“Let’s all run,” Lorenzo suggests. “To Mason’s place.”
“I’ll stay,” Riley states.
“Me, too,” Grey puts in.
They both clap my back as they pass. Support. Support that’s not deserved. Though I can’t pinpoint why I’ve behaved this way, I’m grateful they’re not turning their backs on me. It’s good we’re splitting up, showing Tyson support. And I’m lucky it’s not all of them showing it to him instead of me.
“We’re in this together,” Jase mutters, showing he knows how to read me. “Let’s run.”
***
We’re in my kitchen. My mother heard about what happened and is already here, making food for everyone, telling me Catrina Savage is on her way to get a urine and blood sample from me. My mother says Cat will talk to the university hospital in Scotland that specializes in shifter illnesses.
They know this isn’t me. I know this isn’t me.
Graydon Blackwood already started the ball rolling to make inquiries with the Young coven. He managed the coven relationship during the previous council and said the meeting request is formal, sanctioned by the supernatural council. In a case like this, they have to respond and they’re required to disclose what they’re playing with and why, otherwise face being called before a tribunal.
***
I dream of what happened over and over, but with different perspectives. Once from the perspective of my wolf it circles the perimeter of that scene, separate from my human form, his wolf on the inside with them and my wolf on the outside, baring teeth at one another while Tyson takes his woman and my human form helpless.
I’m on the outside, clearly, because I know how important Tyson is to our pack and because I’m the one that’s off base.
I’m the one that needs to fix my shit.
The urge to not submit, the urge to go for Tyson’s throat to change the ending, to prevent what he does to her, to show my dominance wakes me up.
In not one of my dreams was she mine instead of his.
The house is quiet. Joel and Jase stayed last night; Lorenzo left but said he’d be back. My parents are also here, my mother was immovable.
I’m anxious for solitude all day Saturday but I don’t get it. Council and retired council members stop by, as do other good friends. Everyone talks, asks questions, some drop unhelpful theories. They’re all unhelpful because words do nothing for my state of mind, my state of anger and confusion. My father is a quiet, strong presence that simply tells me it’ll all work out with surety in his eyes that helps for a minute, but my mother is hovering, fretting, and frankly driving me half mad, so by Saturday after dinner hour, my father mercifully takes her home.
An hour later, I’ve showered and managed to get some food into me and then she comes back. Adamant. She’s staying the night again despite me saying Jase is already staying. Dad shows again and carries her fighting-mad to the car, smacking her on the ass while reprimanding her for ignoring his wishes. Dad tells me to go for a run and assures me she won’t be back tonight.
It’s a good idea, so I take his suggestion, Jase insisting on coming with me and I’m grateful because having him with me probably keeps me from giving in to some urges.
It’s a long run that starts off as man but that transitions to wolf where, despite Jase running with me, I have to convince my wolf to resist the urge to run to the Savage house or to Tyson’s cabin to try to explain myself, which is a stupid idea because I have no explanation. It’s a run where I don’t stop until I’m exhausted, hoping I’ll have a dreamless sleep.
***
The sleep isn’t dreamless.
I’m hunting, I never get to my mark, only get taunted by scents on that endless road to town. The dreams haunt me all night, making me wake three or four times and I’m sent right back to where I left off each time.
***
Monday Morning
It’s the crack of dawn when I roll out of bed. Instead of going for our usual run, I say bye to Jase who heads out to meet the other guys, telling him I’m going to work out and do some work afterwards. I assure him I’m fine.
I work out for two hours punching my heavy bag until I’m not only drenched in sweat but until my knuckles are also bleeding.
I shift, then shift back and they’re healed. Still restless, I decide to go to the office early to work my mind since keeping my body busy isn’t doing the trick. I’ve got to get started with working on a proposal for a customer who wants a new ranch build. He wants the house plans and the outbuildings drawn up, so I decide that’s a good start. I have a drafting table and home office here on the third floor of the house, but I need a change of scenery, so I drive to Riley’s, where his garage has been converted into the Savage Construction office.