by Lola Gabriel
“That,” he said, sliding his hand out from under hers, “is not something I am ready to share with you.”
“I understand. The last thing I want is for you to tell me something that you’re not ready to,” she said. “There are things that I’m also not quite ready to talk about yet. Most of it involves Hunter and the Crescents, which was when my life turned into the raging shit-storm it was up until now.”
“Are you kidding? It still is,” he chuckled, and she joined in his laughter. Even Illa started to giggle. “She is so adorable, and she looks just like you, except for the hair, though. I think she got that from me,” he said with a wink.
“She had to get something from you, right?” Liya said with a smile.
“Exactly,” he said. “Alright, ladies, eat up. We have a lot to do today.”
“What do you mean?” she asked. “We’re just going to the house—”
“Yeah, but you need a few things if you’re going to stay here with Illa,” he said.
“Here? No, we can’t just move in here with you,” she said, crinkling her nose.
“Why not? There’s plenty of room. Plus, I know you two are safe here. I have a security system, cameras everywhere—”
“Everywhere?”
“Yes,” Wren said with a smirk.
“Do they record all the time?” Liya asked.
“Yes,” he answered again.
Liya smirked and shook her head. “You better delete that.”
“Don’t worry. I did, but it is permanently etched in my mind, and some other places,” he said as he looked her up and down.
“You shouldn't be talking about that with my daughter in the room,” Liya said under her breath.
“She’s too busy stuffing her little face with my breakfast,” Wren said dryly as Illa grabbed the piece of breakfast potatoes from Wren’s plate.
6
When Wren noticed the mess last night, it didn't seem too bad, but standing in Liya’s house the next morning, in broad daylight, it was even worse. Everything was thrown on the floor; the couches were overturned, pillows were on the floor. Books and papers were strewn around the room. Even the kitchen cabinets and the fridge were emptied. It was going to take the whole day to clean this up, and Wren definitely didn't want Liya to spend the entire day there. He had to do something, so he took his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number.
As it rang in his ear, Liya entered from the bathroom, holding Illa with a helpless expression on her face. When she saw he was on the phone, she gave him a questioning look, but he motioned to her to give him a minute.
“Hey, Wren.”
“Luca, hey. I need a favor.”
“Anything.”
“How soon can you get your cleaning crew ready?” Wren asked and looked at Liya.
“How soon do you need it?”
“Right away, if possible,” Wren answered.
“I’ll assemble and send them right over.”
“I’m not at home. Send them to Eagle Bend Drive. My car is out front,” Wren said and lowered his gaze. “Make sure they’re not being watched or followed.”
“We always do. Anything else?”
“If you could get Shea to come along, that would be great,” Wren said as he turned away.
“Are you sure about that?” Luca asked with concern.
“Yes. I am sure,” Wren said tightly.
“You know what happened the last time you were in the same room as she was.”
“I remember, but we’re both adults.”
“You were adults that time as well.”
Wren sighed and ran his free hand through his hair. “Could you please just do as I ask?” he growled.
Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Liya freeze and stared at him with wide eyes. He hadn't realized just how loud his growl was and he sighed again.
“Will do. I’m sorry for questioning you.”
“It’s fine, just get them here,” Wren grumbled and disconnected the call. He glanced up and looked at Liya, who still held Illa in her arms.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
“Yeah. Sorry about that growl.”
“It’s okay. Nothing I haven't heard before,” she shrugged. “You’re sending a cleaning crew here?”
“Yes. This place is going to take the whole day to clean and get back to the way it was,” he explained.
“It’s fine. I can just do it myself.”
“No, I insist,” he said and looked at her. “They’re already on their way.”
“What kind of cleaning crew shows up at your door five minutes after you call them?” she asked.
“The kind who knows that defying the Alpha’s orders can have dire consequences,” he said ominously.
“Wow, you’re really enjoying being bossy, aren't you?” she asked.
“I’m not being bossy,” he answered defensively.
“Then why the growl?”
“You ask a lot of questions,” he said and turned away.
“I’m allowed to, aren't I?”
“Sure, but it doesn't mean that I will answer all of them.”
“Has anyone ever told you how unbelievably stubborn you are?” she asked.
“Yeah, everyone,” he answered with a smirk. “Why?”
Liya shook her head and glanced at Illa, who seemed amused by the whole conversation. “Do you believe this guy, baby girl?”
Illa giggled and shook her head, which made both Liya and Wren chuckle.
“Look, I don't want you to be in this house anymore. That’s why I asked Luca to assemble the cleaning crew,” he explained. “Luca is my Delta, and he’s in charge of keeping everything ‘clean’.”
“And by ‘clean’, you mean more than just clean houses,” she said, arching an eyebrow.
Wren nodded and approached her slowly. “Luca knows his job and so does his team. They’ll have this place looking exactly the way it was. There will be no trace that you and Illa were ever here, and they even make your scent disappear from the area.”
“Really? They can do that?”
