Chapter 32
Callie was wrong.
Things did not look better in the morning. Because, instead of just a broken heart, I was also nursing a killer hangover.
“Turn the lights off!” I yelled, wincing at the sound of my voice. I pulled the covers over my head and curled into the fetal position.
“I can’t turn off the sun, Elizabeth,” Callie responded dryly.
My moan was muffled beneath the blankets. “Then close the blinds.”
Callie tsked and took a seat beside me. “No. It’s time to get up. I’ve made us breakfast, and we need to eat and get on the road soon.”
“Why are you doing this to me?” I whined.
Callie pulled the covers back until she could see my face. I squinted at her through blurry eyes. “Because, I refuse to allow you to mope around the apartment all day. While I’m out here, I’m going to test some water samples in the area, and you’re coming with me.”
I sat up a little. “What water samples? What are you testing for?”
“We’ll be visiting some lakes, and rivers in Chatham, Lee, and Moore counties. Thousands of acres have been leased to fracking companies, and I’m part of a coalition that helps monitors the fresh water near these sites to make sure they haven’t been contaminated. If they have, we’ll try to get lawmakers involved, but at the very least we can warn the people who might be affected by the contaminated water.”
“Fracking?”
She nodded seriously. “It’s a controversial new way that companies are using to extract oil. They claim it’s safe, but there have been repeated instances of groundwater contamination near fracking sites.”
“What happens if the water is contaminated?”
“There have been sensory, respiratory, and neurological damage reported in cases where fracking contaminated water has been ingested. It can also cause nausea, vomiting, and disrupt both fetal, and childhood development. That’s just what we know of, but there are still studies being done. There’s also air pollution, soil contamination, and potential earthquakes that can occur because of fracking.”
Callie’s eyes were lit with a fire I hadn’t seen from her before. It was clear this meant a lot. I flipped the covers off my sluggish body and crawled out of bed. “Give me ten,” I croaked.
She patted my shoulder and left the room. I used the time to take the hottest shower I could stand, braid my hair, and throw on the first clothes I found.
While I worked on making myself appear human, I also tried to divide up everything that took place yesterday, and file it in its appropriate place.
First, Abraham, and I had taken our relationship to a new level. We’d been dancing around this inferno between us and finally taken the plunge. It was magical, and amazing. More than I could have ever hoped for.
Which brought me to my next point. This sexy man I couldn't get my mind off had lied to me. Kept important information from me. And, Callie could say he did it for the right reasons all she wants, but I also see how he benefited from my ignorance, and I can’t pretend I don’t.
Would I have been up for a date if I’d known I would die in three weeks?
No.
Would I have been hanging out and getting to know the pack if I’d known how little time I had left?
No.
Would I have spent one of my last weekends, in a dive bar dancing, and singing like I had no other care in the world?
No, I would not.
So whichever way you slice it, Abraham lying to me had given him an advantage, and I couldn’t forget that.
And, finally, the worst of all, I’d learned I would die. That these changes I’d been going through were all leading up to a shift I wouldn’t live through. I’d die horribly, half woman, and half wolf just like the shepherd’s wife.
My whole body quaked at the notion. How long would it take for me to die? Would it hurt? Was there someone that would put me out of my misery? Perhaps the doctor would euthanize me before I had to suffer through malformed limbs and half-shifted bones?
That idea brought me up short, and I stopped to stare at myself in the vanity
mirror.
Had I really just considered assisted suicide?
Did I want to die?
Did I want to just give up?
My spine straightened, eyes flashing with the fight I’d learned to harness a long time ago.
The answer was NO.
I didn’t want to die.
I wouldn’t give up.
If Callie says there’s a chance I can make it, then I’ll take that chance. I’ll do whatever I have to, whatever I can to live through this because, as I’ve had to remind myself in the past, Elizabeth Montgomery was a fighter. And, if I was going to die, I’d do it kicking, and screaming until the very end.
With newfound determination, I finally made it to the kitchen, and found Callie sitting at the table with a couple plates of eggs, bacon, tomato, and an entire pot of black coffee.
I made a beeline for the caffeine and filled a mug to the brim before burning my mouth on its hot contents. She slid a glass of water in front of me. “This might help too. Why don’t you drink it while the coffee cools down? I don’t have time to take you to the hospital with third degree burns in your mouth today.”
