Wolf mountain peak compl.., p.94
Wolf Mountain Peak Complete Series, page 94
part #1 of Wolf Mountain Peak Series
“Hey, girl,” David winked down at her. “I’ve wanted to drive up here for hours. I’m actually surprised at myself for staying put. How have you been?”
“I keep wondering about what Helena will have to say,” Olivia confessed. David began bending his head down to kiss her. He leaned towards her, parting his lips; but, before he could complete his action, the blonde noticed the witch’s familiar red eyes, a few feet behind him and to the left.
“Ahem…” Helena cleared her throat, as the bear shifter turned around. “Good evening. I’m Helena. I trust you are…”
“David Hudson,” he interrupted her, offering his hand for a handshake. “You’re the red witch. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Please, call me ‘Helena,’” she requested when they shook hands. “Olivia…” she went on, shifting her gaze over to her, “just in case you’re wondering, I’ve kept my mouth shut. The Bradfords, they do not have a clue about you two.”
“Thank you,” Olivia gave an appreciative nod. “What about your research? Have you found out anything?”
“Plenty,” Helena replied, as her face hardened. “David, I know about your brothers’ deaths. I’m sorry; you must be in a world of pain.”
“Thanks,” he murmured, pursing his lips.
“Your town doesn’t differ that much from Paxton,” Helena continued. “Highmount is peaceful, just a little bigger than our homeland. One of the few differences is that there is no pack. Bears go about their business not really caring much about the outside world. There are a few instances of fortune tellers in recorded history, but no witch has lived there for the past century. Annabelle Clayton was the last one. According to my sources, she had a tremendous gift of predicting the future.”
“Yeah,” David said on an exhale, slipping his hand into his pocket. “She gave me this before she died.”
Olivia felt her heart jumping in her chest with anxiety, as the witch read the letter. All the same, all her nervousness turned into helplessness, in just a matter of seconds. Helena had been crystal-clear. The chances of Annabelle being wrong were very slim indeed.
“We’ll get to that later,” the witch stated, handing the piece of paper back to David. “Olivia, you asked me if you two could have a future. I take it you were referring to having children. Well…” She sucked in a deep breath. “I’m afraid I have bad news. The other two couples couldn’t conceive. In both couples, each of the women is a wolf shifter. They kept trying, over and over again, but neither of them could get pregnant. Before I met with them, I was hoping that their offspring would be either wolves or bears; but, as it turned out, they didn’t have any. So, the answer is no. In that respect, you cannot have a future. I might be able to use magic to help you out in that area, but I can’t make any promises. ”
Disappointment unfurled inside of Olivia. Of course, she wasn’t considering starting a family with him just yet, they had not been together much, they didn’t know each other well, but she would like to have the option, and that option had been taken away from her. Tearing her gaze away from Helena, she shut her eyes, and raised her hand up to rub her chin.
“Damn it…” David groaned, banging his head in a spasm of frustration.
“Listen to me,” Helena urged, assuming a stiffer tone. “This is all in the future. We have to focus ourselves on the present. Liv, your pack will kill you if they discover what you’ve done. Eventually, they will find out. Regardless of how well you hide from them, it’s only a matter of time before they stumble over the truth. David, your brothers torched your house the other night. I presume they mean harm to you as well. The way I see it, you have two options: one - leave. Go somewhere else, and start over. It’s going to be very hard in the beginning, but it’s your safest choice. Two - go to Paxton and tell Raul the truth. I can talk to him too, if that’s what you want.”
“I can’t leave,” Olivia uttered in a voice that was but a whisper. She turned her gaze to Helena. “My whole life is here: my friends; my store; my pack. I can’t just…” she paused; “...ditch everything.”
“The same goes for me, too,” David declared. “I love my job. Believe it or not, I still love my brothers. I’d like to think that they’ll come around someday; that they’ll realize their mistake, and that they’ll stop trying to kill me. Things will never be the same between us, but I want to be around when that happens. Also, they’ve already killed Richard and Brett. I’m not letting them drive me away from here.”
