Chapter Twelve
Her co-worker, Sarah, had called Tru first thing this morning and asked to switch shifts, and you know? Tru believed in things happening for a reason at the perfect time.
She hadn’t slept a wink last night.
She stood by the door with the breakfast sandwich she’d made in her hand, staring at Bay’s closed door.
When he opened it, she forced a smile and held out the sandwich.
He always rushed out of the house so they didn’t have to do a sit-down breakfast, and usually she was complaining that he wasn’t eating enough in the mornings and it wasn’t good for his wolf or his control, and bla bla bla, but this morning, she had been prepared.
He closed the door to his room gently and then turned for her, saw her there and froze.
“Have a good day at school,” she said as brightly as she could manage.
His gaze dashed to the breakfast sandwich, still steaming from the freshly cooked fried egg in it.
He approached slowly and took it from her. “I heard you crying last night,” he said gruffly. “Did that guy give you a hard time?”
“No,” she said bravely. “I broke it off.”
Bay frowned and looked away. “Oh. Good.”
“Here are the keys,” she murmured, handing him her car keys.
“You aren’t taking me to school today? I thought you had work.”
“I’m taking the day off.”
He held her gaze for a few seconds more and then took the keys and opened the front door.
She waited on the porch to wave him off, but he turned before he’d even hit the driveway. “Why did you break it off with Tabian?”
“For you. You don’t like him, you don’t have a good feeling about him, so okay. You come first, kid. You’re going to figure that out someday.”
Bay looked troubled and ducked his gaze, then gave her a little wave and got into the car. She waved him off and went back inside where she could have her pity party in peace, where little teenage werewolf ears couldn’t pick up her sniffles.
She made her way into the kitchen, but there was an abrupt knock on the door.
With a frown, she checked the time. Her landlord had an exterminator scheduled to come over to take care of an ant problem in the garage, but not until later.
She made her way to the door, opened it, and froze.
Tabian stood there with a pair of steaming coffees in his hands.
His eyes were lightened to a frosty blue, and his dark hair was mussed, as if he’d been running his hands through it this morning.
He hadn’t shaved and his three-day stubble was darkening his chiseled jaw.
He wore a simple white long-sleeved shirt that clung to his muscular shoulders.
The white shirt and dark hair made his eyes look even brighter.
“No,” he said simply.
“What?” she asked, confused.
“No, we aren’t breaking up.”
“Just…no?”
“Nope. I refuse. We can talk about whatever you need to talk about, but this throwing-in-the-towel habit when something goes sideways doesn’t work for me. I’m not finished here.”
“But…” She swallowed hard. “I’m a stepmom, and I have a difficult kid who doesn’t like you—”
“He doesn’t know me.”
“I don’t think that matters to him.”
“You have to give me time, Tru. You sprung a werewolf teenager on me and then bolted when he reacted badly, but you have to understand what actually happened.”
“I do understand. He doesn’t want me dating werewolves—”
“He doesn’t want you dating anyone because he doesn’t want to be abandoned.
That’s it. Now, you can let him have his way and teach him that he can destroy any kind of happiness you pursue by throwing a tantrum, and you can choose to grow that type of man, or you can make him sit in it for a little while and give him a chance to learn to trust.”
“But—”
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said, each word a careful, enunciated oath.
“But…I’m older—”
“I don’t’ give a shit and neither does my wolf, and neither does my boner. You’re five years older than me, not a hundred. What else?”
“I am a stepmom—”
“Sweet, the world needs more stepmoms like you. Next.”
“I…I…I have trouble trusting, and I have damage, and running away is easier and more comfortable than staying with you.”
He nodded. “There you go. Now we’re getting somewhere. Here,” he said, handing her one of the coffees. He crowded her in the doorway and leaned down and kissed her forehead, then eased up. Softly he murmured, “Unblock my number.”
She pursed her lips and cupped the warm coffee cup closer to her chest. “You noticed.”
“I tried to message you all night. I couldn’t sleep.”
“Well, you didn’t respond when I messaged you.”
“Woman, I went wolf. I can’t text when I have paws,” he said, holding his hand up.
“I don’t even have the same feelings when I’m a wolf.
