BAYNE
The drive to my place was quiet, and I felt Brett's emotions going from one extreme to the other. He was trying not to get his hopes up, but he really wanted to be able to see. Who could blame him? The thought of having him look down at me when we made love or to wake up and find him looking at me was more than I had dared hope.
I was scared something wouldn't work out and it would devastate both of us. No matter how I tried to tell myself it couldn't get worse than it was now, it didn't help. I wanted my mate to see. I wanted to race through the forest, hunt, and play together. I wanted him to stop feeling like he wasn't enough for me.
I hadn't realized how badly he felt that way until we became fully mated, but it was one of the strongest emotions that I felt from him. He was more than enough just as he was, but if being able to see helped him understand and accept that I wanted him, then I hoped he could get that.
"You really do live out away from the pack." Brett leaned his head back on the car seat.
"It seems farther than it is, but I couldn't find anywhere this unpopulated. My nearest neighbor is about a mile down the road and he's a pack member too. Other than him, there isn't anyone around for miles." I loved the land I'd bought. I never thought I'd be living with a mate when I got it, and now I worried that it would be too small for Brett.
"Hey, don't worry. I'm going to love it." Brett reached over and found my thigh, resting his hand on it.
"I forget you can feel everything. It's going to take getting used to. I just hope it's big enough for you. It's nothing fancy. Just one bedroom, a small living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. I have a shop out back where I do some woodworking from time to time."
"It sounds perfect. I love that it's small. We don't need a big fancy place. If I wanted big and fancy, I wouldn't have been selected as your mate. I have to trust that in all things we will be happy together. I wouldn't have been paired with you if there was something major we clashed on. So far, you are as perfect of a man as I could ever desire."
"I'm far from perfect." I laughed.
"Which is why you are perfect for me. I'm not perfect either. Together, we make a huge mess that only we can understand. Don't doubt that we are meant to be. I don't anymore. Once that bond fell into place my doubt left." Brett gave my thigh a squeeze. "Besides, look at it this way, if I don't get my sight back, it's less area for me to have to learn to get around in."
"You're going to get your sight back. I know you will." We hadn't talked about what the doctor had said. I figured I'd let him bring it up if he wanted to talk about it. I'd joked around as we went grocery shopping and kept the mood light, trying to keep his mind off the subject.
"I don't want to get my hopes up. He said eighty percent chance. That twenty is still a lot of room for failure. I'm hopeful this works, but if it doesn't, I don't want to be let down," Brett said.
I could smell the lie in his words, but I didn't call him on it. I was as hopeful as he was. I wanted this for him more than anything. Hell, I'd even debated on offering one of my own eyes to him so that we both could see, even if it was just from one eye. It was something I would offer if a donor didn't come through. "I know we can't be sure it will work, but it's something. I honestly thought he'd talk about glass eyes today and let you pick a color." I glanced over at him. "What color were your eyes?"
"A light brown. When you meet my sister, you'll see. We have… had the same eye color." Brett shrugged. "They can be purple now for all I care, just so I can see."
"I agree. I don't care what color they are. I just want to be able to look into them." I pulled up in front of the cabin, wishing Brett could see how beautiful it was now that it was getting dark and only the stars and moonlight illuminated the area. "We're here." I shut off the car and climbed out before going around and opening Brett's door. "Welcome to my home, babe."
"Our home now." Brett leaned in and kissed my ear.
I smiled. Even though he couldn't see, he still tried to make me feel wanted, special. It might mean he missed my lips or cheek when kissing me, but it didn't stop him from trying. "Our home. Everything is ours now." I linked my arm in his. "Fifteen feet to the steps, four steps up to the porch, then about five feet to the front door." I started to lead him. "It has a wrap-around porch. I like to come out and drink coffee in the morning."
"I'm looking forward to that." Brett shuffled his feet. "It smells good out here. It's not like in town. It's pure nature."
"Yep, it's why I love it. There are a few hundred acres of forest to run and hunt. We have to be careful as a lot of it is public land, but if we shift here and run, no one would see us. There are some ranches to the west, which I try to avoid, but there's plenty of space around to spend a day hunting when we want to." I paused as we got to the door and I had to work the key in the lock. "I haven't been home in about a week. It could be stuffy." I pushed the door open and led him inside.
"Would you quit worrying?" He inhaled as I flipped on the lights. "It smells like you. I like it."
