Territory (14 page)

“What’s wrong with you?” Kya shook her head in disgust before her expression quickly shifted to one of fear as Briggs strode across the room and grabbed her roughly by the arms.

“A hunger strike is
not
an option. You will eat!”

Kya tried to pull away from him, but he held firm.

“Briggs! You’re hurting me.” Kya dropped a hand to her stomach as her soft features contorted in pain.

Briggs instantly loosened his grip, his angry expression dissipating as concern creased his brow. “I-I’m sorry.” He bent and scooped Kya up as he studied her face, “Are you alright? Is it your wound?”

Kya bit her lip as he carried her to the bed and sat down with her on his lap, her petite frame nestled in his strong arms. “Kya, I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

Kya looked up and was shocked to see Briggs honey colored eyes glistening with his regret. “I would die before ever intentionally hurting you.”

Kya took a deep settling breath and whispered, “Its okay, I’m fine.” Staring up at Briggs in such close proximity, Kya inhaled and regretted it instantly as his scent struck her, sending a warm sensation to the pit of her stomach that had her nerves and muscles tensing.

Briggs eyes traveled down her face to rest on her mouth. The constant gnawing on her bottom lip left it pink, swollen, and inviting. Briggs eyes traveled back up to Kya’s and she inhaled sharply as she watched his eyes darken from their usual warm honey to a near black. He lifted a hand to her throat, holding her in place as his mouth came down and claimed hers.

Oh God!
He even tasted like honey, warm and sweet. His scent was intoxicating and for the first time in her life, Kya actually wanted to belong to someone.

She responded to his kiss, lifting her arms to curl her hands into tight fists in the front of his shirt as she melted into him. Her reaction brought a low rumble of approval from his chest as he pulled her tighter to him. Kya moaned softly and Briggs pulled away, his breathing heavy as he looked anywhere but at her.

“We can’t do this.”

Kya pulled back from him and dropped her eyes, “Why not?”

Briggs stood and gently placed her on the bed as he wordlessly crossed to the bathroom and disappeared through the door, returning moments later with a towel. He bent and started cleaning the mess he’d made.

Kya watched him, swallowing the dejection that had lodged itself in her throat. She’d had enough of the games. She needed answers. “Do you hate me because you didn’t get to choose, or because you’d have chosen differently?”

Briggs didn’t answer. The sound of broken glass clinked more loudly as he worked faster. Silence hung between them, threatening to suffocate Kya before Briggs stood and spoke.

Kya looked back and bit her bottom lip before speaking.
Honest. For Christ sake, just be honest with him.
Kya took a deep breath and looked up at him. “If I had been given the choice…” she swallowed hard, “I wouldn’t have chosen differently.”

Briggs’ features hardened as he stared across the room at Kya. “What are you saying?” He demanded angrily.

Kya licked her lips before smiling up at him. “I’m saying that I’m not going to fight it anymore. I think that you and I should…should give us a try.”

Kya’s smile slid from her lips as Briggs threw back his head and laughed cynically. He drew in a ragged breath as he sneered across the room at her, “Give us a try? Do you think that we’re not together by
your
choice? We’re not together by
mine
! I don’t want a mate. I’m sick of telling everyone that. Not only do I not want the hassle, I don’t
need
it!”

Tears stung Kya’s eyes as she glared back at Briggs, her chest heaving with anger. She shook her head and whispered, trying to control the tremble in her voice, “You’re an asshole!”

“So I’ve been told.” Briggs strode angrily to the door and threw it open before he turned back to Kya, the scowl sliding from his face as he watched tears stream down her cheeks. He looked down as he spoke. “You make me weak…vulnerable. I don’t know how to live like that. I just…I can’t live like that.”

“Briggs!” Kya’s harsh tone drew his attention to her hurt expression. “I hope you’re sure. I won’t make the offer again.”

Briggs stared at her for a moment, before he dropped his eyes and turned his back on her. Before he left the room, Kya threw at him, “So much for dying before intentionally hurting me.”

Briggs’ steps halted for a moment, but seconds later he walked away.

After Kya heard the last of Briggs’ footsteps disappear down the hall she got to her feet, with great effort, and slowly walked angrily from her room. Determined, she entered Dell and Chloe’s room at the end of the hall. She saw the phone sitting on top of the nightstand and crossed to it. She dialed from memory, punching each number furiously. After three rings, a soft familiar voice picked up.

Kya neither saw nor smelled any sign of Briggs as she made her way down to the kitchen and out the back door. It had taken her awhile to dress herself. Unable to bend, she stood in front of the house with her shoelaces streaming behind her as they soaked up moisture from the freshly fallen snow. Tears still raced miserably down her face as she waited for Josephine, her breath forming white transparent puffs in the frosty air.

Kya swiped at her face as a red Charger with plates that read ‘Jo Jo’ pulled to a halt in front of her. Kya slowly and painfully eased herself wordlessly into the car, and as it pulled away from the Blackbird compound, Kya fought the urge to look back.

Chapter
18

Once back at Josephine’s apartment, Kya caught her up on what had happened since last they’d seen each other. Josephine apologized incessantly for having left her friend with the local pack.

“I swear to you Ky, I never would have left you with them if I’d have known you’d end up back in Theron’s hands. I’m so sorry. I honestly thought they could protect you.”

“Liar.” Josephine smirked at her. “Your stomach’s been growling since I picked you up.” Josephine pulled a pink patchwork quilt over Kya then left the room.

When Josephine returned some twenty minutes later, Kya nearly groaned audibly as her friend held up two bags of fast food and a drink carrier with two large plastic cups, red and white striped straws poking out the lids.

“I got us burgers, fries, and chocolate shakes.” Josephine smiled at Kya, pleased with herself.

