What a Bear Needs (The Wild Side) (20 page)

Cree took the male’s support as they eased around the grill of the Subaru and linked her fingers with his own. He was rather sturdy and reminded Nasnaana of her fifth husband in the way he moved. The grizzly didn’t use his size to intimidate or speak for him but he would if it seemed to be necessary. His aura was bright and passionate, the lines around his eyes and mouth telling of humor and mischief. Ah, so he
was
like her fifth husband.

“So you were right,” Enli murmured, walking next to her. “The prodigal’s daughter has returned.”

“It would seem so,” Nasnaana answered, eager to get closer, to touch the child and uncover so many things that she’d been dying to know.

“The question is,” Kuzih interjected. “What does she want?”

Nasnaana simply smiled. “Understanding.”

“Of what?”

She stopped and looked to Enli, watching the she-wolf. “Herself.”

“So she’s volatile like her mother then?”

“I could tell you she was no more harmless than a stuffed animal and it wouldn’t matter, Enli. We both know that.”

“Your games put the tribe in jeopardy.”

“What tribe?” Nasnaana queried in a soft tone. “Tribes are built on tradition and honor and values that pull their people in, not push them out.  I see no tribe here, even though that’s what we call it in habit, this is nothing more than an assembly of the insolent.”

“And yet you remain,” Kuzih felt the need to point out.

Nasnaana didn’t do him the honor of looking his way when she addressed him. “Because I wanted the child to be able to find me when the time came. Let me make it clear for you, pup. The Great Spirit could wipe this earth clean due to the disobedience and consistent misconduct he witnesses but he doesn’t because he would rather prove a point.”

“And that would be?”

“That you need him,” she retorted without rancor. “Just because he remains silent does not mean he approves.” Nasnaana gave a sharp smile. “You’ll do well to remember that I am the same way.” With those words she turned on her heel and continued towards the silent couple who’d remained in the same position, drinking in their surroundings. One gaze held admiration while the other held dread. She planned to dispel the child of that emotion soon enough.

Stopping before them, she locked gazes with the girl. “I see you’ve finally found your way back home.”

Cree shook her head, dark hair falling like a curtain over her shoulder. “This was never my home, Nasnaana.”

“It was. You just allowed others to take it from you.”

The younger woman’s face tightened. “I was a child.”

“With more power than this earth has witnessed in a quite a long time.”

Swallowing, she looked away.

Nasnaana turned her attention to the silent man by her side who’d watched the exchange without a word. “You’ve discussed what you see in her?”

He didn’t hesitate. “More times than I can count.”

“And somehow, her reflection still shows ugly things,” she murmured; it was more to herself than him.

“I’m standing right here,” Cree snapped.

Chuckling, Nasnaana looked at the boy again. “How long has she been like this?”

He opened his mouth.

“You answer that and the next thing you’ll see is the sky because your back will be kissing dirt,” the girl threatened.

He closed his mouth.

Nasnaana’s laugh was louder this time. “Oh you poor, child. What’ve you gotten yourself into?”

Those enormous shoulders rolled easily. “Something I don’t want to get out of.”

Truer words had never been spoken because she could see the link between them. The way his bright passion melded with the brooding shades of her spirit. So well balanced. It was fascinating.

“Maddox McKenna,” the grizzly announced, holding out one hand.

She took it. “Nasnaana Daniels.” A swarm of images took hold, a majority of them intimate. Her grin was slow. “Cree’s grandmother.”

His head jerked towards the woman at his side. “Excuse me?”

Her eyes closed. “Step great, great, great,
great
grandmother.”

“You never said…”

“Because the woman has had at least ten husbands and
two
of them happened to be patriarchs on my mother’s side,” the girl sighed. “I’ve only ever known her as the tribe’s shaman.”

He looked disturbed. “Exactly how old are you, lady?”

“That’s rude,” both women admonished simultaneously.

Rocking back on his heels, Maddox stared down at the toes of his boots. “Sorry.”

“You’ve only ever known me that way because you assumed that I was like Enli in regards to you,” Nasnaana told Cree.

