Thomas’s hunger flooded me, and my stomach did a nervous dip. Why hadn’t I felt anything until now? I’d thought it wasn’t working.
“I wanted to talk to you privately but maybe now isn’t the best time.”
He scooped me up in his arms and took off running into the trees.
“Now is the perfect time,” he said, glancing down at me. His hungry gaze devoured me.
“Don’t run into a tree,” I said, nudging his chin up. He grinned and focused on our path.
As he ran, I tried to settle my nerves and my pulse by taking several deep, calming breaths.
We broke through the trees to the lake’s grassy shore. I was glad he hadn’t taken us to the marsh or garden. He set me on my feet and turned me.
“There’s no one around to hear us. Now, what did you want to discuss?”
I felt like throwing up. The little voice that had cautioned me when I’d thought about telling Winifred was screaming at me now to keep my mouth shut. I looked out over the water, unsure what to do.
“Hey, it’s okay,” Thomas said. He pulled me close and wrapped his arms around me. “I hate when you worry this much. You can tell me whatever you want or keep it to yourself. I won’t be upset with you either way. Just stop worrying like this.”
His hands smoothed down my back, and the voice quieted. My worries tended to fade when he just held me like this.
“I can control people with just a thought,” I said against his chest.
His chin settled on the top of my head. “I know. Winifred told me. She and I talked after the first time we saw what you could do. We thought it was tele-whatever, where you can move things with your head. When you told her it was something else, she told me.”
I frowned, not saying anything. I said it needed to be kept secret. And when she’d nodded, I’d thought she’d agreed.
“Don’t be angry,” he said.
I needed to figure out a way to keep my emotions in check.
“She told me because she had to. She’s responsible for all of us. Keeping information to herself about the possibility of someone in our midst who could control us could have killed her.”
“What?” I said, lifting my head.
“Like I said about Grey. Elders serve us, not themselves. If she knowingly did something that could potentially jeopardize us, she would die.”
I stared at him, unable to speak.
“Winifred does want to protect you. She believes that you’re a key to our future. She will do what she can to keep you safe. That’s why she told me what you can do and asked that I keep an eye on you. I saw what you can do. It’s impressive and as far as I’m concerned, there’s no reason for us to worry. The damage you can do is no worse than when we challenge each other.”
I could do so much more than he imagined. I could make them do things then make them forget. And if Winifred found that out, she’d need to tell Thomas or risk her own life. What would Thomas do if I told him? Would he keep it to himself? I studied his face. He wouldn’t. He loved his people too much. If he knew there was a way I could control them, he’d warn Winifred, at the very least. She’d need to tell all of the rest. I was very unwanted already. It would be my death.
I felt sick but quickly pushed it aside. I couldn’t fall apart; he’d know there was something more to what I could do. Fear snaked its way into my belly, and I saw his expression begin to change.
I did the only thing I could to distract him, to distract us both. I kissed him.
****
Thomas’ head lay on my chest. His breathing was slow and even. I didn’t move to wake him. Instead, I lay there and let out all the worry and fear I’d suppressed since our kiss at the lake.
If I mated with Thomas as he wanted, as I wanted, I would need to lie to him for the rest of my life. I could try to run, again, but knew he wouldn’t let me go. Even if I managed to leave this place, he would come and find me. He hadn’t wanted to give up his Claim before it had been official. Now that it was official… I sighed and looked up at the ceiling.
“What next?” I whispered in the dark.
Thomas shifted in his sleep, relieving some of the pressure.
I ran my fingers through his hair. I’d made it this long without deciding. Maybe I just needed to be patient and wait for the universe to actually answer.
****
Thomas and I stood outside, working together to hang laundry on the line. Everyone else was still inside working on weaving. I’d tried to start a mat but discovered I didn’t have the patience or skill for it. The leaves didn’t cooperate and, instead of a rectangle, I ended up with a weird shape with too many gaps. So, I’d opted to do laundry instead.
“Weaving’s not for everyone,” Thomas said.
How had he known what I was thinking about?
“What gave me away?” I asked.
