Chapter Fifty-One
Ipulled into the house a little earlier than I expected.
The grocery store was pretty empty, except for two workers.
I grabbed my groceries and was out of the door before anyone said hello to me, which was fine.
I needed a shower, and to see my girl. I brought everything inside and put it next to the closet.
I left the door locked until I was ready to go over.
I would do everything I needed to first because I knew if I went to the cabin, I was going to get an earful.
I hopped in the shower and groaned. It felt amazing to have my shower again.
I had bought new shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.
I had a brilliant idea as I was shopping.
One that was sure to make Brandon go slightly insane.
I smirked as I sniffed the strawberry scent I had missed the last few years. Nix and Megan both sniffed the air and sighed.
I missed this smell. Nix purred in my mind.
Megan nodded. It makes me feel at home.
I finished my shower and got out, covering myself in more strawberry scented product.
My scent was throwing off the combination, but soon enough, the strawberry fragrance would wear off.
I smirked as I got dressed and locked the house down.
I stepped through the closet with the bags of food to find everyone waiting, pacing, and crying in my bedroom.
“Where the fuck have you been?” My mother lunged for me. I barely had time to put the food down before she was sobbing in my arms. “I thought I had lost you.” Her ragged words hit my stomach and I pulled her close.
“I’m fine. I got out.” I pulled back and kissed her cheek.
“What do you mean you got out?” Wendy called.
I dropped down and picked Carly up. “Hey baby girl. Miss me?”
Carly’s eyes were full of pain. “I thought you left me, too.”
I hugged her close. “I can’t say I won’t ever leave you, but I will tell you I will never leave you willingly, baby girl.” I clutched her to my chest and looked at my friends. Even Lynn was there. “You look better.”
She smiled. “This place has given me back my peace.” I watched her eyes darken. “Now I’m focused on becoming stronger.”
I nodded as Carly pulled away. “Grandma started to train us together, even me.”
I looked at my mom, and she nodded. “We all needed a distraction this last week.” Her eyes searched mine. “We were all a little scared when you disappeared.”
I nodded. “Porch wine later. I brought a few bottles.” I smiled at them and all eyes turned to Carly. But my sweet girl wasn’t stupid.
“You just don’t want me to hear it.”
I nodded. “I don’t. If I could keep it from you entirely, I would.” I kissed her head. “Now how bout we make dinner? I brought a few frozen pizzas, and then we can get ready for bed.”
Carly looked up at me. “Can I sleep in here with you?” Her voice was soft and held a tiny bit of worry.
I kissed her temple. “I’m not going anywhere, baby.” I hugged her tighter. “Of course you can.”
Wendy and Toya gave me a side hug as they gathered the bags. But the Toya turned. “She’s been too worried about you to do much else. Why don’t you go down to the tree? She hasn’t been to see her dad all week and I know she has wanted to.”
I nodded. “Let’s go see daddy.”
Carly smiled. “Okay.” She wiggled down and then ran downstairs.
I turned to my mom and Lynn. “Two weeks.”
Lynn stood and nodded. “I can be ready in two weeks.”
“So can I.” But I shook my head. “I need you here, mom.”
“No. We all discussed it. Wendy is going to stay with Carly. Toya, me and Lynn will be coming with you.” I could tell her mind was already made up, but I felt it. It was wrong.
“I can’t allow that, mom.” I watched as she grew mad, but I held up my hand before she could scream. “Something is coming here. I can’t tell what it is, but you will be needed here to protect everyone.”
She deflated. “But what about you?”
“I’ll be fine.” I kissed her. “Now I have to take my kid to go see her dad. Porch wine, and we will discuss everything,”
Lynn nodded. “I’m going to train…Ainsley do you mind coming to help?”
She stared at me for a minute before she nodded and turned to Lynn. “Of course, sweetheart.” We all trailed down the stairs and out the back door where Carly was vibrating, too excited to contain it.
“Let’s go, Amy.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the grave. There was already a small blanket set up and Carly ran to it. She dropped on to the soft fabric. “Hi daddy. I miss you. But Amy finally came back.” She looked back at me and smiled.
