Hunting Human - Amanda E. Alvarez [83]
“We’re hardly formal in this house, sweetheart. First names are fine,” Anna added. How did they continue to make such an uncomfortable and volatile situation feel so normal? They acted as though they’d done nothing more than give her their stamp of approval, rather than say they’d protect her from death and dismemberment. They treated her as family.
In the face of everything else, why does that scare me?
***
Beth pulled the bedroom door shut behind her; relived to be out of bloodstained clothes. Raised voices filtered down the hallway and snagged her attention.
“I said no, Chase,” Braden growled, tightly leashed fury soaking his tone. “She’s got enough to deal with.”
“You aren’t doing her any favors,” Chase responded, eerily calm in the face of Braden’s temper. Beth was beginning to realize Chase was rarely anything else.
“She’s not ready. You didn’t see her last night. I’ve never seen anyone suffer as much under a change as she did. I won’t put her through that any more than necessary.”
Beth moved closer to the doorway, careful to keep her footsteps quiet and her breathing shallow.
“That’s the problem,” Chase replied. “You don’t know what that sort of change does to a person. You’ve never seen the wolf as a burden, as a disease.” Chase huffed, the only audible sign he was frustrated. “You’ve never seen the change kill someone. Never seen it take such a toll that the heart stops under the burden. I have. More than once.”
Shock tore through her. She’d never imagined the shift could have killed her.
“And you want to expose her to more of that?”
“It’s to her credit she’s come this far on her own. But she’ll continue to suffer every month until she finds a balance with the wolf. She can learn. If she couldn’t she’d be dead already. Either the shift would have killed her or she’d have done it herself.” Chase’s tone, as much as the words, struck Beth. Before now she hadn’t believed he held anything but contempt for her.
“She can’t take any more right now. There will be time for this later.” Braden paused, “Just drop it.”
“You may think you’re helping her,” Chase argued, “but you’re only rendering her helpless. It’s going to get her killed.”
“I said drop it.” Braden snarled, his tone as threatening as a fist.
Beth took a deep breath and pushed open the door. “Chase is right.” She edged into the room, skirting around Braden. Chase was sprawled in an armchair by the desk. To look at him she’d never know he’d been arguing.
“Beth?” Braden beckoned her with a hand. “I didn’t know you were there.”
Chase didn’t look surprised in the least.
“I think your brother has a point.” Beth rubbed her damp palms against her jeans and forged ahead. “I don’t know how to control this, this…” She forced herself to take a deep breath and sputtered, “This wolf.”
“That’ll come.” Braden crossed the distance between them. He reached for her again, but stopped short when she didn’t move. “It doesn’t have to be now.”
“When?” Beth steeled her resolve. “I’ve been ignoring this for a long time. I can’t anymore.”
“You survived. No one could have expected more.” He wrapped fingers around her wrist and pulled her to him.
Beth resisted the urge to push her head into his chest and just give in.
He’ll make it easy for me. I know it.
But he couldn’t shield her forever. The wolf was always there, at the back of her mind, waiting for the next moon. She’d face it again sooner rather than later. Avoiding it only guaranteed another rough month. Beth pressed her hand flat against Braden’s chest, the steady beat of his heart pulsed beneath her fingers.
She stood her ground.
“I can’t live like this anymore.” She withdrew her hand and skirted Braden. “You can teach me?” She asked, directing the question to Chase.
Chase straightened from his relaxed position and assessed her with serious gray eyes. A furrow cut a deep path between his brows. “Yes. If you’re willing.” He stood, glanced at Braden and headed for the door. “We’ll start tomorrow after lunch.”
“You don’t have to do this.” Braden’s