“Your frustration. It felt the same now as it did in there.”
I wrinkled my nose at him. Thomas’ mat had been perfect.
While I was making my face, his expression went from amused to alert. He turned to look at the trail. A light blue and white truck rolled into the yard. Not Winifred’s truck. I stopped straightening a shirt and squinted against the glare of the sun reflecting off the windshield. I caught sight of a man behind the wheel as the truck stopped and the engine died. I turned back around to keep my face averted. Thomas moved toward the truck.
The man opened the door, and a metal on metal screech filled the air.
“Afternoon,” Thomas said as the man stepped from the truck. Thomas’ voice seemed pleasant enough, but I felt his tension.
“Afternoon,” the man echoed. “Sorry to come in here without warning. Am I interrupting something?”
I reached for the man’s will but didn’t find anything more than friendly curiosity. Keeping a light hold on his will, I hung another shirt.
“Just laundry,” Thomas said.
“Not a shirt left to wear, huh?”
I blushed as I realized how odd Thomas must look standing there in nothing but his pants. I’d grown so used to it, I never thought of getting a shirt for him anymore.
“Yeah, the Mrs. lets it pile up at my place, too,” the man said when Thomas remained silent. There was a slight pause before the man continued. “I’ve seen your smoke for a few weeks now and wanted to stop in and warn you. We’ve been seeing some wolves around. They’ve left our livestock alone so far and don’t bother the dog none, even though that thing yaps up a storm.”
“Wolves?” Thomas said, sounding deeply concerned. “Which direction did you say?”
“I live a few miles to the west. It’s a farm just off the road.”
Had I walked a bit further all those weeks ago, I would have seen the farm. How different would my life be if I’d gone to knock on their door instead of walking an old trail at dusk?
“And you saw our smoke from your place?”
The man laughed.
“Not from my place. I’ve seen it when I go to town for supplies.”
A thread of impatience touched me, and I smiled. Poor Thomas. I wondered when he’d last spoken to a human. Excluding me, of course.
“Thank you for letting us know about the wolves,” Thomas said pleasantly. “We haven’t seen any yet, but we’ll keep watch and let you know if we do.”
“It’s no trouble,” the man said. “It’s nice having neighbors again. Thought the lady who bought this place from the hippies was just going to let it rot.”
The man was obviously not ready to leave. I knew we should invite him in or seem friendlier, but I didn’t think anyone here would welcome him if I extended any type of invitation.
“That’s my aunt,” Thomas said. “She was thinking about it but asked me and a few of my friends to move out here and start fixing the place up. Might still rot.”
I could feel the shrug in Thomas’ words. Hanging up the last shirt, I calmly walked inside and felt the man’s curiosity as he glanced my way. I should have at least said hello. Instead of thinking me odd, I nudged his thoughts toward shy.
Mary closed the door behind me.
“Thomas said to stay inside until he leaves.”
I didn’t need her to tell me that. I went to the window and peeked around the curtain. The man stood near his truck. Thomas appeared very relaxed beside him.
“Let Thomas know he should shake the man’s hand when he thanks him for the information,” I said.
Mary giggled.
“Gregory didn’t know about that when we went into town. You should have seen his face when the plumber offered his hand.”
Thomas stuck out his hand as he thanked the man again. The man shook Thomas’ hand, and I felt the man’s relief that we were normal people, unlike the last group here.
Thomas stayed outside until the taillights disappeared down the road. When he came inside, he didn’t appear as troubled as he felt. He walked over to me and set his hands on my shoulders. I’d noticed when others were around, it was usually just a casual touch; but when we were alone, he tended to curl around me.
“What part bothers you?” I said. “That someone came here or that he thinks I don’t do laundry?”
“That there are wolves to the west.”
“I don’t understand why that’s troubling.”
“Winifred says there are no wolves to the west.”
That didn’t sound good.
“Could it be some of your pack trying to cause trouble?” I asked.
“No. Most of them are to the north or the east.”
“Maybe they’re just real wolves,” I said.
“Maybe.”