Chapter 48
Wren
The knock on my door startles me.
Peanut and Butter launch themselves off the couch where they’d been sleeping, their tiny bodies exploding with sudden energy. They race toward the door, barking their heads off like they’re guard dogs instead of fluffballs.
“Guys, relax,” I say, putting my mug of tea down on the coffee table and standing up.
I’m not expecting anyone. After everything that happened, I’ve been keeping to myself.
I go over to the door in my bare feet and peek through the peephole.
It’s Drake.
My eyebrows lift in surprise. What is he doing here?
I unlock the deadbolt and pull open the door. Peanut and Butter immediately shift their attention from barking to jumping on Drake’s legs, their tails wagging so hard their entire back-ends wiggle.
“Hey,” I say, unable to keep the surprise out of my voice. “This is unexpected.”
Drake smiles at my dogs, reaching down to scratch behind their ears. “Hey, Wren. Sorry to drop by unannounced.”
“It’s fine. Come in.” I step back, holding the door open wider.
He follows me inside. Peanut and Butter are still going crazy, circling his legs and demanding attention.
“Can I get you something to drink? Coffee? Water?” I ask, moving toward the kitchen.
“I’m not staying long,” Drake says, still giving the dogs attention. “But thank you.”
I nod, crossing my arms over my chest. “No problem. We should sit.”
We go to the living room and take a seat opposite each other.
“What brings you by?” I ask.
Drake straightens up, his expression turning more serious. “I’m glad you finally agreed to accept the money from the Mainland government.”
I feel my face flush. “Oh. Yeah. It took some convincing, but…I came around.”
“So why haven’t you filled in the forms they sent you?” His eyes are assessing. “They’ve been sitting in your inbox for days.”
I shift uncomfortably, suddenly feeling like a kid being called out by a teacher. “I’ve been meaning to get to them, but…it’s been a little hectic.”
Drake gives me a knowing smile and then a knowing look to follow. The kind that says he can see right through my bullshit.
I sigh. “Okay, fine. That’s not true. I’m still hesitant to take their money. It doesn’t feel right.”
“It is right,” Drake says firmly. “The Council fought hard to get you that compensation. After all you went through, you deserve it. It’s not taking a bribe.
Don’t see it like that. Everything is out in the open.
They’re not giving it to you to silence you.
It’s going to you because of what they did… what they put you through.”
I bite my lip, still not convinced. He must see it on my face because he continues.
“Use it to do good,” he says. “Give it away to charity. Ethan’s parents are donating half.
I don’t care what you end up doing, just as long as you take it.
Go for some therapy. Wait a while before you decide.
It’s all still so raw. Then use it, save it, give it away… I don’t care, as long as you take it.”
“You make a good point,” I say, nodding. “I’ll fill out the forms. I will probably give it all away to a good cause… We’ll see.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Drake’s shoulders relax. “There’s another reason I’m here.”
My stomach tightens. “I don’t want to talk about Grim. I said all I needed to say directly to him. If he wants to talk to me, he can come and see me.”
Drake’s eyes widen in surprise. “Actually, Grim is insisting that you get his share of the money. I’m here to inform you of that.”
“What?” I choke out a laugh. “That’s insane. I don’t want it.”
“I told him you would say that.” Drake shakes his head. “I had to check for myself. I might need you to sign a form to that effect.”
“I will, no problem.” I start to stand, eager to end this conversation. “If that’s all, it was nice seeing you. I promise I’ll fill in those forms. I’ll do it tonight.”
“Another one wanting to get rid of me.” Drake laughs, standing as well. “Grim practically threw me out of his house the other day. He very nearly kicked my ass just for being there.”
I don’t say anything. I meant what I said. I don’t want to talk about Grim. I want to forget all about him.
Fat chance of that.
“He’s not a bad male, you know,” he says, his voice gentler now. “He shouldn’t have lied to you, but he isn’t bad. In fact, there isn’t a bad bone in his body.”
“No, he shouldn’t have lied,” I say flatly.
“He’s making excuses as to why he wasn’t open with you.”
“Drake, I—”
“Let me finish, please.” He holds up a hand. “Then I’m out of your hair, I swear.”
