Page 10 of Hidden Pain

“Implicitly,” Hunter fired back and stepped closer. His large wolf paws planted firmly on the floor with every step.

“He’s a human. He’s one of them. His father is the reason for all the trouble.” She swiped her paw toward Hunter with the claws drawn.

“And his father died knowing both his son and daughter hated him for wanting to rid the world of shifters,” Hunter responded without flinching.

Kingsley had been holding his arm while standing behind Hunter, but he now took up a position next to the wolf.

“I know you two are communicating with each other. I can’t hear what you’re saying, but, Lily, please know that whatever humans have done to you in the past, I’m not one of them. I want us all to live together in harmony. Not fight.”

Lily roared the word ‘liar’ at him, knowing full well he wouldn’t understand.

Kingsley stepped around Hunter’s wolf form while the latter tried to tug him back by holding onto his shirt with his teeth.

“No,” Kingsley said to the wolf before kneeling down in front of Lily.

She growled at him again, her sharp bear teeth protruding from her mouth. If she wanted to, she could attack him again. One bite of her jaws around his throat, and he would be dead. He’d no way of defending himself against her.

“A human hurt you in your past, and the words in Nuka’s email have touched a nerve. Tell us what happened? We want to help you.” Kingsley said calmly. He held his hand out in front of her and slowly started to remove the bandage. There, where a finger used to be, was a healing stump. “I lost my finger trying to protect shifters from my father. My sister’s married to a shifter. I’m not your enemy, Lily. I’m your friend. I’m Hunter’s friend. Please, let us in.”

Lily looked down again at where Kingsley had lost his finger. It must have hurt him so much. She took a deep breath and shifted back to her human form. Hunter remained as a wolf, though, with his stance guarded and ready to pounce if needed.

“Your father did it?” she asked.

“Yes,” Kingsley replied.

“He was a bad man.” She crouched down on the floor, so she was sitting beside Kingsley. He reached over to the bed and pulled a sheet off to cover her. The human’s issues with nakedness apparent once again.

“He really was, Lily. Tell us, what happened with you and the humans?” Kingsley encouraged.

She looked to Hunter. This time, the wolf must have sensed she’d calmed down, and turning back to his human form, he grabbed a blanket before joining them on the floor.

“Have you ever seen the dancing bears in the Middle East?” she began and could feel herself relaxing. Kingsley and Hunter were having a strange effect on her—she couldn’t describe it, but she knew they wouldn’t hurt her in this moment. Kingsley was a human, though. How was that possible? He was the enemy…or was he?

“Yes,” Hunter growled out through gritted teeth.

“I was born into a circus and forced to perform from a young age. When I grew up and started to question what was happening, my parents were killed because they were too old and no longer had control over me. Eventually I managed to escape, but not without my share of scars.”

“The circus…?” Kingsley questioned.

“It was run by humans. They knew we were shifters but made us perform as bears. They believed we were easier to control than real bears, and it was simpler to teach us tricks. I guess I should be grateful they didn’t expose us as humans. I guess everything will change now shifters have been shown to the world at large.” Lily slumped down farther onto the ground. The weight of her past, feeling heavy on her shoulders.

“Does the circus still exist?” Hunter hissed.

“I don’t know,” she replied. She hoped beyond hope that it had been destroyed a long time ago, but in her heart, she knew that innocents like her still suffered. “Can you understand now why I mistrust humans?”

Both Hunter and Kingsley nodded at her.

“That doesn’t make Nuka’s plans right, though. Not all humans are bad,” Hunter responded and reached out to take her hand. But she pushed him away and stretched out with her hand to where she’d scraped down Kingsley’s arm. He hadn’t indicated he was in any pain, but blood stained the fabric of his shirt. Her claws had caused him pain—a pain for which she must be punished, according to the rules of humans.

“Whip me,” she pleaded, turning to Kingsley.

His eyes went wide. “No.”

“But humans demand it. I hurt you, so I must be punished,” she insisted.

“No,” Kingsley repeated adamantly. “Lily, did you see your parents die?”

She couldn’t answer him. For a moment, the little bear stared in silent agony at him before curling into a ball on the floor and finally allowing the tears to fall for the loss of her parents and her past. Kingsley came closer to her, his fear of attack from her now non-existent. He pulled her into his lap and held her gently while Hunter stroked her back in comfort. The tears fell and fell. Her past memories left her body in a torrent of emotions, freeing her from the shackles of abuse.

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