To Trust or Not To Trust
1839 Words
Josh slowly opened the bedroom door. Shadow was sitting on the bed next to Nicole. She looked like she was hyperventilating while sobbing. It stung his heart to see her like this.
"Hey,hey heeeyyyy." He sat down next to her and wrapped an arm around her.
"NO!" She screamed at him "GET OUT!" She turned her back to him and that hurt him more than anything.
"Nic.."
"I said get out. And not to just outside my door. Get all the way out." She saw him in her dressing mirror and she could see her words hurt him. "I just need time. I am sorry." She softened her words.
He got up and walked out the door without a word. She could feel the hurt in him the angst. She slumped to the floor and cried some more. Not only was she a loner but she was some kind of special being. She fell asleep with her mind swirling.
She dreamed of him, he wasn't dancing and smiling this time he was turned away from her. She was unable to reach him to touch him. She felt the cold and darkness all around her. "We need him. He is our mate; our soul mate." She heard this faint voice.
She didn't even know what time it was or where she was going but she needed him. It was so cold without him. She opened her door and just followed his scent. She kind of smiled to herself thinking of smelling him for the first time.
She stood outside his door wanting to knock but still holding back. 'Why always the back and forth?' She was frustrated. 'Trust yourself' she heard the voice again and it was a bit stronger but not by much.
"Fine" She said out loud and before her knuckles even knocked he swung the door open and they were looking at each other.
"I am..."
He interrupted her pulling her into his arms and kissing her a long deep passionate kiss. He didn't want to stop kissing her. She kissed him back, he could tell she was still holding back.
He let her go and she finished "Sorry. I never want to hurt you like that again." He felt so good to her, so warm and protective.
She could barely look in his eyes feeling like she looked terrible.
"Hey this is a lot to take in and I don't blame you for having reservations." He paused closing the door. "That letter blew my mind too."
"I don't know how much I actually understand but I know hurting you hurt me but in a different way. I think that helped me understand that we are connected."
She looked around his empty apartment and then back at him "Cozy." She smiled.
"Yeah, I have it coming." He offered her the one bar stool he had in the livingroom.
"We could go back to my place, at least there is 2 chairs." He agreed and they walked back to her apartment.
"I need to sleep so I hope you don't mind" She paused and he put up his hands indicating it was totally fine. She continued "joining me. Just to sleep. I feel bad you sleeping on my little couch."
"I'd never say No to that." He had a smile ear to ear.
"uhhg it's like 2am and I have to be up at 5am." She plopped into bed and he just stood there. She scooted over and patted the bed "You might fit here."
He crawled in next to her and she pulled his arm around her and before they knew it the alarm went off.
Nicole was up and out of bed and Josh was still dead the world as she creeped around her room getting ready for the day. She was going go for a run but thought better of it alone. She looked at Josh while he was sleeping.
He was dreamy with his sharp jawline, perfect lips that made her burn from the inside. She got flush just thinking about it. He had cute freckles and slightly tanned skin. His dirty blond hair was a perfect balance to his blue eyes. He shifted in his sleep and then his eye fluttered open and caught her looking at him.
He smiled at her and held out his hand "You should just come back to bed."
"A bad influence already?" She reached for her outfit for the day. "I am jumping in the shower to get ready for the day." She took her cloths and left the room.
Josh looked over at the clock and groaned. He hating mornings so much. Just then his phone rang that was still in his pocket. Looking at it he saw it was his Dad.
"Hello." He sat up so he sounded more awake.
"Mr. Jensen is expecting you today. Did you find an apartment?"
"I did and I found something else." He paused for a moment and thought about holding back but then it just spilled out of his mouth. "I found my mate."
"What? You are joking right?" Stan didn't sound happy.
"Isn't that what I was supposed to do?" Josh was sort of confused at his response. It's like he wasn't the most loving father ever to walk the earth but this response was unexpected.
"Well, yes but the timing isn't the greatest. Does that mean there is another wolf pack around there?"
"No"
"So she's feral?" You could almost hear the distane in his tone.
