Chapter 12
TWELVE
F ifteen minutes later, Haley had finished the tea and a snack and had begun to feel better. She was sitting up against the headboard with her feet tucked up beneath her, chatting with Bridget, when there was a light knock on the bedroom door.
Ian opened the door enough to stick his head in and ask, “Can I come in?”
“I was just leaving,” Bridget said, hopping up and gathering the tray with the dirty dishes. “How about you come inside and talk things out with Haley?”
To Haley’s surprise, Ian didn’t automatically push the door open and walk inside. He turned and looked at her questioningly as she nodded her assent. While she had been through a traumatic experience when he shifted, she was cognizant enough to recognize that he too must be shaken up. Shit, it had happened to him—not her.
Ian opened the door for his mom to pass, and Haley watched as he glanced down with affection at her. Bridget reached up and patted his cheek, whispering softly, “It will be okay. Just talk to her.”
Haley couldn’t help but notice that Ian was fresh from the shower. The T-shirt he was wearing was still damp in spots where he hadn’t fully dried off, and it was a size smaller than he usually wore. It had to have been one of his brothers’, but Haley wasn’t sure which one.
“So,” Ian started, reaching up to rub the back of his neck and inadvertently lifting the bottom of his shirt to expose his tight abs.
“So,” Haley repeated, feeling somewhat guilty that despite everything that had been happening to him, she still had the hots for him. Instead of the usual attraction she always seemed to be fighting, the pull was stronger. She wrapped her arms around her knees and looked at him. Somebody needed to break the silence.
“My dad spoke with the local pack,” Ian said, not quite meeting her eyes. “I guess they are located about an hour from here. Dad said the Alpha wanted to meet us to go over things and provide some training.”
Haley nodded. “Okay, when do you leave?”
Ian winced and walked over to where she was sitting on the bed. He smelled amazing, fresh like the soap from the shower, but there was something more there. Haley found herself leaning toward him, and she snapped back into place.
“That’s the thing, Hales. They expect both of us to come.” At her surprised expression, Ian added, “Just for a little while until we figure out how to deal with this mess.”
“What about our jobs?” Haley asked in a small voice. She hadn’t wanted to admit to Ian that she’d overheard his brothers complaining about the same thing earlier. Somehow, that seemed cruel, and Ian clearly looked shaken.
Ian sighed, glancing up at her and finally meeting Haley’s eyes. She was surprised at what she saw there. Sure, the confusion and anger made sense, but the discouragement and exhaustion tugged at her heartstrings. Without a second thought, she slid over and motioned for Ian to join her. He hesitantly moved closer and sat next to Haley.
In a low voice he asked, “Are you scared of me now?”
Haley laced her hand with his. “No, I could tell it was still you in there.”
Ian’s laughter felt forced as he added, “I’m glad you could tell. For a while there I thought I was losing my mind.”
“I’m so sorry, Ian,” Haley replied softly, laying her head against his shoulder. “You shouldn’t have to deal with something like this—nobody should.”
He squeezed her hand. “I should be apologizing to you. Dad had mentioned the family curse before, but nobody really thought it was serious, even him. It was something told over campfires along with the other tall tales that keep kids up at night.”
“What was it like?”
Haley’s whispered question was so soft that she wasn’t sure he heard her until, after a moment of silence, he finally answered. “You smelled so incredible. I mean, you’ve always smelled good to me. But it was something more, something I couldn’t resist. I had to have you. Hell, I couldn’t get close enough. When I was kissing your neck, I don’t know what made me do it. One moment I was kissing you and the next I was biting you.”
“I certainly remember that part,” Haley added wryly.
“There was a part of me that was horrified at what I was doing, but I couldn’t stop. I felt like something or someone else had taken control of my mind. And then a tidal wave of pain washed over me. My bones felt like they were snapping in half, and I half expected there to be blood everywhere. I think I blacked out for part of it because I remember hearing you scream, but when I came back I had carried you into the house and my mom was screaming instead.”
“I suppose I won’t blame you for dragging me naked into your parents’ home for your family to see.”
Ian stifled a laugh. “Yeah, I can see that wasn’t my finest moment. I don’t even remember doing it. I just heard Dad telling me to back away and that everything was going to be okay. But it wasn’t like he was talking to me. There was another presence there that didn’t want to listen.”
“The wolf?” Haley asked and tensed as Ian sighed and nodded. “Do you still feel him now?”
“Yeah,” Ian rasped. “It’s like he’s content to stay in the back of my mind for now, but he also wants me to know that I’m not the only one in charge. It’s scary, Hales. I feel like my body has betrayed me and I’ve woken up in an alternate universe or something. I still expect to wake up and find out this was all a bad dream.”
“As much as I’d like to reassure you,” Haley began, turning her face up to see him, “this is happening. So what do we do about work?”
“Well, according to Dad there is a secret government branch that protects shifters and supernatural creatures. God, I can’t believe I just used that sentence out loud.”
Haley smiled and giggled a little at his expression. “This is all going to be a massive learning curve.”
“Anyway, I guess we just have to fill out some forms on the website and it will look like we were called in for jury duty. Nobody will know where we are and we can’t be fired. All we have to do is go hear them out, Hales. If it’s not what we want to do, I promise I’ll bring you right back.”
Haley was thankful when Ian wrapped his arms around her and drew her against his side. Not only was she engulfed in his strong arms, but his comforting scent was helping to keep the fear at bay.
“Okay,” she said at last. “Let’s do it.”