The Truth About Kadenburg (18 page)

She frowned, lowering her gaze to her hands as they
rested against her lap. She shook her head slowly. “…That something that got
one of your best childhood friends murdered.”

She heard the breath leaving Lorcan’s lungs, and she
knew she’d said the wrong thing. She braced herself for the anger she was
certain he’d release, but she was very surprised to feel his palms resting on
either side of her face. She lifted her head to meet his gaze and was
completely entranced with those swirling pools of chocolate. It was like he
was looking right into her very soul. It made her tremble.

“Life is full of surprises, Pretz. It doesn’t matter
what type of living creature you are; good and bad things happen all the time,
and we must learn to embrace both because that’s just how life works,” he
pursed his lips together, his eyes scanning over her face as he rested his
forehead against hers. “I can’t explain why terrible things happen to good
people, but I do know we rise from the ashes like a phoenix. We may get burned
every once in a while, and it may be the most excruciating pain we’ll ever
feel; but we have to move forward with the scars left behind by those fires.
We have to keep going.

“I know you’re scared. I know you’re confused about
all of this and you’re unsure of what to do, but there is one thing I am
absolutely positive of,” his thumb slid over her lower lip and Presley’s eyes
closed again. How did he have this effect on her? How did he calm her nerves
so quickly?

“I will be here every step of the way. I will help you
through it, Presley. I’ll do whatever I can to make this easier for you…if
you’ll let me.”

She felt the hot moisture on her cheeks before she even
knew what was happening. Lorcan’s deep, husky voice echoed in her mind as the
tears escaped between long lashes and slid down her face. Everything changed
in that very moment; she could feel it. The walls she’d worked so hard to put
up collapsed instantaneously and the bear within rejoiced.

He is ours,
the voice whispered.
Take
what is ours and be happy. He will never hurt us like the human did.

She didn’t want to think about
Tim ever again. He could never compare to Lorcan.
No one
could ever
compete with the man who currently gathered her into his strong arms. She was
crushed against his hard chest suddenly, and nothing had ever felt so right.
Presley buried her face against his shoulder as the dam broke, and more tears
stained the fabric of his shirt.

“It’s all right,” Lorcan whispered. “I’m right here,
Presley. I’ll always be right here, just like I’ve always been.”

Oh, what a fool she’d been! Lorcan had always been one
of her greatest friends. He’d always been so nice, and compassionate. What if
she’d taken the initiative back then? To see where it would go?

“I’m scared,” she admitted. “I’m so scared, Lorcan.
This is all a nightmare and I can’t wake up from it. What am I supposed to do?
What are
we
supposed to do?”

Lorcan pulled away, keeping his arms firmly around her
as he stared down into her eyes. “We do what our ancestors did before us,” his
eyes darkened slightly as he smiled. “We fight.”

Eighteen

H
e waited until Presley’s breathing became deep
and steady before he even attempted to untangle himself from her arms. He’d
held her until she’d fallen asleep, and as reluctant as he was to be away from
her, he knew what he had to do.

As he trudged down the hallway as carefully as
possible, he couldn’t hold back the smile that wanted to take over. This was
progress, wasn’t it? Presley had let him get close to her, and he couldn’t
have asked for more.

He understood her fear and confusion, and he wanted
nothing more than to help her to see things more clearly. He wanted to help
her embrace her heritage and grow into the amazing ursithrope he just
knew
she was meant to be.

And breeding has nothing to do with this?
His bear questioned curiously as Lorcan carried the warm container of ice cream
back into the kitchen.
We crave her.

Obviously we crave her,
Lorcan
rolled his eyes as he opened the freezer door to put the ice cream back
inside. He very, very gently placed the spoon into the sink before gazing out
the window to see the first hints of morning.
But I am not doing this
because of my desire to make her ours, I’m doing it because she is my friend
and she needs me.

He listened as the bear let out
a roar of laughter and it irked him. Just what in the hell did his bear
counterpart find to be so funny about that statement?

Of course she needs us. We are hers. We have
always been hers, and she is ours. Take her.

Lorcan scowled as he opened the
backdoor and stepped out onto the deck. The chilly morning air greeted him as
he inhaled deeply. The stench of the wolves had decreased, which meant they
were further away now. But for how long, exactly? They would return.

I am not taking her. If and when she gives herself
to me is entirely up to her. You know we cannot force that.

I grow tired of waiting. She is ours!
New cubs must come to be. How much longer?

As long as it takes,
Lorcan
nodded.
I will wait forever for her if I have to.

“What are you thinking about?”

Lorcan turned his head to see his father sitting just
below the deck, kicked back in a lawn chair as he gripped his trusty Remington.

“Why do you have a gun?” Lorcan asked with a lifted
brow.

“I’m gonna shoot one of them in the ass if I see it,” his
father replied without meeting his eyes. “I know it won’t kill the damn thing,
but at least it’ll know what a pain in the ass I can be.”