“I don’t know anyone that has worked in a restaurant as long as you without picking up at least some culinary skill.”

Josephine sat on the foot of the bed handing a bag to Kya, “Hey, when you work in the restaurant biz, you don’t
need
to know how to cook. I eat my breakfast and lunch there, then take something to go for dinner. No need to ever cook for myself.” Josephine winked at Kya, “And that means no dishes to wash.”

Kya unwrapped a cheeseburger before reaching in the brown bag and popping a hot salty fry into her mouth. She was halfway through her cheeseburger when she felt Josephine eyeing her pensively.

“What?” Kya asked with her mouth full.

Josephine took a long drink of her shake before she wiped her mouth with her napkin. “I know this is really the worst timing, but I’m supposed to be flying to North Carolina in the morning to see my brother Joe.”

Josephine stood and put one hand on her hip, the other on her forehead as she eyed Kya, her expression full of uncertainty. “I don’t know Ky…”

Kya wiped her mouth with a napkin before she slowly leaned back on the pile of pillows stacked behind her. “Jo, it’s too late for you to get a refund or exchange your ticket. As for me…look, the Doc said I just need to rest and eat, and I’ll be good as new in no time. Besides, you may not know this about us, but shifters actually heal much faster than your average human.” Kya bit her cheek to keep from smiling at the outright lie.

Josephine nodded, her eyes lighting with hope. “Ya’ know I think I saw that on TV one time. There was this movie on the sci-fi channel. This werewolf healed from a bullet wound in like two days! It was even a
silver
bullet.”

Kya frowned at her friend. “I am
not
a werewolf.”

Josephine held her hands up quickly, “Oh, shifter…yeah. Got it.”

“Look Jo, I’m drained, I’ve gotta get some sleep. Please go and see your sister. I’m going to sleep for probably three days and then…well, I don’t know what, but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”

Josephine stuffed the empty wrappers into the large brown bag and stopped at the door. “You sure you’ll be okay alone?”

“Yes! Now go.”

“Alright, but please don’t leave. I’d really like to talk to you when I get back. I’ll only be gone a week, so make yourself at home. I shopped recently so the fridge and cupboards are full of junk. By the way, your car is still parked in the garage. I’ll leave your keys on the table.”

“Great! Thanks Ky, and again I really am sorry for stranding you with Dell. If I’d have known that Briggs was going to end up being your…um…well, you know.”

Exasperated and not wanting to think of Briggs let alone hear his name Kya closed her eyes, “Yes Jo! I know you’re sorry, now get out and let me get some sleep.”

“Okay, sorry. Going. See you in a week. Call me if anything changes, or if you need me back sooner. I’ll leave my brother’s number next to the phone.” Josephine smiled brightly at Kya then winked before she shut the door behind her.

Finally alone, Kya’s regret settled over her like a thick blanket. Against her better judgment and without having realized what was happening, she’d fallen in love with Briggs. Worse than the fact that he didn’t love her back or even want her, was the fact that it was all his fault. If he hadn’t run off to Colorado to defend her honor, if he hadn’t stayed by her side in the hospital, if he would have refrained from carrying her everywhere like she was some precious cargo, if he wasn’t so damn gorgeous, if he didn’t smell so good and tasted even better, if she’d have never come to Montana she wouldn’t be mending a broken body and a more painful broken heart.
If!
Kya bit back her despair as she watched sparkling flakes drift down from the sky just outside the window as she relived their last moments together. Anger and embarrassment washed over her as she remembered offering herself to him.

How humiliating! Why? Why did they ever tell me we were mates? If I had never known, things would be so much different now.

Chapter
19

Kya spent the next four days recuperating in Josephine’s small apartment. When Josephine said her fridge and cupboards were full of junk she wasn’t kidding. Between the chips, soda, Twinkies, and candy, Kya could barely assemble a well-rounded meal. Luckily she found a stack of Ramen noodles in a basket on top the fridge and she’d been surviving on the soup ever since.

Each morning her body felt stronger and her emotions felt more raw. With each passing day, Kya realized more and more that Briggs wasn’t going to change his mind. She tried to keep him from her thoughts, but a girl could only watch so many hours of TV and read so many magazines. Her hopes had flared then been immediately dashed the second night of her stay at Josephine’s. She’d been sitting in front of the window drinking a cup of coffee when the flash of gray fur caught her eye. It was Briggs. He was stalking the hills just outside Josephine’s apartment. Kya waited patiently for him to come to the apartment and speak with her, but he kept his distance. She had no idea why Briggs spent each night thereafter sleeping in the pine trees just outside her window, but he did. His presence kept her awake. She wondered if he’d changed his mind, if he were cold, if something had happened. It took all her will power to stay inside the apartment and ignore his presence. Then last night, he was gone. She’d gotten up periodically to check his usual spot, but it remained empty.

He’s over me
.
It’s time I get over him.

Still healing, she’d never felt more lost. She didn’t want to look for work because she knew she couldn’t stay in Montana. She’d be too close to Briggs and she wouldn’t torture herself that way. She had no other family or friends aside from Josephine, and she had no money or possessions. Her fall back plan was always her wolf. She could live indefinitely in the mountains hunting and traveling, but the fact of the matter was that she wasn’t a wolf that was part human; she was a human that was part wolf. What’s more, she wanted to live as a human, as herself. She’d spent the last four years of her life locked away from the real world, and she yearned for real life, and the chance at true happiness. She knew it existed for shifters, she saw it in the Blackbird family. They were as kind and considerate with each other as any other normal family. They lived and laughed and had family, and it was what Kya yearned to have. Now that she knew it was possible, she’d spend her life finding it.