"No. She doesn't really know what she is. It's a complicatd story but there is an indication that she is a Lycan." Josh thought it best to be honest at this point.
Silence on the other end of the phone.
"Dad?" He never called him that.
He heard his Dad clear his throat and take a deep breath. "How do you know that?"
"A letter from her dead Uncle. Who basically hid her from someone."
"I see." Stan was quiet for a moment. "I think you two need to come home. I will send someone else to Data Solutions."
"Home? I really want to make this work."
"Come home right now. Bring your mate." Stan hung up the phone indicating that his wishes will be done.
Josh was utterly confused and walked out into the small living room where Shadow hopped up on the counter and begged for a petting. Josh stood there petting him and he heard the shower shut off. She was humming to herself and the door was open a crack. Josh felt himself get super aroused thinking about her being in the next room naked.
He turned away from the door hoping that it helps. He started packing up all the things in the box. They were coming with them.
When she emerged from the bathroom she all dressed for work and Josh was sitting there with everything packed up. She was confused.
"What's all this? Are you coming to work with me?" She smiled a little at him, she was getting more comfortable with him, he could feel it.
"No, I talked with my father and he said to bring you home."
"Did you tell him everything?" She was irritated because they hadn't even discussed who they were going to tell.
"About you? Yes, I told him what we know. He's my father if I can't trust him who can I trust?" He felt a bit uncomfortable that he made that call by himself.
"You might be able to, but I am not too sure if I can." She paused for a moment putting on her glasses that she didn't need.
"I think you have been hiding for a long time." He walked up to her and took her glasses off. "You don't even need them." He leaned down to kiss her.
She put her arms around his neck and kissed him back. It made her feel a little better. "Do I just leave my job, everything?"
"Not everything." Josh nodded toward Shadow who was looking at them.
"What about my rent? I can't just pick up and leave." Nicole could feel the panic crawl up into her throat.
"We will come back and don't worry about your rent. It will get taken care of. We take care of each other, that's what packs do." Josh tried to comfort her.
"Packs?"
"Yes, Pack, I will be the next Alpha or leader of the Hollow Moon Pack."
"There is lots like you?"
"Yes. However there is so few of your kind that I actually thought you were an urban legend."
"Really? I wonder why." She went to her closet and got out the carrying kennel for Shadow. "I need to at least call into work."
They packed some things in the truck and started headed for home.
"So where does Hollow Moon Pack reside?"
"Springfield Colorado."
"I have never been. Uncle didn't take me to too many places. Looking back on my life it looks a lot different now thinking I was hiding in plain sight." She was quiet for a while thinking a out it.
She pulled out the old worn book that was in the box. Thought it would be good to read it while they were driving.
She untied the knot expecting to turn to the first page. The center of about 20 pages was cut out and in it was a storage locker key. Number 1224 STLS.
"What do you think STLS stands for?" She held it up to the light squinting to read the tiny letters on the orange head of the key.
"Maybe St. Louise Station? Is there a train station or bus station?" Josh thought they should turn it around. "Find it on Google maps, either one. We can go to both." He thought the more info they had the better.
Josh's phone buzzed and it was Mark. He just let it go to voice-mail because he was driving.
After about 20 minutes of driving they found the bus station. Walking in Josh realized they were holding hands. She had the key in her other hand and found the lockers. Lucky for them there was locker number 1224 without a key in it.
Nicole put the key in and it clicked open. There was a shoe box sized wooden box in it and when she went to pull it out it was very heavy. Putting a bit more muscle in it she pulled it into her arms and then just felt a bit panicked. What if someone was watching this box just waiting for her?
"Let's get out of here quickly." Nicole almost started running back to the truck. Josh was right behind her.
"Why the rush Babe?"
"I don't know I just think someone is watching."
Only when they were back on the highway did she open it. "This is very heavy" She pulled the top off noting it was covered in dust.
"OH MY GOD!" Each word increased in pitch.
"What? What is it?"
"Solid Gold bars."
- Writer
