Solace & Solicitude // Paul Lahote

seven

This is a short chapter, and for that I apologize, but I hope you guys enjoy it anyway!

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Words were swimming in Indie's head. They went round and round countless times.

Cold ones. Shape-shifters. Third wife. Wolves. Taha Aki. Imprints. Magic.

It was as is she had entered a new world and couldn't find the exit.

The books had all contained small pieces of a whole. They talked about shape-shifters, men that could turn into animals for the sake of protection of their people. Spirit worlds and sacrifice and bloody-thirsty monsters that looked like humans. It was all too much in her brain.

She closed her eyes to grasp the whole situation. All of the characteristics were just the same as what she had experienced in the forest. Shape-shifting wolves and vampires. They were real, and even more than that, they were in La Push.

She was restless that night, unable to fall asleep with all the new information dwelling in her head.

Emily had called and she hadn't answered. She was wary of everyone's presence until she could decide how she felt about the situation. She instantly felt guilty though. Emily had offered her so much kindness. In Indie's mind, she just couldn't stomach getting hurt again...or hurting anyone else with her indecision.

In the wee hours of the morning, Indie heard a familiar scratching on her door. She knew the animal wouldn't hurt her, but she also wanted answers.

Pulling open her door, she came face to face with the eyes that haunted her dreams and the large silver body that was just too large to be a regular wolf. It had lowered its body as if saying that it wouldn't hurt her. She knew it wouldn't anyway, it had had plenty of chances in the past.

She moved aside, as if saying that she allowed him to come in. His large body meandered in between the couch and the fireplace where he laid down in the floor. She curled up on the couch, a sense of comfort in the silence falling on them like a blanket.  It was all too natural.

She hesitated for a moment, wanting to say something but unable to get the words off of her tongue.

"I know what you are," she whispered, knowing it would hear and understand her.

Its head jolted up with surprised, turning sideways as if it was questioning her. 

"You're a shifter," she continued.

Its eyes didn't leave hers and when he looked down, it was as if he was ashamed. Guilt bellowed up in her chest and she instantly wanted to reassure him. The thought of being unwanted and unloved just because of what he is and the capabilities he has saddened her. She knew her decision had been made instantly.

"I don't mind," she said after a few minutes, "but tomorrow you will show up at my door as a human and you're going to explain everything to me."

She curled up tightly in her blanket, the warm fire caressing her toes. The comfort overwhelmed her tired mind and body. Her eyes quickly fell shut and her mind, for the first time in a while, was silent.