“How are things going?” Betsy switched off the TV as soon as Kassia walked into the room.
“They’re going okay.” Kassia went to the closet and opened the doors. “If I help you to the bathroom, can you get changed and ready for bed, or do you need me to help you?”
Betsy edged toward the side of the bed. “I can manage if you just help me get there.”
Kassia hooked her arms under Betsy’s and helped her to stand before she reached for the crutches leaning against the wall. “Here. That’s it.” She made sure Betsy was steady on her feet before she let go.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get the hang of these,” Betsy grumbled as she made her way out of her bedroom and down the hall to the bathroom.
“You’re doing great. I can talk to Dr. Bradford tomorrow and ask if we can get you a wheelchair.” Kassia walked slowly behind Betsy with her hands held out in case her aunt lost her balance.
“If I could get up and down the stairs, you could push me around town,” Betsy brightened at that idea.
“I can help you downstairs, but I’m not sure about getting back up.” Kassia stopped as her aunt looked over her shoulder.
“Maybe we could ask Beck. I expect he could carry me up and down the stairs all day long. He’s very virile.”
“Aunt Betsy!” Kassia laughed along with her aunt.
“Have you seen the size of his biceps?” Betsy asked as she continued to the bathroom.
“I might have noticed,” Kassia admitted, relieved when they reached the bathroom and her aunt went inside and shut the door. “Don’t lock it,” she reminded Betsy.
“I won’t. Although, I’d be mortified if you had to come and pick me up off the bathroom floor if I fall off the toilet.” Betsy chuckled to herself and Kassia couldn’t help but smile at her aunt’s sense of humor.
“I’ll go and straighten your bed. Call me if you need me.”
Kassia made her way back down the hallway to her aunt’s room and stripped the bedspread off the bed before she straightened the sheet and plumped up the pillows. Tomorrow she would get Betsy to take a shower and replace the bedsheets with clean ones.
Hopefully, another day or two and the swelling in Betsy’s ankle would go down enough for Shawn to give Betsy permission to get herself up and down the stairs, with some help from Kassia. Unless she did ask Beck to carry Betsy.
Kassia lost herself in a daydream where Beck scooped her up in his arms and carried her off into the sunset. She certainly liked the idea of a plain and simple happy ever after with the broad-chested man. But after the tumultuous last couple of months, was it possible anything in life could be so simple?
“I’m ready,” Betsy called and Kassia quickly dragged the bedspread back over the bed and straightened it all neatly.
“Coming.” She left the bedroom and went to her aunt who was standing in the bathroom doorway. “I can probably manage on my own.”
“I’d rather be here with you. In case you fall.” Kassia inclined her head toward the bedroom. “Come on, I think your favorite show is about to start.”
“You know, I always thought it would be wonderful to have a few days’ rest, with nothing to do but binge-watch TV. What was I thinking!” She gave a short laugh. “I cannot wait to get back to the diner and see everyone.”
“And hear all their gossip?” Kassia joked.
“I am the hub of the town,” Betsy said proudly. “People like to come in and talk. Particularly those on their own like me.”
The last comment was aimed at Kassia, but she let it roll right off her back. “You deserve a medal for being such a big part of the community.”
“It’s not all about serving the best food, you know,” Betsy continued. “It’s all about making people feel welcome. Relaxed.” She reached out a hand and fell forward onto the bed. “I am feeling every ache in my bones tonight.”
“You’re not used to lying in bed.” Kassia helped her aunt carefully lift her feet onto the bed without banging her ankle. “Here are your pain meds.”
“Thanks, honey. You have been a godsend.” Betsy stared up at her niece and sighed. “Your mom would be so proud.”
“Would she?” Pain flickered across Kassia’s face. “I’m kind of glad she’s not here to witness the mess I made.” She put her hands to her cheeks as tears flowed down her face. “Then I feel terrible. I’d give anything for her to be here with us.”
