Brady had barely slept since he imprinted. Just being in the same house as Rae had finally eased him to enough peace to actually sleep.
The couch was not the most comfortable, but his exhaustion was overwhelming.
He didn't know how many hours had passed by as he slept. But, when he woke, he found the most amazing sight.
Raelynn.
She sat in a chair opposite him, just watching him sleep. His wolf wanted to jump for joy that she was there. Hell, he wanted to jump for joy.
Yet, he held back. The look on her face wasn't one of love, concern, or even longing. It was blank. Emotionless.
He didn't know how to react to that.
"Good morning." He said. She nodded.
"What time is it?" He asked.
"Ten thirty. Quil and Sam went to get my grandfather. My parents will be here soon." She sat with her knees up to her chest and her chin resting on one. Her long black hair was down, framing her large chocolate brown eyes. He could get lost in her eyes, they were so dark and so expressive. Well, when she showed emotions.
Brady took a breath. "I am glad you are here." He had missed her. For years. But, even more over the time he was gone. He wasn't sure she would appreciate hearing it.
She shrugged. "I don't think I could be anywhere else."
His heart hurt at the distance she kept. At the resignation of being controlled by everyone else. Yeah, he understood what everyone was trying to do, make sure that people learned things in the proper order so as to not have more hurt feelings than needed. But, still, she was being ordered around by everyone. And he could tell by her words that she recognized that. She still had no control over her own life.
"Listen Rae, I know that today is going to be a big day. But, I would like to see you get to have some freedom. Could I take you out tonight? Not a date." He rushed. "Just a chance to go out. Do anything you want. You get to pick. Get out of the house. Have a chance to live your life. I mean. If you would trust me."
She closed her eyes. "I don't know if I am ready for that." She whispered.
He dropped his head.
"Can... Can I sit with you?" She asked hesitantly. His eyes snapped up.
"Yeah." He moved over to give her plenty of room on the couch.
Brady's hands were sweating. He rubbed them on the cutoffs that he wore. Rae picked at a loose thread in her jeans. Silence hung for several minutes.
"Is it wrong that I miss him?" She whispered.
He was shocked. Why in the hell would she miss that asshole? "I don't understand." He muttered.
She shook her head. "Never mind."
Come on Brady, think. She had only him for eight years. She felt the imprint bond. She felt him die. However messed up it all was, she would need time to adjust. "No. I don't think it is wrong. I just don't understand." He clarified.
"He wasn't all bad, you know. When he wasn't being paranoid or whatever, he was nice. But, mostly, I miss just the physical closeness. When he was calm. He could make me feel calm. The warmth. The bond..." She trailed off. She knew she shouldn't talk about such things with Brady. It wasn't right.
To her surprise, she felt his hand tentatively reach for hers. "Rae. I wish I knew what to say or do to help you. But, it will take time." He took a deep breath. "However, I swear to you, everything with me is your choice. The kind of relationship you want. Even the lack of any relationship. I will leave if you want. But, I will always be here for you. If you miss having a warm hug. I can give you warm hugs. And I won't expect anything more than that. If you are too scared to even want that, I understand."
"Do you promise?"
He nodded. "I promise."
Without another word, she climbed into his lap and curled round him with her head on his chest. Brady gave a small smile as he stretched out and wrapped his arms around her. There they sat quietly. Brady almost falling back to sleep with the comfort of her in his arms. The soft scent of vanilla filled his head as he melted into a peace he never knew existed.
Emily stepped outside as Sam pulled up with Quil and his grandfather.
"Before you go in, please don't screw anything up. She is finally starting to relax a little." She said. Then she hugged the Elder Quil and gave him a soft smile.
Sam scowled. "Why would we mess anything up?"
Emily glared at him. "After your first introductions she is still scared of you. But, right now she is in Brady's lap. Quietly. By her own choice."
The men were all more than a little surprised to hear that improvement. Emily had told Sam and Quil that Rae had done well during their trip. She opened up more with Leah and Phyre than everyone had expected. She had learned more about the other imprints and their rolls with the wolves. But, it would take time for her to build trust. Trust that they wouldn't change. Like Craig had. Sometimes being nice, other times, not so much.