I opened myself up as I sat down and sent out a call. “Sorry it took so long.” I sighed as I sat down next to her.
“You were busy.” Carl’s voice was sad, and as I looked over, both he and my grandmother looked worried. “But you are here now.”
“I didn’t expect both of you.” I sighed.
“Daddy.” Carly called as she jumped up, but I grabbed her.
“He’s not really here, baby, remember? You can’t touch him.” She trembled and then she sat back down. They settled across from us with the grave between us.
“I forgot.” She looked at him. “I miss you, daddy.”
“And I miss you too, baby.” He leaned over, the need to touch his daughter too much.
“I heard every time you prayed to me.” His eyes softened.
“And I want you to know, baby. That if you want to call Amy mom, or if at any time Amy gets a mate and you want to call him dad, your mother and I won’t mind.
We will always be your mommy and daddy.” The tears in his eyes were full of love.
Carly looked at me and I smiled down at her. “You don’t have to call me or my mate anything you don’t want to. I won’t mind. I’ll still love you either way.” I kissed her head.
“Carl?” My grandmother turned to him and he nodded. “Darling. You and I have to talk.” She nodded behind us. “Carl will sit with Carly for a bit.”
I kissed Carly again. “I’ll be close if anything happens.” I stood and walked away from the two, speaking low at the grave. I turned to find my grandmother beside me. “What’s wrong?”
“I know you are thinking of finding the Lycans, but that isn’t for you to do.” She looked back at the grave. “That is destined for someone else.”
“But.” I looked at Carly. “She is so young.”
“And it will wait until she is ready. You have other things to worry about.”
I nodded. “I have a plan for Vince, but I don’t know who this Garith is.” My grandmother paled. “You know something.”
She nodded, but she held up her hand. “Talk to your father, talk to your computer friend. Make a plan. They are worried about you and you will need them.” There was something else she wanted to say.
She leaned over and kissed me. “Your father…he needs to confess some things to you. Some secrets will shift your entire world, and the view of people you have had. Be open to it.” She kissed me.
“And be ready to be your true self. Full, unhindered, and wild.” She pulled back and cupped my face.
I closed my eyes, trying to feel her hands, but there was nothing but the wind.
“You are going to make an amazing leader one day.”
I laughed. “I am no leader.”
She glanced back at the grave. “Leave the Lycans for the Shaman. She has her own fate to figure out. Focus on the men who are trying to take over the world.” Then she was gone. I turned and walked back to the grave.
“Your nan gone already?” I nodded to Carl. “You had all of us worried for a few days there, girlie.” His eyes danced to Carly. “We could only watch and hope you got out.”
I smiled. “I wouldn’t leave our girl.” I winked at him and hugged Carly to my side.
He sighed and smiled. “Thank you. For everything so far, and everything to come.” He stood and looked at his daughter. “I love you, baby.”
“I love you too, daddy.” She turned to me. “He can’t stay?” I could hear the hope in her voice, and it broke me.
I shook my head. “I don’t have that power, my love.” She nodded and turned back, but Carl was already gone. I watched her deflate a little.
“I miss him so much.” A tear fell, and I pulled her into my lap.
“I know.” I hugged her. “You are going to miss him every day of your life.” I pulled back to look down at her.
“Some days it will be easy, a flicker of love in your heart and a tiny piece of you calling for him. And some days, the ground will shift out from under your feet and your entire body will ache with your love for him. The need to see him will make your bones burn.” I ran a hand down her head.
“Grief is something that changes you forever. But I will say, the longer you go, the easier days come more and more, and the bad days, they feel easier to deal with when they come farther apart.”
“You lost someone you loved.” She wasn’t asking. She could tell I knew the feeling.
I nodded. “I lost my pup.” I smiled at her and I could feel the tears in my eyes. “You make it easier to deal with, though. The days that are bad, you make them a little lighter.” I stood with her and she wiggled down.
“You make my days easier, too.” She smiled up at me.
Toya stepped out of the back door. “It’s dinnertime.”