Bearly Consenting: Russet Falls Series (22 page)

She was still shaking, but she hurried back inside and found
the trashcan that Drew had mentioned. Without wasting any time, she made her
way back to his office just as he was coming down the steps and sealing the
door.

It had been less than two minutes, but it felt like an
eternity.

Drew was dressed in another pair of worn jeans, and a very
similar t-shirt.

Avery guessed he had done that on purpose.

Taking a deep breath, he reached out and took her hand.

“Let’s go downstairs.”

She followed him out of the office, through the lobby and
into the elevator.

Neither of them spoke and Avery was sick at the thought of
what they might encounter outside.

She could see that Drew was visibly shaken too as they
exited the elevator, and they made their way out onto the street.

Nothing.

Avery looked around, confused.

There were no crowds, no ambulances, and no people
surrounding a body.

There was nothing.

No body.

She looked up and down the street, perplexed.

“But—but she fell! I saw her!” She buried her head in her
hands. “It was terrible, Drew! I watched her! I saw her hit the ground.”

Drew frowned anxiously. “Are you sure?”

“Yes!”

“You’re certain that you saw her hit the ground?”

“Yes, I’m sure.” She looked over at Drew. “What is going
on?” she asked in a low voice. “I need answers.” Avery felt like she was going
crazy and besides seeming worried that there was no body for Seraphina, Drew
seemed remarkably calm.

Drew looked up and down the street again, not answering her.

“We need to get out of here.”

“What is going on? Dammit Drew! You owe me an explanation.”

He turned and finally looked at her.

“You’re right. I do owe you one. And I promise to give you
the fullone. But right now, I think we need to get out of here. I’m not even
sure if we’re safe.” He grabbed her hand, and literally yanked her down the
street and back to the parking garage.

As they entered the dimly lit garage, Avery’s phone rang.
“It’s my mother,” she said confused, answering the button. “Hello?”

“Avery! Did you get home okay? You never called me.”

It felt like a lifetime ago when Avery had left her mother
to follow Drew. And it was ridiculously late now—what was her mother doing
awake?

“Yes, Mom, I did. Sorry I didn’t call you. But what are you
doing up so late? It’s nearly two in the morning.”

“I know. I know.” There was something wrong. Avery could
hear the worry in her mom’s voice.

“Mom. What is it?”

“I don’t want to worry you, but something is going on here.”

“What do you mean?” she asked sharply, freezing.

“It’s Seraphina,” her mom literally whispered. “The tribe is
going crazy right now, especially Ryker.”

“Mom! What is going on?” Avery demanded.

“She’s dead,” her mother gasped. “We aren’t sure how or
what. But somehow—she just dropped dead. Ryker found her, I think, in their
house. He’s on a rampage.”

Avery nearly fell to her knees. She put her hand over the
phone and whispered to Drew “Seraphina is dead. Her body is on the clan lands.”

Drew’s eyes widened.

“Look, Avery. I don’t know what’s going on here. And I don’t
know what’s going on with you and Drew, but you guys should stay away from the
tribe, okay?  It’s not good here.”

“Mom, are you okay? What’s happening?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Really. But things are a mess, just—stay in
Portland. I’ll call you tomorrow when I learn more.”

“Okay, Mom. I love you.”

“Love you too, honey.” And then she was gone.

Avery looked over at Drew.

“She’s dead.” Her tone was flat. “Somehow she wound up in
Russet Falls, and she’s dead.”

Drew took her hands and a huge grin spread across his face
and then he began laughing. “That’s amazing,” he cried, pulling Avery to him.
“Amazing!”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Eight Weeks Later

Avery hurried down the hall to Drew’s office, bursting in
breathlessly.

“Okay! Time is up! You’ve been working long enough.”

He spun around on his chair, grinning at her, his eyes
bright and his skin tanned from their time outdoors.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Yes! I kindly gave you an extra hour!” She crossed her arms
and pouted. “The pool is awaiting.”

Drew looked her up and down, and she felt slightly
self-conscious. She was wearing a nautical-striped bikini with delicate gold
accents. It was more than she ever would have spent on a bathing suit, but she
occasionally allowed Drew to buy her something expensive.

And he reminded her time and time again, that he wanted to
share everything with her.

“You look delectable,” he murmured.

“Focus,” she teased, and he snapped his head up playfully.

“Right! Swimming.” He glanced at his watch. “So, you talked
to Jennifer already?”

Avery rolled her eyes. “Yes! We had nearly an hour long
conversation!”

She had been flattered, and incredibly anxious when Jennifer
had asked for her help with one of her children’s charities, but working with
Jennifer over the past month had been one of the best decisions she had ever
made.

“I really did lose track of time,” Drew said, standing up
and walking slowly towards Avery.

The dark and hungry look in his eyes sent her hormones into
overdrive, and her body exploded with heat as she felt herself turn on for him.

Drew knew her too well, and he licked his lips, putting his
hands at her hips and pulling her to him.

“We might not make it to the pool,” he said in a husky
voice, kissing her softly on the lips.

Avery moaned, kissing him back harder and he chuckled,
pulling away.

He loved teasing her.

“Come on,” he laughed, smacking her bottom, “The pool!”

Avery laughed and they headed out to the pool together.
Avery had bugged him all day to lounge around outside with her. He had been working
overtime in preparation for their upcoming trip to Europe.

Europe.

Avery couldn’t even believe it herself.

At first she balked when Drew suggested going away with her
for three weeks. They had been through so much at the start of summer. The
death of Seraphina had been terrifying and disturbing, but slowly, bit-by-bit,
Drew began explaining the hold she had on him and how she had dictated and
controlled everything about his life.

Avery finally understood why Drew had walked away from her
seven years ago, and her heart ached for the innocent boy who had made a deal
with the devil to try to create a better life for the two of them.

She had listened to Drew carefully and patiently, holding
his hand and showing him love. She didn’t hold anything against him, and
couldn’t blame him. She could see the toll that it had taken on his life. And
though he didn’t explain in great detail of the things Seraphina had made him
do, she gathered enough to get a good idea.

But slowly, Drew began to heal, and for the first time,
Avery felt like she was really and truly growing close to him. She understood
him now- his guard was down and she finally understood the invisible barrier
that had been between them.

And she had given in to Europe.

Honestly, it hadn’t taken that much arm-twisting.

A week in Paris and London, a few days in Ireland, and then
a week and a half in Italy - she could barley contain her excitement!

When Drew had mentioned that he wanted to take a trip with
her in the summer, she wasn’t sure if he was truly serious. But here they were,
about to embark on a three-week European adventure.

She sighed, stretching out on the massive rubber float in
the pool. After their trip, she would only have a few days before she would
have to return to work. Having the summers off was wonderful, but going back
was always so hard.

She looked over at Drew who smiled at her as he dove under
the surface, coming back up seconds later, shaking his hair out –something that
reminded her of his bear side.

He had been begging her to move in with him, but she just
wasn’t ready for that quite yet. Even though she had practically spent most of
the summer at his house, but she was worried about what the school year held.

And she was worried about things moving too fast.

She knew deep down that she and Drew were meant to be and
that it was only a matter of time before she moved in.

But in the meantime, she was going to enjoy each day as it
came.

The future could wait.

All that mattered right now was she and Drew.

Half naked in the pool.

And as if reading her mind, Drew swam up next to her,
growling softly in her ear and pulling her off the float into the water.

She shrieked with surprised, and sighed happily as he pulled
her in for a kiss.

This was exactly where they were meant to be and they had a
lifetime stretched out before them.

THE END