Chapter 26 #2
After a full hour of sobbing into my pillow, I stared absently at the redbird Salem had hung in the window of our bedroom.
Cardinals chirped outside, and the sunlight streaming through the west-facing window pulled me out of my thoughts and into the moment.
I flipped the blanket off me and watched dust particles floating through the sunbeam.
A knock sounded before Tak entered. He closed the door behind him and crossed to the left side of the bed where I was lying on my side.
He knelt and stroked my hair with a loving touch. “Any change?”
I shook my head.
“Can you feel your legs?”
I nodded. “The muscles just don’t work.” After clearing my throat, I wiped my face. “It’s like everything’s numb and I can’t control them.”
“We’ll keep your door open.”
“Why?”
“Catcher’s going to stay with you until Salem returns. If you need something, let him know, and he’ll find one of us.”
I snorted quietly. “He doesn’t understand.”
“He understands you need help. Wolves are smart. All Shifters have ancient blood—primal instincts that trace back to our ancestors. Wild animals know how to serve their needs, but our animals are attuned to our needs. Whenever you want to use the bathroom, shower, eat, or just sit outside, tell him. He knows our names.”
I wiped my wet lashes. “It was supposed to be hard on Salem, but I never thought I’d be a burden on the whole pack.”
“You’re not a burden.” He stroked my hair. “There’s no greater honor than caring for another packmate. In my tribe, when one of our people was injured, pregnant, or even dying, we fought for the honor of caring for them. Love is doing what’s hard, because that’s when people need you the most.”
I wiped my nose. “You always say the right thing.”
He gave a toothy grin and glanced up at the window. “Tell that to my wife. She says I make too many jokes.”
“I like your jokes. Except the ones about the chickens.”
He jerked his head back. “You don’t like my chicken jokes?” Tak held his fists to his armpits and pretended to flap his wings before laughing. “Don’t feel guilty for being sick. If you want one of the women to keep you company tonight, they’ve already volunteered.”
“Your animals won’t wander in here, will they?”
He rubbed his chin. “We try not to shift indoors because of Cleo.”
I rolled onto my back and scooted up. “It’s not my place to tell a Packmaster what to do, but Cleo’s a great kid.
I know you’re trying to find her parents, but I think she deserves a spot at the table.
Life’s too short to worry about what might or might not happen.
Trust me on that. She’s only going to be a kid once, and she doesn’t have that many years left before she’ll be grown. ”
He slowly stroked his lips in deep thought.
“I meant to come to a decision about that, but so much has happened with you and Salem. I’ve asked him to speak to someone in Cognito who might give us ideas on where to look for her family.
But you’re right. She belongs here.” He patted my hand. “Just like you.”
“Tak?”
“Hmm?”
“Something’s wrong.”
His dark eyebrows knitted in the middle. “What do you mean? Your legs?”
“It’s happening too fast. With my ancestors, it took years for certain symptoms to come on. Do you think it’s because I’m a crossbreed?”
Tak shook his head with uncertainty.
“Have you noticed anything about my eyes?”
He leaned closer and squinted. “The left one is completely orange.”
I dreaded saying the words out loud. “I can’t see out of that eye anymore.”
“Since when?”
“Just after Montana carried me up here. I didn’t say anything because I thought it would go away.
But I’ve been lying here for an hour or more, and nothing’s changed.
” I drew in a breath, my eyes welling with tears.
“I just want to see Salem one last time,” I said, my voice cracking.
“I could wake up tomorrow and it’s gone. ”
Tak pulled me into a meaningful hug. “If I call him home before he’s done—”
“I know what it means. It doesn’t matter. I just want him here with me. My father always said the same thing, and now I understand why. Time’s precious, and I want every second I can get with him.”
Tak pulled away and held my locket between his fingers. “What about your mother?”
“I’ll do a video chat later.”
“It’s not fair to her.”
“Tak, I know my mom better than anyone, and bringing her here isn’t the right thing to do.
She’s a sensitive soul, and she’s been dreading this day for a long time.
I think that’s why she was thrilled to help me escape that city and start over.
It gave her hope, and she’s enjoyed listening to all my adventures. It’s helped her forget what’s coming.”
“But she needs peace.”
“I’ll make sure that she says everything she needs to, but I can’t have her watch me die like she did with my father.
She’s always blamed herself for having a child when she knew this would be the outcome.
That’s not fair. I don’t want her to regret having me, and if she has to watch me suffer, that’s what she’ll do.
” I sniffed and wiped my eyes again. “Maybe you can tell her I got bit by a snake instead.”
He covered his face with his hand and laughed.
“I’m serious! She wouldn’t have to feel guilty. You could even send her a snakehead encased in glass so she could have something else to blame.”
“Not snakeskin boots?” He raised his head, his lashes wet.
“She doesn’t wear boots. Maybe a wallet or a belt.”
Scratching sounded at the door. Then a bark.
Tak crossed the room and let Catcher in. The wolf jumped onto the bed, sniffed my face, then plopped down next to me.
I stared at him while he licked his paw. “Salem’s going to kill you for making his pillow smell like wolf.”
In actuality, Shifter animals didn’t carry a heavy scent like animals in nature did, but there would be hairs all over the blankets.
Tak put his hands on his hips and smiled at my temporary watchdog. “If you need someone to carry you somewhere, ask him to find one of the men.”
“You don’t think Mel’s strong enough to carry me?”
He wagged his finger before heading out. “That woman would strap you to her back if she could, but I wouldn’t trust her going down stairs.” Tak stared at me for a beat. “Her knees are weak. Look how she swooned for Lakota,” he said on a laugh. “We would have to call your mother sooner.”
I laughed softly, feeling better about the situation. There was nothing I could do to fight the inevitable, but at least I wasn’t alone.
Catcher rested his head on my stomach, and I stroked his ears while daydreaming about the only man I’d ever loved rushing into my arms.