I reluctantly set the coffee down and chugged the glass of water. Surprisingly, I felt a lot better after that. I filled my plate with as much food as it would hold, and dug in while Callie split her time between looking at her phone, and eating.
I’d been avoiding my cell. Too afraid there’d be a message, or call from Abraham. And, even more terrified there wouldn’t be. My chest tightened thinking about him, and I tried to rub the soreness out of it.
He’d betrayed me.
Lied.
I can’t forgive that.
And, yet I couldn’t stop thinking of the afternoon we’d spent together. How could that have just been yesterday? Not even twenty-four hours had passed since he’d talked me into jumping into that freezing cold lake with him. Since he’d warmed me with his big hands as I stood shivering. Since he’d admitted in that scared broken voice so unlike his own, that he wanted to kiss me.
Wanted me.
My legs clenched under the table as my mind unwillingly ran through the time I’d spent pressed against him. Legs around his waist, arms around his neck, mouth, and body, and heart, and soul, open to him. Like I’d never been for anyone else in my life.
And, I’d felt his body respond to mine. His heart beat for me. His soul ache for mine. Felt it all as if it’d been inside me the whole time. It had felt like I’d lived as one half of a whole my entire life, and I’d finally found my corresponding piece.
And, it was all over.
All of it.
Done.
Because I couldn’t trust a man who would lie to me. Couldn’t open my heart again to a man who used me. Couldn’t allow myself to fall for someone who I couldn’t rely on to catch me.
Callie’s words had planted the seeds of doubt in my brain last night, but I blamed the wine for my willingness to believe her. Of course she would say nice things about her brother. They all believed Abraham hung the moon. And, I had too for a little while. But, that illusion was shattered the moment I found out about his deceit. There was no coming back from that.
“Are you done?” Callie asked from across the table.
I set my fork down and sealed up the last wall surrounding my poor abused heart. “Yep. Completely done.”
It was dark by the time we made it back to my apartment. I helped Callie lug in the water samples before collapsing on the couch. We’d visited several nearby counties, testing as many freshwater sources as we could. And, I was beat.
Callie, with her endless energy stored her samples in the fridge before rummaging through my cabinets, and pantry. “You barely have any food here,” she called.
I pulled my sore body upright. “That’s because Evey’s not around.”
At the mention of my friend's name, a sharp pain shot through my chest. I really needed to call her and apologize.
Callie came into the living room, thin arms akimbo. “You mean to tell me you only have food in this house when my sister is here?”
I shrunk a little. These women made me feel like the worst kind of homemaker. “I order out a lot,” I explained.
She sighed and took a seat next to me. “Well, it looks like we’ll be having takeout tonight. I’ll try to get to the store tomorrow while you’re at work, but I can’t make any promises.”
I pulled my phone out, surreptitiously glanced at the notification bar, and sunk a little lower in my chair when I saw I had no missed messages or calls. Shaking off my disappointment, I pulled up my Postmates app, and scrolled through our options. “What are you so busy with tomorrow?”
“Visiting a few local beekeepers.”
“Beekeepers?”
She nodded. “I like to visit those working on the front line before working on proposals. It gives me more motivation, and material.”
I shook my head in wonder. “You’re really into this environmental stuff, huh?”
She rolled her pale blue eyes. “It’s not ‘environmental stuff’, it’s the environment. It’s our planet. We only get one, and if we don’t take care of it, we don’t get a new one.”
“I didn’t even know about most of the stuff you talked about before today.”
“That’s the biggest problem. If people don’t know about these issues, they can’t care about them. We need to educate the population and get them interested in things like banning bee-killing insecticides. We’re up against huge agricultural companies that fill politicians’ pockets and get them to turn the other way when bills or proposals cross their desks. But, the politicians are there to work for the people not corporations. It’s their constituents they’ll have to answer to come election time. But, like I said, it all begins with education.”
I shook my head again. “You’re pretty amazing, Callista McCoy. Anyone ever tell you that?”
Her pale cheeks reddened, and she looked away. “I’m nothing special. Just trying to do my part.”
“You’re doing more than your part, Callie. I’d say you’re doing a few people's parts at least.” That gave me an idea. “In fact, if you ever need legal advice, let me know. I’d love to help if I can.”