“She would have understood what happened and she wouldn’t have judged you.” Betsy reached out and took Kassia’s hand. “She knows you were just looking for love. Maybe looking for someone to fill the void she left.”
Kassia sat down heavily on the side of the bed, her face pale as her tears dried. “I never thought of it like that.”
“She loved you more than anything in the world. As do I,” Betsy reminded her. “And to lose that sense of love would leave a void in anyone’s heart. If you had a husband or children, that might have helped seal the void, but you didn’t. You were open to love. And Travis used that. He used you. You did nothing wrong.”
“He saw how vulnerable I was and homed in on that.” Kassia could see it now.
“That sister of his was partly to blame, too,” Betsy said matter-of-factly.
“I know.” Kassia kissed her aunt’s forehead. “I should have come back here and talked to you about Mom passing. But I knew you were hurting too and didn’t want to put any more on you. So, instead, I poured my heart out to Travis’s sister.”
“You thought she was your friend. There’s no shame in having a trusting heart.” Betsy hugged Kassia. “Just know I’m always here for you. No matter what. We can cry together, we can laugh together.”
“Thanks, Auntie.” Kassia pulled away and pointed to the TV. “If you have everything you need, I’ll go downstairs. There is a man waiting in the kitchen for me.”
Betsy winked. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Kassia laughed. “I think I’ve already done that twice over or more.”
Chapter Nine – Beck
“I thought you’d forgotten about me.” Beck watched her as she walked into the kitchen, his gaze drawn to her like a moth to the flame. Yes, it was clichéd, but it summed up his attraction to Kassia completely. She was the bright light that would always draw him to her. A light from which he couldn’t escape.
Not that he’d ever want to. Why would he ever try to escape the very thing he’d been searching for all his shifter life?
“Yeah, it was you or Dr. Daniels on TV. I think the doctor might have a better bedside manner than you, but you win for being infinitely more available.” Kassia took a look around the spotless kitchen. “You cleaned.”
“I had a lot of nervous energy to get rid of,” Beck confessed, rising from his seat at the small kitchen table and going to his mate. “How do you know Dr. Daniels has a better bedside manner than me? You have no experience with my bedside manner. Or my bed manners.” He frowned. “Did that even make sense?”
She pushed her hand against his chest. “Simmer down there. I think finding out about your bed or bedside manners is further down the road.”
Beck watched the color creep across her cheeks and grinned sheepishly. “I was trying to make a joke and it went horribly. Humor is not my thing.”
“You’re jealous of Dr. Daniels, it’s understandable. He can heal a patient with just one of his smoldering looks.” Kassia gave a valiant attempt at smoldering. “Shall we just have coffee instead?”
“I thought we could go for a walk.” He raised an eyebrow in question. “Betsy should be okay for an hour or more if she’s watching Dr. Daniels in Doctors of Marylin Hospital.”
“Are you a secret fan?” Kassia asked in surprise.
“No, but my mom watches it religiously.” He held up his hands. “I swear I’ve never watched it with her.”
“You have, haven’t you?” Kassia asked. “My aunt is going to love you even more.”
“Even more? So that means she alrea
dy loves me?” Beck asked as he guided Kassia out of the kitchen and toward the front door.
“She likes you…let’s leave it at that.” Kassia put her hand on the stair rail and leaned forward. “Aunt, I’m going for a walk with Beck. Will you be okay?”
“Yes,” Betsy answered, as the sound of an ambulance siren filtered down the stairs from the TV.
“Do you have your phone?” Kassia asked.
“Yes, now go, Dr. Daniels is about to give the kiss of life.” Betsy turned up the volume and Kassia rolled her eyes at Beck.
“Let’s go.” Beck reached the door and waited while Kassia put on a warm winter coat and then pulled on her thick, fur-lined snow boots.
It is cold outside, his bear said. Maybe this isn’t a good idea.
