“Maybe Talley can sneak out the back door,” I suggested. “We can tell them she left before I woke up.”
“Won’t work,” said Jase. “He’ll have seen the car.”
“And where would I go?” Talley took a deep, shaky breath. “He’s not going to drop this.” As if to accentuate her point, Mr. Matthews rapped on the front door yet again. I started back down the stairs, more out of a Pavlovian response to a knock at the door than anything else.
“What’s the plan?” Jase hissed.
“I don’t have one,” I said over my shoulder. “We’ll play it by ear.” Granted, it was a horrible approach knowing what was on the line, but what else was I supposed to do?
“Sorry, Mr. Matthews,” I said, opening the door. “She was still asleep. You know how she is. Lazy, lazy Talley.”
Mr. Matthews seemed to forget I was there. “Talley, get your stuff. You’re coming with me.”
“But she hasn’t had a shower. Or breakfast.” Apparently my plan was to babble on like a clueless idiot. Great. There was no way that was going to go wrong.
Of course, it didn’t really matter what I said since Mr. Matthews had grown deaf to the sound of my voice. “You’ve got five minutes to get clothes on and get in the truck, or I’m coming in after you.”
“But she—”
“No,” Jase said, cutting me off. “She stays.”
Operation: Clueless, abandoned. Operation: Keep Jase From Getting Killed, activated.
“You ain’t got no say in this, boy.”
Jase’s eyes seemed lit by a green fire. I saw his fingers curl up into a fist just as Talley stepped around him to face her father.
“What are you doing here, Daddy?”
Mr. Matthews proved he really had forgotten my existence by telling her exactly what he was doing in Timber. “I got me a call at midnight tellin’ me I oughta come down here and see what my daughter was up to. Said you had run off from your Pack and was shaking up with some outcasts and a Wolf Girl. Now, I don’t know who you boys have taken up with, but my Talley ain’t stayin’ with you. She’s coming home to her real Pack back in Frenchburg.”
Someone called at midnight? And used the words “Wolf Girl’? A pity I didn’t toss Makya’s body in the lake when I had the chance.
“I said she stays.” Jase tugged Talley back by the end of her shirt.
I thought Mr. Matthews would be angry at Jase’s defiance, but instead he threw his head back and laughed long enough and hard enough I was able to see that each and every one of his teeth were present and accounted for. “What? You think you’re her Pack Leader now?” He shook his head. “You know you can’t take me, son. Move aside.”
Jase flexed and Talley did the only intelligent thing, which was move out of his way. Mr. Matthew calmly unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a white wifebeater underneath. “I don’t like fighting children,” he said, bending down to jerk off his boots. “Seems to me, though, you need to be taught lesson.”
Without further warning, Mr. Matthews barreled through the front door and launched into a tornado kick, taking Jase down to one knee. Jase immediately bounced back up, getting in a strike that just missed Mr. Matthews’ liver before Mr. Matthews caught him with an elbow slash.
It didn’t take a martial arts expert to see where this fight was going. Jase was good, but Mr. Matthews was better. Much better.
Normally, I’m enthusiastic in my support of a fair fight, but this wasn’t a normal circumstance. This was someone trying to take my Talley away from me, and I wasn’t about to let it happen.
Mr. Matthews took Jase to the floor, which made it easier for me to hook a leg around his middle from behind. I had him in a rear naked choke hold before he even realized I was a threat. He tried grabbing onto my wrist, but I broke his hold with a palm strike and then tightened my squeeze. It took a little while, but eventually he stopped squirming.
“Forgetting there were two black belt fighters in the room wasn’t just rude, it was stupid.” I loosened the hold just enough so he wouldn’t pass out, but not enough he could go anywhere. I leaned in so my lips were right at his ear. “You’re not taking her anywhere.” I released him and jumped back, not taking the risk of underestimating a Dominant. Fortunately, though, he didn’t go all Super Shifter on me and stayed down, massaging his throat as he coughed.
“Consider this a warning,” Jase said, standing above Mr. Matthews as if he was the one who took him down. “The next time you try to take my Seer you won’t be walking away.”
