Page 64 of Wolf's Fate
Biting her bottom lip, she looked away again. “Isn’t that what you do? Lie?”
“Willow…”
She let out a deep breath. “Yeah, you’re right. That was mean.” She sounded bitter. “Unkind. And no, I don’t actually think you’re lying.” Her chin dropped as she raised her hands to rub her eyes tiredly. “I think you maybe feel guilty…but…”
“But?”
Raising her head, she regarded me with a weariness I knew in my soul. “I don’t think it’s for me.”
Nodding, I pressed my lips together in case I blurted out something harsh. She didn’t deserve harsh. “Maybe you’re right,” I admitted slowly. “I don’t think I am responsible for what’s happening to you.” Tapping my index finger off my temple, I spoke clearly. “I have nothing to do with what’s happening inside your head?—”
“I know that!” Her tone was as sharp as the spark of anger that flashed in her eyes. “I’m not blaming you for the visions, or whatever they are, but thereismore to this story—our story, if you will—and you know what it is.”
“Do I?” I hated how hard I sounded.
“Yes! You say you’re sorry, but you can fill in the blanks for me, and maybe if I know more, I can do more.”
“You mean my past,” I spoke flatly.
“Yes, I?—”
“Don’t need to know,” I snapped, shoving my hand through my hair, frustration building. “You don’tneedto know everything. You think you do, but you don’t.”
Twisting in her seat, she glared at me, her eyes narrowing to slits. “Yes, I do.” She spoke over me, cutting me off before I could start. “And itisyour fault that I don’t know. This world I’ve been thrown into? This whole other livingspeciesthat I didn’t even know existed, yes, I think we both know if I didn’t seeyou, then I wouldn’t see any of it.” Her breathing was shallow as she struggled to keep her temper. “If you stopped shutting me out or leaving, then maybe,maybewe could figure this shit out.”
“That’s not fair,” I protested, a warning tone in my voice not to push it. Not to try to get me to talk about things that weren’t any of her concern.
“Isn’t it?” Willow’s gaze locked on mine, the challenge clear in her eyes. “Caleb—” She broke off, taking in a deep breath to calm herself down. “Look, you know I’ve seen things, and we can’t go on like this?—”
“Like what?” I snapped, signaling and pulling the car over on the road. Switching the engine off, I turned in my seat, looking at her full-on. “Can’t go on like what?”
“Forget it,” she muttered, turning her head away.
Reaching over, I cupped her jaw, turning her head to mine. “What have you seen, Willow?” My voice was quiet, coaxing, the tension an undercurrent that she didn’t miss.
“I’ve seen enough.” Her gaze dipped to my lips and back again. “Enough to know there’s a lot that you need to tell meand some things you need to never share.” Her eyes softened as she looked into my eyes, trying so hard to get past the barriers. “I’ve seen your past, I’ve seen the pain, I feel the loneliness…” Tears welled in her eyes. “You can’t hide from me.”
Her words hit like a blow. Each word was a punch in the gut, and I had to break our stare so she couldn’t see how much she affected me. I’d buried so much for so long; she didn’t get to come into my life and demand answers.
I was damaged, I knew that. The last weeks on the mountain, with only the company of the spirits of the dead, highlighted how screwed up I was.
“I’m not hiding,” I told her gruffly, pulling away from her. “I faced my shit a long time ago.”
“Liar.”
I looked at her, trying to keep a hold of my temper. “Willow?—”
“No.” She shook her head. “Just…no.”
“Just no?” I asked, my voice low, my whole attention on her, knowing she didn’t have a fucking clue how close she was to me losing control.
Willow swallowed hard, sensing that maybe she’d pushed too far. But, dear Goddess, she was a stubborn woman. I saw it in the realization that she was on dangerous ground. I saw her accept it, and I saw her raise her chin in defiance as she held my stare.
Held my stare like Ned couldn’t earlier.
She was so brave.
Or reckless.