Chapter 13 – Pike
~ Rose’s Story ~
I follow Billy to the back of the property where a small shed sets at the tree line. I listen for the front door closing to signal Bloom making it inside and expect him to start talking as soon as we’re out of hearing range, but he says nothing. He sets the boxes down just inside the door of the shed then opens the top one and pulls out a small album. I watch him as he takes a seat next to the pile of boxes and looks through the tiny black book. There’s the shadow of a smile across his face but it never reaches his eyes. I want to shift so I can talk to him but I have the feeling he’ll spill more if I stay in this form. So I set there watching him re-live whatever’s in that album.
Finally, when he reaches the last page he looks at me and nods. He’s going to tell me the story of the she-wolf and he needs me to listen. He doesn’t say it but I see it in his eyes how important this story is to him. I don’t realize how much it’s going to affect me to till he turns the album to face me and sets it on the ground open to the last page. There staring back at me is a face I’ve become all too familiar with since childhood, one that’s been in my life just as much as my own parents if not more. And she’s holding a newborn version of Bloom. I keep shifting between the woman and child waiting for reality to sink in. The resemblance should’ve been obvious the moment I saw her but I’ve been so caught up in finding my mate that it didn’t sink in. But now it’s so obvious I can’t deny it even if I want to. Bloom’s the daughter of a shifter!
Billy waits until the realization shows in my eyes then he begins, “Rose moved here with her Aunt when she was 15. She never said what happened to her parents and no-one ever asked. She was always so full of life and so beautiful. Bloom’s the spitting image of her except she has Michael’s eyes. People seemed to gravitate towards Rose, especially Michael. Except unlike with her other admirers she noticed him back.”
“They started dating about a month after she arrived in town and stayed together all through high school. They were that annoyingly perfect couple. Michael proposed on graduation night and of course Rose accepted. They waited a year to the date to get married. Just enough time for Michael to build this house for them to live in. His Dad gave him the land as a graduation present and we all helped him work on building the perfect home for them. The wedding was beautiful. I’d never seen two people more in love than Michael and Rose.”
“He got a job at the factory and she started taking classes at the college two towns over. On the weekends we’d all hang out and she’d try to fix me up with some girl she’d met in one of her classes. We were best friends and I loved them both like family.”
“Then one morning I came out to the cabin to go hunting in the woods. Michael was working and he told me Rose would be in class so I didn’t need to warn her I’d be there. I headed to my favorite spot and wasn’t there very long before I heard rustling in the trees to my right. I turned and aimed my gun ready to shoot, expecting to see the buck I’d been leaving food out to attract. But it wasn’t the buck. It was a glorious white wolf. I’d never seen a wolf up close but I knew wolves could be dangerous so I cocked my gun ready to take it out before it could attack. The wolf must have heard the gun cock because she turned and stared me in the eyes. I didn’t notice the color I was so concerned with keeping the gun aimed between us. If I’d been thinking I would’ve realized no normal wolf had eyes the shade of emeralds. Then the wolf shifted and there at the end of my barrel was Rose.”
“I dropped the gun and just stared. I was in such shock that I didn’t say anything as she guided me back out of the woods toward the house. I still didn’t speak as she sat me at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and went and got dressed. Finally when she sat down across from me with a cup of her own I asked how. She explained everything; well at least what I thought was everything at the time.”
“We sat there for hours, me asking questions and her answering. Finally she told me Michael didn’t know. I was shocked because I thought they shared everything and here she’d kept this huge secret. I told her she had to tell him, that he’d understand. He loved her no matter what. That’s when she told me she was pregnant. Only a few weeks along and she hadn’t even told him yet. She wanted to wait till after the baby was born to tell him about being a shifter. I didn’t want to add any stress to a pregnant woman so I agreed to keep her secret as long as she told him after the baby was here. She agreed.”
“Bloom was born 9 months later. She was the most beautiful baby and already had a head full of blonde hair. Michael and Rose were so happy they were glowing. I was at the restaurant getting some food together to bring to the new parents when I got a call from Michael. Rose was gone, had left the hospital, went to the house grabbed a few things and wrote him a half ass letter about not being ready to be what he needed. Michael was devastated. Bloom was released from the hospital the next day and I was there to help Michael bring her home. He was broken though he tried to hide it. I helped the best I could. I’d watch Bloom when he was at work and would stick around after he got home to try to cheer him up. Eventually he came back around but he was never the same man.”
“About 4 months after she left, Rose showed back up when Michael was at work. She begged me to see Bloom but I wouldn’t let her without an explanation. She confessed that she’d met her mate at the hospital the day after she had Bloom. She couldn’t resist the pull the mate bond had and she left with him. She loved Michael but love couldn’t even describe her bond with this man. She wanted to take Bloom, she was worried she’d start to shift when she got older and Michael wouldn’t have a clue what to do. I couldn’t let her take her though. I loved that baby girl too much and I knew it would kill Michael to lose her too.”