“David, this may well be the sacrifice Annabelle describes in her letter to you,” Helena pointed out, her voice picking up speed. “It would be foolish of you to reject it.”
“I don’t think so,” he disagreed, a touch of annoyance in his tone. “What else could it be?”
“I doubt you want to hear about this,” Helena claimed, furrowing her brow.
“Try me,” David urged, as he folded his arms across his chest.
“You take matters into your own hands,” she responded, her tone of voice becoming firm. “You kill them both.”
The bear shifter squeezed his eyes shut, and pressed his lips together, at the witch’s suggestion, as Olivia shook her head in disapproval.
“Helena…” he grumbled, abruptly opening his eyes to glare down at her. “Out of respect, I’m going to keep my opinion about that to myself.”
“Then, I’ll have to talk to Raul,” Helena said, her voice returning to its usual, calm inflection.
“No!” Olivia cried, leaning closer to her. “That would…”
“Do you want to keep seeing each other?” The witch interrupted, maintaining her composure, freezing the blood in Olivia’s veins. Helena had posed a simple question. Yet, the answer was anything but simple. Did the wolf wish to be in a relationship that could result in a tragedy for her, David, or her fellow pack members? Did she desire to hold on to something that seemingly led nowhere? Unable to force another word out of her throat, she dragged her gaze away from Helena, as David cast a sideways glance down at her. “I presume you need some privacy,” the witch continued. “Take your time.”
Finishing her statement, Helena turned around, and headed towards David’s car. Olivia tipped her head back, letting out a huff of exasperation, as he turned to her.
“I don’t know about you, but, for me, it’s a no brainer,” he stated, gazing deep down into her eyes.
“How can you decide so quickly?” Olivia squinted up at him, curiosity written all over her face. “Jesus, David; we’re talking about our lives here.”
“I know what I feel,” he replied, lowering his tone, as he intensified his stare. “I’m not letting go. I don’t want to. Plus, my brothers died, so that I could pursue my destiny, not for something that would only last - what - three days?”
“I do want to keep seeing you,” she whispered, unable to keep her fear from creeping into her voice. “But please, take a moment to imagine the repercussions. It’s not just the danger. My whole town is going to brand me a freak; a bitch that prefers a bear instead of her own kind. Everywhere I’ll go, they’re going to laugh at me behind my back. If you stay away from me, you could reconcile with your brothers. If you don’t, you’ll spend the rest of your life around strangers.”
“My brothers and I will never be reconciled with each other,” David emphasized, as the corners of his eyes tightened. “This was their choice, not mine. I can understand perfectly what you said about people calling you names. My compatriots have been doing that to me, since they heard about Annabelle’s prophecy. I beat some sense into a few of them, and the rest of them just shut up. I’m not saying you should do the same. I’m just saying you should follow your heart. Don’t let others dictate to you how to live your life. Can you do that?”
“Yes,” The word slipped right out of her mouth, without Olivia even pondering her response. Still, she didn’t show any sign of regret. On the contrary, she maintained eye contact with him. Why? Because: once again, he had touched her most sensitive chords. Even this early in their relationship, David knew exactly what to say to her, how to help her open her eyes, and see what was best for her. Of all the - few - men that had come and gone in her life, he was the only one who could do those things, and with relative ease.
“They don’t call you ‘Hunt, the brave’ for nothing, do they?” David teased, as a broad smile spread across his face. “You won’t regret this,” he sighed, leaning over towards her. “I promise.”
“I hope this isn’t a ‘goodbye’ kiss,” Helena’s feathery voice rose up in the air, just before their mouths made contact with one another. Olivia didn’t appreciate the interruption, but she couldn’t get mad at her. The witch was the sole person in town who had offered her a helping hand. She held back a snicker, easing back, as David looked down at her, over his shoulder.
“It’s not,” He said, as his lips curved into a smile of embarrassment. “You can go talk to the Alpha.”
“Great,” Helena chirped. “I’ll see you kids in Paxton. By the time you get to the Bradford’s estate, they’ll know everything.”