She smiled gratefully. “That’s sounds great, I’ll take you up on that sometime.” Callie leaned over to see my phone screen. “How about Italian?” I pulled up a menu, choosing my dish before passing the phone to her. When she finished, I placed the order, and sat staring at my phone.
After a few minutes, Callie spoke up. “He’s giving you time.”
My head jerked in her direction. “What?”
She nodded toward my silent phone. “Abey. He’s giving you space. I suspect he won’t be able to hold out much longer before he contacts you though.”
I scoffed and tossed my phone onto the glittery silver coffee table. “It doesn’t matter if he does. I have nothing to say to him.”
“Uh huh. And, what about Evey? You have anything you’d like to say to her?”
My stomach twisted uncomfortably. She was right. I really did need to call her.
“Why don’t you give her a call while we wait for dinner to get here? I have some work to do, anyway.”
Callie was like my own personal Jiminy Cricket, there on my shoulder to be the voice of reason when I needed to hear it most. I released a large sigh, and hauled my sorry butt off the couch, retreating to my bedroom to make the phone call.
It only rang twice before she answered.
“Ellie?!” I winced and pulled the phone from my ear. I’d gotten a lot more used to my enhanced hearing, but I was still pretty sensitive. “I’m so glad you called. I was gonna’ call you, but Abey told me to leave you be–” She stopped short like she’d said something she shouldn’t have. “I’m so sorry, Ellie. You have no idea how sorry I am. I didn’t wanna’ keep that from you, but I agreed it was best you didn’t hear it right away. But, as soon as you were more acceptin’ of the idea of becomin’ a werewolf, I think he shoulda’ told you. It killed me to keep that from you. I’m so so sorry, and I’d understand if you didn’t forgive me, but I’d really appreciate it if you did. I–”
“Evey!” I had to yell to be heard over her rambling. She fell quiet, and I heard a telltale sniffle through the phone that twisted my stomach into a knot a sailor would be proud of. “I actually called to apologize to you.”
“Me?” she whimpered.
“Yeah.” I scratched my head and began pacing my room. “Callie told me he’d ordered you not to tell me. I understand now that it wasn’t your fault. That you didn’t purposely lie to me, and I wanted to apologize for the way I treated you yesterday. You’ve been a great friend and didn’t deserve it. Will you forgive me?”
A watery laugh came through her end. “Of course I forgive you! There’s nothin’ to forgive, Ellie. It was us that kept this from you. That wasn’t fair, and you had every right to be angry.”
I blew out a big breath. “Maybe. But, I could have stayed to hear you out first. I’m sorry I didn’t.”
She was quiet so long, I thought we got disconnected. Then, “What about Abey? You think you shoulda’ heard him out too?”
I sucked in a lungful of air. “It’s different with him,” I whispered.
“He only did it to protect you, Ellie. He’d never do anything to hurt you. He’s been so upset since you left. I’ve never seen him like this before,” she confided.
My chest felt hollow. Like all the organs, muscles, and tissue that used to occupy that space had disappeared. I gasped around the gaping hole, using my free hand to cover my chest. “He should have told me,” I said. The only words I could muster between the alpha-sized hole in my chest, and the burning in my nose that meant I was moments away from tears.
I’d gone the whole day without shedding a single one, and I was not about to break my streak now. Thankfully, there was a knock on my apartment door. Our food had arrived along with a great excuse to end this conversation.
“Listen, Evey, our dinner’s here, I have to run.”
“Back to Postmates, Ellie?” Her tone was disapproving.
“We have no groceries in the house. We used them all last week, and I wasn’t exactly in the mood for a trip to Kroger’s yesterday when I got home.”
That sobered the mood up quickly.
“Yeah, I can understand that,” she responded sadly. “Well, enjoy your dinner! I’ll text you tomorrow!”
I smiled at the phone. Nothing could keep Evey down for long. “Okay, talk to you then.”
I finished the phone call with my heart just a touch lighter. Making up with Evey had been weighing on me all day, and I was glad we were on good terms again. Now, if only I could get over her brother, I’d be doing much better. But, my stubborn heart still beat for that man, and I knew deep down that wouldn’t be changing anytime soon.