“She argued with me but didn’t try to fight me on it, but she made me promise that if she showed any of the signs of shifting that I’d track her down in Tennessee. And if Bloom ever got hurt that I wouldn’t take her to a regular doctor I’d take her to Jim Harris, the local vet. Apparently he had come across her and her aunt’s secret like I had and was the only other person in town she trusted to care for Bloom. The regular doctors would start asking too many questions if Bloom’s shifter blood kicked in and she healed at a speedy rate. I agreed to her terms but made her promise not to show back unless I called on her. It would be way too hard on Michael if she kept showing up. She agreed and I’ve not seen or heard from her since. Bloom’s never shown a sign of shifting. Though I do believe some of Rose’s shifter genes kicked in because she’s never been sick a day in her life, not even a runny nose.”
Finished telling me his story he picks the album back up and places it back in the box. He closes the shed up and then turns to me, “Pike I can tell you’re her mate. I already see your presence healing her heart. The loss of her father devastated her but since you’ve arrived I’ve seen her smile again. A real genuine smile and I haven’t seen that in a year. Just make sure you treat her right and don’t keep her away from me too long. She’s like my own child.”
I can’t reply without shifting so I give him a nod and hope he takes that as my agreement to care for her. This man has kept Rose’s secret for over 19 years and as he’s telling it to me I swear I see his shoulders relax as the burden’s lifted and my shoulders sag when he places it on mine. He’s giving me the responsibility of telling Bloom about her Mom being a shifter. I guess I’ll just figure a way of throwing that in there when I shift and inform her I’m her mate. How hard could it be?
Hey, I’m a wolf shifter and you’re my mate. Oh and that mom that abandoned you when you were born, she’s a wolf shifter too. And she’s part of my pack. So you have shifter blood and you should be shifting into a wolf but for some reason you’re not. Ready to run away from your home and take your place as my mate?
Damn Billy! He should’ve told her about Rose long before now. He stands there and watches my inner turmoil at my new task and begins to chuckle, “Not an easy task you have pup.”
&nbs
p; I huff and that brings another chuckle rolling out of him. It’s nice to see that now that the burden’s off of him he can go back to being the light hearted uncle figure, but he better realize he’ll be helping me explain.
Chapter 14 – Bloom
~ King of Jerks ~
I wake up on Thursday with Pike’s cold nose on my neck. He seems to be watching me constantly. I woke up the night before to get a drink of water and there Pike was watching and waiting on me before my feet were even out of bed. It’s like he thinks if he’s not right beside me something will happen. He’s become protective that way, which’s surprisingly fine by me. I feel at ease when he’s with me. Some might say I’m craving company of any kind since Dad’s death, but I think I’ve had plenty of people around just none as comforting as Pike.
I give him a quick scratch behind the ears then roll out of bed. I rush through my morning routine with him by my side, so I can start getting the fishing supplies together. Today we’re going to the party at the lake with Bonnie.
After getting the poles and tackle box organized and packed into the truck, I start making a lunch for us. I toss slices of turkey to Pike as I put together the sandwiches and even cut up an apple to feed him. He won’t touch the dog food I bought him at the vet’s office, but he’s all too happy to eat whatever I’m eating.
We’re just finishing up a second apple when my cell phone starts to play the ringtone I have programmed for Bonnie. I dig it out of my pocket and hit the talk button, “Hi Bon! What time will you be here?”
“I’ll be there soon. I thought we’d hang out till it’s time to go.”
“I’d love to Bon. We’re just having lunch so I’ll make you a sandwich too.”
“Make me two I’m starved. See you in a few.”
“Okay, two it is. See ya and be careful,” I reply then end the call. I make Bonnie’s two sandwiches and cut her up an apple to go with them. By the time I have put everything away and wiped down the counters she’s pulling into the driveway and bouncing up the steps.
I hold the screen door open for her, “Your sandwiches are on the table. What do you want to drink?”
Slipping into the seat where I set her plate, “Got any sweet tea?”
“Do you even need to ask? Of course I do.”
“I figured as much. I’ll take a glass of that please,” She mumbles around a mouth full of apple.
I pour us both a glass and sit down in the seat across from her. “So who’ll be at this party tonight?”
She swallows her apple and then says, “Well most of the people from our graduating class and maybe a couple others. Why, is there someone in particular you’re hoping to see?”
“Oh no, nothing like what you’re thinking.”
“And what am I thinking Bloom Michael?”
“That I want to see one of those skeezy guys we graduated with because I have some long harbored crush that I’ve been keeping from you. Well you can get that out of that cute little head of yours Bonnie Anne Harris. I’d rather eat my own toenails then date one of those guys.”
“Your own toenails, really Bloom? They aren’t that bad. Trace is easy on the eyes and he seems to have taken a shine to you.”
