Chapter Eight #2
And she understood it. How many people out there were in their beds right now, wishing for the kind of peace he was finding out in the woods at all these locations.
How many weren’t able to take off work long enough to enjoy something like this?
But they could all watch it and feel a part of that peace he was bringing to this channel.
She bet Tabian had inspired so many people to buy or rent camping gear and visit the places he was finding.
And even bigger, she bet he had convinced so many humans that werewolves weren’t so different from them after all.
Tabian sure was something else.
And he had talked about her. In a roundabout way, he had mentioned her.
The video went on for another ten minutes as he set up strands of outdoor lights and read a fishing magazine by the fire and then prepared for bed.
And as the camera angle changed again, and he was in the woods kicking out of his shoes, he still said nothing.
Only smiled at the camera with a knowing expression and then disappeared off screen.
And then it cut to a nighttime scene in the woods.
At first, seconds dragged on and nothing happened.
It was dim lighting and the cricket song, and a gentle breeze blowing through the branches.
But then she saw it. A little flash of movement came from the back left.
She paused it and backed it up ten seconds, and paid attention to that part of the frame.
There.
A light gray wolf looked right at the camera, only visible through the trees, and then disappeared into the foliage.
Oh.
My.
Gosh.
Tabian had really done it. He’d gone wolf on camera for all of his followers to see.
Tru smiled. He’d gone wolf for her to see.
His animal was huge, and powerful, and the frost remained in his eyes when he was Changed.
He’d just owned it.
She was equal parts proud, attracted to his confidence, and scared for him.
Tru dipped to the comments and began to read them.
…I bet we could find her on here…
…does anyone know a way to search recent followers to this page?...
…that wouldn’t work. He could’ve been dating her since the beginning and we wouldn’t know. He’s always been quiet about that side of his life…
…shit, there goes my fantasy of marrying this specific werewolf…
…I bet that’s why he’s toying with the idea of outing his wolf. I bet she’s making him happy and comfortable with sharing more of his life. Hell yeah…
…how long have we been begging to see the wolf? He better not be teasing us again. I’m going to start a riot…
…I will riot with you!...
…me two…
…me three…
…hey if she is the reason he’s starting to share personal stuff? I’m a fan. Go on girl…
…does she even realize what she has?...
…does he? Come on, girl. If Tabian is choosing her, she’s gotta be a ten…
A wave of insecurity consumed Tru suddenly, and she backed out of the comments in a rush. A ten? She was a six, at best, when she was dressed to the nines.
A text from Tabian vibrated her phone, and she startled hard. Looks like you have a fan club forming in the comments. How mad are you?
Why would I be mad? Send.
Are you freaking out?
A little. Send.
Uh oh. I can delete the video if you want. I can keep you out of the spotlight. I know this is a lot.
NO! Send. DO NOT DELETE THE VIDEO! Send. I don’t hate it. I like it. You talked about me kind of. Send.
Oh, there is no kind of. I’m pretty sure my followers are doing a deep dive into all my comments right now trying to figure out who you are.
You said mate. Twice. Send.
Yes. That’s all he said. Just a simple yes.
She twirled a strand of hair around her finger and thought about how all of this made her feel. Honestly? She was happy. Really happy.
She began typing, but her bedroom door flew open and Bay filled up the entire open doorway.
“Are you talking to him?” Bay asked, his eyes a fiery gold.
“Umm…who?” she asked in a small voice, knowing damn-well she was busted.
Bay turned his phone toward her, and it was open on Tabian’s video.
Shhhit.
“Is he talking about you?” he asked, cocking his head to the side.
There was no escaping his direct line of questioning.
“Look, it’s complicated—”
“He’s talking about someone who is older than him, who has a kid, and he doesn’t even know if that kid plays sports which tells me something pretty freaking important, Tru.”
“What?”
“He doesn’t know I’m a werewolf, does he?”
