Page 33 of Branches of the Willow

I rolled my eyes at Evan, and then found myself standing in front of my parents’ house. “Seriously, Jess, the rest of us can handle things around here while you get some more rest and catch Mikael up on what he needs to know.”

“Those girls can’t wait any longer. None of you seemed to understand why they were too afraid to go take a damn shower. I’m not saying I have all the answers, just that, maybe because of what I’ve been through I can see things from their perspective a little better.” I sighed, as I climbed the porch steps.

“Don’t downplay your strengths. You’re right. Hell, my family held those girls, and you, captive. My family have never been pillars of virtue, but I never knew they had it in them to do those things. Every time I go in there, I see some of them cringe, and I used to think it was because they were just shell shocked, but when you started talking about Stockholm Syndrome earlier, it clicked. A few of those women tried sucking up to me when we brought them back with us, rather than being afraid. Malachi looks a lot like me. Do you think they all thought I was there, and taking them, for the same reasons my father and brother had? To do what Antoine and Malachi had done to them?” Evan was lost in thought for a moment before he spoke again. “What about Natalia? Do you think she feels that way?”

I smiled then. “No, I think Natalia is a different story completely. Don’t give up on that one. I saw the way you both looked at one another. There’s something there.”

“She was the newest.” Evan mentioned as we made our way into the house.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not sure where my father found her, but she was the newest one to join his little prison camp. I never asked her directly, but the other women say she was lucky, in that she was untouched, because they found her somewhere in the Czech Republic right before my father came here. He had his men take her to the cells while my family continued on with their travels to come meet you.”

“That’s a good thing, Evan. At least you won’t have those thoughts tainting anything in the future.”

“What’s my brother mucking up now, that his future will be tainted?” Mikael had finally caught up to us and leaned down to nip at my neck as we found our seats around my mom’s kitchen table.

“The pretty blond girl with the big blue eyes.” I smiled over at Mikael as I explained.

“Ah, you noticed them ogling each other too, huh?” I laughed as Evan huffed in indignation.

“I would have to be blind to have missed it.” I mentioned. Evan rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his smile. “What does everyone want to drink?” I stood up from my chair, yawning, prepared to get everyone started on their meal.

“Sit.” Evan ordered. “I’ll take care of the drinks. You’re…” he hesitated just long enough for Mikael to take notice, but then he recovered, “tired.”

Mikael tugged on the hem of my shirt to get me to follow his brother’s instructions. Evan knew his way around the kitchen well enough, so I sat and avoided Mikael until he reached over and took my chin in his hand to pull my face around, so we were eye to eye. “What was that about?” He asked softly. It wasn’t accusatory, just a question laced with concern.

“Nothing. I’m tired, and I haven’t been taking breaks to eat enough.” His eyes probed me, ever watchful, waiting for me to elaborate, but I didn’t.

“We’ll talk later. Let’s get you fed, and then we’ll get you home.”

“Okay, but I want to stop by and talk to the women in the meeting hall once more before we go for the night. I have a couple questions that really can’t wait.”

“Jess, if you’re tired, we can just go home, and you can come back in the morning.” Mikael was serious, and his voice had taken on a stern edge. Evan stopped a few feet away with glasses in hand, not wanting to interfere.

“I’ll be fine, I promise. I just need to get this over with tonight, so that maybe tomorrow morning we can get straight to the business of making travel plans for everyone.”

“Wait!” Evan placed the glasses on the table. “Travel plans for who? All of them? What are you thinking, Jess?”

“Not all. That’s why I want to talk to them first and give each the option to go or stay.” Evan visibly relaxed, his shoulders sinking lower as the tension released from his stance.

“Oh, okay.”

“Fine, but if you start looking ill or too tired at all, I’m going to toss your ass over my shoulder and carry you home whether you like it or not.” I grinned at Mikael. It was rare that he put his foot down with me, and he was sexy as hell whenever he did. “What? Why are you smirking at me like that? I’ll do it!” He stood so fast his chair pitched back behind him, smacking down on the floor with a thud, and before I could say a word, I was being thrown up and over his shoulder. Laughter bubbled up out of my mouth, as I reached down and smacked his ass hard. Then, the movement got to me, and more than laughter threatened to bubble up. It took every ounce of will power I had, not to vomit right there. Evan could see my face turn green from where he was standing, and he jumped in to save the day.

“I’m fairly sure that’s Jameson coming now. You know how cranky he gets about Jess; you might want to stop manhandling his daughter in his kitchen.” I could have kissed Evan in that moment. He was so nonchalant about it, like nothing was really up besides getting reamed by a mate’s father.

Mikael put me back down, but he noticed the unsettled look on my face when he did. “Shit, did I hurt you?”

I slowly shook my head no, but kept my mouth closed, as I was still trying to keep the bile from rising any further in my throat. To my surprise, Evan hadn’t been lying about hearing my father coming. My mom and dad both walked in, effectively distracting Mikael from me long enough to get myself back under control. I mouthed a quick, “thank you,” to Evan. He simply nodded, and then everything went back to normal as we all gathered around to eat.

After we ate, Mikael and Evan walked with me, back over to see the women who had been Antoine’s captives. It was odd to have Evan and Mikael in close proximity without barbs being thrown at one another, and fights starting over who was going to date me today. On the other hand, I liked the new dynamic. Evan was starting to slide right into the brotherly role that was lacking in my life since Jack’s death.

I spent a couple hours getting to know most of the women in the meeting area a little better, and getting a feel for which packs they might do well in. After I spent the time talking to them individually, with Mikael as my translator for those who didn’t speak English well, I figured it was time to get the show on the road. “Okay, ladies, I’m here to offer you your freedom. Your choices are as follows: you can get on an airplane and go back to the life you knew before you were taken prisoner; ask to be placed in a pack, here, within the United States; or you can make your home right here in the St. Marks Pack.” I looked around, taking in the reactions as Mikael translated for me, so that they all understood the choices they were being offered. “You don’t have to decide right now. I will be back in the morning, and if you have made a decision, you can let me know then.”

I noticed that Natalia had a slightly panicked look on her face, and she was gazing back and forth between me and Evan. “We don’t have to go?” She asked in disbelief.

“No, you don’t have to go. We will work on finding you a permanent place here if you choose to stay.” Again, Mikael translated both Natalia’s question and my answer for the others.

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