I Don't Want to Fall

Chapter 5: Arrival

It was about 6am, when we pulled in the drive next to Papaw's truck. I knew the old man would be awake already, though. He was always an early riser. Cass was curled up in a ball fast asleep, so I picked her up to carry her inside. As soon as my feet hit the porch steps, Papaw opened the front door with a wide grin on his face, and I smiled up at him.

"Come on in now, boy. You can put the little princess upstairs in the yellow room." He waved me in sneaking soft looks at Cass asleep in my arms.

The smell of coffee hit my nose, and I was grateful. I could use a cup or two. I placed Cassidy in the full sized white metal bed in the room my Papaw called the yellow room. My mamaw had decorated it when she was still alive with the rest of the old farmhouse.

The walls were wood slats painted a sunny butter yellow with white trim and white lace curtains. A spring green dresser and side table along with the white metal bed. Papaw had a placed fresh yellow and white daisy's in the white vase on the dresser for Cass.

Crisp white sheets with a sunny yellow comforter for me to tuck my little girl into. I noticed at the foot of the bed that the blanket Mamaw had knitted ages ago. It was a green and yellow daisy square blanket, which made me smile. This place always had the comfort of home for me.

I came back downstairs to the kitchen with my Papaw. He handed me a large mug of black coffee as he continued to sit at the table. I joined him as he sat silent.

"Papaw, did you move someone into the old cottage?" I asked.

He laughed. "Always straight to the point."

I smiled, "Sorry, I was just caught off guard on the way down here."

"Well, to answer your question, yes. I sold the place months ago." He waved his hand as if it was nothing which we both knew wasn't true.

"It's on pack land! Have you lost your mind? Does Rhett know?" I said in shock. Papaw would never sell his family land, and he would never allow a human to live on pack lands. At least not unless they were mated to a wolf.

"It's my land, and I don't need to report to my grandson. I know what I'm doing, Carson. I'm not daft." He brushed me off. "But for your peace of mind, your brother knows and trusts my judgment."

"How come I wasn't told about any of this?"

"You are no longer a Gamma, and information like that doesn't need to be relayed to you anymore."

I looked away from him with that comment, and we sat in silence for a while. Whoever my Papaw let move in there and especially buy it had to be something else. He was very attached to that cottage whether he cared to admit it or not.

It wasn't too long after that we heard a car driving down the road. We got up and looked out the window. It was a black audi R8, and it looked out of place driving down this country road. Papaw tensed next to me, and his face hardened as he turned away from the window to sit back down.

I looked at him confused. "Who's vehicle is that?"

He seemed aggravated.

"Someone unwanted here." He replied, gripping his mug.

"You want me to clear them out?" I asked.

"No, they will be gone soon enough."

I shook my head, "What is going on? Who is living in that cottage?"

He didn't answer me but got up to put his mug in the sink and left the room. It wasn't, but a few minutes later, I saw that same car flying out of here like a bat out of hell, and I shook my head. I went and got our bags from the truck bringing them in.

I set mine in my room. Mamaw had one made both for Rhett and me when we visited as young boys. Mine was painted a dark forest green with barnwood furniture in warm tones. Photographs of the blue ridge mountains on the walls. The bedding was dark grey and green with the quilt she had made me when I was little.

What caught my attention was the photographs on the dresser. Cass had had some on her dresser, too. One of her at her dance recital earlier this year. One of the two of us from her birthday party last year, and one of her and Papaw together in front of the farmhouse a couple of years back. The ones here hit me differently.

The first one was of me and Rhett as young boys with our Mom and Dad. The second was of me, about 8 years old, with my Mamaw and Papaw. Then there was a picture of Claire in a blue sun dress smiling. She was looking back over her shoulder at me without a care in the world. It made me pause.

Next was a picture of our wedding day with her in her lace white gown next to me in my suit with the mountains behind us. The last one was a picture of the two of us in front of our house. Claire was pregnant, and it was a mere week before her death. We were so happy.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as these memories stood frozen in front of me. From a time that seemed forever ago. I picked them up and moved them all into the top drawer out of sight. Then, I went to find my papaw to see if he needed any help around the old place.

He quickly put me to work, but it didn't bother me. I liked to stay busy to distract my mind from other things. I only stopped briefly for lunch. Then, later in the afternoon, my wolf got restless. So I decided to shift and go for a run. I grew up here every summer. I knew these lands like the back of my hand. These woods had a comfort to them, which felt like home.

