I Don't Want to Fall

Chapter 9: Start Talking

***** Carson’s POV

We pulled up to the old farmhouse. She woke up as I turned the truck off, and popped up so fast when she realized she was asleep on my lap. I swallowed down a laugh managing to keep it to a small smirk. She looked so embarrassed brushing her hair back as her cheeks flushed pink. There again she looked so cute without even trying.

She quickly jumped out of the truck. I guess trying to pretend that didn't just happen. I chuckled as I followed up to the house behind her. Emerson, Emmeline, and Cassidy came rushing out the front door swarming Elle.

"Can we have a sleepover here? Please!!" They said in unison jumping up and down.

Shocked Elle looked at all three of them not knowing exactly what to do.

"I don't know if Ambrose and Carson would want to do all of that." she replied

Papaw walked up smiling from ear to ear. It had been so long since I have seen him smile like that.

"Oh now Ellowyn, it's no problem at all. They have had so much fun this evening they just don't want it to end." He chuckled.

"Well, if it's alright with you all I'm okay with it." She smiled.

"Cassidy has extra pajamas, and my wife was such a pack rat I'm sure she has some of Rhett and Carson's old clothes around here somewhere." He said thoughtfully.

"Yes!!" They all shouted and bounced around.

"Give me kisses," she said as they both rushed into her for hugs and kisses. "I love you Emmie. I love you Emerson. Don't stay up too late, and behave."

"We love you Mommy! We will!" They ran into the house behind Cass.

"Thank you Ambrose. They've never had a sleepover before." She smiled and turned towards me. "Would you mind taking me home. I'm exhausted."

I smiled and nodded. Then exaggerated the way with a my arms out and a slight bow. She shook her head with a laugh. It wasn't long until we made it to the little cottage. The wolf dog ran up to the truck excited and barking. She jumped out and rubbed his head.

"Oh Fang, I'm sorry I'm so late." He whined and nuzzled her lovingly.

She looked back up into the truck at me. "Thank you for everything today. I really appreciate it, and I enjoyed the company."

"You're welcome. I enjoyed it too. I'll be by in the evening to take to get the jeep."

"Goodnight Carson."

“Goodnight Elle.”

She turned and walked towards the little house with the dog at her heels. I waited until she made it inside then headed back to the farmhouse.

***** Ellowyn’s POV

I watched him drive away from the window pane of the door. It gave me a mixture of feelings I didn’t quite understand, but I turned my back to the door leaning on it. Tilting my head back staring up at the ceiling I let out a tired sigh. Not just physically, but mentally tired.

Fang went and curled up on his large dog bed in front of the stone fireplace. I went into my bedroom, and changed into a blue and white striped pj shorts and a white tank top.

I had my room painted a soft light blue. The trim was the French blue of the front door and outdoor trim that stood out nicely in contrast with crisp white curtains. To the side of the room was a large white antique dresser with mirror. My decent sized lavender plant sat a top the dresser in a white and blue chinoiserie pot making the room smell calming and amazing. The only other item on it was a small wood jewelry box.

I got in the queen size bed pulling white sheets and the blue and white quilt I had made myself up to my chest. I rolled over to the small bedside table.

It had a chinoiserie lamp with a white shade, silver alarm clock, and a picture of the twins smiling up at me. I set my alarm for the morning, and kissed the picture before turning off the light. Snuggling down into the pillows realizing that smell that was putting my senses into overdrive all evening was gone.

I didn’t realize how comforting it had become, and now with it missing I was going to have issues getting to sleep tonight, and I sighed in annoyance.

****** Carson’s POV

Well Papaw was right he was able to find an old pair of my pajamas for Emerson. They fit well and even suited him in blue and green plaid. The girls were wearing matching pink nightgowns. Emmeline had taken her hair down from the pigtails. The chocolate brown hair flowed over her shoulders in curls.

I watched the three of them hop up into the yellow bed, and snuggle under the covers in a mist of giggles and laughter. Cass lay in the middle. I read them a bedtime story, and in no time the three of them were fast asleep. They looked so content and peaceful curled up together.

I softly kissed Cass on the forehead, tucked a strand of Emmie’s hair behind her ear, brushed Emerson’s from his eyes. No one even stirred. Satisfied that they were all truly asleep I left to find Papaw.

I found him in his study sitting behind the desk. He seemed to be waiting for me. I sat down in one of the two arm chairs in front of the desk.

“Papaw, what is going on? What do you know about Ellowyn?” I asked.

He looked at me square in the eye, then opened the drawer to his desk. He brought out a bottle of good whiskey and two glasses along with a folder. After pouring us each a glass he handed me one, then drank his. I threw mine back and waited.

“What do you know about Miss Ellowyn, Carson?” Papaw looked at me seriously as he sat back in his chair.

“Well, I’m not quite sure on something’s, and I have a lot of questions.” I said honestly.

“Alright, start with what you know for sure son.”

