Chapter 3
three
Do Better
*GWENDOLYN*
“It’s so cute,” Faye exclaims, while looking at Tiger. She returned an hour ago, and obviously, the new pet is the main attraction to her. She completely forgot to tell me all about her sleepover; instead, she is hovering over Tiger.
Meanwhile, Marina is sitting in her usual space on the sofa, staring at the TV without truly watching it, while Faye and I tend to Tiger, together with the vet.
The first thing I did in the morning was to call Daniel, who promised to drop by right after breakfast, before his own shift began. Now, his kind eyes are looking at the little bird, and I am helping him by gently holding it, because the little bud is scared of anyone who isn’t me.
“How come he isn’t scared of me?” I ask.
“That’s hard to say,” he smiles at me. “Maybe it imprinted on you.”
“Is Tiger going to be okay?”
“Yes, you don’t need to worry, Gwen. Its wings aren’t broken. It might have bashed against your window or the wall, and was probably terrified or shocked. Maybe it was chased by a predator.”
“Is it a boy or a girl?” Faye asks.
Daniel chuckles. “It’s probably a girl. You see its brown feathers? Female birds usually have simple coloring, while the males are colorful. This is a sparrow; male sparrows don’t have very colorful feathers, but they are slightly more brightly colored.”
“So, they are showoffs?” Faye asks. “Like Emil?”
Emil is her friend from pre-school, a fun boy who really likes her, but who also loves to show off in front of her.
“Exactly,” Daniel says dryly, making me laugh.
He puts Tiger back into her nest before turning to me. “Actually, it should be ready to fly away now. But it doesn’t seem like it wants to. There is nothing wrong with Tiger. She isn’t hurt.”
“So, you are telling me she just wants to stay?”
He shrugs. “I know it sounds weird, especially considering it’s a wild animal, but as things are…“ He points at Tiger, who flutters out of her cardboard nest and onto the shelf with the plushies. “See?”
Faye follows Tiger, chatting with her as if she can understand her. Maybe Tiger can – we’ll probably never find out. Faye then switches to talking to Marina and explaining the situation to her in her adorable way. She is the sweetest.
I keep watching the scene, finally realizing that the bird I saved might not even have needed saving, but came along with me willingly. Maybe it indeed was scared, but it’s certainly not scared anymore. “How do I look after a bird?” I ask. “What does it need?”
Daniel laughs. “I had a feeling you would ask that, Gwen. I will give you a list of things. You can get some of these from me, but you will need to buy bird food.”
“Got it.” I nod. “Thank you, Daniel.”
“Anytime.”
“How much do I owe you?”
Daniel shakes his head. “You still ask that question. When will you learn that I won’t take any money from you?”
“But you help me so much all the time, especially with Tulip,” I say.
“So? You are my best friend’s daughter. You are like family to me; of course I will help when you need me. And I will be damned if I take a cent from you. If you want to pay me back, find a path for yourself that makes you happy.”
“I… I am not sure I know what you mean,” I admit.
“Gwennie, this place here, the underpaid job at the coffee shop,“ he pauses, “Brandon! Your dad can’t tell you anymore, so I will: You know you can do much better, don’t you? You know that you deserve more in life.”
“I don’t mind how my life is,” I say. “I like being with Faye and Marina-“
“These two aren’t the issue,” he says. “They are a lot of responsibility, maybe too much for a young person like you, but I understand why you choose to live with them.”
“You do?” I can’t help the wonder in my voice. Most people tell me I am insane for looking after them. Only Evelyn and Jacob have accepted it, and now Daniel’s telling me he understands.
“Of course, I would have done the same for my friend.”
“In a way, you are doing the same,” I point out. “Since Dad died, you have been watching out for me. Maddox’s goons never harmed me physically because of you, did they?”
Daniel raises his brows. “I might have had a few choice words with them.”
“And Maddox didn’t rat you out?”
“To whom?” he chuckles. “The alpha doesn’t give a shit about these smaller issues. Maddox knows that. Also, the pack obviously needs me.” They really do! Daniel is the only doctor we have, and obviously, he is essential for the pack. He also comes from a strong, powerful line of shifters.
“As for Maddox, he is…” Daniel continues before his voice trails off.
“Is what?” I push curiously.
“Nothing, forget I said anything. He is certainly not your problem,” Daniel says before squeezing my shoulder. “Will you at least think about what I told you?”
“You mean about my work and this place here?” I say, leaving out the fact that he mentioned Brandon.
Daniel doesn’t like him, and I don’t get why.
He keeps saying that I set the bar way too low, but Brandon is nice to me; he even says we are mates.
I haven’t told anyone about that part yet, as I want to be sure first.
Daniel looks at me for a while. “Yes,” he says, without pushing the Brandon issue.
“I will,” I concede. He doesn’t need to tell me that I can’t continue like this forever. I just don’t have any other plans for now.
“So, what’s your plan for today?” he asks.
“I am going to take Tulip for a walk,” I say. “It’s too warm to ride him, but he needs to get out, and you know how lazy he becomes when I don’t take him. Then I want to spend some time with Faye and Marina. Oh, and later tonight I will be at a party.”
At my last words, his head perks up. “That’s great! Here on pack grounds?”
“As if they would invite me,” I chuckle. “No, a college party. Brandon invited me.”
“Well, he finally gets a point for at least taking you out on a date,” he says.
Unfortunately, Daniel can’t stay any longer for coffee, as his shift starts soon. He gives Faye and me a hug, then gently approaches Marina, wishing her goodbye, but making sure not to touch her. Then he is out of the door.
Faye and I spend the remainder of the day together, and she decides to join me on my walk with Tulip. She is still so young, so we take it slowly. Eventually, I even put her on Tulip’s back, well aware that he has a gentle nature and would never throw her off.