Trace Clark, hearing his name makes my skin crawl. He comes across as one of the sweet country boys but he definitely isn’t. He’s hotheaded and arrogant. And he did not enjoy being turned down by me. We dated a few times but nothing came from it. It didn’t take me long to learn that Trace likes to collect women like Jay Leno collects cars. And I wasn’t interested in being his shiny new car. Last time I saw him was about 3 weeks before Dad died. I’d agreed to go to his friend’s party with him, but we never made it that far. He pulled over on one of the side roads and attempted to stick his tongue down my throat and his hand up my shirt. Luckily I had my handy little mace keychain and sprayed him right in the eyes before hopping out of his pick-up and walking home. I haven’t seen him since and I never thought to tell anyone what had happened. I was a little too embarrassed that I fell for his lies in the first place.
“Trace can find someone else to take a shine to because I’m not interested. Trust me Bon he’s the king of the jerks, you need to stay clear of him.”
“Okay, okay! It’s not me that he’s interested in anyways, it’s you. But I definitely wouldn’t choose my toenails over him.”
“Subject change!” I cry ready for a new topic.
“No fair! There’s something you’re not telling me Bloom Michael Daniels and I want to know what it is,” she says shaking her finger at me.
“Okay fine I’ll tell you but seriously you can’t tell anyone, especially not Billy or your Dad. They would freak out.”
“Promise! Now spill.” I relay the story of Trace trying to jump me in his truck and then wait for her response.
“That jerk off! Why didn’t you tell me before?” She asks and I can see the hurt and anger brewing behind her eyes. Of course she’s upset with me for keeping such a huge secret but I’m pretty sure the anger towards Trace was winning out. She may be sweet and bubbly most of the time but get on her bad side and she’ll rip you apart and not think twice about doing so.
“I would’ve Bon, but I was embarrassed that I fell for his lines.”
“You couldn’t have known Blu. I can see why you don’t want Dad and Billy to know though. They’d tear him limb from limb then leave his remains for the wild animals to dine on.”
“They’re just a little protective,” I say smiling at the thought of my two adopted father figures.
“That’s an understatement,” Bonnie laughs then becoming serious says, “We don’t have to go to the lake tonight. Trace will probably be there.”
“No we’re going Bon. I’m not letting him scare us away. You’ve been excited about it for days now. He wouldn’t dare try something with so many witnesses. Plus it’s been a year, he’s probably set his sights on someone else.”
“Are you sure? We could hang around here if it would be too uncomfortable,” she politely offers though I can see she’d rather be at the lake. Not that I blame her, I’ve started looking forward to it as well.
“No I want us to go. And if he does try something you can just take him down with your mad ninja skills.”
“Yes, I know I’m a ninja master. All five foot nothing of me could easily take down his over six foot frame. Easy peasy!” She tries to say in a menacing voice but can’t do so without laughing hysterically.
“For a shorty you can be pretty scary at times Bon,” I state trying to keep a straight face.
“Hey now don’t be doubting us shorties, we play dirty and take out the knees first.”
“I’d never doubt those scary knee breaking skills of yours.”
Throwing a slice of her apple at my head, “Oh hush! This subject is closed. I think it’s time you go pick out what you want to wear tonight so we can see if I approve.”
“Are you insinuating that I can’t dress myself?”
Looking me up and down, “Well Blu, if we’re judging on who wears country chic the best you’d win hands down, but I do believe it’s time we give the tank tops and jeans a break. Do you even own a skirt?”
“Does a jean skirt count?”
Massaging her temples to ease the imaginary headache I’m apparently causing, “No, Blu, it does not count. Now go into that room of yours and dig up something that isn’t made of denim.”
“You do realize we’re going to the lake not a fashion show, right?” I ask as I get up to comply with her order.
“There’s no time like the present to start dressing more like a girl than like a farm hand.”
Chapter 15 – Pike
~ Considering her weak is a little bit of an understatement ~
Bloom’s just left the room and I’m attempting to follow when her friend stops me in my tracks.
“Not so fast Alpha!” I turn to face her and watch as her normally soft expression hardens and her eyes narrow on me. “Daddy warned me the big bad w
olf was in town searching for his little red riding hood.”
I should’ve known Mr. Harris would warn Bonnie, but my mind’s been too preoccupied to even consider the possibility. I turn to face her knowing I might as well get this one sided talk over with now. She leans forward so her face is close enough for me to hear her whisper. When I finally do shift I’ll have to teach this girl about self preservation around wolf shifters. You’d think these people would realize it’s not safe to challenge an Alpha; I can rip this weak girl’s heart out before she could blink twice. Not that I will, of course, but geez a little respect would be nice.
“Yes, I know what you want with my best friend and exactly what you are. I also know how dangerous you are, but if you hurt my friend or let her be hurt in anyway, you will be held accountable by me and my .22. I can very easily make some silver bullets to shoot your hairy behind with, so watch your step, Wolf!”
Okay, maybe considering her weak is a little bit of an understatement. But it makes my heart happy to know my mate has friends like Bonnie. I lock eyes with her hoping my message will come across and give my silent promise to keep our Bloom safe with a nod of my head. The harshness in her face eases back to its normal soft features and she nods back.
Reviving Bloom (Bloom Daniels Series) Page 5