Territory: Prequel Part 3

Bea crossed her arms over her chest. "Tripped on a branch or got beat up by it?"

Chloe rolled her eyes turning her back to stalk towards the stairs, "Oh mom! I just fell. It's slippery."

Chloe was halfway up the stairs when her mother yelled, "Where's your jacket? You didn't wear a jacket? Why wouldn't you wear a jacket?"

Chloe lifted a hand and shook her head opening her mouth for a defense, but none came. "I'm gonna hit the shower," she offered lamely then she turned and was gone.

Dell hadn't moved. From the moment Chloe ran from the forest, he'd stood transfixed. What have we done?

He thought the death of his eldest brother was the worst pain he'd ever be called upon to endure, but he'd been wrong. Watching Chloe have her break down alone in the forest had been more than painful to watch, it had been excruciating. Never in his life had he wanted to heal another's suffering as much as he wanted to heal hers. She'd been so strong, fought so hard to maintain her self-control. Much like him, she'd only afforded herself the luxury of exhibiting any real emotion when she thought she'd been utterly alone. She was so much like him. He too had stayed strong as new Alpha. His newly claimed pack relied on him, watched him for signs of weakness, and he'd given them none. But it didn't mean that he hadn't shifted at night and run miles into the woods to howl his misery at the ever constant moon. Yes he'd suffered, but not like her. Her cry had been so painful to watch that his throat had thickened with emotion, making it nearly impossible for him to swallow down his anger. He'd never been so angry. He'd wanted to hunt down whoever had caused Chloe's misery and rip their f.u.c.king throat out but how could he when his family had been the cause.

Self-condemnation rolled through him in persistent waves leaving him nauseous with the guilt. I should have shifted, should have held her.

Even as he thought it, he knew it would have been impossible. Whatever spell or medicine she'd used on him still hadn't dissipated. When she'd touched him, it had been just as agonizing as when he'd first met her eyes.

Unable to stand any longer, he sat. His amber wolfs eyes staring unseeingly into the forest. He couldn't get over how beautiful she'd been. Dropped in the mud covered in earth, sweat, and tears, and he hadn't been able to tear his eyes from her.

Has she always been so beautiful? Why hadn't he remembered? Surely, he should have remembered just how unbelievably breathtaking she was. Maybe it was the witchcraft she'd been using on him. Mates? He quickly discarded the thought as quickly as it was taken up. Love spell? But why? She'd have no desire to bind herself to her enemies in any intimate manner.

Dell sobered then, rising quickly. Unless she wants me to suffer as she feels her brother had suffered. To be bound to a mate that would never be mine, a mate that would never allow a claiming. Dell's jaw began to work as he gnashed his teeth. Deceitful little... He turned then and raced back to the Blackbird compound.

Chapter 6.

Shuffling down the isle of the local supermarket, Chloe picked up a can of artichoke hearts and eyed it unseeingly before she slid it back on the shelf. Her mother had demanded to go to the market even though Chloe protested. "It's too soon," she'd argued to her mother who in turn s.n.a.t.c.hed up her coat and said, "Too soon for groceries? That doesn't make sense."

Tired of waiting for her mother who'd disappeared to retrieve a pound of jalapenos, Chloe abandoned her position in the canned veggies aisle and set off in pursuit of her mother.

She searched aisle after aisle until her mother's familiar voice could be heard from nearby. Chloe followed the sound, turning into the produce aisle and locking eyes with Dell Blackbird. He was standing in front of her mother, smiling pleasantly. Chloe noted how his smile faltered when he saw her. How had he known she was coming? He wasn't surprised to see her. His eyes were already locked on the spot she'd stepped into before she'd stepped into it. It was as if he was, Waiting for me?

Frowning at him, she couldn't explain the warmth that seeped into her bones. She felt like she'd just eased herself into a steaming hot bath. She blinked then realized she'd let her eyes linger closed for just a fraction too long. When she opened her eyes again Dell was staring at her strangely. For a moment she considered retreating, but when her mother's eyes followed Dell's gaze she lifted a hand to Chloe.

"Chloe, come say h.e.l.lo to Dell."

f.u.c.k! Chloe didn't bother plastering on a fake smile. Dell knew how she felt about him, pretense wasn't necessary. Approaching her mother's side, Chloe said nothing.

Dell extended his hand, "We haven't been formerly introduced. I'm Dell Blackbird."

Chloe simply stared at him for several tense moments before her mother's elbow in her ribs had her reaching out to shake Dell's hand.

When his fingers closed solidly around hers, Chloe thought she caught a wince flash across his stern features, but the thought was only momentary when her own buckling knees had her reaching out for something solid to steady herself.

"Chloe!" her mother gasped.

Dell reached out, enfolding her in his strong arms as he pulled her close.