Are you shy all of a sudden? Beck asked his bear.
No, I’m just worried it’s too soon and Kassia will freak out when she sees me, his bear admitted.
And I’m scared if we don’t show her what we are, she won’t believe why we’re so committed to this relationship. I don’t want her to think we’re like Travis. Beck chewed the inside of his cheek, hoping he was right. If he’d misjudged the situation, if he’d misjudged Kassia, this could all go horribly wrong.
His mate wasn’t the only one who had to deal with repercussions of the past. As much as Kassia had misjudged her relationship with Travis, Beck had made his own errors of judgment.
“It’s cold out here.” Kassia pulled the collar of her coat higher as she shivered. “I always forget how much colder it is near the mountains.”
“The breeze comes straight down the sides of the mountains carrying the cold air with it.” Beck lifted his head and inhaled the cool, sharp air. “Nothing better for making you feel alive.”
“Oh, I can think of a few things,” Kassia said. “Like hot coffee and a warm fire.”
“We could go back inside.” Beck half-turned back toward Betsy’s house. Perhaps his bear was right, and this was a terrible idea.
“No.” She shook her head. “I want to know whatever it is you have to tell me or show me. What this other side of you actually is.” She jerked her head back. “As long as you aren’t an axe murderer or something.”
“I have an axe, a very sharp axe, but I only use it for cutting down trees.” He inclined his head toward the street. “Come on. We both need to get this over with.”
“You’re not exactly selling this to me,” she replied. “If this is something good, something I’ll want to see, then you should sound a little more enthusiastic.”
“I’m worried you might not like what I have to show you.” He offered her his hand as she slipped on the ice that covered the sidewalk. As the snow melted in the day and froze again at night, the sidewalk became treacherous.
“Is it that bad?” Kassia asked as they crossed the street and Beck led her through a maze of back streets heading toward the nearest trail that led into the mountains. They needed privacy if he was going to shift in front of her.
We could have gone out into Betsy’s backyard, his bear suggested. Kassia would have felt safer there.
And what if she screams? Beck asked. Betsy would be out of bed like a shot and possibly fall down the stairs and really break her ankle. No, this way is better.
“It’s not bad,” Beck assured Kassia. “It’s just different. Like nothing you’ve ever seen before.”
“Do you have two heads?” she asked lightly, although her teeth chattered either with the cold or with nerves.
“In a way.” He looked over his shoulder. “You were expecting me to say no.”
“Of course I was.” She frowned. “Now you have me intrigued. Especially since you told me you had to tell me the truth and wouldn’t ever lie to me.”
“I did, didn’t I?” He grinned as he witnessed her confusion. “All I ask is that you keep an open mind.”
“An open mind.” She nodded. “I suppose I can do that.”
“We’ll cut across the park and then take the trail along the lower slopes heading toward the mountains. We should be able to find a quiet secluded spot there.” He turned as Kassia’s pace slowed.
“We’re going into the mountains?” she asked in surprise. Turning to look back the way they’d come, she stopped walking. “What about Betsy?”
“We won’t be much longer.” He retraced his steps and stood in front of her. “I promise you what I have to show you is not bad and I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Well, you would say that, wouldn’t you?” she asked.
“Will you trust me, just a little bit more?” He looked into her eyes, wanting her to see his honesty. “Just take a leap of faith and believe in fate.”
Kassia shook her head. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. After what happened with Travis, I should know better. I should turn around and run back to the house.”
“But you aren’t going to, are you?” Beck asked. He took hold of her hand and placed it over his heart. “Because you know my heart beats for you. You know we’re meant to be together and you are willing to take a chance on me even though your head is telling you not to trust any man again.”
“That sums it up completely.” She entwined her fingers in his. “I guess if you are an axe murderer, I won’t live long enough to regret it.”
“I intend for you to live a very long life.” Beck couldn’t bear to think of Kassia not being in his life now that he’d found her.
