Beastly Devastation (Brock Lesnar)

Chapter Sixteen

          Two months, eight days, and fourteen hours.

          That's how long it's been since I made the best decision of my life. For some, leaving the only city you've ever known would be frightening. For me, it was the only way to live. I've been here at the Lesnar Ranch with Brock for exactly that long, trying to piece my life together and I've done just that.

          I'm no longer taking my medication, I don't see a psychiatrist, and I've never been better. For the first time in a very long time, I feel like me  and I owe everything to Brock. If it hadn't been for him, I would've never buried the hatchet with Cain, I would've never found myself, and for that I will be forever thankful. But now, I think it's time I move out and find my own place. Don't get me wrong, he's been the perfect gentlemen while I've been here, but I just feel like a bother. I mean, what if you had some almost stranger move in with you and never leave, it would get on your nerves...

          It was just after eleven when I came inside from the barn. Brock and I had fed the animals their dinner and then gave some of them a bath and brush before bed. He was still out there, making sure the fence was secure from a nearby wolf herd.

          After getting a glass of water, I went to my room and got ready for bed. Once I brushed my teeth and took my makeup off, I sat cross-legged on my bed with my laptop. I did a Google search for apartments nearby and surprisingly, several listings popped up in my price range. I had just clicked on one when Brock appeared in my doorway.

          I jumped before he could say a word and slammed the laptop closed. "Geez, I didn't mean to scare you. I was just gonna say, if you hear any noise from the barn tonight, come wake me up. Your room's closer than mine."

          I sighed in relief and nodded. "Will do."

          I patiently waited for him to turn and leave but he never did. He just stared at me. "Something wrong?"

          I shook my head. "No! Why?" I nervously looked down at the laptop, not wanting him to know I was thinking about moving out yet.

          He moved toward me and stood beside the bed, eying the laptop. "Someone bothering you?"

          "Lord no. I was just surfing the web. You just scared me, is all."

          He hesitated before grabbing the computer. "Then you won't mind me checking." Before I could protest, he had already opened the top and was looking at the apartment listing. "Apartments? Why?"

          "I didn't want you to know yet. I'm just seeing what's available."

          Sighing, he sat at the foot of the bed. "You didn't answer my question. Why?" He paused, waiting for me to answer and when I didn't, he continued. "Did I do something to make you want to leave? I thought things were going well. I thought you loved it here. You were doing so much better. What did I do?"

          I had never heard him speak so softly and knew he legitimately thought this was his fault. "You didn't do anything; I just feel like I've outstayed my welcome. This is your home. I just think it would be best if I found mine. I want to stay in Minneapolis, I don't have any plans of leaving town. I'll just be down the road."

          He was silent for a minute. "I thought this was your home. Our  home."

          His words made my heart skip a beat. I had known Brock about four months and he had never once been this genuine with me. He actually seemed hurt that I wanted to leave. "You really want me to stay?"

          He nodded. "Well, yeah, but I don't want you to do something that you don't want to. Before we came here, you said you owed me. I told you that all you had to do was try this life out and if you didn't like it, you could do whatever you wanted. You've been here two months. Your days of owing me are over. I can't keep you here."

          I was about to tell him exactly what I had on my mind but before I could, the sounds of distressed cattle distracted us both. "What the hell?" Brock jumped up and left the room in the blink of an eye. I threw on a jacket and some shoes before heading out after him.

          Before I reached the door, I heard a series of gunshots, which only made me run faster. Brock was standing beside the barn, rifle in hand. "What is it?" I asked, joining him as I looked inside for the cattle.

          "Stupid wolves."

          I passed him and went inside the barn, counting the cattle in my mind. "They're all here and they don't seem to be hurt."

          Before I knew it, Brock was beside me, looking over each animal. "Nah, their alright. I'm gonna have to reinforce the west fence tomorrow. Tonight, I'll have to stay here. Wolves won't give up that easily, especially when there are that many in a herd." He walked over to a hay stack and sat down, with his rifle beside him. Leaning back, he closed his eyes, probably trying to take a nap.

          I knew he expected me to go back inside, especially with how cold it was supposed to get, and I did. I went and got an extra blanket from the linen closet before returning to the barn. Brock was still exactly where I had left him, so I quietly sat down next to him, pulling the cover over us both.

          When he felt something touch him, he jolted awake. "What are you doing?"

          "Watching the cattle with you. It is our home, right?"

          He smiled and allowed me to snuggle into him. "Right."