Hunting Human - Amanda E. Alvarez [97]
“Oh, honey…”
“Hey, hey. What’s for dinner?” Lucy interrupted, bounding into the kitchen. “I’m starving.”
“Don’t leave your bag in the doorway where anyone can trip over it. And we’re having pork loin. You’ve got about fifteen minutes if you want to go upstairs and freshen up.”
“Nah. What are you making, Beth?”
“Apple turnovers,” Beth answered, bewildered by Lucy’s nonchalant attitude. “Are you okay?”
“What?” Lucy looked confused at first, then waved her hand dismissively, the exact same way her mother had. “Oh, you mean whoever was outside the studio? No big deal. He was gone by the time Chase got there. Probably just wanted to try and rattle us. I wouldn’t have even called, except he showed up where I work and kids come in and out all day.”
“I’m not sure you should go to work anymore, Lucy, at least not by yourself.” Beth plowed ahead before Lucy could argue. “Look, I know you have more experience with this sort of thing, that you aren’t as concerned by it. But it bothers me. I’m worried about you. I don’t think you understand what he’d do to you, Lucy. I couldn’t bear it.” Beth pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. “I know you can take care of yourself, but promise me, promise me you won’t take any risks.”
Lucy opened her mouth, her face set for an argument and then snapped it shut. “I promise.” She slid onto a barstool. “Besides, Chase agrees with you, he’s not going to be satisfied with taking me to work and dropping me off, anymore.”
Beth breathed a sigh of relief. No matter how many times they tried to reassure her, she would never understand how the Edwardses seemed to take everything in stride.
***
“What are you doing out here?” Braden asked, stepping out on the porch and letting the screen door slam shut behind him.
“Just thinking.” Beth made room for him on the swing. “It’s quiet out here.”
“Yeah.” Braden relaxed into the seat next to her, pushing the bench back and forth with his foot. “Thinking about anything in particular? Or do I even need to ask.”
“I hate the waiting. I hate not knowing what’s coming.” Warm fingers slid against her own. She let her head rest against his shoulder. “Sometimes I forget Markko’s out there. Your family makes everything so easy.” She was coming to rely on their support to the point that she wondered if she could manage on her own anymore. She didn’t like the feeling that left her with.
“I understand. Forgetting what’s out there, even for a little while, makes it that much harder to deal with when you’re abruptly reminded. Like today.” Braden pulled her toward him and wrapped an arm around her, his hand lightly massaging her shoulder.
“Like today,” she agreed
“Enjoying the time you spend out here isn’t a crime, Beth. Neither is forgetting that we’re different.” He sounded relieved by the thought. “Besides, look how much you’ve accomplished,” he pointed out, pride coloring his voice.
“Yeah, but it took weeks to get this far. If you hadn’t intervened, I’d probably still be out in the woods listening to Chase tell me to focus while I contemplated ways to kill him.”
Braden laughed and squeezed her. “Chase knows how to control his wolf better than anyone I’ve ever met, including my father. But he isn’t always the best at communicating the principles. You accomplished in less than two weeks what took me more than three months.”
“I was motivated.”
“Yeah, you were,” Braden quietly acknowledged. “But you aren’t alone. You don’t have to bear the weight of this by yourself anymore.”
“I don’t want your family hurt, not because of me.” The thought ate at her like a poisoned wound.
“They know how to look out for themselves, and even if something were to happen, it wouldn’t be your fault.” Braden caught her face with a warm palm, coaxing her to look at him. “It wouldn’t be, Beth.”
Beth nodded, her cheek caressing his palm as she did so. They sat in silence for a long time after that, Braden idly pushing them back and forth on the swing.
Movement along the tree line caught Beth’s attention. Chase walked