Page 60 of Bear Strength

He remains there, in the corner, as I walk over to them. To my surprise, Wagner immediately goes over there and wraps his arms around my son. The sight almost makes me cry, but I manage to remain composed. I need to deal with this piece of shit lying on the floor.

I stand next to Adrian. He looks at me. Our eyes lock. They are the only connection he has right now to the world of humans. I touch his muzzle with the tips of my fingers. I’m not scared. I’m in awe. This man has transformed to help me. To save me. Tosave my son. How could I ever repay him for that? How could I ever repay any of them?

Adrian nuzzles me softly, allowing me to pet his soft fuzzy fur. I still can’t believe what just happened. It seems like one crazy dream, with a few episodes of a nightmare, and I’m just waiting for the moment I’ll wake up, and tell Dominick all about this insane dream I had. Only, it isn’t a dream.

“What do you want us to do with him?” Mason asks. “We’d gladly finish the job if you don’t have the stomach for it.”

I remember the first time I heard his voice. The first time I saw him. How authoritative he was. How assertive. Masterly. This is the same Mason I see now. In control of what’s happening. And, the surprising part is that he is relinquishing a part of that control, handing it over to me. I know he would like nothing better than to finish Russell. But, he stopped Adrian in time. Dominick has had more trauma than any kid his age. We don’t need to add seeing his father getting mauled by a bear shifter to all that.

“Do you think he’s learned his lesson?” I wonder, looking at Russell.

It’s amazing how pitiful he looks now, that he doesn’t have his gun and he isn’t threatening a woman and a child. Facing someone his own size is much different. He’s testified to that.

“Why don’t you ask him?” Mason replies.

I feel like beating him up a little more, but it’s not my cup of tea to beat a dead horse. No point. I can only hope that he’s learned his lesson and that he will finally let us be, away from him.

“I… learned… my lesson…” Russell manages to cough, his lip cracked and nose broken in more than one place.

“You are the worst piece of shit I’ve ever had the misfortune to come across,” I spit at him. “I doubt I will ever meet anyone even remotely as horrible as you. But, you gave meDominick. So, for his sake, I won’t send you back to prison. I will let you go, on condition that you never contact me or Dominick again. You don’t try to find us. You don’t follow us on fucking Facebook or Twitter. You don’t even breathe the air in the same state as we do. You disappear. You become a decent citizen and do whatever the hell you want. Just as long as it’s far away from us.” I pause a little, thinking if maybe I’m being too lenient. But, I remember that he is still Dominick’s father. And, if it wasn’t for all that shit I had to endure with him, I wouldn’t have him by my side. So, I felt like I owed him a little bit of kindness, only if he obeys the rules I’ve stated. “If you disagree, I’ll call the cops and we send you back to prison so fast your head will spin. Or, maybe the third option, I just let the guys have their way with you, while we go back home.”

At that moment, Adrian growls menacingly, baring his teeth.

“No, no!” Russell screams in fear, lifting his arms in the air, in front of his face, trying to defend himself from a possible attack. “I’ll leave you alone, I’ll do anything, just please don’t kill me, please…” he keeps on bawling.

He looks so pitiful that none of us wants anything to do with him.

“Then, you disappear, you got it?” I ask, just to make it all clear.

“Yes, yes,” he nods as quickly as he can.

“What about him?” I glance over at Rock. “Is he - “

“Dead?” Mason asks. “No. He deserves to be. But, he saved my life once. I don’t know what this asshole here offered him to betray us, but I’ll let him go. If I see him again, then that’s a different story, of course.”

“Let’s go back,” I walk over to Wagner and Dominick, and I see that Dominick has fallen asleep in Wagner’s arms. “My angel.”

Slowly, we find our way back to home, all of us lost in our own thoughts. Adrian transformed back into his human form, and despite the gravity of the situation, we all chuckled at his nudity. When he was transforming, he should have taken off his clothes first, but there was no time for such niceties. And, now he has to walk his white ass naked all the way back. Luckily, it’s pitch black.

Little town of Swallow Springs is fast asleep. I wonder if they know what happens deep in those woods that they only walk in during the day. I remember what Mason told me once. They just let them think they’re drug dealers. It’s easier to keep things and people under control that way.

My body is still shaking, under the impression of what just happened. For a moment there, I thought I wouldn’t make it out alive. I’m still wondering if I did the right thing by letting Russell just walk away. But, I just can’t take a life. It’s not in my blood. I know I wouldn’t be able to sleep, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself for such a trespass. It’s not mine to take a life. Mine is only to give.

CHAPTER 28

All four of us reach my house fairly quickly. I see the still open door, but there is no trace of that fear anymore. I’m finally free. I faced the horror that has been plaguing my life for the last few years, and now, the world has taken on a new hue of hope and positivity.

“Are you sure you want to stay here?” Mason asks.

I glance over at Wagner, with my sleeping boy in his arms. “Positive.”

We all enter slowly, as if walking into scared grounds. This is where I died. This is where I was reborn. This is my home now. We go upstairs, making sure to lock the front door this time. Wagner puts Dominick on the bed gently. I watch as Wagner covers him lovingly, then places a soft kiss on his forehead. Mason does the same, then Adrian. My heart feels so full that it’s about to burst. I press my hand to my chest, subconsciously trying to keep it inside, to keeping it from imploding. Finally, I plant a soft kiss on my son’s sleepy cheek.

This stirs him from his sleep. His eyes open, still dreamy, still with that thin veil that separates dream from reality.

“Go back to sleep, baby,” I tell him.

He looks at me, then tries to get up. I lay my hand on his chest, gently pushing him back.

---