A beacon of hope lit within Olivia as the witch disappeared in a plume of red smoke. Helena was an open book. Everybody could read her emotions, and, without a shadow of a doubt, she was happy about their decision. Olivia couldn’t wish for a more powerful ally than the local legend. Now, she could go to the meeting with the Bradford’s feeling confident that she would have the witch by her side, in the most agonizing debate of her life so far.
Chapter Fourteen
While David’s car rolled down the downhill road that led to her town, Olivia felt her heart ready to burst right out of her chest. She didn’t go up against her Alpha’s will every day. Furthermore, most likely, Raul would not be alone. Dean and Ray, his brothers would be there with him. Unlike David and his family, they were very close, ready to kill or die for one another. Should the situation spiral out of control, she would find herself in the middle of something she had been meaning to avoid, ever since the pack’s encounter with Damian’s clan: a brutal battle, in which she would have to choose sides very fast.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” she thought to herself. “If it does, I’m not going to fight. I’m sick and tired of fighting. I’ll run. I’ll tell David to run, too. What good is being a member of a pack, if the pack turns against you? It won’t be worth it anymore. I’ll leave Paxton, and I doubt I will ever come back.”
Olivia noticed that the lights in all five cabins were on, just like the ones in the Bradford’s yard, as she and David made their way to their estate. The brothers were outside. Raul was pacing up and down, yelling, with Helena behind him. Dean and Ray were mere spectators of the scene, standing still on the side of the yard. The car windows were shut, and yet, Olivia could hear the rumble of her Alpha’s voice. As the black Mondeo skidded across the driveway though, the shouts ceased altogether. Raul stopped walking, and stared down at the vehicle, as his two brothers halted on his right and left. No surprises there: the Bradford’s were united against what they believed was an enemy. They were an awesome sight. Tall, imposing, with fantastic builds, and, together, they were even more impressive. They stood there, not moving, in total silence, as if they were trying to intimidate them with their sheer size.
“Evening, fellas,” David spoke, stepping out of his car. “My name’s…”
“We know who you are,” Raul interrupted, raising his hand to his chest, as the bear shifter’s footsteps closed the distance between them. “You’ve pulled some serious shit around here. I mean, trespassing into town? Stalking a pack member? Following her? Sleeping with her? We should kill you right here, right now.”
“That’s funny, coming from a rule breaker like you,” Olivia’s voice was riddled with irony, as she brushed past her boyfriend. “Do you even remember what you did to be with Monica? Or should I remind you?”
“Careful, girl,” the Alpha groaned, shifting his gaze down to her. “You may be a great warrior, but I’m not having this. Don’t force my hand.”
“I’d like to see you try,” David snarled, throwing a ferocious glare up at him, as he clenched his fists.
“Hey!” Helena’s voice echoed in the wilderness, as she trotted off towards the Alpha. “What did I tell you, Raul? Keep it civil. Is this civil? I think not. And you, David,” she added, turning her attention to the bear shifter. “Please, refrain from issuing threats. We’ve gathered here to find a solution, not start a war.”
“A solution?” the Alpha scoffed, as his face twisted in confusion. “What the hell are you talking about? This guy’s broken every rule there is!”
“You need to shut up, firstborn!” Helena growled, as her eyes darkened with rage. “Olivia is right. You seem to have a selective memory when it comes to your own actions. You were forbidden to go anywhere near a human, let alone bring her to Paxton, or sleep with one. Do you remember what you did do? You showed complete disrespect to those rules. Why is this any different to what you did back then?”
“Because: I wasn’t endangering anybody else, other than myself and her!” Raul’s stentorian voice roared like thunder, the veins on the sides of his neck bulging, as he glared down at her. “How do you think the pack is going to feel when they hear about one of their own getting involved with a bear? Let me tell you. They’ll hate it, and they’ll be right to do so. They won’t want to be around anyone who could shift to an animal four times their size.”
“I’m perfectly in control of my beast,” David interjected, maintaining calmness in his voice. “I just thought you should know.”
“You might,” Raul pointed up at him. “Helena told me your story. What the fuck kind of family is that? I mean, brothers killing brothers? What if those two come over here, looking for you, huh? Can you guarantee they won’t shift?”