Lorcan rolled his eyes, making his way down the steps
as he approached his father. He crossed his arms over his chest, staring down
at him. “Seriously?”

“You’re damn right I’m serious,” his father replied as
he finally glanced up at him. “What are you doing up anyway? You should be
resting. You’re going to need your strength.”

“I’m fine,” Lorcan insisted as he eased down onto the
wet grass, sitting Indian style as he glanced at the woods. He was always
mesmerized with the magical aspect of foggy mornings, but he knew danger lurked
behind the thick cloud of water droplets.

“Uh huh,” Mr. Bamey muttered as he stretched out his
long legs and crossed them at the ankles. “How’s she doing?”

“She’s sleeping.”

“I know someone else who should be sleeping.”

Lorcan rolled his eyes. “I am
fine,
” he
repeated as he ran his fingers through his hair, exhaling silently. “But I
want to talk to you about something.”

“I’m listenin’,” his dad grunted.

“I think we should call them back.”

Mr. Bamey leaned forward in his chair, turning his head
to stare at his son as if he’d slapped him. “Boy, you must have a screw loose
in that head of yours. There’s no way I’m calling them back here. This is our
mess now and we’ll clean it up. We don’t need anybody’s help.”

Lorcan scoffed, returning his father’s gaze as he
rested his elbows against his knees. “Are you serious right now? We don’t
need
help? Dad, have you taken into consideration just how many heartbeats you can
hear out there when they’re close?”

Mr. Bamey wrinkled his nose, flexing his jawline as he
frowned. “We can take them.”

“The hell we can,” Lorcan argued. “Even Dimitri has
his doubts. I can see it on his face. We’re screwed if we don’t call them
back. We’re going to be outnumbered.”

“Oh hell,” his father groaned as he stood from the
chair and gazed around. “We’re bigger. Just bite into a few throats and
problem solved. I don’t know why you’re worrying so much about it.”

“You don’t know
why
I’m worrying so much about
it?” Lorcan echoed as he stared at his father in disbelief. “Have you forgotten
about what happened back then? Do you need a reminder?”

Lorcan was only two when the werewolves visited
Kadenburg the first time. He was far too young to understand what was
happening, and he definitely didn’t comprehend the extent of the damage caused
by their natural enemies’ actions. All Lorcan knew back then was that people
were sad and their tiny community grew smaller.

With only five ursithropes remaining in Kadenburg, and
even with Dimitri’s help, he knew deep down that they were no match for
Breslin’s pack. They needed help.

“Dad,” Lorcan repeated with a firmer tone. “Just
listen to me on this. We need to call them back.”

Mr. Bamey’s jawline relaxed slightly as he lowered his
gun and sighed. “I suppose you’re right,” he finally said after a moment.
“But I ain’t going to be held responsible for one of those other little fur
balls coming back here and sweeping that girl off her feet, you got me?”

Lorcan fought the urge to roll his eyes again as he
stared at the aged version of himself. “I really don’t think that’s going to
be an issue.

It wasn’t going to be an issue, was it?

–––––––

The scent of bubbling gravy and crispy bacon made
Dimitri’s mouth water. He was still stationed at his post in the front yard,
given to him by none other than Mr. Bamey himself. He still wasn’t sure why he
was holding a firearm, but the idea of shooting a gun was definitely tempting.

Especially if it’s Breslin,
he smirked. No,
getting a bullet to the head would be too kind for Breslin. He deserved to
have his throat clawed open and his heart torn out by the sheer force of
Dimitri’s blunt teeth. Breslin deserved to suffer for what happened to Liam.

Icy shards of hate ran through his heated veins as he gripped
the barrel of his gun a little more tightly and he lifted his eyes to watch the
sun peek over the treetops. It was really strange how he didn’t feel the least
bit tired.

“You want some breakfast?”

Dimitri turned around to see Mrs. Bamey standing in the
doorway, drying her hands on a dishtowel as she offered a small smile. “We’ve
got enough to feed any army.”

“You’re going to need an army,” Dimitri remarked as he
made his way up the steps and gazed at her through the thin screen door. “I
would love some breakfast, Ma’am. Thank you.”

“Oh, nonsense,” Mrs. Bamey rolled her eyes as she
pushed the door open for him to come inside. “Call me Charlotte, Dear. I
insist.”

Dimitri felt a smile tugging at his lips as he stepped
inside. “Thank you, Charlotte,” he corrected as he carefully placed the gun
down near the door. Maybe he would get to use it at a later time.

“You’re welcome, Sweetie. Now come in here and have a
seat. I’ll have breakfast done in a minute. I’m just waiting for the biscuits
to finish.”

Dimitri eased down into one of the six chairs
stationed around the table. It groaned and creaked beneath his weight, but it
was sturdy. He scooted forward a bit, glancing at the various dishes waiting
to be devoured. Homemade gravy, fried apples, sausage, scrambled eggs, and a
heap of bacon tempted him as he licked his lips. He’d never seen such a feast
in his entire life.

