Chapter 24

The meeting that was supposed to start hours ago had yet to go underway. It was apparently turning into a community event. Not only the families involved in the police station break-in were invited, but just about every other 'wolf in the community. There were a lot more 'wolf families in town than Doug had first realized. It was as if everyone had seen the six o'clock news this morning. Maybe his father had hit the jackpot last spring. And he hadn't even known it! By the time noon ran around, there were about twenty arguing adults in the Carlyle living room. They were still waiting on a few stragglers.

There was just so much noise and too many women wearing too much perfume. Doug could barely move, much less breathe. The claustrophobia was so intense that he could hardly stand it. He wormed his way through the crowd to the French doors. He slipped out onto the back patio, shutting the noise behind him. He took a deep and relieved breath.

There was a wooden two-seater swing beneath the giant oak tree in the back yard. Doug moved out of the shaded area and allowed the sun to douse him in its lazy warmth. He took a seat on one side of the swing and kicked off gently. The swing rocked back and forth and he closed his eyes, lowering his defences for one moment.

He breathed out, finally opening his eyes because he couldn't dispel the image of Leigh that had been printed on the back of his eyelids. How could he have thought to have taken advantage of her frailty—of her bad situation? The last thing she needed was him. He was so messed up as it was. He'd killed so many people. She needed someone who could be strong for her. For some reason, her age just didn't seem to matter to him anymore. It was a frail excuse against the desire that was burning in him. She'd been graduating soon. Maybe then…

No. He cut the thought off short. She deserves better than you. Do you want her to have to deal with your nightmares and your non-eating marathons? It wasn't fair to her.

The sound of jabbering voices rose and fell as the sound of the door opening and closing reached Doug's ears. It squealed audibly on its hinges. Doug ignored the individual and continued to rock back and forth, hoping that person would do the same. He needed some time to think—to gather his senses.

He groaned inwardly when the swing was pulled to a halt. A weight occupied the other side of the swing. Slowly it began to rock back and forth again. A hint of some berry smell hit his nostrils.

"Hi," a distinctly female voice reached his ears.

He opened his eyes to view what must have been Lampton Hill's Prom Queen this year. She was smiling at him coyly, her blond hair falling softly about her shoulders. She was wearing a strategic mini-dress and a rather low cut top.

"Amber," Doug replied with little interest.

Sure, she was beautiful. But then, so was Leigh. They were different types of beautiful. Doug had to admit he had a preference for Leigh's smoothly sculpted face and midnight blue eyes. Her features were sharper and paler than Amber's, but the contrast between the light and dark was so much more appealing to his senses. Amber's golden skin and strategically cherry-colored lip gloss didn't hold a candle to her.

"So you know my name," Amber replied with a smile curving up her lips.

Of course he did. He'd spent a week stalking her and her friends. Doug just shrugged. He didn't think it was appropriate to mention this, seeing that at the time, he had been planning to kill her.

Amber slid closer on the swing.

"It's so great that you came back. Jamie's told me tons about you."

Doug wished she would back off. Her knee was resting against his pant leg. Doug glanced up—and sure enough, Alec was standing just within the French doors. He was looking over, but as soon as he caught Doug's gaze, he turned away. He was trying to appear casual, but Doug could see how stiff and erect his shoulders looked.

He felt a twinge of sympathy—even though god knew Alec probably didn't deserve it. Neither of them did.

Doug sighed. "What do you want?"

Amber looked hurt, but Doug knew it was an act. "I wanted to get to know you. I've heard so many exciting things."

"Amber?" Doug said bluntly. "Quit while you're ahead."

Amber's eyes widened and she gasped. "I can't believe you just said that! I was only trying to be your friend. But I guess you don't like friendship, don't you?"

Amber's eyes flashed angrily.

Doug leaned back into the chain holding up the swing and just shrugged. He hoped she would just go away, but she didn't. She seemed determine to make a dent in him for the comment. She was just like a bull terrier.

"You're heartless, aren't you? Just like your father!"

"Amber, I know what you're doing," Doug replied. "You don't think I watched you? All of you? I saw all the guys you made out with, just to make Alec jealous. And you know what? I don't want to be a part of your little scheme. I have more important things to do."

"But you would if you weren't so busy," Amber suggested.

"No," Doug said firmly. "I wouldn't. Is that so hard to accept?"

Apparently it was. Amber was obviously used to being the center of attention, the most wanted girl in school. She couldn't seem to fathom the fact that some guy wouldn't want her. And she had a flair for stubbornness.

"You can't tell me that you don't find me the least bit attractive."

Doug scoffed. "What does that got to do with anything?"

Amber was leaning forward in her seat, a pout moving along her glistening lips. "Give me one good reason why you wouldn't want to make out with me."

Doug stood as she invaded more of his space, backing away. "I'll give you several. One, you're high maintenance—"

Amber protested at this comment.

Doug bulldozed on. "Two, I don't want to be in the middle of your stupid war. You two should learn what a real relationship is like before you hurt each other beyond repair. And three, I'm in love with someone else."

The last part was out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

Amber jumped to her feet. "No, you're not. From what I've gathered from Jamie, you've never dated in your life. Your mind's too damaged to actually love, isn't it?" She kept on the attack, trying to tear him down for the humiliation on her part. "You're just too messed up. So don't you lecture me on how to have a real relationship. You don't have a clue yourself."

"You have a habit of starting arguments, don't you?" Doug replied in return. He didn't envy Alec at all. He had to have his hands full with someone like her.

"Don't change the subject!" Amber snapped gleefully. "I'm right, aren't I? You wouldn't change the subject if I wasn't!"

Doug raised his hands in finality. It was his way of cutting the conversation off short. He had nothing more to say to Amber. So he had relationship problems. So what? What did that have to do with anything? He'd already accepted that fact. Amber was effectively preaching to the choir—not him.

"Oh, no you don't," Amber said, pushing his arms down. "I'm not finished talking to you."

Doug started to move around her, but she clutched his arm with her 'wolf grip. He wouldn't be able to pry her loose without hurting her. He couldn't hurt a girl just because she was being a pain in the butt. It's not like she was trying to kill him or anything. "Amber, just leave me alone. Let me go."

"You can't tell me that you're not attracted to me," Amber said. "You can't tell me that this doesn't feel good."

And then she kissed him. His lips remained slack. It was a fleeting moment and then she had removed herself and was walking back toward the house. She thought she was making a great exit, swaying her hips. But the effect was lost on Doug, who could taste the sickly sweet residue of her lip gloss on his lips.

He could honestly say that it hadn't felt good. It hadn't felt good at all. He couldn't tell her because she had already disappeared into the house.

Alec was standing just inside the French doors with a firm jaw and folded arms. His look said that they were going to settle this later. Doug guessed that that settling primarily involved Alec's fist. But for now, Alec just stuck his head out the door.

"Get in here," he muttered gruffly. "The meeting's starting."

Doug sighed and headed toward the house. Life had been so much easier when it had been just Leigh and he fighting whatever battles they chose. He hated working with big groups. They were so hard to manoeuvre, and there was always infighting. And now he was caught in the middle of it.

He only hoped they could get this situation settled so that he could get away from all of this. He slipped within the door, just as the last of the people were gathering from separate quarters of the house.

Doug caught sight of Leigh entering the room from the other direction. He instinctively tried to catch her eye, but she turned her head away. Doug felt unnerved. He tried again, but she refused to look at him.

He had thought that they had gone away on good terms. What was going on?