“No,” David said on an exhale, dragging his gaze away from him. “Actually, I doubt whether you’ll see them in human form or not.”
“There you have it, then,” Raul murmured, bringing his eyes back down to Helena’s red eyes. “Need I say more?”
“Then what is your decision?” The witch asked, assuming a businesslike tone.
“Liv…” The Alpha croaked while he scratched his jaw - and Olivia took a few, hesitant steps towards him - “You want to date him? Knock yourself out. I’m not going to interfere. I’ll instruct the pack to stay away from him. But, he can’t stay here. You guys can’t be seen together in Paxton.”
“He’s not a threat!” Helena exclaimed, opening her eyes wide. “Why can’t you see it?”
“He may not be, but his brothers can,” Raul uttered, his voice coming out slowly. “I’m looking out for my town’s safety here.”
“I wouldn’t let them hurt anyone,” David said, his own voice bass-deep.
“You’d try,” Raul corrected him. “I don’t know how strong you are, but still, it’s two against one. How long do you think you’d last? The worst part would be after your death. It would take at least five of us to take them out. We’d be lucky if we didn’t have any casualties.”
“Raul…”
“This conversation is over,” the Alpha didn’t allow Helena to finish her sentence. He cast Olivia a pitiful look, before turning his back to her. His words washed over Olivia in a bittersweet wave. She wanted to speak, express herself in any way possible, yet, she had no idea where to start. Should she begin with the sad fact that she could not roam around in her birthplace with her boyfriend, enjoy its natural beauty with him, or that their lives were no longer threatened by the pack?
“It’s better than nothing,” David voiced his opinion, relieving her from her difficult position. “Look on the bright side. You won’t have to look over your shoulder anymore.”
“I can’t be free in my own town,” Olivia spoke, her voice barely audible, as a smile of bitterness burst upon her lips.
“Well, we can’t have everything. I’m fine with it,” he stated. “Anyway, I’ve got an idea. What do you say, we, uh…” he paused, “...spend tomorrow together?”
“I’d like that, but, where can we go?” She wondered, shrugging her shoulders. “Shandaken? Olive? They’re not bad, but they’re just too small.”
“Nah, I was thinking something a lot further than Shandaken. What do you think about New York?” David raised an eyebrow. Under regular circumstances, she would have rejected his idea in the blink of an eye. The bustling city was no place for a shifter, wolf or bear. The noise alone could drive her senses wild. However, its size provided them with plenty of options. Furthermore, it could shelter them from harm. His brothers were out to kill him, but she doubted whether they would follow them all the way to the Big Apple.
“I like it,” Olivia said with a soft nod. “What time should I come pick you up?”
“I’d prefer it if you didn’t pick me up at all,” David gave a short chuckle. “We should meet in New York. I’m sure you’ll love Brooklyn Promenade. It’s in Brooklyn Heights, over Interstate 278. How’s eleven o’clock?”
“It’s good,” she uttered, as his suggestion turned her bitter smile into a sweet grin.
“Okay, I have to run. Goodnight,” He said, bending his head down to kiss her on the cheek. In spite of the happy note upon which the night ended, Olivia was still debating if this situation was viable. They wouldn’t have much room. From now on, they would have to meet in neighboring towns, where danger lurked. David’s brothers still considered them “outlaws”, enemies that had to be eliminated. Olivia didn’t know if she could live like that. She merely hoped that her relationship with him would evolve into something so good that it would convince her it was worth the inconvenience.
Chapter Fifteen
With a heart full of anticipation, Olivia set out from Paxton the following morning. The notion of spending an entire day with David excited her. They would do things they had not yet had a chance to do, like talk about themselves, and what they were trying to build. Mainly, however, she was in great spirits due to one, very important reason: the absence of any danger whatsoever. David’s brothers would be more than a hundred and thirty miles away; too far to lay a hand on him or her. Up until then, they always had to be wary of their presence and her pack alike. In truth, she was getting tired of this dreadful feeling - the constant fear that wolves or bears would try to sneak up on them. Now though, they were free of all of that agony, and free to enjoy each other’s company.