The backdoor opened and Mr. Bamey soon appeared,
setting his gun aside as he wiped his hands off on his trousers. “Smells
good,” he commented. His eyes lingered on Dimitri for a moment before he eased
into his reserved seat at the head of the table. He cracked his neck, his
thick eyebrows lowering upon his forehead as he frowned. “Where’s the apple
butter?”

“In the fridge,” Mrs. Bamey responded as she opened the
oven door and carefully pulled out the tray of biscuits. “I’ll get it in a
minute.”

Dimitri was to his feet in an instant. “I’ll get it,”
he offered, making his way to the fridge.

He could feel two sets of eyes on him as he pulled the
cool jar from the first shelf, turning slowly to see that the older ursithropes
were staring at him. He blinked. “What?”

“You are just the sweetest,” Mrs. Bamey gushed as she reached
out a mitted hand and patted his cheek. He could feel the warmth against the
material as he smiled somewhat shyly. “Isn’t he the sweetest, Richard?”

Mr. Bamey tilted his head to the side. It seemed like
he was sizing Dimitri up as he gave a lazy roll of his shoulders. “I suppose
he’s okay…for a wolf.”

Dimitri couldn’t help the grin that slid over his lips
as he made his way back to his seat. “Well, thanks,” he nodded. “I don’t
think you’re so bad either.”

There was still that small twinge of pain in his chest
when he thought about how this was originally supposed to play out. Liam
should’ve been at his side, holding his hand. This should’ve been a happy
occasion.

But it’s not,
he reminded himself.
Liam is
gone.

The screen door whined again as
Lorcan entered the kitchen, raking his fingers through his tousled locks as he
gazed around. “Is the food done yet? I’m starving,” he muttered. He plopped
down in a chair across from Dimitri as his eyes scanned over the food. “Jesus,
Mom. How many people were you aiming to feed this morning?”

Mrs. Bamey was quiet as she finished stacking the
biscuits on a plate.

“More than we’ve got here already,” Mr. Bamey finally
said as he scratched the scruff adorning his jawline. “You know your mama
likes to cook, Lorcan.”

Dimitri couldn’t help but to feel completely content as
he set there, watching the interaction between father and son as the moments
passed by. Sometimes he wondered if his upbringing would’ve been similar to
this, if his parents were still alive. In that moment, he was incredibly
envious of the male ursithrope sitting across from him. Lorcan had no idea how
lucky he was to have his parents; to have a family. Even Presley, the female
who was probably still sleeping in the bedroom, was lucky to have an uncle who
loved her so much.

Dimitri would never have the chance to experience a
love like that. Liam was the closest thing to a family he’d ever had, and he’d
been torn away.

“Aren’t you going to eat, Dimitri?”

Mrs. Bamey’s voice pulled him from his thoughts, and
Dimitri blinked before meeting her gaze. “What? Oh, yeah. I’m definitely
going to eat, Mrs. Bame-I mean, Charlotte. This looks great. Thank you.”

“So polite,” Mrs. Bamey smiled. “Lorcan, you could
learn a thing or two from him about manners.”

Dimitri’s gaze wandered to Lorcan then, noting the
glare in his eyes as the ursithrope attempted to swallow down the mouthful of
food he was currently chewing. Dimitri most certainly wasn’t trying to step on
any toes.

“Do I smell food?” Arnold Goult asked as he entered the
kitchen. He groaned, popping his back as his arms lifted over his head. He
released a long yawn and sighed, moving to sit down beside of Lorcan as he
inspected the various plates. “Sometimes I really regret not marrying a mama
bear,” he grinned. “This looks great, Charlotte.”

“Oh, stop it,” Mrs. Bamey laughed. “You know you’re
welcome to join us anytime you want, Arnie.”

As forks scraped against plates and the occasional hum
of pure satisfaction lifted into the air, Dimitri decided that he did indeed
like these people. He would fight for them and with them.

It’s what Liam would want,
he thought as he
lifted a glass of orange juice to his lips. He took a generous drink before
smiling, at no one in particular. For the first time since Liam’s death, he
felt happy; he felt like he belonged. He would do whatever he could to protect
the people Liam loved so much.

The sound of a car horn sounding outside disrupted his
thoughts, and Dimitri noticed that everyone seemed just as surprised by the
noise as he was.

Mrs. Bamey let out a small yelp as she stood from the
table. “Oh! They’re here,” she said excitedly as she smiled.

“Who’s here?” Mr. Bamey frowned.

“Just wait and see,” Mrs. Bamey laughed as she hurried
towards the front door.

“What did you do, Charlotte?” Mr. Bamey asked as he
pushed himself away from the table, abandoning his half-eaten food to follow
after his wife.