Mr. Matthews glared up at Jase. “She ain’t your Seer, now is she?” His hateful eyes swung around until they found me. “You think she’s yours, don’t you, witch?”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed. “You’re here to kidnap my best friend, you kicked my brother in the face, and I just about choked you to death, but you think it’s impolite to actually say the word bitch?” Jase shook his head at me, but I kept going. “I mean, it’s really not even a cuss word when applied to me. Once a month I am an actual female dog.”
Mr. Matthew rose shakily to his full height. “The Bible says we’re not to suffer a witch to live.”
Great. Crazy selective hearing man is also crazy religion man.
“It also says stuff about loving your neighbor and turning the other cheek. Maybe you should focus on those parts.”
Mr. Matthews eyes bugged out of his now crimson colored skin. “I won’t tolerate blasphemy.”
“Listen, I love Jesus and all, but that isn’t going to stop me from putting you on the ground again.”
“You think you’re so smart, don’t ya, girl?” Saliva clung to the corners of his mouth, stretching out like webs as he spoke. “How smart are you going to feel when the Alpha Pack comes to give me back what is mine? You think you’ll be able to joke your way out of their death sentence?”
“What makes you think she belongs to you?”
“The contract I signed with the Hagans gave her to her Mama’s Pack. I don’t see her Mama here, so that means they don’t want her no more, and she comes back to me.”
“What if she has a mate?” I didn’t even know where that came from. I mean, I knew it came from one of my mentally unhinged dreams, but I have no idea what possessed me to say it. Honestly, I was just grabbing at straws at the moment, doing anything and everything to protect Talley.
Mr. Matthews whipped his head towards Talley, but Jase slid in front of her, acting as a human shield. “You?” He said, focusing on my brother. “I’m supposed to believe Mr. All-State has mated her?” His lips curled and my opinion of the man sunk to a new low. “Nice try, but I ain’t buying it. I don’t smell you on her.”
For the first time in recent memory, Jase blushed bright red. “The mating hasn’t been completed, but I’ve laid my claim.”
“And if the Alpha Pack should ask for a declaration…?”
“I’ll declare it before anyone and everyone. Talley Matthews is my mate.”
Mr. Matthews looked past Jase. “Talley, don’t lie to your Daddy.”
“I’ve accepted Jase Donovan as my mate,” she said, voice quaking and face the color of snow.
“You understand I consider this an oath.”
Talley nodded and Jase said, “Good. We’ll send you an invitation to the wedding. Now, leave.”
Mr. Matthews grabbed his discarded shirt and shoes, but made sure to say a few parting words to me before he left. “I’m leaving her with him, not you.”
“As long as you’re leaving and she’s staying, I don’t really care.”
“They’ll tear you to pieces and scatter the parts to the four corners of the earth.”
“That could be difficult since the earth is round and all.” I circled a finger in the air to illustrate my point.
“Joke while you can, witch,” he spat. “You’ll be dealt with soon enough.” And with that ominous declaration, he turned and walked out the door, and almost right into Charlie, whose bloodshot eyes told me my bad day was about to get
worse.
Chapter 18
“Who was that?” Charlie asked, watching as an ancient car with mismatched doors retreated slowly down the driveway.
Since I really didn’t want to talk to Charlie, and Talley was too busy staring at the floor, Jase answered. “Pack Leader of the Matthews Pack.”
If Charlie was surprised by that tidbit he didn’t show it. “You okay, Tal?” She nodded her head, but didn’t look up. Tears weren’t actively falling, but I knew it was because she was forcing them to stay in by sheer will and determination.
“He obviously didn’t leave without a fight,” Charlie said, looking at the side of Jase’s face, which was getting puffier by the second. “Is he coming back soon enough for us to prepare, or do we need to hit the road?”
I balked. Sure, I was okay with Talley taking off while we figured out the situation, but we weren’t cowards. If anything was going to happen, I was going to stay and fight. “He’s not coming back,” I said.
