True North (The Bears of Blackrock Book 4) (23 page)

Theron glared at Darrell as a smile crept across his face. “No shit.”

Karen was pouring Darrell an unrequested cup of coffee a second later, slumping down in a chair across from him to complain about how skinny he looked.

No shit he looks skinny, Mom. He’s been in an internment camp for two years.

Theron didn’t say these thoughts out loud as the front door rattled again with Sinead’s arrival.

The Talbot kitchen and living room grew loud with a sense of celebration and welcome. Karen found Sinead simply wonderful, as she repeated many times, and she fawned over Darrell off and on as Maynard demanded Sinead let him set her up in his favorite recliner. She accepted the kindness, looking rather silly as Maynard stuffed a couple extra pillows under her injured leg. Theron didn’t bother stepping in to save either of them. He’d so rarely seen his parents like this, part of him wanted to sit back and enjoy the show. Who knew when they’d be this elated by his presence again?

When he had kids, probably.

Theron shot Sinead a sideways look at this thought.

The mere notion had warmed him from head to toe. He wondered if his children would get her light eyes or red hair.

Chances were no, but still.

Jesus, Ther, you’ve known her less than a month. Calm the fuck down.

Still, he watched her there, listening to Maynard and Karen tell stories of when Theron was young. She smiled wide at each one, shooting Theron smiles and winks when the conversation allowed.

Finally, Darrell managed to get Karen to show him into his bedroom, and Maynard settled in to watch television. The lull of energy in the house brought Theron to Sinead’s side. They sat there in the corner of that cozy living room, watching senseless reruns of crime dramas, and held each other’s hand.

Despite the warmth of the afternoon, Theron noticed Sinead staring off at the windows from time to time. She seemed to be lost in distant thought, as though she was escaping the cozy place and friendly welcome. He felt a pang at the sight.

Was she not happy with him there?

Was she still sad?

She couldn’t be blamed for the sadness that followed her. She’d nearly died in that cold world, and everything that happened in the two years prior was no picnic either. Still, he wanted to see her happy, and he’d do just about anything to make it happen.

“Sweetheart?”

Sinead took a moment, as though she hadn’t heard him. She didn’t speak when she looked at him. She just smiled.

“Are you alright, baby?”

Sinead pressed her lips between her teeth, then took a deep breath. “I don’t know.”

Theron was on his feet, helping her to hers in an instant. There was a heaviness to her tone that he couldn’t ignore.

Had he been mistaken? Had he felt something between them that she simply didn’t feel in return? Had he seen his life mate in the eyes of a woman who didn’t love him back, then brought her all this way only to have her long to get away?

He shook his head as he helped her walk to the back door and out onto the deck. Theron glanced inside, listening to Darrell try desperately to assure Karen he didn’t need her to make him another sandwich. Theron shut the door and turned back to Sinead. Despite his suggestion, Sinead hobbled down the steps and off toward the water. He cringed to see her struggle, but he didn’t protest. The autumn air was crisp, blowing through in a light breeze. It was beautiful outside, the trees all turning the colors of a bonfire in the distance.

Theron held his arm out to her as she slumped down onto a flat stone by the water.

Theron settled down on the rocks where he often ventured to get away from the world. This was his preferred spot for shifting. It was his preferred spot for everything.

He’d grown so fond of the water as a kid. The ocean temperature in that part of Maine never rose above fifty or so degrees, even in the dead of summer. It was enough to knock the wind out of most people, but to him it was perfect. When he grew old enough to learn more about what being a Holden meant, he understood.

Theron hated summer in Boston. The air would grow thick and humid, and he’d spend most of his time sprawled out on his bed, naked, with the A/C blasting. All his friends teased him for it, trying to get him to hit Revere Beach, or better yet, tempting him up to Old Orchard in Maine. He always refused. There was nothing Theron liked less than roasting in the sun.

Give him a blizzard and six foot snow drifts, any day.

Theron sat on the rocks along the coast listening to gulls cry overhead. He wondered if they recognized him even in this form. He certainly left them a good few scraps as a bear from time to time.

He crouched down at her side, taking her hand in his.

She glanced down at his hand and turned away.

Shit
, he thought.
Shit, shit, shit. I’m about to have my heart broken. Why did she come all this way with me if she didn’t want me as bad as I want her?