“Good to know.” She kept pace with him as they reached the start of the trail, not hesitating as their feet trod on the small stones that shifted beneath their feet. “Although, if we stay out in this cold for too long, it’ll finish me off.”
“You’re that cold?” Beck asked in surprise.
“You’re not?” Her eyes widened as he shook his head. “It’s freezing.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. “Better?”
She nestled into him and the blood in his veins pumped through his body faster, hotter and with such intensity, he thought he might explode. “Much, you’re like a furnace.”
“I’m hot-blooded, what can I say?” Beck tightened his hold on her as she stumbled along the trail.
“Do you have night vision, too?” Kassia asked as she reached out and grabbed hold of the sleeve of his jacket.
“Kind of.” He inhaled deeply, summoning the courage to share his other side with Kassia. “I have a sixth sense.”
“The same sixth sense that tells you that we are meant to be together?” Kassia asked quietly.
“That’s a small part of what I am.” Beck pushed his senses out further. He wanted to make sure they were completely alone before he shifted and showed her his bear.
“Listen.” She broke away from him and took a couple of steps backward, putting some distance between them. “If you’re about to tell me you’re a vampire or something…”
He chuckled softly. “I’m not a vampire.”
“Good.” She still looked uncertain.
“But I am something…different.” He held out his hands almost apologetically.
“No.” Her face crumpled, and she shook her head. “I really thought you were different. Not something different, but just different. A good honest guy I could trust.”
“I am,” Beck insisted. “And part of the reason for that is because I’m a shifter.” There, he’d said it.
“A shifter?” She looked as if she were about to turn around and run back into town. “You mean like a werewolf?” Kassia rolled her eyes.
“I know it’s not easy to believe, which is why I brought you here. I wanted to show you since I figured that was the only way to make you believe me.” He held up his hands. “Will you just trust me? Please.”
Kassia looked around. “You’re just going to shift into a wolf? Right here?”
“A bear actually.” He shrugged. “Bear Creek is predominantly bears. Wolf Valley is where the wolves come from.”
“Of course it is. Silly me.” Her jaw t
ightened. “Go on then.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever shifted under such pressure.” Beck tried to lighten the mood even though Kassia looked as if she might turn into an axe murderer herself and he would be her first victim.
“Then don’t do it and let’s just go back to town,” Kassia suggested.
“Kassia. It’s fine. Honestly.” Beck poured all his emotion into his words, wanting her to understand he wasn’t going to hurt her and was being honest with her. “Just give me five minutes of your time.”
“Five.” She helped up her gloved hand with her fingers splayed. “Then you’re going to take me back to Betsy’s house.”
“Deal.” Beck nodded, hating to see his mate scared. Especially since her fear was directed toward him. The one person in this world she should be able to trust above all others. The one person who was supposed to protect her from danger.
Right now, to Kassia, he was the danger. He was the thing that could hurt her.
And you haven’t even shifted yet, his bear told him.
Without another word, Beck let go of the world. The world where his mate stood looking at him as if he were a lying crazy man. What she would think when he vanished from the world and was replaced by his bear, he didn’t dare contemplate.
Hex had gotten lucky. His mate was a shifter and knew exactly what was happening between them. He’d had no need for explanations. No fear his mate might panic and run when she found out the truth.
Hex also had to live with that damn stupid dream, his bear reminded Beck. It must have been terribly hard to watch your mate die over and over again and to experience the water filling your lungs as she drowned.
Okay, so you’re saying we got the easy option. Beck asked.
We don’t know. Not yet. Then his bear was there, standing in front of their mate, his dark, soulful eyes fixed on Kassia, whose face was as white a fresh fallen snow.
“What happened?” Kassia looked around as if expecting someone to jump out and tell her the whole thing was a joke. But it wasn’t, there was nothing funny about shifting in front of their mate.
Beck (Winter - Shifter Seasons Book 2) Page 7