Charlie looked from me to Talley, who was going to have to have her fingers surgically removed from her hair, back to me again. “How did you manage that?”
“I told him Talley had a mate, and he just left.”
Even before his zombification, Charlie didn’t startle easy. So when his eyes did the whole size of saucers thing and his chin dropped open, I knew this was some sort of big deal. Being the self-absorbed person I am, I assumed it was my quick-fire wit that was the cause of awe.
“Jase, man, tell me you didn’t…”
“I made a declaration,” he said between clinched teeth. Talley sniffled.
We all just stood there for a long moment. I thought about suggesting we move out of the tiny foyer and into the living room where the sit-down type furniture lived, but I was afraid to speak up. The tension in the room was palatable. Charlie rubbed at his eyes; Talley blinked rapidly, pulling on the corners of her lashes to keep the tears at bay; and Jase looked at each of the walls as if trying to decide which on to put a hole in with his fist.
Talley was the one to finally end the silence.
“I’m sorry,” she said so softly I only caught every other syllable.
Unable to pick a wall, Jase grabbed his head with both hands and attempted to crack his own skull. “I don’t want to hear it.”
I was in his face before Talley could suck in a breath. “Don’t speak to her like that! What on earth has she done to you?”
“Her? Nothing.” Jase’s hands fell to his sides as he leaned in towards me. “It’s you who has screwed us all over. Again.”
“What did I do?”
“What did you do? What did you do?” Suddenly the foyer felt way too small. “That’s the problem. You just go around doing stuff you have no idea about, never thinking that there could be consequences.”
“I’m sorry. I…” I looked to Talley for help, but instead discovered she’d lost her battle against the tears. “Just somebody tell me what I’ve done so I can fix it.”
Jase laughed, a mocking and cruel sound.
“If he made a declaration there is no going back,” Charlie said, the pity in his voice almost as horrible as Jase’s laugh.
“What do you mean ‘a declaration’? No going back from what?”
“See what I mean? She doesn’t know anything about being a Shifter, but she keeps coming into our world and making a mess of things.”
A spike of anger stabbed through me, but it was almost instantly replaced by guilt. Yes, I was a Shifter now. And no, I didn’t ask for it to happen, but Jase was right. I was an outsider who kept hurting everyone I loved over and over again.
“Jase, why don’t you take Talley upstairs?” Jase snarled up his nose and opened his mouth to snap something back at Charlie, but then Talley muttered something that might have been “I’m okay” or “That’s okay” or, possibly, “No freaking way.”
“Come on, Tal,” Jase said, moving his hand as if to put it on her shoulder but stopping so it hovered a few inches from her actual person.
“You don’t have to —”
“We’re mates now,” he said, sparing me a glare. “We might as well start learning to act like it.” Her shoulder dipped in as she wrapped her arms across the top of her stomach. “Please, Tal. I can’t stay down here anymore.” Another go-to-hell look shot in my direction. Talley nodded and, without even sparing me a glance, went with Jase up the stairs.
“Have you eaten yet?” Charlie asked as he watched them go.
I shook my head slowly, the mere thought of food making me ill.
“Come on. I’ll make you toast.”
I wanted to tell him I didn’t want toast, and I most certainly didn’t want him making it for me. The absolute last thing I wanted was to talk to Charlie again, but I followed him to the kitchen anyway, too drained by Jase to put up a fight.
“Peanut butter and honey or butter and jelly?” he asked, moving around the cupboards as I slid onto a kitchen chair.
“Dry,” I said.
Charlie raised an eyebrow and grabbed some Nutella.
I was completely confused by his actions. Six months ago this was exactly what I would’ve expected from him, but now? After the last two months? After last night? After this morning? He should have been filled with the same hostile energy as Jase, not flitting about the kitchen making me toast.
“Charlie, you have to know, I honestly didn’t think this mate thing was going to be a big deal.”