Shocked, Chloe held his gaze as she struggled to regain her legs. For some inexplicable reason, her muscles felt like melted b.u.t.ter. Struggling to right herself, her legs and arms began to tremble with the effort. "I'm fine," she ground out trying to pull from Dell's embrace. "Let me go."

"Should I call someone?" Her mother was near hysterical.

"No ma!" Chloe pushed against the wall of Dell's chest and tore her eyes from his even as she saw the muscle in his jaw twitch. "I'm fine. I'm..." she couldn't explain it so she grabbed the first logical excuse that sprang to mind, "just exhausted. I think I ran too far this morning." She could feel Dell's eyes on her. Without looking up she pushed at the solid wall of his chest again. "You can let me go."

Dell extended his arms, holding her from him but keeping his hands firmly locked on her upper arms. "Are you okay?"

Annoyed now she jerked out of his grasp, "Fine! Thanks!" Her eyes flicked up to her mothers, "I'm going to the car. Take your time."

Even as she stalked toward the exit she could hear her mother's concern, "Chloe wait!"

"It's fine Ms. Lott, I'll make sure she gets safely to the car."

Chloe quickened her step at Dell's words.

"Oh thank you Dell. I'll just check out and be right there."

Chloe squeezed through the automatic doors before they had even fully opened. When the brisk Montana air hit her, she inhaled deeply unaware that the air in the store had become so stifling. She didn't look behind her as she eyed the parking lot searching for her car. She stepped off the curb and heard a horn sound loudly before she was jerked back.

"What in the h.e.l.l is wrong with you!" Dell growled at her ear.

With his arms wrapped around her, her knees once again gave out. What in the f.u.c.k is happening? Perspiration dotted her nose as her body suddenly ignited in a flood of warmth. Something was definitely wrong. The flu?

When Dell spun her and swept her up into his arms, she wanted to struggle but when her eyes locked with his her vision blurred and sent the world spinning violently around her.

She heard Dell curse and she tried to focus on his face. He too was flushed and sweating. Was she that heavy? When his eyes locked on hers, there was a bright flash. Flooded by light, she squinted, but it only grew brighter and brighter. The light was blinding, and when she closed her eyes against it, they didn't reopen.

"You didn't see it Cindy. She fainted right there in my arms and it was literally physically painful for me. You're certain it's not medicine?" Dell demanded.

Cindy shrugged negligently, "There's no way to be sure. Best bet is just to stay the h.e.l.l away from her."

Dell groaned in annoyance, "I want to, but for some f.u.c.king reason I'm drawn to her. She's all I think about." He shook his head. "It's gotta be medicine, but if it is I don't understand why it would have such a negative effect on her." He stood then, storming from his office. "Where's mama?"

Cindy chased after him, "She's gone to Great Falls to spend a few days with Aunty Connie."

"Christ!" the word came out as a growl. "Extremely poor timing. Get on the phone and get her back."

"She needs this break Briggs." Cindy's eyes turned imploring, "She's still not over the loss of Mace and she just needs a vacation. Let her have some time with her sister." She knew it was cheap, but she'd do whatever was called for to keep Dell safe.

Dell rolled his shoulders in an effort to relieve some of the tension that had been building there for the past few days. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Let her stay. It'll just," his brows furrowed, "have to wait."

Cindy smiled then, "Don't worry brother, by the time she gets home I'm sure your...illness will have pa.s.sed."

Dell merely grunted before returning to his desk. "What do you know of medicine? How do I break it?"

Yes! "Distance," she answered too eagerly. "You need to stay as far from her for as long as possible. Her medicine won't work if you don't come in contact with her."

"And you know this how?" Dell asked hoisting his hiking-boot clad feet up onto the desk.

"I actually pay attention to the stories Mama tells."

"Stories," Dell emphasized, "it doesn't mean any of it is true."

Cindy let her eyes slide over her brother condescendingly, "True enough to be affecting you."

It had been a few hours and Chloe's cheeks still stung with the humiliation of being carried across the parking lot of the local supermarket by Dell.

"Are you sure you're alright hon? We could go to the E.R."

"I'm fine ma!" Chloe snapped a little too rudely before amending, "Look I'm sorry I'm just...it was pretty embarra.s.sing."

"What is there to be embarra.s.sed about? You fainted. So what! You should be thankful that fine young man was there to catch you."

With the memory Chloe's cheeks once again flamed. "G.o.d mom, can we please just stop talking about it? I told you it was just exertion, I'm not sick." Then as an afterthought, "And Dell isn't a fine young man."

Her mother pursed her lips, "I am ent.i.tled to my opinion."

"Look, I'm going to lie down for a while."

"That's a good idea."

Now it was Chloe's turn to purse her lips, "Are you going to be okay?"

"I'll be fine. I'll start some dinner and wake you when it's ready."