Old Quil took a breath as he opened the door.
He silently made his way toward the girl curled up in Brady's arms. Her eyes were closed as his blurred from the tears that filled them. His trembling hand reached out to brush her straight black hair out of her face, showing a small half circle scar next to her left eye. Something she gained when she was nine and fell out of a tree.
"Raelynn." He nearly choked over the name.
Her eyes snapped open. "Gramps? Oh, Gramps!" She jumped up to hug her grandfather.
He laughed as he held on to her with all of his strength. "Oh child. I missed you so much."
The two cried as they couldn't let go. "I missed you too. I didn't want to go. I swear." She started to sob.
"Shh. I know Sunshine. I know. You are safe now. You are home." He soothed as he ran his hands over her hair. He had never imagined being able to hold his precious granddaughter once again. So grown up. So beautiful, just like her mother.
"Do you really know?" She looked down.
Her grandfather cupped her face and pulled her to look at him. "I do. And you have nothing to be ashamed of."
Brady smiled at the reunion. It was emotional. Yet, even that made him happy. Rae wasn't numb like she had been earlier. She felt something. Anything was better than watching her close herself off.
Emily made everyone sandwiches and potato salad for lunch.
Rae picked at her food as she fretted. Her parents would be there soon. And her grandfather had said that he would explain the wolves to them. So that they understood her past.
He had called the other Council members to let them know of the situation. There had been arguments to telling her parents. Other wolves and imprints hadn't been allowed to tell their families. The only imprint families that knew were Claire, Embry and Phyre. Embry and Phyre were also wolves, imprinted on each other. And since Phyre's only family, that she interacted with anyway, were Paul and Sam, who were both wolves... well, that was a given. Embry's mom saw him shift by accident. His step-father was part of the Council, so he already knew.
Quil was the only tricky one. Claire's parents had been living in the Makah reservation when he imprinted on Emily's two year old cousin. Fortunately, Claire's father, Miccah, was Quileute and had chosen to live near his wife's family. However, when Miccah's mother had been diagnosed with cancer, the family had chosen to move in with her. His wife, Julie stayed with her mother-in-law as a live in nurse. Miccah was quickly brought into the fold and given a spot on the Tribal Council. Fortunately, it was a decision that the Council had already been thinking about prior to Quil's imprinting. Miccah's father had been on the Council before he had passed a few years before. And with Micca's skills as a lawyer representing the Tribe and Tribe endorsed cases, he was a logical choice. The only thing that slowed it down was his residence. Once that was fixed for family reasons, the Council seat was offered and they could explain the wolf business and just how Quil fit into that picture with his little girl.
It had been tense for a while, but it all worked out.
Raelynn's parents, however, had no other connection to know the truth. Why should they know when Brady's parents didn't know? It bothered her. Brady's parents had to deal with years of worry over their son's activities. Hours spent in some volunteer group that they didn't understand. How many families didn't know the truth? So, why should hers. She didn't want them to fear or worry over her. Just be there. Be there for her.
"No."
The one word stopped the conversation around the table.
"I don't want my parents to know the whole truth." She said quietly. "It's not worth the fight with the rest of the Council. It's not worth their fear and heartbreak."
"Raelynn." Her grandfather started.
But, she shook her head. She didn't want to hear his reasons. She knew that he was thinking about his daughter. "Please. Don't. You know mom. If you tell her, she will want to take me away from La Push. Away from all of the other wolves."
Brady was shocked that she wanted to stay.
"She will want to protect me from all of it." Rae's voice wavered slightly. "But, I just want to be home. For eight years, I have dreamed of coming home. This is home. La Push is home. I don't want to leave."
Her grandfather nodded. "Alright. We'll have to come to an agreed story then. Something we can tell your parents that won't send them running for the police and media. We don't need to bring that kind of attention to the Tribe and risk exposing the wolves."
Rae consented to a plan that forced her to lie to her parents. She didn't like it. But, it was the best option all around.