Faye laughs and giggles like she always does. She is such a sunshine. Marina used to smile and laugh the same way. The more I watch Faye grow up, the stronger my resolve gets. I will make sure no one takes that smile from Faye like they did with Marina.
Later that afternoon, Evelyn drops by to help me get dressed for the party.
She will stay for a bit to keep Marina company and then take Faye back to her place.
I usually wear my dad’s flannel shirts or one of my tees, but obviously, I can’t go out like that.
Evelyn has brought some clothes her daughter used to wear.
“It’s only hand-me-downs,” she says. “I am sorry I couldn’t buy you something new, Gwen.”
“No, these are fantastic!” I protest. “Please don’t apologize. You are doing so much for me already.”
She beams. “I am glad to help you. Those black pants look good on you.”
“They are a bit short for me, but they work as seven-eighths pants.”
“You should wear them with heels,” Evelyn suggests, handing me a pair of black high heels.
I wonder if I will manage to be able to walk in them, but I am going to try.
Then we search for a fitting top until Evelyn finds a silver-toned, glittery halter-neck top with a revealing back.
It looks a tad outdated, but I like it that way, looks more me.
“What if I get cold?” I ask her.
“Here,” she says, handing me a cropped blazer.
I am not sure if this will in any way warm me, but for once, I want to look hot. It’s the first time I will have been out with Brandon, and maybe I am being shallow, but I want to look sexy for him. “Do you think Brandon will like this outfit?” I ask Evelyn.
“Oh, child,” she smiles. “He’d better because you always look beautiful.”
“I am not sure,” I admit. “I don’t think I am Brandon’s usual type. His exes were all smaller and just overall… more stylish.”
Evelyn frowns. “I don’t know Brandon well, so I can’t answer for him, but I know that you are a catch.”
“I don’t have a wolf spirit,” I mutter.
“Anyone who treats other people like you do, and who is ready to make such sacrifices for their chosen family, is a catch, no matter if they have a wolf spirit or not,” she says.
“Nothing is wrong with you, Gwendolyn. I am sure there is a reason why you don’t have a wolf, and I am sure the goddess has a plan for you. ”
She is the second one who has said this in the span of two days.
“I… Evelyn, I need to tell you something, but please don’t say anything to Jacob or Daniel. It’s more of a girl’s talk.”
Evelyn smiles. “You can trust me, honey.”
“Brandon says he thinks we are mates, but he isn’t sure.”
She stares at me, clearly needing some time to process what I just said. “And what do you feel?” she finally asks.
Her question confuses me. “Why should I feel anything? I am a human.”
“I don’t know much about human mates,” she says.
“But I am sure you would at least have to feel something. Besides, you are not human, Gwen. Shifter genetics don’t work that way.
You are half wolf, half human – there is no dominant side.
With or without a wolf spirit, you are part shifter, and as part shifter, you should feel something, shouldn’t you? ”
I stare at her for more than a moment. Rationally, she is right. I’ve just never seen it that way. “But I am sure every rule has exceptions.”
“Maybe,” she says. “But even if you aren’t able to feel the mate bond, then at least Brandon should clearly feel it. His wolf would notice you as his mate. There are cases in which the mate bond can be suppressed, but isn’t it too much of a coincidence that neither of you feels the bond clearly?”
“I guess it is,” I admit quietly.
“Gwen”-she takes my hands-“I don’t know Brandon. I just know he is a friend of Maddox, but other than that, I don’t know anything about him.”
“Daniel doesn’t like him,” I admit. “But he doesn’t know much about him either.”
“Daniel thinks you can do much better,” she says.
“And what do you think?”
“I think you should date whoever makes you happy,” she says. “If that’s Brandon, I’ll accept it. But…“
“But?”
“I don’t want him to lead you on,” she admits. “Gwen, are you sure he isn’t leading you on?”
Something in my chest churns slightly. “I don’t know,” I say quietly.
“Do you want to hear an old woman’s advice?”
I sigh. “I’m not sure I want to hear it, but I guess I have to.”
“Don’t jump into anything with Brandon, and don’t believe everything he tells you.
Be skeptical. You are a beautiful, smart woman, and whoever makes you feel less than you are, isn’t worth it.
I don’t believe Brandon is your mate, and I don’t know why he says he is.
I don’t want to judge him without knowing him, but Gwen, you need to have a talk with him. ”
Another sigh escapes my lips. “Okay,” I mutter. “I will talk to him properly.”
“Now I ruined your evening, didn’t I?”
“No, you didn’t. I started it myself by talking about Brandon,” I say. “I wanted advice.”
“We’ll still make sure that you look dashing,” she promises. “Then you can walk in there and have all eyes on you.”
Her words make me chuckle. “I am not sure if I want all eyes on me.”
“You would realize that you have other options,” Evelyn says simply.
I am curious as to what she is getting at, but decide not to push.
Instead, I search for a tutorial on how to do fancy makeup.
I was never able to learn these things from my mom, and I don’t have a sister or a female friend of my age, minus Marina, who isn’t in the right state to help me.
I don’t know if Mom is still alive, but Dad told me she was overwhelmed by having a child who was only half human, and left.
“What do you think?” I ask Evelyn once I am ready. She has Faye on her lap by now, and both of them beam at me.
“You look fantastic!” Evelyn proclaims. “Is Brandon going to pick you up?”
“No, I am meeting him there.”
I don’t wait for a reply and instead kiss Faye on the top of her head and hug Evelyn before hurrying outside.
As usual, I take my bike. Ever since Jacob upgraded it, I have great light even at night, and sturdier wheels.
It’s still early in the evening, so the air is still warm. A beautiful late spring night.