Chloe eased herself up off the couch her mother had been forcing her to lie on for the past two hours. She wasn't tired in the least, but going upstairs and pretending to nap had to be better than being scrutinized by her mother every ten seconds.

"Hold on to the railing," her mother's chastised.

Rolling her eyes, Chloe was tempted to take the stairs two-at-a-time, but inevitably decided against it. As annoying as her mother could be, she knew she only meant well.

In the guest bedroom, Chloe quietly closed the door and crossed to the bed before snagging the remote and plopping down to channel surf.

The room was quite plain. White plush carpet covered the floor and the large bed, adorned with a satiny plum comforter, rested against the wall under the window. Only one painting hung on the wall. It was an oil painting her mother had done in an art cla.s.s she'd taken years ago. The scene depicted two quaking aspens reaching up to a blue cloud dotted sky with majestic purple peaks in the background.

Chloe eyed the painting. It was quite good really. When a commercial came blaring onto the screen she cringed and quickly pressed the b.u.t.ton to reduce the volume. She didn't want her mother racing up to ensure she was actually napping. Holding her breath and listening for several tense moments, she only exhaled once she was certain her mother wasn't pounding up the stairs to check on her.

Christ! She closed her eyes and listened to the low murmur of voices coming from the screen. They were talking about food. The cooking network? Ever since her spell earlier in the day she'd been unable to concentrate on anything except the mortification of the event. But now, finally alone and able to actually sit and think about it she couldn't help but wonder if something were in fact wrong with her.

She'd been fine earlier in the day. She'd eaten, slept as well as could be expected, but when she'd gotten near Dell. It was him! Something about him triggered her episode and it only worsened when he touched her. Maybe it's my animosity. She'd never hated a family more in her life. That must be it. Her hatred coupled with the recent loss of her brother and being back home. It had to be a culmination of everything. She sighed heavily, not entirely convinced she'd accurately diagnosed the source of her fainting spell. Regardless, there was little else that made sense. It couldn't have been triggered by Dell or his touch. That was ridiculous. Right? She was still trying to figure it out when her mother finally called her down to dinner nearly an hour later.

Chapter 7.

The next day was spent consistently confirming to her mother that she wasn't ill or injured.

"For the hundredth time ma, I'm fine."

"Healthy people don't just faint for no apparent reason Chloe. It's not normal. You're sure you won't go see a doctor, if even just to appease your mother?"

"It's been a long stressful week mom. I forgot to eat after my run and I haven't been sleeping. Please just give me a few days to get back into a routine and if anything like that happens again, I swear I'll go get checked out."

Bea eyed her daughter doubtfully and huffed in obvious displeasure, "Well, if that's as good as I'm gonna get I'll have to take it."

By that evening, Chloe couldn't stand to be holed up any longer. She threw on her tennis shoes and snagged the grocery list from where it hung by a magnet on the fridge. "Ma, I'm heading to the grocery store."

Bea was settled in front of the TV. Some sitcom was blaring, but Bea wasn't watching it as she knitted a long woolen scarf. "But we went yesterday," she protested.

"Yeah, but you only got enough stuff for dinner when we had to rush out. I'll just go grab the rest of the items on your list."

Bea set down her knitting and hooked her pointer finger through the wire bridge of her gla.s.ses to tug them lower as she dropped her head and peered over the lenses at her daughter. "Maybe I should come with you."

"No ma, I'll be right in and right out." Chloe s.n.a.t.c.hed her jacket off the hook and hung it over one arm.

"What if something happens?"

Chloe rolled her eyes, "Like what? I drop a jar of pickles? Clean up on aisle seven."

The joke was lost on her mother, "What if you have another spell and neither Dell nor I are there to save you?"

Chloe gritted her teeth at the mere mention of his name. She hated how her mother used it so casually in a sentence, like he was part of the family or something. "He didn't save me mom." She jerked open the front door, talking rapidly as she went to keep her mother from cutting in, "Look, I'll be back in twenty-minutes. If I'm going to take longer I'll call. Plus I've eaten today and slept well last night so I should be fine." The lies rolled off her tongue smoothly as she stepped out the door and closed it behind her.

Christ! What's a girl gotta do to get some shopping done? Honestly, the shopping wasn't her true agenda. She simply couldn't bear to be in the house any longer. She felt useless just sitting around sulking in her misery. It was even more offensive because she couldn't stop thinking about her encounter with Dell.

At the grocery store, she winced as she strode past the area where she'd fainted the day before. Images of herself being carried across the parking lot in Dell's arms instantly flooded her even as she tried to force them back.

Inside she grabbed a cart and pulled the grocery list out of her purse. She'd made the list herself upon her arrival at her mothers. Her mom had a terrible habit of buying groceries as she needed them rather than stocking up all at once.