes.

  “Trevor,” she sighed, “Why would you say that to me? I’m no one’s soulmate. I’m the girl everyone fucks over.”

  “Not me,” I said. “I’m in this one hundred percent, you and me, babe. Forever.”

  Rebecca Ann huffed out a small laugh and shook her head, looking at me like I had grown an extra head. This was the reaction I had expected when she saw my polar bear, not when I told her that she was the end all, be all for me.

  “I need to wrap my head around what you’re saying,” Rebecca Ann said. “I hoped you would want to date, have sex, whatever. I never thought you would say I was yours.”

  “Babe, you’re mine, and I’m yours,” I said. “That’s how fated mates work for us shifters.”

  We drove on in silence, both contemplating the other’s words. Each of amazed by the other’s thought process but not sure what to say at this point. As I approached the compound, I saw a large car off to the left, bearing down on us at a fast rate of speed. I shouted a warning to Rebecca, hoping I would be able to outmaneuver the other vehicle. We were clipped in the ass end, close to the back tire of my truck. There was almost no damage, but we were pushed around. I looked into my rearview mirror to see David driving and Janet at his side. Before I could wonder what the hell he was doing back here, we were rear ended. The truck jarred, but didn’t spin out. I accelerated, trying to get ahead of them enough to outrun the car, but my truck was no match for the smaller V8 keeping time with me.

  “Trevor, I’m scared,” Rebecca said. “What’s going on?”

  “Just some unfinished business, babe,” I replied. “It’ll be fine.”

  The car tried to rear end us again, and I turned my wheel just enough that he missed. I could see the compound just ahead, but the gate was closed tight and I hadn’t had a chance to add the gate opener to my truck yet.

  “Babe, do me a favor,” I asked Rebecca. “Grab my phone and call Ian. His number is programmed in. Let him know that we are coming in fast and that we’ve got company.”

  Rebecca Ann grabbed my phone and did as I asked. I could hear Ian on the other end of the phone yelling at the others to open the fucking gate and be quick about it. I didn’t want to hit the fence, but I would if it meant keeping Rebecca safe. Just before we reached the compound, the gate swung open and we sailed through. The car that had been chasing us stopped short of the gate when they saw the awaiting crowd of pissed off shifters, revving its engine they reversed and started down the road. I could see Janet yelling at David through the windshield. I couldn’t hear the words, but I could tell they weren’t pleasant.

  I brought the truck to a stop at the front steps to my cabin. Rebecca and I both exited the cab at the same time, where Ian was waiting.

  “What the fuck just happened, Trevor?” Ian yelled from his position near my front porch.

  “I’m not sure,” I answered. “I went to get Rebecca Ann,
and on the way back in, we were hit by that car. David was driving, and Janet was in the passenger seat.”

  “David?” Marcus said in anger. “That idiot. What the hell is he doing back here?”

  “I don’t know, but we need to continue our twenty-four hour patrols,” Ian replied. “I’m going back to the house to check on Lauren and the boys. Keep me posted.”

  Ian walked away at a fast clip. I knew he wanted to get back to his family. I knew the feelings he had churning in his guts. I felt the same way about Rebecca Ann. I had to keep her safe, no matter the cost.

  I turned to Rebecca, who had been standing next to me taking in my conversation with Ian. She looked concerned. I took her by the hand and pulled her to my side as I led her to the front door of my cabin. I needed her in my house. I needed her to be with me, to be safe and protected.

  I helped Rebecca to the front room and gently pushed her shoulder to get her to sit down and relax, although I wouldn’t relax until Janet was gone from my life.

  “Trevor, we need to talk about the fact that we’re mates,” Rebecca began.