Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
T alon left Piper’s house, cutting through the woods with a determined pace. He needed to get to Zelda and Mac’s as quickly as possible. Pulling out his phone, he shot a quick text to Thorne, telling him to meet him there. Things were much worse than they’d originally thought, and the mayor’s veiled threats had made that abundantly clear. He was truly worried about Piper’s safety. He wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible so he could get back to her place.
As he continued through the dense trees, Talon spotted Bruce lounging on a nearby branch, probably looking for something to eat. He leaped down and began trotting beside Talon.
“So, did you learn anything from Piper during your undercover mission?” Bruce asked, his tone annoyingly casual.
Talon frowned, his jaw tightening. The question stung more than it should. He hated the fact that he was deceiving Piper, and he was torn. Part of him wanted to come clean, to tell her the truth of who and what he really was. But the other part of him knew he couldn’t do that without putting others in danger. The stakes were high, and there was too much on the line.
“Ah, dammit, man.” Bruce frowned, cutting Talon off. “You went and fell for the little human, didn’t you? Shit, Talon, you were just supposed to hang out, see what she was up to, keep her from the woods, and find out what she knew. Not get a hard-on for the girl.”
Talon’s growl rumbled low in his chest, his eyes narrowing dangerously at Bruce. “Do not ever talk about Piper like that, cat. What I do is none of your fucking business.”
Bruce’s ears flattened, but he didn’t back down. “It is my fucking business if she exposes us all. You need to make sure she doesn’t sell her place. If that happens and they tear down these woods, we’re all in deep shit. This isn’t just about you, Talon. It’s about everyone.”
Talon’s fists clenched, his wolf bristling inside him. “She’s not selling. I won’t let that happen.”
“You better not,” Bruce warned, his voice dropping to a rare, serious tone. “Because if that developer gets his hands on her land, everything we’ve worked for and care about could all go up in smoke.”
“Trust you, huh?” Piper’s hurt voice had him spinning around. She stared at Bruce before her eyes filled with betrayal and looked up at him. “I didn’t hear a talking cat, huh? Isn’t that what you repeatedly said?”
“Piper,” Talon stepped toward her, but she threw up her hand and snatched the envelope out of his. “Let me explain.”
“Explain,” Piper crossed her arms and waited, but he was at a loss.
“It’s complicated,” Talon couldn’t believe he had been so careless to have let her follow him without even knowing it. That was a kick to the balls, for sure. He was a fucking wolf Shifter. He should have sensed her, but then again, he was so messed up where she was concerned.
“Well, let me uncomplicate it for you,” Piper replied, glaring at him, but he saw the unshed tears she was fighting. “Stay the hell away from me.” She turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm, stopping her. She snapped it away from him.
“I can’t do that,” Talon turned her toward him.
“You were using me.” Her chin trembled as she stared up at him. “I trusted you, Talon.”
“You can still trust me. I’ve never lied to you.” Talon said, then frowned, realizing that wasn’t exactly true.
“Did you just have a full-on conversation with that mangy ass cat?” Piper looked at Bruce as if daring it to say something.
“Meow,” Bruce gave her a narrowed cat-eye glare.
“Shut up,” Piper growled at Bruce, then looked at Talon. “Goodbye, Talon.”
“Piper, dammit,” Talon cursed when she continued to walk away, then she stopped but didn’t turn around.
“Your secrets are safe with me.” Her voice shook but stayed strong and clear. “Trust me.”
“Fuck!” Talon hissed as he watched her disappear into the woods. He felt Bruce staring at him and growled. “What?” he spat out.
“You really like her?” Bruce said, then sighed with a curse.
Talon didn’t answer, just turned in the opposite direction and disappeared through the thin veil of magic.
“Well fuck a duck,” Bruce grumbled, heading in the direction Piper went. “Love sure is a bitch.” Bruce started singing ‘ Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ by Queen as he marched through the woods to do what he did best. Fix shit.
Making her way back to her house, Piper angrily wiped the tears from her eyes. When Talon left, she found it odd that he went through the woods. Curiosity got the better of her, and she decided to follow him. Now, she wished she hadn’t. Seeing him talking to that cat and having a full-blown conversation shattered everything she thought she knew about Talon. He was using her. She had heard that painful fact straight from the cat’s mouth. The absurdity of the situation made her let out a bitter laugh. Just a few days ago, she would’ve been thrilled to know she had been right all along. There was something about those woods. But now, instead of excitement, all she felt was emptiness and betrayal.
Talon hadn’t been helping her out of the kindness of his sexy heart. He was only being nice to her because he didn’t want her spreading information about the wood’s secrets, not that she knew them all. She was sure there was more, much more. What Talon, the ass, didn’t know about her was that she was loyal to a fault. She wasn’t going to tell anyone about the damn cat. Hell, no one would believe her anyway. People in town already thought she was crazy, and her running into town with a story like that would just confirm what they already believed.
Not wanting to head home yet, she veered toward her favorite spot. The trail was familiar to her; she bent to duck under some low-hanging brush. Once on the other side was a clearing with a small pond, the one place she felt at peace. Her secret place, where she came to think, cry, bitch, swim and just be one with nature. Today, it felt more like a sanctuary for her heart. Walking to the pond's edge, she sat down, staring over the water.
“Nice place,” Bruce said as he emerged from the overgrown brush. He padded over to where Piper sat. “I know these woods like the back of my paw and never knew this spot was here.”
Piper frowned at the cat, her emotions still raw. “Don’t worry, you can tell Talon I won’t spread his secret. No one’s coming to find you and put you, the talking cat, on America’s Got Talent.”
Bruce tilted his head, his whiskers twitching, “Talon doesn’t know I’m here. And if my furry ass were on that show, I’d definitely get the golden buzzer.”
Piper actually grinned at the image that popped into her head, but she didn’t say anything. Instead, she turned her gaze back to the pond, the peaceful water doing little to ease the turmoil inside her.
“I’m Bruce, by the way,” he said, looking over the water.
“Yeah, I heard,”
The cat sat beside her, his eyes narrowing as if in deep thought. “Listen, the big dummy likes you, okay. Don’t tell him I told you that, but...cut him some slack. He’s got a lot on his plate, keeping things on our side from getting exposed, and now trying to help you.”
“So there is more to these woods than talking cats?” Piper said after a few minutes of silence as she pondered that.
“Yeah, there is,” Bruce said, then stood. “I’ll probably get skinned alive for telling you that, but I’m the main reason Talon did what he did with you, and well, I may be a dick to most, I do have a heart.”
Piper sat staring as Bruce turned to leave. “Thanks for telling me. At least now I know I’m not as crazy as everyone in town thinks I am.” She said without looking his way. “And Bruce, no one will know you said anything to me.”
“Appreciate that,” Bruce replied, then added before disappearing. “I’m a pretty good judge of character, and you’re good peeps for a human, Piper.”
Piper smiled at that, and then her smile slipped. She was glad Bruce had come to her, but deep inside her soul, she had wished it had been Talon. “You were right, Pop’s. I’m not crazy like everyone says.” She looked up at the sky. “A talking cat proved that.”