After his shower, Darrell threw on a pair of worn jeans and had taken a cold beer from the fridge and sat out on the porch swing. He had been out there for hours. He watched the sun go down over the mountains. It was dark now and out here in the country; the only source of light was coming from inside the house. He stared up at the starry sky. He had been nursing the bottle all day. He still had half a bottle, only now it was warm.
After the sun went down, the door a few feet away opened, and Katelyn came out with a bottle of beer in her hand. She walked over to him and offered Darrell the beer. He looked at the bottle. “I thought you might like a new one,” she said. “This one is cold.”
He reached out and took it, giving her the half-empty bottle. Katelyn put the bottle on the floorboards and took the seat next to him on the porch. She rested her head on his shoulder and watched the stars with him. He actually liked having her seated next to him. It was a comfortable silence, which was nice. He had never just sat with a woman. He would have never guessed it felt so good.
Her affection was comforting. She had not runoff. She had not fought with him about the matter. Now she sat with him. She was giving him time to get over the horrible thing he had just done. She did not recoil from him, and that gave him home. “I didn’t want to have to kill him,” he spoke softly.
“I know.”
“That’s not who I am.”
“I know.”
Darrell sighed heavily. “I get it.”
“Get what?” She asked, lifting her head to look at him. “I get why you don’t want to marry me. Why would you want to marry a monster that kills your kind?”
“I don’t think you are a monster.”
“Why not? I am.”
Katelyn placed her hand on his chest, just over his heart. “I know your heart. You are a better man than Nigel ever was. You are not afraid to do the hard things if it means you can protect the people you love. Life is complicated. But I’m going to walk the path with you.”
Darrell was confused. “What?” Was she saying what he thought she was saying? Did he dare to hope?
Katelyn smiled. “I’m going to marry you.”
Darrell grinned. “Really. You think you can handle this crazy life?”
“To be with you, I will adapt.”
“You just made me a very happy man.”
***
decided to tell them she was moving into his house and then after a few months, she would tell them they were getting married. Katelyn knew she was doing the right thing. Even though their time together had been brief, the imprinting had Katelyn feeling as if they had known each other all their lives. Only she doubted
their engagement a secret for now. The pack was not ready to accept Katelyn, and he wished to give them more time to warm up to her presence in the
looking concerned. Her mother stood up as they came into the room. “What is going on?”
his body. That was quick. “He’s in
genuinely surprised. He was alive. Katelyn looked at Darrell, who had the
crawled to the highway where a motorist
Darrell’s face, he was thinking the same thing. She had no idea how they would get to Nigel while in a hospital. All Katelyn knew was, he had to be silenced. “Look, that’s a horrible thing for him,
such a big part of your life for so long. How could you say that?” Her
was sleeping
you. He was looking for you too. After the disgraceful scene you made at the brunch. You ruined two lives. You are not welcome
tact, he did the right thing. If Karen was already
flesh and blood. You owe
Screw Karen. She is dead to me. So is Nigel. The only
snapped. “I don’t
sighed. She was going to do the right thing and stand by her man. “I’m sorry to hear that because we are getting
you marry this man?” Her mother
each other,” Katelyn snapped. “I love you, Mom, but you are small-minded. I’m leaving, and
she and Darrell climbed into the truck. “If you
her. “Last
placed her hand over his. “Let’s
would miss her parents, but she was going to stand by Darrell. She loved him too much not to. As they drove, she noticed how distracted he was. He was worrying
are thinking about
was so sure he was dead. I can’t even imagine how he survived
will just have
the road is one thing. It gets marked as a traffic accident or an animal attack. Killing him in a hospital in the middle of Aspen will attract the police and the media. It will be called murder, and somebody will have to pay for that. It is not as easy as walk in and walk out. I have to go to
stopped at the Blood Moon Studios to talk to Gordon. Luckily he was without a client but in the process of going through his business paperwork. When they walked through the door, Gordon came out of the small back office to greet them. He was smiling. “Well, isn’t this a surprise? I see you still have the human with you,” Gordon then offered Katelyn a sympathetic smile. “No insult intended, Darling. It is just that you are a serious breach to my pack’s wellbeing,” if he believed that he was not going to like what they had to tell him. Darrell frowned, sharing a concerned look
Gordon about Nigel. Nervous, Derrell ran the tip of his tongue
yelled, his eyes
care. I don’t know
glowing as he regained control
“I don’t know.”
First things first. Someone has to go to the hospital and find out if he is conscious and if he is whether or not he is lucid. I want to know who he has talked to, if anyone.
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!