“She’s a twenty-three year old mother of twins. Was married to that douche bag Gavin, but they are legally separated with a custody arrangement in place for the children. She met him when she was seventeen when he put her on some weird herbal based medicine with wolfsbane in it, and lied to her about the reason. She was an orphan growing up in state’s care after her parents died in a car crash. She is well-known and liked throughout the town, and works at Old Tom’s hardware store.” I rattled off what I was sure of leaving one big discovery out.

He smiled across the desk at me. “There is the soldier in you getting all that background together, but there is one thing you can’t hide from me, Carson. I am your grandfather, and I know you better than anyone. I saw how you two were, and there is only one reason you would act that way to anyone.”

“I’m confused. What are we talking about?”

“Don’t play coy with me boy,” He laughed. “She’s your mate isn’t she.”

My face hardened, “My mate was Claire, and she’s dead.” I stated firmly.

“Boy, don’t lie to me. You are favored by the moon goddess, and she has granted you a second chance mate which are beyond rare. Don’t f**k this up for yourself.” He said sternly.

I looked away from him towards the wall frustrated. He sighed. Then poured us each a second glass.

“I’ll leave it alone for now, but you can’t fight the mate bond. Soon enough you won’t want to anyways. It will only get stronger with time, and when she finally gains her wolf.” He said pretending to ponder to see if his comments gained my attention, and it did.

“So she isn’t human?”

“No, why do you think Gavin Maxwell has been dosing her with wolfsbane since she was seventeen.”

"So either he is a wolf himself too or he knows about us," I said my thoughts from earlier out loud.

"Correct. As of right now all I know is he has complete control of the town she was living with him in Tennessee. No one does anything without his approval just like an alpha in a pack. He is a fowl man with serious anger issues. If I had to guess just from his behavior alone I'd say he's a wolf. I have sent one of our best pack spies to gather more information on him.” He concluded.

“What about Elle? What made him choose her, and become obsessed with controlling her down to the point she doesn’t have her wolf or know about them?”

“Elle huh?” He smiled and raised an eyebrow. I ignored his teasing, and he continued. “Well, we know she isn’t his true mate. He hasn’t marked her either. Probably because that would be hard to explain without telling her the truth of who she is. I feel the longer he doesn’t have control over her the more desperate he will become. He may force his mark on her which could be dangerous especially in her weaken state. The wolfsbane was to help control her. Your Elle is actually, Ellowyn Slade. That is her maiden name.”

“Slade, why is that name so familiar?” I said resting my chin on my hand as I was lost in thought trying to remember where I have heard that name before.

“When you were a young boy about eight do you remember your father had to combine our pack with a neighboring pack?” He asked.

Thinking about it I did remember a pack near us. I closed my eyes remembering the Alpha and Luna’s faces. They had a small toddler, a little girl.

“The Blue Ridgeline Pack was the closest pack to ours, and your father’s allies. Alpha Slade and his Luna Orla were genuine and kind. They cared very much for their people, but were plagued like many by the attacks of rogues. Erik Slade was doing his own research and investigating on the rogue issue. Whatever he discovered he took the secret to the grave.

Six months after digging their pack was brutally attacked. The Slade’s disappeared probably went into hiding. After that attack your father took in the remainder of the Blue Ridgeline Pack as members of our own. Their pack lands still stand abandoned and desolate to this day. Ellowyn Slade was their daughter and only child, three at the time. She is an alpha wolf which would make sense on the allure of a powerful sadistic wolf like Gavin wanting to own and control her.”

He handed me the folder upon the desk. Opening it I found it was an old pack file full of information on the Blue Ridgeline Pack and their merger with ours. I pulled out an old picture of a young family. They seemed happy and normal.

Erik Slade was a powerful looking man with broad shoulders. He had the same chocolate brown hair as the twins with dark brown eyes. He wore a proud smile upon his face as they stood before what must have been the pack house on their land. Orla was a slender woman with soft features, striking light auburn hair, and those golden honey colored eyes I have come to love on her daughter. She stood wearing a flowing light blue dress with her husband’s arms around her as she looked up at him with a loving smile.

She was holding the smallest little hand of a little girl who looked so much like Emmeline.

Even as a small child she looked mesmerizing I couldn’t break my glaze. Her hair was floating in the breeze. Blue cornflowers decorating her locks, and an emerald green dress that rustled around her miniature legs. Her rosy, peach lips forming a soft smile content, and peaceful as she stared at me from the photograph.

He handed me a second folder that was a folder from the state of Kentucky holding all the information on Ellowyn from foster care. Another picture of Elle when she was about sixteen showed a loneliness and sadness to her eyes. She sat on a stone wall not looking at the photographer. She seemed deep in thought. Wearing Jean shorts with fringed edges, and a band t-shirt. Her hand in her hair, she almost seemed frustrated.

A second picture showed the same teenage Elle standing annoyed in front of a state group home. Ripped black skinny jeans with a burnt orange crop top exposing her stomach slightly, and a mustard yellow bandanna tied up in her hair like a headband. She stood with her hand looped in the pocket of her jeans as she seemed forced to take the snapshot in time.

The younger me would have run circles to impress this girl. Something about Elle just kept pulling me in. It must just be the newfound mate bond, but it felt like more.