Chapter 17 - Wilf #2
“She’s a nice girl,” Luna says gently, “I’m sure she’ll see us for who we are.”
Nick nods, standing and says. “Right, let’s not hide in here talking about her. That will only make things worse. Wilf, thank you for the update. I take Ethan’s concerns on board, and we’ll assess as we go, but she has our protection. We’ll get this figured out.”
I catch Ethan’s eye as we all begin filing out of the room, but he doesn’t say anything, and neither do I. Connor catches my arm in the doorway.
“Don’t be hard on Ethan,” he says, “he’s not coming at you or her.
He’s spent the last few months caught up in so many border clashes with random Cheslem leftovers, the ones who are still riding high on dark magic and scavenging for their next fix.
He’s feeling pretty raw over it all and just wants to protect Silvercreek.
But he’d never see any harm come to an innocent either. ”
“Yeah, I know,” I say, knowing damn well Ethan’s a good man. “I don’t know what got me so riled.”
Connor smirks, “You sure about that?” He asks, brow raised.
I pause, trying to think of something to say that doesn’t sound like I’m telling him just to fuck off, but my mind goes blank.
Thankfully, I’m saved by two of the older boys charging through the hall.
We move out of the way, and I take the opportunity to slip back into the main room where most are gathered, pouring drinks and setting out food on the enormous table.
It’s a cold, clear morning, and I look out at the back porch and down to the garden beyond, where Fiona’s kids are playing with Caleb’s daughter, who has just arrived with Dina and their brand new baby.
I know Dina will want to get caught up on the security side, but Caleb is insisting she take proper maternity leave.
I can’t see her staying out of this, though; she’s got one of the best tactical minds in the pack.
I spot Lara standing next to Fiona and Fern, each holding a hot drink out on the porch and talking.
The other women are laughing, but Lara looks a little more tense.
She turns and catches my eye, and I see something like a smile cross her face, maybe relief, and I guess that makes sense as I’m the only one she really knows.
I hold back, watching as Connor makes a beeline for Fern, placing his hand on her lower back as he passes and whispering in her ear.
Thomas heads straight for Fiona and kisses her before being dragged away by their oldest boy to roughhouse.
I linger by the island. I normally make my excuses at this point and leave, but I know I can’t, and I find myself not wanting to, needing to be near Lara.
I spot Nick and Luna walking toward her, and I’m moving before I even think it through, knowing how nervous the alpha will make her.
“Lara,” he says, “I’m Nick, Alpha of Silvercreek. Welcome, and sorry it’s so loud today.” He adds as a child’s happy scream fills the air.
Lara’s eyes go wide, but she nods. “T-thank you for having me,” she says quietly, “for getting me, I mean.”
“That’s alright, Lara,” Nick replies, “there’s more to talk about, but we’ll figure out the next steps.”
“Alright,” Lara replies, her voice steadier this time.
“Good,” Nick nods, “Now, make sure you get some food.”
He steps away, and I release a breath I know I didn’t need to hold. Nick is a great alpha and a good man. Lara was never in any trouble, and yet, I can’t quite get my wolf to admit that. He’s on edge and far too close to the surface for a casual pack meeting.
Fiona immediately turns to talk to Lara, and I see her shoulders drop slightly.
I decide to hang back, leaning on the rail.
Ethan has taken a similar spot, and we stand a few feet from each other, both seemingly giving the other a wide berth after the clash in the office.
If it were anyone else, I’d probably smooth it over, but Ethan’s never needed that from me.
I watch the kids below us roughhousing and notice Fiona’s youngest boy rushing toward the older kids.
I see what happens next in slow motion as the small one is knocked sideways by the two older boys playfighting; they’re oblivious, the way boys are, but before anyone else can react, I hear Lara’s voice.
“Stop.” She says, her hand out, and a wave of pressure rushes through the garden.
It doesn’t feel the same as back in the forest or at the cabin.
It’s not targeted at one wolf; instead, it feels like a wave that rolls out, dissipating as it flows acoustically from the epicenter.
Which is Lara herself. The kids freeze. I watch as Bryan freezes on the grass, Ethan staggers on the rail, and even Nick, with his alpha wolf, shakes his head as if trying to focus.
I watch as the kids get back to their feet, glancing around to see if anyone else felt it, and then spotting the boy on the ground and pulling him to his feet.
I watched it all, but although I felt it, it didn’t floor me the way it did the first time. Maybe I’m just getting used to it.
As everyone begins to shake it off, they all turn to Lara at the same time, and she freezes. I see the horror cross her face, and I’m moving, crossing to her before anyone else can react.
“Lara, look at me,” I say, low. “It’s fine. The kids are fine.”
She looks at me, and I realize she’s shaking.
“Wilf, I didn’t mean…I didn’t do it on purpose, I…” She says, tears welling.
“I know,” I tell her, my hand on her arm. “Everyone’s fine, see.”
She glances around as the kids start running around again, shaking it off the way only kids can.
The adults are more cautious. Connor rubs the back of his neck, and Nick cracks his neck as Luna whispers something to him.
The only other person who seems bemused and completely unaffected is Fern.
Fiona moves first, heading down the steps and scooping her youngest son up to check him over, but he quickly wriggles out of her arms and goes running after the bigger boys again, determined to join in.
“I-I’m sorry,” Lara says as Fiona climbs the steps again, “I didn’t mean…”
“Lara, stop,” Fiona says quickly, “you didn’t hurt anyone. You tried to stop Sam hurting him; don’t apologize for that, ever.”
Luna walks over too. “Lara, it’s alright. Please sit, breathe.”
Lara sits down next to her, and gradually everyone resumes what they’re doing. Someone fetches Lara a fresh drink, and Nick comes to stand next to me.
“Ok, so that’s what you were talking about,” he says. “It’s interesting, alright. Do you think that was mild?”
I nod. “Compared to what she described when the rogues tried to attack her at the camp,” I tell him.
“Ok,” he says and then addresses Lara, “Don’t worry, Lara. Honestly. We know the difference between someone reacting and someone trying to hurt us.”
Lara nods and attempts a smile, but I can tell she still finds Nick, and probably all the others, intimidating. Luna puts her drink down on the table and sits forward.
“Nick and I were talking through options where you could stay, until we get things sorted…” She begins.
“She’s with me,” I say before she’s even finished talking, and Lara’s eyes flick to mine, along with everyone else's in earshot.
Lara nods, “Yes, that’s fine with me.”
Everyone nods, and the conversation moves on, and I’m left trying to settle my wolf, who is still highly strung.
He feels happier now she’s agreed to stay, which I’m not sure whether the plan was coming into this; we have other places in the center of town where visitors can stay, but the reality is, my wolf wouldn’t have been happy with that.
I tell myself it’s just physical, or maybe even a sense of obligation, but I know there’s a lie in there somewhere. I’m just not sure where yet.