Silverbow

by Shannon Simmons

  “Where have you been,” he chattered out.

  “Murphy took me away. He said I would have hurt you worse had I stayed,” I answered him with the guilt of a thousand men. “Greyden, I am so sorry. I will do whatever you want me to! I will get you through this and then if you never speak to me again, I will understand!”

  “Just get me though this,” he said and then began to dry heave. “Fuck! I feel like I am dying, Dakota,” he cried. I placed a hand on his forehead and nodded, knowing his pain. I wanted to cry and scream with him. I not only knew his physical pain but also the pain of knowing someone he cared for so deeply did this him and then took off. I knew he was falling apart inside wanting to know what to expect next, wanting to know if he would survive and wanting to know how he could have ever loved such a heartless monster.

  “Let me help you upstairs,” I whispered.

  It took us a long time to make our way up the steps. Any movement set his body on fire with pain and once I got him in bed, I cleaned his wound. The bite was gnarly and I prayed that he make it over the hump soon so he would start to heal. I spent the afternoon cleaning the house and checking on him every hour. He finally fell asleep and I found a spare moment to call Hines.

  “Hines, I need your help,” I spoke to his voicemail. “I bit Greyden in a fight last night. He is changing. Please, call me back.” I hung up and topped off my coffee cup in the kitchen. Still feeling uneasy about not knowing what to do for Greyden; I suddenly thought of my mother. I had been told that she was the one that changed my father. However, they were not bound. Which only meant she had to have bit him; maybe she knew what to do. I found myself searching my call list for her number. Without hesitation, I called her.

  “Dakota?” She answered before the second ring.

  “I need your help,” I shamefully spoke.

  “What’s wrong, baby girl,” she asked as worry hushed her tone.

  “I bit Greyden. He is changing and in so much pain. What do I do? Did you help, Pops,” I begged for assistance.

  “Oh, dear. Take a deep breath. There is little you can do for the pain. All painkillers are worthless. Our metabolisms burn them off too quickly for us to benefit from them. Keep him warm. He has to battle through the cold first and then he will be on the up side of it. It takes a little longer to set in than a Binding bite. His Were blood is replacing his human blood. He is going to feel sucked dry before he is strong again. How long ago did it happen, Dakota?”

  “Last night,” I replied.

  “You will have another day or two. He should be on the mend by the time I arrive. I can help you more then. Your father took only two days to change. I bit him when he tried to keep me from leaving once. The Bind can really fuck you up at times,” she admitted. “We will hunt with him when I arrive. You will both make it through this. My guess is you are worried about what he will think of you after all of this. If he is anything like your father, you two will be okay, baby girl,” she said in an effort to set my mind at ease. It seemed she could read people pretty good too. Greyden was a lot like my father.

  “Thank you, Viv,” I exhaled into the phone. “I will see you soon.” I hung up the phone suddenly thankful that all the death wishes I had sworn on her throughout my adult life had never come true. Maybe there was hope for us yet. I wouldn’t get my hopes up.

  * * * * *

  Hines’s Jeep pulled into my driveway the next evening. He climbed out, fully recovered, and joined me on my front porch swing.

  “How’s he doing? Do you need me to go take a look at him,” Hines asked as the chains of the swing groaned above us.

  “Last night was horrible. I think he is on the other side now though. His arm is healing.” My tired eyes fell to my feet.

  “That’s good. He should be good to go by morning,” he chimed.

  “Yeah, good to go,” I echoed with sadness.

  “Has he said much,” he asked as he took note of my mood.

  “Yep. Every four letter word. Every horrible name; I even learned a few new ones. He has been pretty quiet since this afternoon though.”

  “That’s because it doesn’t hurt anymore. Now his mind is unwinding. Good news, he knows what’s going on. Unlike you did. He shouldn’t be as freaked out and aggressive.” I was glad I had Hines.

  “How are you doing? Behaving,” I asked and looked up at him with a suspicious brow.

  “Scouts Honor,” he pledged and nodded. I hoped he meant it and had not been back out to hunt the highways. He had been hurt pretty bad so I was sure he hadn’t. “Thank you, Dakota. Thank you for dealing with Murphy to spare me. Anytime you need anything, I am here.”

  “Good,” I replied and turned to look at the front door when I heard the springs of the screen door groan.

  “Greyden, how’s it going, man,” Hines called out as Greyden slipped outside. Greyden nodded without facing us. He stared out past the front yard and into the distance. I watched as he closed his eyes and sniffed the air. “Well, I will get going if I am not needed for the time being. You know my number,” Hines said as he stood. He patted Greyden’s arm as he moved past him and back to his Jeep. Greyden silently watched Hines drive away and then took a seat on the front steps.

  His white t-shirt was snug across his wide shoulders. His blonde hair was wet from his shower and tucked behind his ears. He had taken the time to clean up his short dark blonde facial hair and look strikingly handsome. With the change his features seemed stronger and more chiseled. I took a deep breath and left my swing. My boots quietly scuffed the old boards of the porch and stopped next to him. He slid over to make room for me next to him on the top step; a place we had sat many times together in our lifetime.

