Hunting Human - Amanda E. Alvarez [88]
“You aren’t defenseless. You have us, Beth. I wished you believed that,” Lucy whispered.
“Your family’s been great. More than I expected.”
“What, the Taser and the trunk didn’t impress you?”
“You know what I mean.” Beth bumped her shoulder against Lucy’s. “I just don’t want to be dependent on you guys. I need to be able to take care of myself.”
“You are one of the most capable women I’ve ever met.”
Beth snorted.
Capable is not how I’d sum up the last few years.
“I’m serious. The things you’ve endured…I don’t think I could have managed. You survived both the attack and the change. Either could have killed you. It’s admirable.” Lucy set the ice cream between them and wrapped cold fingers around Beth’s hand. “But there’s no shame in relying on someone.”
Knowing that and trusting that are two different things.
“He does care about you.” Lucy broke the tension with an exasperated sigh and roll of her eyes. “He’s reacting like a typical alpha male. Crush the problem. Protect the female. Trust me, I know. Baby sister talking here.”
“How do you deal with it?”
“First…I tell them to shove it up their asses.”
Beth laughed. The picture of pint-sized Lucy telling Braden or Chase or anyone to shove it anywhere was ridiculous yet crystal clear in her head.
“Seriously. You’ve got to set boundaries. Like now. If Chase had his way, he’d be my permanent shadow until Markko crawled back under his rock. Instead, I let him drop me off at work in the morning and I let my father pick me up. I could make an issue of it. I know I can take care of myself.” Lucy shook her head, a rueful expression on her face. “So do they for that matter. But it isn’t worth the argument. Compromise.”
“I can’t compromise on this, though. I’m not willing to wait and I don’t think Braden could push me to learn as quickly as Chase can.” Beth reflected on the last week, familiar frustration rushing through her. “Then again, I’m not getting anywhere with Chase either.”
“Nah. Chase knows what he’s doing. He helped me through my first year of the shift.”
“Really? I thought you were older than Chase.”
“I am, but he’s been dealing with his wolf for a long time. I didn’t take the bite until I was nineteen. Everyone helped, but Chase and I have always been close.” Lucy seemed far away. “He’s a great teacher—probably knows more about the wolf than anyone I’ve ever met. You made a good call.”
“That doesn’t solve the situation with Braden.”
“It’s like I said, compromise. Look, you guys haven’t exactly had the best week of your relationship, you know? He shoved you in a trunk and you hit him in the head with a jack. You both find out you don’t know each other as well as you thought. Add that to the fact that you basically told him you didn’t need him, more than once if I’m not mistaken, and it’s no wonder he’s been hiding from you.”
“I never said that.” Though a part of her wanted it to be true. She didn’t want to need him, didn’t want to rely on him. That she found herself wanting him as much as she did scared her silly.
“You didn’t have to.” Lucy popped the lid on the ice cream and stood up. “You told him what you needed, good for you. But his alpha male brain interpreted that to mean you didn’t need him.”
“So what do I do? I can’t give him what he wants.”
“Or you don’t want to. Either way, find a way to let him be protective, or supportive, or whatever. Trust me, I know my brother. His ego’s bruised.”
Beth considered what she could offer as an olive branch. Or even if she wanted to extend one. She didn’t like that Braden had been hurt by her decisions, but at the same time, it was his ego dictating that hurt. She didn’t deserve the cool regard he used when they were in the same room. Besides, she wasn’t trying to jump-start anything, just smooth things over and decrease the tension between them.
Still, Lucy’s right. I have to approach him.
“I don’t know what to say to him…” Beth looked to Lucy for a suggestion.
“Sometimes, all you need