I nod, crossing my arms again.
“He’s actually one of the most big-hearted people I know,” Drake continues. “He won’t admit it, but he is.”
“I know,” I say, and I mean it. “It doesn’t change things. It doesn’t change what he did.”
“He should never have mind-bonded you, Wren.”
“He should have told me what was going on. It—”
“Yes, he should have told you,” Drake interrupts. “But in the end, he never should have mind-bonded with you because you breaking that bond is going to cost him so much.”
“I didn’t break anything.” Anger flares in my chest. “Don’t put this on me, Drake.
I was in the dark. I was given a split second to decide whether to mind-bond or not.
He told me he would be fine. I asked him afterward, and he said that it was nothing.
That it meant nothing. That he would be absolutely fine without me. ”
“He lied.”
“Big fucking surprise,” I grind out.
“He lied to protect himself. He lied to protect you.” His expression is serious now, almost grave. “In so doing, he sacrificed himself for you.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask, my voice rising.
“He might not survive another mind-bond break.” Drake shrugs. “In fact, he probably won’t. I can see all the classic signs. He’s in trouble.”
My heart stutters in my chest. “Is Grim going to die?” My voice breaks, and a lump lodges itself in my throat. I clear it, trying hard to keep my composure. “Do I need to stay on Draig Island? Be near him? See his dragon on weekends? What?”
“He isn’t going to die,” Drake tells me, and I clutch my chest, sighing with relief. “And you don’t have to see him on weekends,” he adds.
“Why did you scare the crap out of me then?” I demand, angry now. “What was all this ‘he’s sacrificed himself’ bullshit?”
“Grim didn’t know that he would make it through another break when he mind-bonded you,” Drake tells me. “He knew you would probably hate him when the truth came out. That you would want nothing to do with him. That he would be fucked and probably die. He knew, and he mind-bonded you anyway.”
“I don’t get it.” I shake my head. “You just told me he isn’t going to die, and now you’re saying he is. Which is it?”
“He’s due for his vaccination right now.
He won’t have it, which means he won’t stay feral.
It also means he’ll be more in touch with his beast. That will allow him to get through this.
It’ll still be a long road. He’s broken.
I saw him yesterday and…” He shakes his head.
“He didn’t know any of this beforehand, and he still bonded with you.
He didn’t know that a broken bond wouldn’t be as severe, but he still jumped in because that’s what Grim does.
That’s who he is. He did it to save you, Wren. ”
“And Falkor…and himself,” I fill in.
“He did it to save you. If you don’t see that, you’re a fool.”
“Excuse the hell out of me.” Heat floods my face. “I think you’d better go. Grim might be good and all that, but he isn’t right for me. I can’t be with…someone like him.”
“A liar?” Drake asks.
“Yes.” I lift my chin. “I can’t. He lied more than once. I promised myself never again. I’m sticking to that promise.”
“He lied for a good reason,” Drake says.
“What? Because you forbade him from telling me?” I roll my eyes. It’s bullshit, and he knows it.
“That’s not why he lied. Not even close.” Drake’s eyes are steady on mine. “I think you know why. You know deep down inside. I think you walked away just as quickly for the same reason. You’re both in denial.”
“About what, exactly?” I demand.
“Nope. You have to figure that out for yourself.”
“What’s with the cryptic bullshit?” I ask, putting my hands on my hips.
“You’re just as defensive as he was. You can’t put it all on him; that isn’t fair.” Drake moves toward the door. “It was nice seeing you, Wren. Sign those papers. I’ll tell Grim you don’t want his money.”
He opens the door and leaves before I can say another word.
I’m still standing there with my mouth gaping.
I have no idea what to make of that.
He said I’m in denial. About what?
I’m pretty sure Drake has it all wrong. No, he definitely has it wrong. I’m not in denial about anything.
Grim lied more than once. He told me that I meant nothing to him. He let me walk away. The end. There’s nothing more there.
If Drake thinks I’m going to go and throw myself at Grim’s feet, he’s sorely mistaken. It isn’t going to happen. If he came to my door, I’d slam it in his face.
I’m done.