The girl looked ready for a fight. “You didn’t come after me.”

“Would it have made a difference?”

She seemed to reflect for a moment. “No.”

“Do you not have a happy life?”

“Yes.”

“Then why dwell on my choice to leave you be?” Nasnaana asked. “I knew you’d return. I
always
knew and I understood that it could only be on your terms and no one else’s.”

Cree suddenly couldn’t hold her gaze.

“Come, child,” she commanded. “I also know that you have questions.”

***

So many stares. Cree could feel each and every one as she and Maddox strolled behind Nasnaana. The old woman’s gait belied her age. Everything about her belied her age. Sixteen years and it was as though the shaman had stood still while time moved on.

Her small stature had remained as along with the lineless beauty of her intensely bronzed skin. Her eyes still held that same ridiculous twinkle in their depths. Her dark hair, threaded with silver strands fell in a plait between her shoulder blades. Nasnaana had always been an anomaly to Cree. Appearing neither young nor old but stuck in a limbo of the Great Spirit’s making. She was ageless yet spoke in riddles that had to have come from knowledge far beyond her time. Something in her felt slightly comforted being in her presence although Cree would never say it. Nasnaana hadn’t been judgmental or cruel but she’d always appeared…indifferent.

The weight of a gaze so malevolent that it caused her to stumble slightly brought Cree’s steps to a stop. She turned her head, searching the crowd of onlookers, who were watching her warily, and halted at the sight of a face that was all too similar to one she’d loved dearly.

“She either leaves or we
make
her leave. It’s her decision and for her sake, I hope she chooses wisely…”

“Cree?” Maddox prodded softly.

She wouldn’t release her. So much malice, so much hate, all for something she hadn’t had any say or control in. Even after all this time, Enli hadn’t changed. And when the she-wolf’s eyes narrowed slightly, refusing to lower—to back down—Cree knew she never would.

The insult of her defiance seeped past rationale and ease. Like a poison it worked through Cree’s veins and pumped into her heart, turning the muscle sour and angry. She’d done
nothing
and yet she’d never be forgiven. She’s starved for years on the road by herself, haunted by the nightmares of screams and blood. She’d neglected the safety of herself, so despondent that she hadn’t cared who picked her up and took her across state lines, she just wanted to be gone; she just to forget. Cree had remained trapped in heartbreak and disgust so deep that it was a wonder she’d ever waded out and all because of this woman. All because of the individual who was supposed to
protect
her. Instead she’d been shunned and outcast, leaving because she felt as though they’d take any excuse to wipe her from their world.

Cree pulled away from Maddox and parted the crowd without saying a word.

Enli’s gaze became defiant as she got closer.

“Were you looking to offer me a greeting, Aunt?”
Cree asked, stopping in front of the woman.

The she-wolf—who’d taken the place of her parents in ruling—gave a saccharine smile. “I offer you
nothing.”

Brow flicking upwards, Cree tilted her head. “Really? With the way you were staring I thought maybe you’d at least composed a song for my arrival. Can’t say I’m surprised though.” She took a few steps backwards and purposely turned away from the older woman.

“You don’t belong here,” Enli announced. “This isn’t your home anymore.”

A bitter laugh slid past her lips before she could call it back. Cree didn’t turn around. “It was never
my home, Enli. And no, I most certainly don’t belong.”

“But you’re here. Putting us all at risk.”

She stopped then.

“Cree…” Maddox warned.

Holding up a hand, she shook her head at him and glanced over her shoulder. “Of what exactly?”

Enli didn’t answer.

“What are you afraid of, Aunt?”
she taunted lowly. “That I’ll suddenly snap my leash and your head will be the first rolling across the dirt?”

The she-wolf took a bold step forward. “Don’t threaten me, girl.”

Cree blinked slowly. “That wasn’t a threat. It was a logical question.” She turned towards Enli. “But…it does hold the weight of possibility and that’s what burns you, isn’t it? That maybe, just maybe, I’m a bit unstable.”

“You’d have to be to threaten me on my own territory.”

A smile tipped up the sides of her mouth. “I’m going to assume that you wouldn’t give me a choice this time. That you’d
make
me leave.”