He waited a long moment. When she didn’t speak, he let his frustration play in his tone. “What is it, Shin? Just say it, what is it?”

She shot him a sad glance and frowned. “I’m afraid to tell you.”

Theron exhaled, staring off toward the water. It was high tide.

“Theron,” she said.

Theron stared off at the brilliant trees and waited.

“I don’t want to lose you, but -”

She paused. Theron leaned forward, watching the side of her face.

“- I have to go back.”

Theron stared at her for a moment as her words registered. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t feel quite right. I haven’t felt quite right since we got to Halifax.”

“That’s to be expected -”

“No,” she said, and the tone was clear. She needed him to listen now, not assuage. “When I went to the reserve to teach years ago, I thought I was going to help them. I thought I was going to be doing them some great service – some well-educated white woman coming to teach their children. But something about those families – those kids. I can’t just go back to my old life now. I know them too well. I want to see them grow up. I want to teach Buniq about trees and leaf structure, and – I don’t know.”

She went quiet for a long moment, staring at her hands.

“I thought once I got home, I’d feel such relief, but I didn’t. I don’t, Ther. I don’t feel at home down here anymore. And then Darrell walked in and the feeling of homesickness almost knocked me over.”

“What are you saying? You want to go back north?”

Sinead met his gaze and her eyes welled up. “I have to. I’m sorry.”

Theron shook his head. “Why are you sorry?”

“Because,” she said, and her voice cracked as she spoke. “I saw the heartbreak in my parents’ faces when I told them. I can only imagine what you must be feeling. I want to have you in my life. I want to be with you, Theron, but I just – I don’t think I can be happy if I don’t go back. At least for a while longer.”

Theron slumped down onto the rock beside her. “Alright. Then we go back.”

It was the simplest decision he’d ever made. He could be in the cold. He could live forever in the cold. What he couldn’t do was live without her.

Sinead’s breath caught in her throat. He caught a look of shock and relief – elation on her face.

“What? Did you think I was gonna say, ‘have a nice trip’?” I go where you go, baby.”

“Are you serious?” She said, and with that, she broke into full sobs.

“Of course, I am. Hell, I have my engineering degree. Would they let me teach?”

Sinead began to laugh and cry in the same breath, her face contorting as she covered her face with her hands.

Theron wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his lap as he cooed to her, softly. He stroked her wild hair, feeling her body shudder in his arms. She pressed her face into the crook of his neck.

Theron sat there feeling the warmth of her breath on his neck, and silently planned the conversation that was to come.

He knew they’d understand – his family, his friends. They’d have to. The north often called to those of his kind. The north and the cold felt like home in a way nothing else could.

Well, except for her, he thought.

He’d go anywhere for her. He’d go to hell and back for her.

Hell, he’d go to Boca Raton, Florida for her.

He laughed at his own joke, and she shifted in his arms to look at him. “What?”

Theron smiled, brushing her hair out of her face. “I can’t wait to tell Darrell I’m leaving him to fend off my mother, alone.”

Sinead smiled and returned to her perch, her breath moving across his jaw in a comfortable rhythm.

Theron squeezed her tight, pulling her as close as he could, and let the heat of him keep her warm.

THE END

About the Authors

Alana Hart
is an American romance writer who decided that writing with friends is better
than writing alone.  Hartfelt Books brings together a
huge group of sweet and steamy romance authors, collaborating on a new line of books that will have your heart pounding. When she’s not skyping and sharing her latest collaboration on googledocs, she’s typing away in her local coffee shop with a hot chocolate, complete with marshmallows and extra
whipped cream, on hand.  She claims it makes her happy
ever afters that much sweeter!

Michaela Wright
is an American author with a 'bordering on unhealthy' relationship with Deep Fried Mars Bars, Scottish Accents, Iced Caramel Lattes, and commas. Her long standing love of history and ghost stories (and a staunch belief in soul mates) has resulted in many a randy love story, often told over the backdrop of some of the darkest moments in history. These interests have resulted in a Google search history that has most likely resulted in the FBI opening a dossier on her, but that's neither here nor there.
Michaela lives in Chelmsford, Massachusetts with her daughter and a brood of animals, including cats named Omen and Chapter. When she isn't writing, she's performing aerial silks in her backyard or hula hooping, and on some occasions, sipping a Cider with friends until her own fake Scottish Accent comes out.
 

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