“Of course you didn’t.” The bread popped out of the toaster, a beautiful golden brown. “And it’s probably the only thing that would’ve worked short of taking down an entire Pack in a Dominance Challenge, which I’m fairly certain we’re not up for.” He slathered Nutella onto the toast before bringing it over to me. “Here. You need protein.”
I took his offering, sniffed it as if the chocolate and hazel nutty goodnes might be rancid, and took a small bite. It was possibly the best food I’d ever put in my mouth.
“Charlie, why are you being so nice to me?” I knew I was opening up a Costco-sized can of angsty worms, but I had to know.
Charlie looked as if he didn’t understand the question. “You’re one of my best friends.”
I will not cry again. I will not cry again. I will not cry again…
“Even after… everything?” It couldn’t be that easy. “Charlie, I kissed you and then ran away. Twice. In less than twelve hours.”
“Yeah, not the most stellar thing for my self-esteem, so can we never speak of it again?”
“Then, why…?” I took a deep breath. “I thought you would be mad.”
Charlie slid a second piece of toast across the table. “I’ve never really been good at staying mad at you. The longest I’ve ever lasted was when you told your mom that Jase and I had been playing soldiers on the roof.” He smiled. It was just a tiny little thing, but it was real enough to make my heart do a merry skip. “It took you most the afternoon to worm your way back into my good graces.”
“But the past two months…”
“The past two months have been hell on everyone.” All traces of the smile were gone as he slumped into the seat opposite me. “And I didn’t make it any easier on you. I’m sorry about that. Really. I was so lost in my own head I couldn’t see straight.” He started brushing crumbs off the table in an uncharacteristic bout of nervousness. “I’ve been seeing someone,” he finally blurted out.
I was glad he was concentrating so hard on clearing the table of toast debris he didn’t see my reaction.
“Is she nice?” Something was wrong with my chest, like maybe my lungs went missing.
“He’s great.” Charlie looked up and caught my expression. The bark of laughter that followed was so abrupt I nearly fell out of my seat. “A shrink, Scout. I’ve been going to therapy.”
“Oh, good!” Crap, that wasn’t right. “I don’t mean good good, I just mean, you know…” Either the temperature in the kitchen suddenly skyrocketed or my face was glowing red with embarrassment. “
So, the therapy thing is helping with stuff?”
“I’m not spinning through the meadow, singing about how alive the mountains are or anything, but yeah, I’m learning to deal.”
“What is it with you and musicals, Chuck?”
“You know Judd?”
“From Oklahoma!?”
Charlie sighed. “From Randy’s”
“Oh, that Judd. I think I saw him wrapped up in a zebra print Snuggie this morning.”
“Yeah, that’s Judd,” he said as if the guy was often seen in animal print novelty items. “His dad is the guy I’ve been going to. After you left this morning, Judd called him and asked him to come over. We’ve been talking things out for hours.”
Great, I drove Charlie to a marathon session with a shrink. I was made of win. “Was he able to help?” Maybe give you some helpful hints as to how to cut me out of your life forever before I completely ruin it?
“He did.” Charlie took a deep breath and then focused on me. Intently. Frighteningly so. “He helped me figure out some stuff.”
“Stuff like…?” I was being nosey and rude, but I had to know.
“Stuff like how you and I can’t go back to where we were or get to where we were going, and that it’s unfair for either of us to try.” I couldn’t say anything since my tongue decided to glue itself to the roof of my mouth, but I nodded as if I understood. “And I realized there are some things about us that will never change, no matter what.”
“What things are those?”
Charlie reached across the table and took hold of my fingers. “We’re friends, Scout. To infinity and beyond. No matter what, I will always be your friend.”
Dammit. I was crying. Again. “Friends. Until the rest of ever.”
Big, manly fingers tightened around my boney ones. “We cool?”
All this time I thought I wanted Charlie pushed far out of my life. I was wrong. And I knew I was wrong because at that moment, when I realized he wasn’t going anywhere, my face nearly split in two from smiling so freaking hard. “Like a cucumber.”
“Good, because Jase and Talley aren’t right now.”
And with that joyous breakthrough, we were moving on to the next crisis.
Time Mends Page 14