  “Are you going to be okay,” I asked looking out into the desert ahead of us. His strong hand reached out and took mine; resting it on his knee with his fingers entwined in mine.

  “Yes, I’ll be fine,” rolled his baritone voice, smooth as ever. “Are we going to be okay,” he asked in return.

  “Shouldn’t I be asking you that,” I replied in surprise. I turned to him and was met by his new dark glowing blue sapphire eyes. They were not piercing bright blue like Hines’s eyes, but like a light in the depths of the deep blue sea. I found myself holding my breath as I locked onto his gaze.

  “I’m not upset with you. I shouldn’t have put my hands on you in the first place. It’s my own fault,” he said putting some of my worries to rest but none of my guilt.

  “I didn’t mean to start a fight. So you aren’t in for any more surprises; Viv will be here tomorrow,” I informed him. He arched a brow and I sighed. I quickly told him about Murphy’s identity, Hines’s ordeal and my plan to pin all the murders on Darius and his pack. Greyden huffed, little angry that I had dug so many holes around me. He was sure I was going to fall into one.

  “I called her again after I found you here at the house. I asked her for advice. She went through the same thing with my father,” I told him and he squeezed my hand. “I was actually thankful to talk to her,” I admitted. He nodded and arched his back as he let go of me and lifted his arms over his head to stretch.

  “We will work it all out. Just promise to include me. No more holding anything back from me. I don’t care about how much you worry about my safety. I promise I worry about yours more. I have a little time I can take off from the fence line and I know Laney won’t rush me back to the bar. I want to help get Darius.”

  I nodded and watched him climb to his feet. He looked delicious in what little light the setting sun had to offer. He stepped into the yard and reached out for me. I stood and joined him.

  “Run with me,” he requested. I smiled; sure that Laney had well educated him over time. I nodded and he slowly reached out to unbutton the purple flannel I had on. I watched his strong hands tenderly undress me down to my sports bra and boy shorts. He then removed his boots and clothes and we darted off into the early night.

  It took him a little while to open up and adjust. We didn’t
stay too close to one another as we let our beasts run free once he got a hang of it. Feeding on wildlife throughout the night sated our appetites. Keeping away from the highways, the only people we came across were at a distance near the Pit. Remaining out of sight we still managed to survey the area. I wondered if Darius would come here looking for new pack members. These ruthless men had no souls. Death and corruption was the only joy in their lives. I figured them to be perfect material for Darius’s world. The Pit showed no signs of Darius tonight so I let it go.

  It was close to 2 am when we finally dressed in the front yard and headed back into the house. As I stepped into the quiet house with the heat of Greyden at my back, I thought of Murphy. The heat between Greyden and I was far more subtle than anything Murphy and I had ever shared but I still found comfort in it. With his hand on the small of my back, he excused himself and stepped around me towards the steps. I watching him jog up the stairs and down the hall towards the bathroom. As I listened to the shower turn on I began to miss the days of him carrying me up there with him. I knew he was respecting my situation with Murphy and trying not to make it more complicated for me. Reminding me that he was such a good man who truly cared for me made me want to be in his arms. I managed to keep my emotions and hormones in check and made my rounds in the house. Once I was satisfied that everything was clean and in order for Viv’s arrival, I marched up stairs and washed off the night’s run.

  CHAPTER 24

  The sound of a car door shutting woke me the next day. It was 11:00 am and I cussed myself for not getting up before then. The run had worn me out. I pulled on a black robe and tied it at my hip as I shuffled down the stairs. Viv’s coral lips turned up in a friendly smile when I pulled the door open. Her warmth and scent whispered in with her as she stepped into the kitchen and dropped her purse and keys on the table. Turning to me, unsure about what to do with her hands, I almost thought she wanted to hug me. Giving up the urge, she tucked her hands into the pockets of her denim jacket and just smiled.

  “If you would excuse me for a second, I need to get dressed. I didn’t mean to sleep so late,” I said closing the front door. Viv nodded and took a seat. I quickly pulled on a pair of jeans and a red long sleeved shop shirt. After brushing my teeth and pulling my hair up, I joined her in the kitchen. She had found everything needed to get a pot of coffee started and pulled two coffee cups down from the cabinet without having to look around for them. I hadn’t changed the place around since Pops had passed away so I figured everything was where she had left it. She looked like a natural in my home. This house had once been their home.

  “Hope you don’t mind,” she said regarding the coffee and she sat with me. I shook my head and turned to look out the window. I could see her Toyota truck parked behind me.

  “Greyden, pulled through alright. Thanks for talking to me the other night.”

  “You are most welcome. Looks like we have more in common than I thought,” she replied and shifted in her seat.

  “May I ask you something personal,” I requested and she nodded without hesitation. “What’s it like? Being bound to someone and loving someone else too?” She looked a little uneasy at first and then she leaned back in her chair and let her hands rest in her lap.