“Yeah. Well, Shea can.”
“Who’s Shea?” Liya asked.
“She’s...” Wren swallowed audibly and looked at Liya.
“What, is she your wife or something?” Liya joked.
“No, we used to go out, but it was a long time ago.”
“A wolf ex-girlfriend. Wow.”
Wren let out a deep breath. “Liya...”
“It’s fine. It’s not like we’re... I mean, you and I, we’re just...”
Wren raised his eyebrows and looked at her expectantly.
“It’s fine,” she fobbed him off and turned away.
“Fine,” he said with a nod.
Clearly she wasn't as fine as she said she was, but he wasn't going to make her admit it. He just hoped that Shea was in a better mood than the last time he saw her.
A knock on the front door made them both jump and before he could do anything, she handed Illa over to him and walked to the front door.
“Liya...”
“What?” she asked as she looked at him over her shoulder.
“Nothing,” he said and glanced at Illa, who started to tug at his hair again.
He heard Luca’s voice and within a few seconds, the crew of five people, including Shea, stepped inside the living room where he stood.
“Wren,” Shea said to him.
“Shea,” he said simply and noticed Liya looking at Shea in slight disapproval.
Women…
“What’s with the baby?” Shea asked.
“She’s mine,” Liya said defensively as she stepped forward and took Illa from Wren, “and her name is Illa.”
Shea put her hands up and glanced at Wren.
Oh shit…
“Okay, so we’re heading out,” Wren said briskly and glanced at Luca. “You’ve got everything covered, right?”
“Of course,” Luca nodded.
“Good. Call me when
you’re done,” Wren said and looked over at Liya. “Are you ready to go?”
“Sure,” Liya responded and she followed him as he left through the front door.
The drive back to his house was a bit awkward and uncomfortable, and as they stepped inside, he turned to her.
“Liya-”
“Shea is really pretty,” she said.
“I suppose,” he muttered.
Talking about Shea was the last thing he wanted to do, especially with Liya.
“How long were you together?” she asked as she quickly changed Illa’s diaper on the couch.
“A while, although some days it felt like a damn eternity,” he sighed.
Liya paused to look over at him with a look of confusion on her face.
“That was a joke.”
“Not a very good one,” she muttered.
“Okay, I’m not going to pretend that something is not up with you, so I expect you not to either,” he said as he turned to face her.
She zipped up Illa’s onesie and looked at him. “I don't know what you’re talking about.”
Wren watched as Illa slid off the couch and crawled across the floor. His gaze returned to Liya and he placed his hands on his hips. “I think you know.”
Liya eyes darted from Wren to Illa as she played with her hair.
“I don't know why you’re even acting the way you do. We’ve been over for a long time now, and I would rather saw off both my legs than even think of getting back together with her. We’re just not good together. She drove me crazy, and not in the way you do,” Wren said.
“I drive you crazy?” she asked.
“In a good way.”
Liya smiled briefly and nodded. “I’m sorry, I guess I was just a bit threatened by her, even though...”
“You don't have to be,” Wren assured her.
“I don’t have to be friends with her, do I?” Liya cringed.
“Oh, hell no. She’s not the type of person I would want you hanging around with. I mean, she’s a loyal member of the pack and she does an amazing job at removing scents and all that, but she’s just...” Wren thought for a moment and looked at Illa on the floor by his feet.
“She’s just what?”
Wren looked up and at Liya. “She’s just not you.”
Liya’s head arms dropped down to her sides. “You can’t say stuff like that.”
“I know, but I can’t help it,” he said and walked up to her. He took her hands and slipped his fingers in the spaces between hers.
“Wren, we can’t do this,” she murmured.
“I don’t understand how you can keep yourself as composed as you do,” he whispered in her ear.
“I’m glad you think I’m composed. I’m ready to burst,” she answered.
“I know the feeling,” he said, and she chuckled. “Can’t we just...”
“What?”
“Can I just kiss you right now?” he asked, ready to go down on his knees and beg.
Liya rubbed her lips together before parting them and nodded. “Go ahead.”
Relief washed over Wren as he pulled her close to him and kissed her. He could practically hear the fireworks in the background as he tasted her against his tongue. The heat of her touch set his skin on fire, and he had to force himself to simmer down. After all, Illa was still in the room.
Wren pulled away slowly and stepped back, his breathing just as ragged as hers. “I think that’s enough for now.”
“I think so, too,” she panted.
“We, um, should get going. I want to get a few things for the house,” he said, his eyes still on her.
“Sure,” she said with a nod as she took a few steps back. “I’ll be right back.”
As Wren lowered his gaze, he noticed the shift in his jeans and he awkwardly adjusted himself into a more comfortable position. Unfortunately for him, Liya walked into the room at that moment and a smirk appeared on her lips.
“I’m glad to see that I wasn't the only one who needed a minute,” she said as she looked up at him through her lashes.
