Page 20 of Destined Bear
She nods slowly. The cynic in me wonders if this is just an excuse to spend time together, but I dismiss the thought. Vivienne doesn’t play games like that.
“What did they say exactly?”
“At first, it seemed normal. Millie was worried that Mom couldn’t hold out much longer. Then Seline said something about Mom being strong enough to endure.”
My patience thins with every mile marker. The conversation isn’t raising any concerns. “We’re almost in Ember Hollow.”
“But that’s when it got strange.” Her irritation matches mine, as if I’m the one being unreasonable. “Seline said Mom was strong enough to hold out ‘as long as need be.’ What does that even mean?”
So far, Vivienne isn’t making any sense, and this conversation is uncharacteristic of the sensible female I’ve always known.
“Healers talk like medieval prophets sometimes,” I say dismissively. “That’s what has you all worked up?”
“Don’t.” Her tone cuts through the car. “Don’t dismiss this like you dismissed me before.”
My hands grip the wheel as my foot falls heavier on the gas. “You think all your sage advice five years ago might have saved trouble around here, but as you can see, there was no war without you.”
“If you’d listened to me five years ago, you could have prevented years of fighting.”
“I’m really not doing this with you right now,” I growl.
She goes silent, looking out the window.
My mouth parts to fill the silence, but Vivienne beats me to it. “Then Seline said… ‘the pack is weaker than it’s ever been.’”
I tense. She could have opened with that instead of waiting until we were almost at the Ember Hollow packhouse.
But Vivienne isn’t finished with her surprises.
“And that your failed mating created a rift in Willow Grove.”
My pulse quickens. “That’s bullshit! No one believes that!”
I know damn well that many people believe that. My pride just won’t let me admit it to her.
“They expressed concerns about me being back here,” she continues as if I haven’t spoken. She doesn’t believe me, anyway. “As if they’re worried we might reconnect.”
She slowly turns her head, and our eyes lock across the console for a long, uncomfortable moment.
Is there any chance that would happen? I want so badly to ask those words aloud, but they stick in my throat. She’s the first to steer her gaze away, and I step harder on the gas.
“And what do you think all of this means?” I throw the question out to fill the uncomfortable silence.
“That’s what I’m doing here, Emeric.” She doesn’t conceal her exasperation with me. “I tried to talk to my mother about it, but she refuses to believe that Millie would do anything against her.”
The road to the packhouse appears on my left, and Vivienne points to the side of the road. “You can leave me here.”
Surprised, I blink. “Why? I’m listening, aren’t I? Besides, we’re not there yet.”
“I’ve said all I have to say. And now you can do something with that information… or not.” She clenches her fists by her side. “And now, I am ready to go. I’ll head back. Just think about what I said. Maybe look into Seline.”
I pull over to the side of the road. Vivienne jumps out before I’ve fully stopped, and I see my enforcers’ car slow behind us through my rearview mirror.
But Vivienne is already shifting, her red fur gleaming as she shifts into her fox form. Her white-tipped tail flicks once before she bolts into the fields and disappears.
I stare after her, my heart still racing.
“Everything okay?” Heath calls out, pulling up beside me on a motorcycle.