  “At first, it’s not as hard as you may think. I had been bound to Darius for about five years before I met your father. Darius treats me good and bad. I knew I could flee; at least for a little while. I needed the break. We were in a bad spell when your charming father walked into the picture. I didn’t tell your father about my Binding. He charmed me off my feet and I truly cared for the man. Then something happened and I felt a connection with your father. It was as if I had iron shackles keeping me to Darius but a warm comforting hold pulling me to Marshall. It almost made my bind to Darius a little more bearable; though it was so dangerous. Little did I know, you were that pull. I was pregnant very soon after meeting him. I came out here and tried to stay. My ache to be back with Darius kicked in eventually and it caused me to be horrible to Marshall. I regret those days. It was our first fight that I bit him. He knew I was pregnant and trying to go back to Reno. He wasn’t going to willingly let me leave while carrying his child.

  I helped him through the change. He had expected to be bound to me, I think. When it didn’t happen he began to add things up and realized I was already bound and that’s why I couldn’t stay. He tried to be so good to me so I would stay longer. I really did love him so. I tried. Darius caught wind of where I was and I couldn’t let him find me pregnant. So I went to a friend’s place and stayed until you were born. By then, I needed Darius like a dying addict needs one last fix. I felt like I was slipping into shock without him. It hurt so badly. I brought you here to your father and I ran as fast as I could back to Darius. I felt as if my life depended on it. Sadly, you will understand that one day.” She stood and filled our coffee cups.

  “What happened after, Pops died,” I asked. She returned to her seat and sighed.

  “When I got back to Darius he could feel that our connection was weaker. I was more defiant and distracted. I called your father daily and met up with him as many times as I could get away with. I saw you a few times when you were still a baby but after a while we figured you would be best off without me in the picture at all. He still sent me pictures,” she smiled as tears threatened her jade eyes. “Darius finally figured me and Marshall out. It took him over twenty years; he’s not too bright,” she said rolling her eyes. “That’s when he sent out the cavalry. He assumed that with Marshall dead, he would fully have me back. When your father died, I didn’t feel a change and neither did Darius. He spotted you and knew right away,” she nearly whispered. “You are the divider between him and me. It wasn’t your father.”

  “That’s why I am his new target,” I said and pushed my coffee away.

  “You can love all the men you want in your life but you will always belong to Murphy. That is, until you form another bond…with child. You will still be Murphy’s but you will be shared with your child. It hurts the mate most when it’s not their child. It messes up the circle. The child between you two should make you both stronger, binding you by blood. But you aren’t Darius’s. So it only weakened us.”

  Everything was finally falling into place. I saw things a little clearer and felt myself open up to her a little more. Maybe she wasn’t as horrible as I had once thought she was. I leaned over and wrapped my arms around her. She tensed and then gave into the embrace. Her warmth blanketed me and eased all my nerves. Tears fell from my eyes and she moved to wipe them away.

  “I’m sorry I left. I’m sorry I can’t promise I will always be here now but I do promise to keep and open line between us. You call, I’ll come. Our connections would have been unbreakable had your father been my bound mate. All I can do is be there for you as much as you will let me from here on out,” she offered. I would take it.

  “I’m glad you came,” I said as I sat back in my seat and grabbed a napkin to wipe my face. “However, we still have a problem,” I said snapping us out of our happy reunion. “Your mate wants me dead.”

  “I don’t know what to tell you,” she said and dropped her eyes to her lap.

  “You once told me to just go along with him and not fight him.” As I spoke, I sadly came to realize that she wasn’t all that good either. “Were you just going to let him kill me,” I asked, wishing I had realized this before forgiving her.

  “I didn’t know what he…no…I,” she stumbled. I pushed my chair back and stood.

  “Which bond ranks higher, Viv? In all these fucked up new rules of my life; which bond ranks higher, Viv,” I asked as I glared down at her. She remained silent. “We only have one bound mate for life, right? But you could always have more children,” I answered my own question. “I’m just a loose wire to you. You don’t know me. You may have loved the idea of having a child but you didn’t love me.”

  “I didn’t get the chance, Dakota,” she finally spoke up. “I didn’t
know any better. I didn’t know the effects it would have on the bind. I just hoped that you and your father would be okay and in some way Darius and I would make it. I was a fool.”

  “What now?” I walked to the sink and poured my coffee down the drain along with any compassion I had for her. I was just a weak link in her chain. Did she still want to spare me or was she looking to regain all her strength with Darius. She could not be trusted. I turned on heel to confirm that thought. She flipped a cell phone closed and tucked it back in her purse.

  “I’m so sorry, Dakota.” Her voice was trembling and tears stained her cheeks. Standing, she took her purse under her arm and grabbed her keys.

  “Did you make a call to him? Did you send a message,” I asked as I felt the ice set back into my heart. I moved to the doorway to block her path out. Anger burned like acid in my throat. She dropped her gaze, refusing to meet my gaze. “You are just his little puppet whore. You are going to let him kill your own flesh and blood so he can have an even tighter grip on you. You sicken me,” I spat and her eyes narrowed.