Page 17 of Fight
"Not since I got rid of him the last time."
"How did you do that?If you don't mind my asking."
"I told him that if I saw him again, I'd call the cops."Bills eyebrows shot up in surprise, and I continued."I meant it too.I've asked him repeatedly to leave me alone, and he won't.He keeps calling and showing up, it's harassment, and borderline stalking."
"I didn't realize it had gotten that bad."
"I haven't called you every time he showed up or called, it felt like tattling.I've only called when I was concerned, or felt you needed to know, or there was a witness who I knew would call you if I didn't."I admitted.
"Who was there the last time?"
"Devon.Brandon never saw him or I'm sure he wouldn't have left so easily."I explained how I'd asked Devon to avoid being seen so I could get rid of Brandon, only leaving out that Devon had been on his way over to spend the night, Bill didn't need to know that part anyway.I also detailed most of the contact I'd had with Brandon, the things I hadn't told him about before.
"This has gone on long enough."Bill was unhappy at learning how much Brandon had been bothering me."I'm going to have to do something."
"I haven't wanted it to look like I'm running to you to fix my problems, it's part of why I haven't told you all of it before this."
"I understand, except this has gone beyond that.He's not just harassing you, he's also defying me in order to do it.I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet, but I have to do something."
"I'm sorry."I didn't know what else to say.
Bill smiled, trying to comfort me."It's not your fault, Nickie, you have nothing to be sorry for.It's just another of the many responsibilities of being the Anikitos."
"And another reason I have no desire for your job."
Bill changed the subject again."What are your plans for this evening?"
"I'm not really sure.Devon asked this afternoon if I wanted to do something with him, but I don't know what he's got planned."
Bill nodded."That's good.If you didn't have plans, I would invite you to dinner."
"I'd love to stay, but honestly, I'd rather go see what Devon's got in mind."
Bill laughed."I don't blame you.You've answered all my questions, and given me a couple of things to consider as well.Why don't you go see what that young man of yours has planned for you?"
I hugged Bill goodbye and went home.
Devon kissed me gently, keeping his mouth soft and slow against mine.When he broke the kiss he pulled me up against him on the sofa.
"So how did your meeting with the Anikitos go?"
"Good.he wanted to see how I'd feel about going out of town to meet non-shifters and possibly shift them."
He was quiet for a moment, his face pressed into my hair as he held me close to him."And what did you tell him?"He asked softly.
"I told him I'd be willing, but that I'm not comfortable traveling into another Pack's territory alone.I'm barely comfortable with our pack, I'm not ready to become an emissary for the pack."
"And what did he say to that?"
"He said he would never send me into another pack's territory alone.Any time he asks me to go I'll be assigned an enforcer as an escort, and they're job will be both to protect me and to teach me the etiquette of the Kindred."
"Is that all?"
"I reinforced my insistence that the decision to try to shift be entirely up to the non-shifter.I don't want a pack, or family, pressuring them into something they might regret later."
He nodded, understanding my principal, having been there once himself.
"I also asked for at least two weeks’ notice before any trips, so I can get the time off work, and I made sure he's aware that you and I are involved."