She loved her parents. She missed them. She would be happy if they moved back. But, she would not let them decide for her. She wanted to stay. She didn't want to accuse Craig publicly and have his name dragged through the news outlets. What he did was wrong. But, he was dead. And his family deserved peace. Telling the truth about Craig wouldn't accomplish that. Telling her parents about the wolves wouldn't accomplish anything. The only way to find the peace that they all needed was with a lie.
They agreed to tell her parents the partial truth all wrapped in untruths. That she had been kidnapped and held captive, raped and terrified, isolated and without a way to reach anyone. However, instead of Craig Littlesea or a cabin in Yellowstone, she said he was a drifter that she only knew as Dave. They moved around until he found an abandoned hunting cabin somewhere along the Canada border. And she escaped when she killed him and burned the place. Her parents wouldn't want to call the police at risk of her being arrested for the kidnappers murder.
A car pulled up within twenty minutes of finalizing the story.
Raelynn walked toward the door with her cousin and grandfather right behind her.
It didn't take long before the whole family was collapsed in hugs and tears once more.
Rae's mother sobbed as she rocked her little girl. Her dad cried freely. They had always hoped, yet never expected to see her again.
Emily invited everyone in for coffee and cookies.
Then, the storytelling began. Quil ran a supportive hand over his cousin's shoulders as she hesitated. He knew that she had made the right decision. He was proud of her for trying to the right thing for everyone and not just be vindictive about dragging the Littlesea family down because of Craig's actions. Despite her horrors and isolation, she seemed to have become a very mature young woman.
The front door opened and Sam stepped out.
Brady was sitting on the porch.
"Why are you out here?" Sam asked.
Brady shrugged. "That is for family. I am not family yet. But, I don't feel right leaving either."
Sam sat next to him. "I can't imagine this is easy for you."
Brady sighed and shrugged again. "I don't know what the right thing to do is."
"Just be patient." Sam smiled. "It looked earlier like she is not rejecting you completely anymore. It is a start. Just go slow. Even if all she wants is a distant friendship, it is better than nothing."
The boy nodded. "I told her that everything was her choice. If she wanted a hug, I would be there for a hug and never expect more. Anything she wants."
"Is that when she climbed into your lap?" Sam smirked.
Brady dropped his eyes and grinned. "Yeah."
"That is a good sign. But, I warn you. She might be a roller coaster for a while. It sounds like Craig was very bi-polar with her. And adding in the imprint bond. It has to have confused her. Like some twisted Stockholm Syndrome or something."
"What do you suggest?"
Sam took a deep breath. "Be honest with her. And patient. Don't take things personally, she has a lot of baggage to work through. If you promise something, do everything possible to keep that promise. Don't take it lightly. And be consistent."
"Thanks."
Sam reached over and tousled his short hair, making it stick out in every direction. "I trust you pup. The ancestors chose you for a reason."
Shoulders slumped at the reminder. "But, why did they choose Craig in the first place?"
"I think there was more to it than any of us will really know. Craig wrote a letter to Old Quil. We found it earlier when we went to pick him up. Craig admitted everything. He also said that he would not survive his next fire." Brady looked at him. "Yeah. It sounds like he chose to kill himself to make sure Raelynn went free. I won't condone any of his actions. But, it certainly made me think that he was haunted by some serious demons and didn't know another way to make it right."
"Rae said he wasn't all bad." Brady mumbled.
"And she is probably right." Sam sighed. "Please remember that. Remember that Rae doesn't want his family to suffer. That includes Collin."
The boy looked back up at the older wolf. "I know that Collin didn't hurt her. But, he looks so much like his brother. All I can see is Craig when I think of Collin."
"I get it. But, he is your best friend. And he is grieving. He needs you."
"Have you told him anything yet?"
"No." Sam shook his head. "I am heading over there now. I have the letter that Craig wrote and a few things from the house. It will be devastating for Collin to hear it. But, he does deserve the truth. Later tonight, we will have a pack meeting and explain it all to everyone else."
With information and the agreed story in hand, Sam left to go talk to Collin while Rae visited with her parents.