Liam called the Pack into the woods so he could regroup us after that fight with Bayen.
That was messy and we’ve been going through it with some bloodshed on our Pack. ”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Bayen,” she murmured, taking a seat at the table. “I feel awful about it.”
“It’s okay. I’ve thought about it all, and I get it.
I don’t know if I would’ve told anyone either.
You’re right. It is his story to tell, and if he didn’t give you express permission to go around telling people what he is, you handled me well.
It was best that I just saw him, but you have to be forgiving on my reaction. ”
“You didn’t react badly. You protected him from Bridger’s wolf. I…I trusted that you were keeping him safe. Well, until you wouldn’t let me doctor him.”
“And did you doctor him on the way home?”
“No. He wouldn’t let me.”
“Good. He’s learning. That boy has not been disciplined properly.
And that’s not a shot at you. He’s going to test a human constantly.
It’s in his nature. He can’t push like that on a grown werewolf.
That was a lesson. Right now, his entire life should be revolving around lessons, and most of them should be administered by other male werewolves. That boy needs structure.”
“You speak as if you know all about parenting a werewolf,” she grumbled. It wasn’t as easy as he was making it sound.
“I’m speaking on my own experience as a teenage werewolf who had been left by his dad.”
She swallowed a gasp. “What?”
Tabian canted his head and took the seat next to her, then pulled her by the knees until her chair scooted closer to his and her legs rested right between his thighs.
He left his fingers hooked right under her knees.
“That boy is hurt, and it’s leaking onto you.
It’s not personal. He’s full of hormones and anger and hate and a wolf that is obviously giving him some hell, and he’s doing it outside of a Pack that could direct him.
From here on, I want him Changing up in my territory. ”
“What?”
“I talked to Liam about it this morning. And Bridger. And Vic because he is fuckin’ nosey and was hanging around outside the window like a stalker listening.
The Pack can avoid Changes while he’s in the woods.
We’ve got a safe spot, it’s set up for Changes, there are no animal traps, there is a river with fresh water, plenty of game, and if he gets into trouble, help will be right there. ”
“But…I don’t even know if he would want to.”
“Then you ask him. We can ask him together. On his Change nights, you can come and stay with me, or if you’re not comfortable staying in my house quite yet, you can stay with one of the girls.
You can be close to him. He’ll be out there causing hell in the woods all night, but you don’t have to worry about where he is. ”
Her eyes prickled with tears and she ducked her gaze. A wave of relief had washed over her, and it was hard to breathe right now. “I’m really overwhelmed.”
He hooked his finger under her chin and lifted her gaze to his.
“I don’t want you trying to set me free anymore.
I’m where I want to be.” He shook his head.
“No more pushing me away, no more blocking me at the first sign of trouble. Is that what is familiar? That’s what it was like at the end of your relationship with Bayen’s dad? ”
She nodded, her throat too thick to speak.
“I understand, but I’m not him. Okay? If we have shit to work out, we’re going to sit in the uncomfortable conversation and work it out. Deal?”
A sob escaped her and she fell forward and put her face in her hands to hide.
“Shhhh,” he said, pulling her onto his lap.
She straddled him and melted against him completely as he slid his big strong arms around her.
And God, nothing had felt this good in as long as she could remember.
It wasn’t a manipulative come-back after he’d been disrespectful like it had been with her ex.
Tabian was here first thing in the morning to fix insecurities and get them to a better understanding.
Even after everything that happened last night.
Her heart was being pried wide open.
“I’m trying so hard with Bay,” she said.
“You’re doing better than you know,” he assured her, rubbing her back now with his big, powerful hands. “Trust me. You are. You’re so damn tough, Tru. I can’t name another human who could do what you’re doing with that boy. I’m serious. I can’t name a single one.”
It felt so good to hear something positive, she melted even more, and slid her arms around his neck, buried her face against his throat and wished she could somehow be even closer to him right now. “I think I need help with him.”
Tabian eased her back and gripped her shoulders. His eyes were so open right now. “Then choose me.”
She searched his glowing blue eyes, all choked up with emotion.
“Choose me,” he murmured again. “I can help. I know I can. It’ll take some time, but I can shoulder some of the stress. I hated when you blocked me—”
“Tabian—”