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.”
***
drove Katelyn back to her parent’s house. She wanted to tell her parents they were getting married, but since they had not known each other long, they 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 her parents would
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
concerned. Her mother stood up as they came into the room. “What
his body. That
alive. Katelyn looked at Darrell, who
almost killed him. He crawled to the highway where a motorist found him. He’s in the hospital
the look on 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
a big part of your life for so long. How could you say that?”
was sleeping with
you to make amends,” her mother said and then glared at Darrell. “And you. He was looking for you too. After the disgraceful scene you
done so with more tact, he did the right thing. If Karen was already cheating on Scott, she would have
You owe
me. So is Nigel. The only person who has never
care,” Her father snapped. “I don’t want
over him. Katelyn sighed. She was going to do the right thing and stand by her man. “I’m sorry to hear that because
man?” Her mother barked
you, Mom, but you are small-minded. I’m leaving, and I’m not coming
Darrell climbed into the truck. “If you leave with that man, don’t ever speak to us again. Do you hear me,
looked at her. “Last
over his. “Let’s
Darrell. She loved him too much not to. As they drove,
are thinking about Nigel, aren’t
sure he was dead. I can’t even imagine how
will just have to try
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 Gordon. We need to brainstorm a way of getting to this guy that won’t result in someone heading to death row,” she could appreciate his dilemma, and if there
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
Derrell hesitated that he did not want to tell Gordon about Nigel. Nervous, Derrell ran the tip of his tongue over
eyes flashing with
care. I don’t know how, but
as he regained control of his rage. “Ok,” he
“I don’t know.”
is whether or not he is lucid. I want to know who he has talked to, if anyone. I want
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