Tru pursed her lips and tried to decide how best to answer. “That is your story to tell, Bay. If you ever meet him, you can introduce yourself however you want, but I protect that side of you.”
He jammed his phone screen closer. “He’s showing his wolf on camera, and you think that’s the person you should trust to help you protect that side of me. Seriously?”
“Bay, can you just let me be happy?”
“My dad made you happy, remember? He made a lot of women happy until he didn’t. You were his target. You were there to serve a purpose—”
“What purpose?”
“To be a replacement parent for me!” Bay paced out of the room and back as she sat there in shock.
“He talked about you to me before I even met you. He talked about you like a nanny for me. Like a babysitter. He wanted to live his life, and having a kid was cramping his style, and he chose you as a target, and you thought you were happy. You were used, Tru.”
“And you think Tabian is using me?”
He shrugged.
“Sit down.”
Bay snarled up a lip. “I’m going to bed.”
“Sit. Down!” she barked, jamming a finger at the edge of the bed.
Another growl escaped him, but she was used to that. Bay’s wolf was dominant and he didn’t like being told what to do.
Slowly, Bay stepped into the room and leaned against the wall right beside the door, leaving room for an easy escape. “What?”
“Tabian doesn’t have a kid. He’s listening to my insecurities and putting them to rest. I told him about your dad hiding me, and he mentioned me on his video tonight.”
“It’s an angle. We’re born to manipulate.”
Tru released a sigh. “Boy, I love you. Do you understand that?”
“I’m not yours to love.”
“Yes, you are. I am what you have, and you are what I have. Every decision I’ve made in my life has led me here, to getting to finish out your raising. I understand you not wanting me to date—”
“A werewolf. I don’t want you dating a werewolf. I don’t want you dragging us down with your bad decisions.”
Tru let off a very human growl. “You know, I always saw the advice on television shows. Teens are the hardest. They’re stubborn and will insult you and not listen and think they know every goddamn thing, but it never really clicks until you are raising one and trying to remain calm and kind when they are being little jerks! ”
Bay flinched and dropped his gaze to the carpet.
“I’m going to say it again,” she murmured in a softer voice.
“I love you. You are so special to me. I think the hurt I went through with your dad was worth it because I get to be your stepmom. If you don’t want me to talk to Tabian or see him anymore…
well…” Fuck, her chest hurt saying this part out loud.
“I’ll respect it. I know you’ve been hurt to.
I hope you don’t stay shut down to other people forever though.
I don’t want us to be alone forever. I want us to build a support system. ”
“I want you to stop talking to him. I want you to stop seeing him. I want you to get me to eighteen, and independent, and keep us as steady as you can, and then you can do whatever you want. I’ll accept anyone you want after I move out of here.
Or at least I’ll try. But you are one year out from my dad destroying you, and this feels like too much, too fast, and too familiar.
” He pushed off the bed and made his way to the door. “Cut him off, Trudy. Please.”
He closed the door gently behind him, and Tru drew her knees to her chest under the covers.
There was no book on how to raise a dominant teenager werewolf who was afraid of something or someone taking his anchor to this world away from him. There was no Raising Werewolves for Dummies book. She knew. She’d looked.
She was struggling with her role as a parent figure here, and honestly? She was hurt.
Tru stood and made her way to the door, her pajama bottom pants dragging the ground at her heel. She pulled the door open and made her way to the living room where Bay was heating food in the microwave.
“You know, your dad used to control everything I did too. Used to tell me what to do and feel threatened if I was too happy. You’re getting pretty familiar lately, Bay.”
“Oh yeah? Is this the part where you tell me I’m just like my dad? You really think that’s what I’m doing? Trying to control you?” he asked.
“Is it? Nah!” She held a finger up to stop his automatic retort. “Don’t answer me. Think about it. Really think about it tonight. Figure out your feelings on why you don’t like me smiling over a nice grown man who reminds me nothing of your father.”
“You make bad decisions when it comes to men—”