It was after midnight, and Wren sat in the dark living area, staring out in front of him. The day had been rather fun, but he silently vowed that he would never go shopping with Liya ever again. She was indecisive and took forever to decide that she didn't want any of the things she tried on. At the end of the day, they came home with more things for Illa than for her, which she assured him was quite normal.
A smile formed on his lips as he continued to stare into the darkness. Since he had met Liya and Illa, his life had changed tremendously, and he could not imagine not having them in his life. Illa was such a little bundle of joy and energy and he already loved her with his entire being. He considered her to be his daughter, and no one could convince him otherwise. Liya was an amazing woman, and although he didn't really know much about her past or her family, he couldn't imagine himself with someone else, and was sure that whatever she told him about her or her family wouldn't have any impact on how he felt about her.
It wouldn't matter anyway. Mother Nature wouldn't have allowed him to imprint on someone with whom he was incompatible, or someone whom he himself would not approve of. Imprinting was much stronger than love. It was forever, longer lasting and stronger than any kind of true love could ever be.
The floorboards creaked behind him and he glanced over his shoulder. Liya, who was on her way to the kitchen, saw him sitting in the dark and turned to him.
“Hey,” she whispered as she approached him. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. I just couldn't sleep. It’s a normal thing for me. I’ve never been a good sleeper,” he said.
“I forgot how to be a good sleeper even before Illa was born. It’s hard to get comfortable when you’re pregnant,” she said. “Can I sit with you?”
“Sure,” he said and patted the empty spot beside him.
She smiled slightly and sat down on the soft couch. “Is there something on your mind?”
He eyed her and pouted slightly. “There’s always something on my mind.”
“If that’s another cheesy line, I’m going back to bed,” she threatened.
“No lines. Apparently, I’m better than that,” he said and propped his head up with his hand, his elbow resting on the armrest of the couch.
“Yes, you are,” she chuckled. “Besides, you already got the girl.”
“That is true,” he said and there was a brief moment of silence. “You asked me why I hated the Crescents and I didn't want to answer you. Do you want to know why?”
“Sure,” she answered simply.
“Because my hatred for them runs deeper than anyone can ever imagine,” he answered. “My family and I lived on a beautiful piece of land in Minnesota, and it was the most beautiful house I had ever known. Each of us had our own bedroom, and it was great,” he said with a nostalgic smile.
“How many siblings do you have?” she asked, curious to hear about his family, and relieved that he was finally opening up to her about his life before Bigfork.
“I have four brothers,” he answered and Liya’s eyes widened. “I’m the middle one.”
“Wow, that’s a lot of kids, and all boys too.”
“Yeah. Each of us got one of the five senses. Cole, the eldest, got taste, Kodiak got touch, which in my opinion, is the best one of them all.”
“Why is that?”
“He can feel emotions of anyone he chooses to, and he can intensify it, or numb it completely. He can even manipulate feelings and emotions,” Wren answered.
“Why would you want to do that?”
“It’s an amazing ability,” Wren contended.
“Maybe the part where he can take away someone’s pain, or increase someone’s happiness, but feeling what others are feeling can just be overwhelming.”
“I never thought of it that way,” Wren mumbled. “Anyway, I got smell; Scout got sight and River got hearing.”
“The five senses. That’s pretty awesome,” she sm
iled.
“Yeah.”
“Where are they now?” she asked. “I know you said you didn't know, but—”
“I don't know where they are. I’ve heard their howls in the distance on the nights where the wind blew in from the east and the north, and once I even thought I heard them coming from the south, but I’m not as good at hearing as River is.”
“What happened that kept you from staying in contact?”
“One night in the fifties, our house was set alight and it burnt to the ground, with our parents still inside. They never made it out,” Wren said and he paused, feeling the emotions bubble up inside him. His eyes filled with tears as he heard the screams that were permanently etched inside his mind and would probably stay there until the day he took his last breath.
Liya’s eyes widened and she stared at him silently before bringing her hand up to her face. “I am so sorry. I... I don't even know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Wren said and stared at his hands which rested on his lap.
“Do you know who would do such a horrible thing to your family?” she asked.
Wren nodded slowly and looked at her. “The Crescents.”
Liya nodded as well and said, “That doesn't surprise me. They’re heartless enough to do something like that.”
“It didn't surprise me either, but then it occurred to me that the Crescents do things for a reason,” Wren said, and Liya looked at him, startled.
“You think that they tried to kill your entire family for a reason?” Liya asked, and he nodded. “For what reason?”
“I was hoping you could tell me.”
Liya frowned at him. “I might have been a member for little over four years, Wren, but I hardly know things like that.”
“You must have heard something,” Wren said hopefully.
“No, I didn't. I tried to distance myself as much as possible from those people. They’re a bunch of savages that don’t give a damn about anyone but themselves,” Liya said. “The only way they would go through all that trouble is if someone in your family majorly pissed them off.”
Wren looked at her and his eyes widened slightly.
“Do you know if anyone was involved in something shady with them?” Liya asked.