Recognition dawned in Enli’s eyes.

Cree nodded. “I could say so many things and yet I understand that none of them would make a difference. I don’t give a fuck about your position, Enli. I don’t want your territory and I sure as shit don’t want to remain here any longer than I have to. I’m here for one reason and one reason only,”—she hooked a thumb over her shoulder towards Nasnaana—“so she can tell me all the things none of you ever bothered to find out before I was treated like patient zero.”

Nothing else was said.

She swallowed and held Enli’s glare. “Don’t get in the way of that and I can assure you, I’ll leave as quietly as I came.”

Letting that hang in the air momentarily, she once again reversed directions, heading for Maddox and Nasnaana who hadn’t spoken a word. But with every footfall, she could tell that Enli’s loathing only grew.

***

She watched the bitch’s confident and easy gait, the way she glided away as though she had not a worry in the world. Cree Chayton was wrong about that. She had a worry and it was Enli. Not only had she stepped foot on her land without permission or deference, but she’d challenged her in front of the pack, holding her gaze, turning her back. Enli had every intention of making her feel that…in pain.

“What do you want to do?” Kuzih whispered near the shell of her ear.

She looked at the large male walking alongside her brother’s daughter. “I want her to know what loss is. I want her to understand that she can’t leave as quietly as she came because I plan to send her to her parents with screams loud enough to awaken our long buried ancestors.”

“So then that is what we’ll do.”

A rather calm sense of determination filled her. Yes, yes they would.

Fifteen

The tribe’s land was beautiful. Lush, full of greenery and life. It had been preserved perfectly with amazing homes that Maddox’s architect would’ve been envious of. It was essentially like walking through a town with a farm and shoppes. There was a small school and a park for the pups. He could understand the desire to want to keep something like this safe guarded. But from what he’d seen so far, Cree wasn’t who it needed to be protected from.

She held his hand tighter as they eased down the road past house after house. All of them had joint similarities but character. It was nice. The many eyes watching them as though they were invaders and not guests? Ah, not so much.

They hit one street in particular and Cree seemed to want nothing more than to turn around. When her eyes locked on a small blue home with flower boxes in the windows and a rocking chair on the porch, he knew that was where she’d been raised.

“Nasnaana?” she called.

The old woman stopped. “Yes?”

“Why does it look as though someone’s restored it?”

“Because I made sure the ugliness inside didn’t become ugliness on the outside”

Cree squeezed Maddox’s hand and her lashes touched her cheeks. She sucked in a deep breath then rushed out with, “Thank you.”

“Would you like to go in? It’s unlocked.”

She shook her head quickly. “No. Seeing that it hasn’t been demolished is enough.”

Nasnaana nodded. “As you wish.”

They continued their trek until they reached another home. This one looked to be more so a cottage and the moment they stepped past the mailbox Maddox felt a surge of electrical current start from the soles of his feet, running through him until he stopped and stared down at Cree.

Even in being a shifter, he’d never quite felt power like this.

She nodded her head once in acknowledgment and he knew then they’d come to the right place and person. Nasnaana wasn’t a state fair medium with a glowing ball and seashells that she threw down for show.

The shaman spryly went up the front steps and opened the door, beckoning them in with a wave.

“Come sit down,” she demanded walking past the family room and into an expansive kitchen. She gestured to two seats and took one herself. “Now, how may I help you, girl?”

Cree gave the old woman a blank stare and then asked, without hostility, “Lady, what the
fuck
is wrong with me?”

Nasnaana’s head went back as laughter tripped up from her throat and poured out. It took several moments for her to gather herself and when she did, she gave Cree the warmest smile he’d seen since her exchange with Fallon days ago. “Absolutely nothing.”

“Then why, exactly, am I personally experiencing the joys of
American Werewolf in London?”
Cree challenged. “Why am I seeing things?
Feeling
things? Why—”

“Why are your memories more like visions? Why can you connect with another’s emotions? Why are your beasts taking liberties?” Nasnaana interrupted, eyes twinkling. She leaned forward. “It’s quite simple, little one.”