Page 6 of Branches of the Willow

“Okay.” I bit out through a mouthful of food before I could swallow. “I get it. I will do better, promise!”

“Good, now I’m going to shower, and when you’re done there, you need to get ready. I just happened to think of something this morning, and we need to get back to talk to the guys who came in last night. I have some questions for them.”

The water was already streaming from the shower before I could find out what Mikael wanted to ask. I hurriedly finished up my meal, and snatched some clothes up out of the closet, in the hopes of joining Mikael in the shower before he finished. I had fallen right to sleep the night before, even though I desperately wanted a few intimate moments alone with him. We could make up for that this morning as part of my new ‘taking care of me first’ life plan I was being shoved into. Unfortunately, before I could get more than a couple steps, my cell phone started ringing.

“Why me?” I huffed as I reached for the phone that had been tossed on my desk the night before. “Hello?”

“Jessica?” I knew the voice instantly. It was Sierra, Jack’s widowed mate.

“Is something wrong, Sierra?”

“Well, I was on a walk last night, headed to the lake, and I saw some lights on in the house.” By ‘the house’ she meant, the house she used to share with Jack. Sierra had chosen to move out and go live with her parents again for a while, because she couldn’t stand being there alone. Although, there was a small cabin not far from them that I had hopes of talking her into taking as her own now, since she didn’t seem capable of being in the old house.

“I’m sorry, I should have told you last night. We have some guests staying there for right now. Two of them will be leaving soon, and the third may end up staying put right there.” I heard her breath hitch through the phone. “I’m sorry, Sierra. I know, it’s hard, but we can’t let the house just sit forever. If you don’t want it, we need it for others.”

“I know. I just… well, I was just surprised, I guess. It’s okay, Jess. I knew someone would have to use it sooner or later.”

“How have you been doing? Is there anything I can do for you?”

“No. I’m fine.” She hesitated a moment before speaking again. “Do you think…” her voice got quiet and then trailed off completely. I stayed on the line, just listening to her breathe for a few minutes.

“Do I think what, hon?”

“I don’t know why I didn’t die with him. It hurt so much. I still ache like there’s a piece of me missing that I will never have again. I just don’t understand why I survived it. What’s the point in being here without him?”

My heart ripped open right then and there. “Oh Sierra…” I whispered. “You will be with him again, one day. You are just not done here yet. I don’t know how I know it, but I can tell you that soon, you will realize why you survived his loss. Your purpose is out there, and it’s going to find you soon.” I wasn’t entirely sure where the words were coming from. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of rightness as they left my mouth though. Sierra had more to do with her life before she would be called to her mate’s side once again. “I’ll come see you in a bit, okay?”

“Yeah, sure.” Sierra sounded despondent. “See you soon, Jess.”

Mikael walked in then, fully dressed, and I couldn’t help but think that I’d missed another opportunity to be with him. I wanted to be saddened by the fact, but it was hard to do after talking to Sierra. If nothing else, her experience made me take a second to appreciate the man standing before me. I’d take just being able to walk up and kiss him, even if it meant we missed out on more together, so long as he was still here for me to have that little bit. “Everything okay?” He asked.

“Yeah.” I put the phone down and picked my things up. “Give me just a minute to shower and change, and we can head out.” I turned to him before moving into the bathroom. “I need to see Sierra while we’re there. She is a priority.” He gave me a knowing look, and then reached out to snag an arm around my waist and scoop me in closer to him. His kiss was warm, wonderful, and full of love. It was just what I needed. “Thanks for breakfast.” I added as I walked away. I was rewarded with a playful smack on the butt. Also, just what I needed.

“Hey, Jess! Long time, no see, girl!” The tall, slender man with shaggy brown hair and smooth chocolate eyes graced me with a genuine smile that lit up his entire face. I wasn’t sure where he’d been hiding out all this time, but I hadn’t even seen Tyler since a few weeks before my Ebullience transition. We were the same age, so it seemed odd, but then again, I had been kept so far apart from my pack for all those years after my Calling, when my parents first saw my wolf, that not having seen him made sense.

“Tyler!” I called out. “It has been a while. How are you?” I asked him as he pulled me into a big bear hug reminiscent of the ones Jack used to give, which made my heart squeeze a little as we stood in front of Jack’s old house.

“I’m on guard dog duty right now,” he joked. Andy left a few hours ago, before dawn, to head to the Daniel’s Clan to speak with Avery.” Tyler’s attention was now focused over my shoulder, and I turned to see Mikael had caught up to me and was standing there with an amused look on his face.

“Tyler, this is my mate, Mikael. Mikael, Tyler. We were in school together back in the day,” I added for my mate’s benefit.

Mikael stuck his hand out and shook Tyler’s. “Pleasure to meet you.”

“You too, man. I honestly didn’t think this one was ever going to find someone good enough for her!” Tyler winked at me. “Although, I am glad it wasn’t that freaking dick, Zach.

“Tell me about it.” I rolled my eyes as I thought of Zach. Even back when I’d last seen Tyler, you could have called Zach a dick. Now, I’d call him far stronger things, if I chose to focus on him long enough to give a shit. “Hey, we need to catch up. I want to know how things are going for you, and if you and Shelly ever…” By the blush that passed over Tyler’s face, I could tell that something happened between them, although maybe not significant enough to become mating material. “I have to take care of some things first, but later, okay?”

“Yeah, sure thing, Jess. It’s been too long.” Tyler stepped aside so we could get inside Jack’s old place.

Walking through the door was like being hit with an emotional bomb. Even though there were three new wolves currently staying there, everything still carried Jack’s scent. “No wonder Sierra couldn’t stand to be here anymore.” I all but whimpered as I spoke the words. Mikael pulled me close, in a gentle, reassuring hug as we found our way to the living room. My fingers wandered over the worn leather back of the couch before I glanced up, trying to keep tears from spilling down my face.

“Are you all right, M’Lady?” Brian asked as he glanced up at me from the chair across the room. I nodded, and gave myself an internal pep-talk, trying to get my emotions under wraps. It was not an easy thing to do when each rapid intake of breath left me hurting all over again for the loss of my friend, my brother.

“Well, if I had known you were going to be miserable about our heading off to another pack, I would have put up at least a little bit of a fight about staying.” Nicholai running his big mouth did two things. First, it triggered my anger, making it possible for me to work past my own sadness. Second, it reminded me of something that Jack himself would have said to me. About the time Mikael’s warning growl roared loudly through the house, I started laughing. That reaction only managed to confuse every single person in the room, Mikael and myself included.

I tossed a hand up on Mikael’s chest to calm him, as I continued laughing. Then I tried to explain. “I’m sorry, that’s something Jack would have said.” Mikael, at least, understood my reaction then. “Please, understand,” I started to explain to the three men who were now completely bewildered with me. “This house used to belong to my dear friend, a man I considered my brother. His passing wasn’t that long ago. So, it’s bittersweet to come here and still be able to catch his scent and see pieces of the life he lived here.”

“Ah fuck! I’m sorry. My comment… if I had known…” For once, Nicholai seemed like a real person in that moment. I simply smiled at him.

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