Chapter 16 #3
Bam shrugged. “I don’t know. Trick of fate? Who knows? But it’s just the way it is. So, if somebody is your mate, you can’t read them or see your aura. Now, after you mate, and you’ve bonded, you’ll be able to read them, but you won’t be able to see their aura, ever.”
“Then how do I know?”
“You ask me. Because I can see their auras. And I can read them now, just like your dad can. Charlie is your mate. You are both so gold it’s almost blinding. And he’s a good guy.”
“How do you know?”
“I told you I’d met Carson. What makes you think I didn’t hang around to see you and his daddy together. All it takes is one glance. You’re mates.”
“But he’s got a girlfriend. He lied to me,” Daisy said. “I can’t take anymore lying.”
“You don’t know that. All you know is some receptionist is telling you what she heard when she was eavesdropping. You don’t know if it was even Charlie they were talking about. All she heard was girlfriend — as far as you know.”
Daisy thought about it. “I guess you could be right. She seemed to think she was right, though.”
“Yeah, the girl that’s eavesdropping on her co-workers. Who knows how much of the conversation she missed. Could have made all the difference in the world.”
“That is true. But why did he lie about going to work today?”
“Here’s what I want to know… Who’s this professor? Is he one of your teachers? The same teachers that’s supposed to guide you and nurture your education?”
“I wouldn’t say nurture, but yes, he was my professor. And I’m so embarrassed. I would never have become involved with a married man. And then for his wife to stalk me… I never told anybody because I was so humiliated, and so hurt. I thought he was my forever,” Daisy said, blinking away tears.
Bam pulled her closer and hugged her. “People are horrible creatures, Daisy. They’ll lie and cheat and manipulate and steal to get whatever they want from whoever they want without worrying how it affects the other person.
They’re horrible. You can’t blame yourself for the lack of integrity in someone else’s soul.
You’re a good soul. You can heal for goodness sake!
And you trusted him. That’s not on you. That’s on him.
He should be humiliated. He should be embarrassed, running to hide himself away rather than face what he did to you.
All you did was put faith in him. You can’t blame yourself for being trusting. ”
“I just thought I should have known.”
“Unfortunately, not even a healer knows when they find their own mates. Everybody else’s mates, everybody else’s emotions, piece of cake. Those that matter most in your particular universe, those that can either save or destroy you? Not a chance, at least not until you’re bound.”
“So, you think they are both my mates?”
“Yep. I think the first one is shit, and deserves his ass whipped, if not removed and handed to him — literally. I think the second one deserves the benefit of the doubt.”
Daisy took a deep breath and let it out slowly with her eyes closed. Bam wasn’t holding her anymore, but he was still holding her hands in his as he waited for her reply. “I don’t know if I’m strong enough.”
“You have no idea how strong you really are until you have to use your strength to actually survive. You’re a Marchande’. You’re my brother’s child. You’re the healer of your generation. I know exactly how strong you are. Just stop blaming yourself for others’ shortcomings.”
Daisy nodded, but was obviously still not fully convinced.
“And one other thing…”
Daisy looked at her Uncle Bam and nodded, waiting.
“Does Charlie know about that professor?”
“Yes. I told him about it. He tried for so long to get me to go out with him, and I finally confessed the whole situation so he’d understand that it wasn’t that I didn’t like him, I was having a hard time trusting even myself, much less him.”
“Mmhmm. And did you tell Havoc and Lucien?”
“No. Although he and Havoc are friends. And Lucien, too, I guess. He’s met them both and even had a play date with Harley and Havoc.”
“Does your Daddy know?” Bam asked gently.
“No, definitely not. I didn’t want to hurt him, and I was too humiliated to admit how stupid I’d been.”
Bam nodded slowly.
“Why? What aren’t you telling me?”
“Don’t freak out, okay?”
Daisy sat back. “What do you know?” she asked, her voice hushed and worried.
“I saw your daddy leave the house this morning with Charlie, Havoc, and Lucien. They pulled up in Havoc’s truck and sent Charlie to the door to get him, then they drove away.”
“Nooooo,” she breathed.
“That was a while ago, though. Whatever they’re doing, it’s too late to prevent.”
Daisy immediately opened her mind, planning to reach for Havoc.
“I wouldn’t do that,” Bam said.
“I have to tell them to stop. If they’re going to see to what I think they are, they could really get in trouble.”
“First, they’re grown shifters. They can figure a way out of it. And Kaid and Brandt both keep enough cash for bail on hand regardless. Second, don’t interrupt in case they’ve gotten themselves into a sticky situation.”
“I didn’t want this, Uncle Bam. I didn’t want anyone else to have to pay for my idiocy.”
“You’re not an idiot. You’re trusting, and innocent, and loyal, and you expect everyone else to be the same. They’re not. People are horrible.”
They sat quietly for several minutes before Bam tapped her on the knee and stood up. “Come on.”
“I can’t leave. I have students coming after school.”
“We’re not leaving. You’re going to teach me how to sculpt.”
“With metal, like Aunt Everly?”
“No, with clay.”
“Like a wheel, vases and stuff?”
“No, like using my hands to form and carve away pieces until I have a beautiful gift to give to my Ever.”
Daisy smiled, though it was a little tense. “That’s so sweet. I want a man that loves me like that.”
“I think you’ve found one.”
“You really think that?”
“I do. And you do, too, or you wouldn’t have trusted him with the things you haven’t told anyone else.”
Bam took Daisy by the hand and led her to the back room where she kept the sculpting clay and tools, and pottery wheels. “Okay, show me how to make something for my ever,” he said.
Daisy nodded, then she hugged him. “Thank you, Uncle Bam.”
“You’re welcome, my Daisy,” he said, kissing her forehead quickly like he used to when she was a little girl and would so easily get her feelings hurt. “I know you’re still worried, but it will be okay. Trust me.”