Suddenly, I found myself outside the old cottage. It looked alive with the hydrangeas in bloom in burts of blue. The front door had a fresh coat of french blue paint along with the windows. The stream was a soft lullaby in the background, and a large wolf dog was asleep on the stone stoop.

I took in a deep breath as a faint smell peeked my interest. It was a calming smell of lavender, the fresh and zesty lemon, and an earthy patchouli scent mixed with sunshine. It pulled me in, but the dog on the porch woke up. He stared at me in curiosity before I turned to run back home.

I made it, but instead of going up the driveway, I continued down the road. I can't explain why, but my wolf was being pulled that way. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts I didn't even see the jeep until the last minute. It barely missed me, and I jumped out of the way into the brush hidden from view.

I froze when I saw her pop out of the vehicle. She was beautiful in a natural way with long strawberry blonde hair tied up in a high ponytail and honey colored eyes. She had a girl next door look with a coneflower blue converse, tight jeans, and a fitting white shirt with a blue and white pin striped women's button down over it tied at the stomach.

I couldn't help but stare at her. I couldn't seem to tear my eyes off her as she looked for me in front of the vehicle and let out a sigh of relief when I wasn't there. I took a deep breath and realized she was the scent from the cottage, lavender, lemon, and patchouli.

She looked around and without realizing it looked straight at me. My wolf howled within.

"Mate!"

No, that can't be. I already had a mate. Claire was my mate. I silently fled to the farmhouse, going back to the barn to get dressed. My wolf, Archer, was beyond excited. It was the most energy he had shown since we lost Claire.

"No, no, no. She can't be our mate. We had one. Claire, remember Claire? How could you forget her so easily?"

Archer growled at me, "I could never forget Claire. We will always love her, but this is our second chance, mate. Few wolves are lucky enough to have one."

"I can't..." I shook my head, "I just can't."

Angry with me, Archer blocked me out, leaving me empty and alone with my thoughts. I started out of the barn when I stopped myself. There she was again coming up the drive with two kids about Cass's age. I waited until they made it to the porch, then came around to the side to get a better look without them knowing. She placed the little girl down from her arms.

They must have been twins both with chocolate brown hair and her honey colored eyes. The little girl had her hair in pigtails with a pink peasant top, jeans, and miniature pink converse. She looked just like her mother, but with brown hair. The little boy had moppy style brown hair and a serious look on his face. He wore a plain black t-shirt, jeans, and cobalt blue converse waiting with confidence next to his mother and sister.

Cass answered the door, and I heard my Papaw come up behind her. The young woman told him that she had gotten a flat tire. I hadn't thought to wait around. I knew what would be next, so by the time he called me, I was already on the porch.

He handed me the tow truck keys with a look on his face as if he knew already what he couldn't possibly know. Why was he so accommodating with this girl? My Papaw didn't really like any human's particularly, and she had to be human, right? She didn't acknowledge we were mates, yet she kept acting different with me next to her. I was very confused by the whole situation. One thing was for sure she would never be my mate. That title was reserved only for Claire.

I looked in as Cass excitedly dragged the little girl, Emmeline, inside, happy to have a new friend. I guessed right on them being twins. The boy, Emerson, followed behind but turned back to give me a look his mother notably missed. It seemed to be a warning look, probably meaning not to do anything to his mom. I kept my pokerface but smiled internally. He was definitely protective of his mother.

After my papaw shut the door. I focused my attention back on her. He had called her Ellowyn. It was a pretty name, but a bit of a mouth full. She seemed a bit nervous, and her cheeks were flushed. I wish she would stop. It was almost aggravating how cute I found her. I mentally groaned.

"Come on, Elle. Let's get you hitched up and into town." I said, starting off the porch and towards the barn.

"Elle?" She replied softly.

"What no one has ever tried to shorten that mouthful of a name you've got there?" I poked at her.

She shook her head quietly. It was almost as if she was trying to figure me out or gauge what kind of person I was.

She was very different from Claire. Claire was like a warm beam of sunshine full of laughter and smiles that pulled you in. She easily lit up a room and became the center of it. Ellowyn was softer like a calm breeze that you welcomed on a hot summer day. You were thankful for it, but it was quiet, not wanting a lot of attention. She still had confidence about her, but it was like she was partially broken. She didn't want to stand out.