"Good, I'm glad. You're in the living room now. Six feet in front of you is a coffee table and couch, to your side is a TV and stand. Ten feet to your left is the fireplace, and if you go to the right about five feet is the door to the bedroom. The kitchen is to the right and in front of you about ten feet." I didn't plan on him learning his way around right away, but I needed him to know what was there.
"Lead me to the kitchen. I wish I could help you unload the car." Brett sighed.
"I know, but it's just a few bags. This way you won't risk falling. Until you get the layout of the area, we'll take it slow. You'll catch on in no time and be all over the place." I flipped the light on in the kitchen and led him to the table. "You're at the table. Fridge is to the right and forward about six feet. The sink is directly in front of you, and the stove is to the left." I kissed his cheek. I'm going to run out and get the groceries. I'll be right back, and then we can fix something for dinner."
"Sounds good." Brett smiled.
He looked lost sitting at the table alone. It had to be hard being in a new place, unable to see. I couldn't imagine how scared he must be, but through our link, it wasn't fear I felt from him, it was regret. He wanted to help, wanted to take an active role in everything we did, but couldn't. It was going to take time for him to learn to get around the place and figure out what he could and couldn't do.
I prayed Cohen found a donor soon so we wouldn't have to struggle through all this. Either way, I would be there for him and do everything I could to make it easier. It was so odd. It was like I'd known him for years, but we were really only days into our relationship. He was such a part of me now that I honestly didn't know how I survived without him. Being mated was the most natural thing. I'd always thought I'd feel tied down or like I had to work harder to be with someone, but with Brett, nothing was changing. I simply had someone by my side to live life with, and that was amazing.
I grabbed the bags and hurried back into the house. "So, what are you in the mood for tonight?" I started emptying the bags and putting things away.
"Something light. I'm not really hungry. Honestly, I'm exhausted. We didn't do much today, but I feel as if I've been on a day-long hunt and haven't had a moment to rest. It's probably just mental stress. I'd be happy with a frozen dinner and curling up on the couch in front of the TV. I can listen while you watch."
"We can do that. In fact, the TV in the bedroom is nicer. We'll eat, then we can curl up in there and forget everything. We don't have anything we have to be up for tomorrow. We can spend the day being lazy. When you're ready, we can go out and explore the town and try and find that scent, but there's no rush. Neither of us are going to forget the scent, and Kurt has other wolves hunting it down as well." I pulled out two frozen chicken pot pies. "One pot pie enough for you?"
"Yeah, plenty. After eating Corta's food for a few days, I'm stuffed. I don't think I've ever eaten so much or so well."
"She is amazing. Her mate died several years back, and she came to the pack house and started cooking and hasn't stopped. I think it took her mind off losing her mate and helped her to feel needed. Everyone loves her."
Brett stretched his legs out from the chair. "I can see why. It's amazing how well your pack gets along. It's not like that in mine. We are there for each other when we have to be, but very few hang out together. We have a small place that the pack meets for meetings and such, but nothing like your pack house."
I switched on the microwave and grabbed two beers, taking them to the table. "Handing you a beer." I extended it to Brett. Once he took it, I sat down. "It was Kurt's father that got the pack running so well. He wanted a community. He said times were changing and we were no longer living our lives hidden. We might not be out to the world, but we could live with them. He wanted us integrated with the human world. He put people in positions where we could have a wolf in almost all areas of the community. Cohen's mate works at the DMV, a few wolves work at the hospital, one of our wolves is even mayor now. It's worked out well. It makes it easier to keep our secrets. We still have to be careful, and in time, we need to go away for a bit since we don't age. We come back with a new identity, claiming to be relatives, sons, or daughters. I've heard of a pack back in Tennessee, where the whole pack moves its location every ten to twenty years. That way they don't have to split up and still avoid the question about why they haven't aged. I kind of like that idea. I'm not fond of leaving Montana, but I don't want to leave and find another pack for a few years. I'd rather stay with Kurt and the friends I have here. If that meant moving to Nebraska or Wyoming for a few years, then it would be worth it."
"My dad is at that point now. He is starting to have people question why he looks so young. I'm kinda hoping that will be one of the reasons I might be able to talk him into coming here. I think once they visit and see what pack life is like here compared to there, it will be easier to bring up the conversation." Brett wrapped his hand around the beer bottle. "If we do find a donor for me soon, I'd like to invite them to come stay for a while. I want them to meet you."
