Tough to Crack

Chapter 21

*Lisa's POV*

After the pain dissipated I opened my eyes up to see the man that brought me here looking at me. I gave him a weak smile. I slowly sat up on the bed, holding my head with one hand.

"Thank you for your help. And just one question. What is your name?" I asked him softly.

The man grinned and said," I could ask you the same thing. Marcus Hall."

He extended his hand out to me. I reached out and shook it.

"Lisa. My last name is something I'm keeping to myself," I said.

I let go of Marcus's hand placing it back on the bed.

"Fair enough," he said rasing both hands in the air.

I looked around the room and ws able to discover that my thought about the orchard was correct. Why is he living way out here and by himself? He did live alone, that much I was sure of, thanks to my great sense of smell.

"Why do you live way out here, in an orchard, in the black forest alone?" I asked.

"For my own reasons. I really don't fit in anywhere else, other than here," He said.

I processed what he said and, I honestly, believed him. I nodded take that for a answer. We still might want to be careful around him.

"What are you doing way out here? If you don't mind me asking, that is." he said.

"I'm on the run and that is all you need to know," I said.

He didn't say anything, but he had that 'okay' look in his eyes. I got up and went to the nearest window. I sighed and looked out into the orchard.

"Why are you growing a apple, pair, and cherry orchard?" I asked turning my head to see his reaction.

Marcus shrugged and said, with a grin,"It seemed like a good idea at the time."

"Can I stay here with you? I don't have anywhere to go, and I need somewhere to stay. Plus, I could help you around the orchard," I said.

"I don't see why not. Let's go check on the trees here in the orchard," he said and I followed him out the door.

First we went to see the little trees, not yet ready to plant, then on through out the orchard. Marcus told me how to care for the trees, and how to harvest the fruit. We headed back towards his house when I decided to try and get a response out of Kasey.

' Look, Kasey, it's beautiful here. We can get some training in here, and we might get our mind off of 'him',' I said.

Kasey just groaned and didn't answer. She was hating me for leaving, but was happy our mate was not being hurt.

I walked around the orchard trying to get my mind off of my mate and my old pack. I really missed him, but this was for the best I need to train to be able to defend myself. I could feel Marcus some distance for me, but I knew he was watching me.

I was close to sunset when I went off the orchard's grounds and found a tree to practice on. I kept training the tree through the night till about one in the morning. Then I went back to Marcus's house and feel asleep on the couch in the living room.