Chapter 24 #2
In moving beside her and even with keeping a foot between us, the pull toward her lingered, burning embers that would take days or weeks to fade.
“Is everything okay?” she asked and I could swear I heard a tremor in her voice, as if she’d expected one day I’d discover the truth. Thank God that had happened before it was too late.
The only problem was I knew in my gut that I had already fallen for her.
It was more difficult to put anything into words than I’ve ever experienced before. I found one of the pieces mentioning her treachery, handing it to her.
“What’s this?” Her smile quickly faded even before she took the phone from me.
“Look.”
Chelsea’s eyes narrowed, but she did as I asked. Evidently, she hadn’t anticipated her ruse would be discovered so quickly. She even played the part of being angry, almost horrified. When she finally lifted her head, those lovely lips I’d kissed for hours the night before twisted in frustration.
“I had no idea.” Even her voice was low, vibrating with emotion. But it was obvious she could be a damn good actress. “However, my father is exactly like what is depicted in these articles. A ruthless bastard.”
“Right. You can cut the act, Chelsea.”
“What are you talking about?”
I raked my hand through my hair, loathing the rage already beginning to build.
“Your father is one of the richest men in the country. His company, Consolidated Technologies, is not only a ruthless company that buys other technology firms only to destroy them from the inside out, but he does so by skating around laws. Even that isn’t as upsetting as learning he has it out for shifters.
See, we’re not real people to him. More like another commodity he can absorb and toss aside.
Including my father’s sawmill and every other piece of property owned by decent, hardworking families.
Shifter families. None of the properties being stolen are owned by pure humans. ”
“My God. I didn’t know, Cole. I already told you I’m estranged from my father. Now you see why.”
“Is that the truth or were you playing me, hoping that I could help smooth things over? My guess is your father has a lot riding on the various acquisitions. Now I don’t know what leverage there is or corruption I can find, but I plan on doing so.
I refuse to allow my family or my neighbors to suffer because of your father’s greed. ”
I snatched the phone from her hand.
“I’ll help you. I’d do whatever I can to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
“Did Jagger help you?”
“What? No! He hates my father more than I do. You talked with him. You know that.”
Yeah, maybe I did, although blood was still blood.
Laughing felt wrong, crippling. “I think you’ve done enough.
Give yourself an A for effort and I’m sure your father will promote you to vice president or something.
We’re done here. I’ve arranged to have someone take you back to Seattle.
” Seeing tears in her eyes shouldn’t affect me.
I should hate her, but I couldn’t stand the thought of not having her in my life.
But what choice did I have?
It took every ounce of strength inside me to walk away.
“Wait. Cole. I can fix this. I promise you I will do everything in my power.”
I stopped in the doorway, gripping the edge with so much force the wood cracked. “No, Chelsea. We’re done. We. Are. Done.”
* * *
North Bend had always been a special place growing up. At the foothills of the Cascade Mountain Range, the natural beauty had been seen in countless movies and television shows over the years.
As a kid, even though I’d enjoyed so many outdoor activities over the years, I hadn’t fully appreciated the incredible landscaping until now. Maybe because it would soon be torn down, replaced with energy-sucking facilities that would rob the area of everything special.
I’d never been so enraged, my entire body buzzing from electricity for all the wrong reasons.
This was my favorite place in the world. I’d also come to realize that from the traveling I’d done so far in playing hockey. I stood staring through the line of trees toward one of several waterfalls in the area.
The lagoon below had been the summer watering hole and not just for the Kendrick family, but for other shifter families. The area was surrounded by properties owned by our kind. Our species. The earth’s abomination. Whatever fucking pure blood humans wanted to call us.
We’d had picnics here, community gatherings and this had been the exact spot where my father had taught me how to shift into my wolf.
God, I’d been so scared, refusing to admit it to anyone.
“You’d been a terrified kid that day. I’ll never forget how brave you were trying to be, acting as if it was no big deal.”
Hearing Beck’s voice, I hung my head. “You’re reading my mind now?”
“Pretty damn easy to do, brother. Your anger inside your head is loud and clear. Anyone could read your damn mind right now.”
“Not anyone,” Ford chimed in as he flanked my side. “We’re special, brother. We’re blood. Our connection will always be tight. Always.”
“Blood. That’s more important than ever. How did you know I’d be here?” I glanced from one to the other.
“You love this place.” Beck sighed. “We all do.”
As the light breeze tickled my skin, I took several deep breaths in hopes of clearing my head. The scents were strong, exhilarating and inviting. It was as if the forest was calling to my wolf.
“The last place I shifted was right here.” The memory was now bittersweet. I’d done so to save my hockey career. Now I wasn’t certain if it mattered any longer.
“You can’t do this to yourself, Cole,” Beck told me. “Our father has a mind of his own. Maybe it’s time let go of the past.”
I walked closer to the pathway leading down to the water, peering over the craggy edge.
I knew they’d follow. “You know what’s crazy?
I always thought one day I’d be back. I’d raise a family here.
We’d enjoy barbecues and movie nights. We’d laugh at stupid shit people did and my kids would never bring their phones to the dinner table. ”
“Maybe you can still have that,” Ford said from behind me. “Beck and I talked about it. Maybe we could all go together to a bank and see what we’re dealing with.”
Of course, I’d thought more about the idea, including the logistics. “It won’t work, Ford. We don’t have any collateral.”
“Our name in the NHL.” Beck’s suggestion brought a smile.