"I want to meet them. Even if we don't get a donor or this doesn't work, they are welcome here anytime. I don't have a lot of room here, but there is plenty of space at the pack house for them to stay for a few weeks if they want. There are hotels in town too, but I think they'd like to be at the pack house with others and have the mountain there to run if they want." I was surprised there was no nervousness at the thought of meeting Brett's family. I'd always been uncomfortable meeting others, but I was looking forward to meeting my mate's family.
"Mom asked a ton about you. It was hard to tell her anything since honestly, we'd just met, but she was so happy. She always said she dreamed that both her children would be lucky enough to find their mates someday." Brett grinned. "Never thought it would be me."
"Your sister is still young, she might—" My cell phone rang, cutting me off mid-sentence. I quickly answered after seeing it was Kurt.
I stared at Brett as I listened to what Kurt had to tell me, my stomach tightening as he slowly gave me information. By the time I hung up, I was sure that Brett could tell through our link that something was wrong. I set the phone on the table as I stared across the table, hating I had to tell him what I'd heard. "There was another attack. This one near the same area you were hit. The same situation, they used a tranquilizer to take them down."
Brett swallowed hard. "Were they killed?"
"No, just beaten and chained with wire like you were. Kurt said they should heal, but they would have died if they hadn't been found. This time, nothing was removed or cut off, but they were beaten severely. It was a couple of wolves who decided to go on an evening hunt." I rubbed my beard.
"So, there is someone out there attacking wolves. That means what happened to me wasn't personal, right?"
"I don't know. It would seem that way, but how come yours and Bridger's was so much worse? I mean, they killed Bridger, took his balls, took your eyes, but this time just beat the wolves? It doesn't make sense."
"Same scents?"
I nodded, then remembered he couldn't see me. "Yeah, Kurt says it was. Exactly the same. The trail leads back to the dirt road where it had last time." I took a long drink of my beer, trying to figure out why anyone would do this to a wolf. "They must know what we are. This can't be just random wolf attacks, can it?"
"I don't know. Maybe some rancher is mad a wolf killed their cattle or sheep?" Brett ran his fingers through his hair. "I was hoping to wait until I could see, but I can't. Whoever is doing this needs to be stopped. We need to go into town tomorrow. I can't sit back and let more wolves be hurt if I can stop this."
"I agree. Kurt said that shifting would heal the wolves who were attacked tonight, but one still hasn't regained consciousness to shift. Cohen's done what he can. All they can do now is wait." I stood, going over to get the food from the microwave, but my appetite was shot. I grabbed two forks and set them along with the food on the table. "Pot pie is in front of you, the fork is to the right." I sat back down.
"So much for relaxing." Brett reached for his fork.
"Once this is over and we've caught who is doing this, and you get your sight back, we'll take a trip somewhere. Anywhere you want to go." I loved the idea of getting away with Brett for a couple of weeks. "Maybe we can head up to Alaska and fish and run with some of the packs up there."
"I'd like that, but we have to focus on this first. I can't let any other wolves go through this. Now everyone is going to be scared to run or hunt. Even if it's not my fault, I can't stop feeling like it is. Bridger and I were the first attacked. I know the scent. This ties to me somehow or at least to Bridger. I just don't know how." Brett dug into his pot pie, struggling to keep it on the fork.
"Would a spoon work better?" I was up and already getting one.
"Fuck, I'm not even hungry." Brett set the fork down. "Why would someone do this?"
"I don't know, but we are going to find out. I promise that tomorrow we'll head into town. We'll hit every place you went with Bridger. We'll find his friends and question them." I took a deep breath. "Please eat so I don't have to worry about you more than I already do."
Brett sighed, his shoulders slumping. "You're right. There's nothing we can do tonight." He rolled his shoulders. "I hate feeling helpless."
"You're not helpless. You're the only one who recognizes the scent. It's our only lead right now." I sent a wave of love through our link.
"I love you. I'm sorry. I know this is weighing on you as well. I just want to make whoever is doing this pay. When we find them, I'm going to make them suffer just like I've had to. I'll make them beg for death."
I smiled, glad my mate was a fighter and not someone to sit back and just accept the bad things that happened. When we did find who was doing this, I would stand right beside him, proudly watching as he brought them to justice. One way or another, we were going to put a stop to these attacks. It was just a matter of when.