Chapter 614 Chapter 614
“My cat is very anxious and acting strangely, but I thought it was just because I had to force her not to shift back for a few days—but now she’s still being strange.”
Asher nodded. “No doubt that didn’t help.” He cleared his throat. He wasn’t a talker, but now he felt like he didn’t even remember how to do it. “Our cats—we,” he nodded, “we’re mates, Journee,” he stood and held up his hand. “Don’t go thinking I’m going to force the issue or anything because I’m not.” He gave his head such a vigorous shake that he should have been dizzy. “I just wanted you to be aware because our animals are going to be—” he frowned as his cat felt like he’d just done a full circle inside his body, “acting strange when we’re near each other.” He snapped his mouth shut, afraid he’d say really stupid things if he kept talking.
It felt like hours that she sat there looking up at him, her eyes searching his face. “That explains some feelings I’ve been having.” She glanced at Daigo as he raced by again. “My cat has been acting strange, but we’ve never been inside or around people for long.” She cleared her throat softly. “I remembered you from when we were kids and thought maybe it was because you were the only person I recognize.” Her brows creased. “What does this mean, Ashe? Is something expected of us?” she motioned to the building. “I don’t remember much about clan life and functioning in a group,” she rolled her eyes, “I didn’t follow expectations when I was a child either.”
Asher nodded. “I remember.”
She sucked in a breath. “Your family…”
He stopped her with a shake of his head.
“I’m sorry.” She clasped her hands together and kept her head down. “I knew about my parents. That’s probably why I followed my sister. I hoped some of the others were just injured.”
“Where were you when it happened?” Most of that day was blanked out in his memory.
“In a tree.” She grimaced. “I wasn’t much for picking berries.” She sucked in a deep breath, something sad going through her eyes. “You?” Eyes filled with anguish looked back at him.
“My mother screamed to run, so I did.” He’d regret that he had for the rest of his days.
“That’s right.” She nodded. “I remember hearing her.” Her voice was shaking. “I’m glad you did, or you would be…”
Something occurred to him. “Did you see the wolf after he shifted back?”
She stared at the wall behind him for a moment. “I did.” Daigo came over and started to whine. Was he sensing that she was upset? “I didn’t see him after that. He wasn’t one of the ones that came to the island.”
“Blair killed some a while back, maybe he was one of them.”
“I hope he was.” Her expression changed, and his cat stirred, sensing it. “It’s one less for me to kill.”
His cat moved through him, and Asher couldn’t decide if it was from concern or if he was pleased she wanted blood. He squatted beside her again and held her look. “We’ll get them all.” He motioned to the building. “Griffin, I don’t know if you’ve met him yet, but he’s a half-breed and Aiden Tomas’ half-brother,” the look of surprise was easier to see, “he’s been helping us find them all.”
“Does he know where the island is?”
“I don’t think so, but we’ll find it.” He nodded and then looked at the building again, wanting to finish before someone came looking, and he knew they would. She was too important to be left out of sight for too long. “As far anything being expected of you, of us—” He shook his head slightly. “No, there are no expectations from me or others. You just got back and my only objective right now is to find all those responsible.” His cat didn’t like that answer at all, but he wasn’t going to push it. Asher hoped that was because he understood what she’d been through. He had no plans to do anything about the mate thing, not with everything that was going on. He attempted a quick smile to encourage her but was sure he’d failed when she gave him a blank look. “Maybe you can look at pictures of men and see if any of them were the men that day or that went to the island.
She blinked and then nodded. “I can do that.” She leaned closer. “Calum said they were scanning my notebook.” She frowned, “scanning for what?”
Asher grinned. “Yes.” He stood up. “I guess you’ve missed that part of progress. Computers, cell phones, and other technological advances.” He went behind the chair, gripped the handles, and then leaned down. “Most I barely know how it works, never mind explaining it.” He started to push the chair. “I’ll get Fallan or someone that gets it to explain that to you.”
“Thank you.” She turned and looked at him, “for everything.”
He nodded, not sure that she should be thanking him.
The door opened when they reached it, and Blair stepped out. Journee scrambled out of the chair and would have fallen if Asher hadn’t caught her.
Blair gave him a solemn look. “I can tell she’s met my brother.” Anger filled his expression. He held up his hands. “I am Blair. I am not Lindon, nor am I anything like my brother.” He lowered his hands, “he’s dead.”
Journee’s weight increased in his hold as she relaxed. He bent and lifted her up into his arms, “Grab the chair.” He told Blair as he moved around him toward the door.
“I’m sorry.” Journee held her hand over her face. “I thought it was him.”
“Many do.” He moved aside as Blair opened the door for him. “We found him, and Blair took him out of the equation.”
She moved her hand and gave him a shocked look. “His brother?”
“I had no idea he existed.” Blair wheeled by them and turned the corner that led to the medical area.
“Are you okay?” Asher thought she was far too light in his arms. “Did you hurt your leg?”
She looked annoyed. “I don’t think so. My foot barely touched the ground before you caught me.”
He walked faster, wanting Shaelan to check in anyway. “We’ll get Shaelan to look at it, just to be safe.” If it were him, one minute would be too long to go without shifting or knowing you couldn’t shift. “You don’t want to be stuck on two legs too long.”
She gave him a hard look, “No. I’m already fighting the urge to go for a run.”
“Please don’t try. I…” the words got stuck in his throat when she leaned closer to him and inhaled slowly.
“I like the way you smell.” She blushed. “That probably sounds silly.”
“No,” he cleared his throat, “it’s uh, normal.” He gave her an awkward smile. “You smell great too.” His cat was so happy right now, that Asher just wanted to drop her off in her room and do something. Anything other than being this close to her.
Shaelan was walking down the hall when he went around the corner. “What’s happened?” She rushed toward them.
“She saw Blair and thought he was Lindon.”
She stopped an annoyed look on her face. “I am so glad that man is dead.” She blinked, “did you try to walk on it?” She was wholly focused on Journee’s leg now.
“No. I think Asher picked me up before I tried.”
“Good.” She held the door open.
Asher put her on the bed and backed up. “I’ll, uh, go see about those pictures to look at.”
Journee nodded and searched his face for a moment like she needed to memorize it.
“I believe the men were looking for you, Asher.” Shaelan bent over Journee’s leg and gently rolled the wide-legged pants up.
“Okay. Yeah.” He stepped back again, and his back hit the wall, “that’s probably why Blair came outside. I’ll go see what’s up.” He pivoted and almost hit his face on the door frame as he left the room fast.