Page 9 of Healing His Darkness
Rodney’s coyote breaks away from the rest of the pack, he prowls back and forth in front of us for what feels like forever. The next thing I know, he’s shifting back into his human form, glaring daggers at me. His looks used to make me swoon but comparing him to Rooster it’s like comparing a kiwi to a big juicy apple. There’s just no comparison, Rooster wins out in every damn way.
“Put some damn clothes on Rodney; I don’t need to be seeing your dangly bits waving in the wind.” Rodney took a step toward me but stopped when Rooster planted himself squarely between us.
“Why are you with him Georgie?” God, I hate that fucking nickname and he knows it.
“You’re my mate, no one else’s. When will you get that into your head?” Oh no the hell he did not just say that shit to me. Rooster looks back at me, but I don’t take my eyes off Rodney.
“Fuck off Rodney, we were never mates.” Rodney is shaking with rage. I can tell he’s hanging on by a thread, barely. Well fuck him and his pencil dick.
“Yes, we were Georgie, you just kept refusing to take the mating bite. You’re mine; my coyote says you’re mine.” I roll my eyes, because he’s so full of shit right now.
“I caught you banging some chick behind the bar. You were balls deep in her, remember that. You didn’t even stop when I caught you. YOU FUCKING FINISHED!” I scream at him and he cringes from the sharpness of my voice.
“Georgie, baby, I told you that was business nothing more. She owed me money; she was paying the only way she could.” He looks at me like his excuse should make it clear to me and I should forgive. It hasn’t the last fifty times he’s told me this story, but whatever.
“You can’t blame me for helping her out. It was either fuck her or beat her. Would you rather I beat a woman?” He says flippantly, like that makes it all better.
“No jackass I’d rather you didn’t do illegal shit to begin with, but since we’re no longer together I don’t really give a flying fuck what or who you do now.” He still hasn’t put on his clothes, but since I don’t see his car, I’m guessing they didn’t come by car.
“Why are you with him? One of the boys saw you leaving the bar with him. He was touching you.” Rodney grits out through clenched teeth, staring daggers at Rooster. Rooster looks unfazed by Rodney’s nakedness and presence.
“He gave me a ride home because my car wouldn’t start. That’s all, not that it’s any of your fucking business anyway. Because again we. Are. Not. Together. Anymore.” I slap my hands together to punctuate each word. Maybe he will get the fucking point sooner rather than later. I highly doubt it, but I can hope.
“You’re my mate, if you need a ride home you call me.” I let out an exasperated sigh, rolling my eyes. I address the rest of his pack.
“Are y’all seriously going to continue to listen to this craziness? He’s full of shit, there is nothing between us. There is no invisible pull toward him, no need to carry his pups, or to even be in the same room as him. There is nothing.” As I’m speaking, I look down at Rooster and reality comes crashing into me like a Mack truck.
“Shit.” I stumble backwards away from Rooster, my hand over my mouth as we look at each other. He knows too, I see it in his eyes. No longer the glacier blue eyes staring back at me, but yellow gold filled with understanding. How long has he known? I shake my head at him as I try to focus back on Rodney, because there is no way I’m Rooster’s mate.
Fate wouldn’t be that cruel to me, it knows what I went through with Rodney. There’s no way fate would send this cocky bad boy to me as a mate for life. It has to be a mistake, that’s exactly what it is, a mistake. I’m going to wake up tomorrow and all of this will have been a bad dream, and life will be back to normal.
“You’re mine Georgie, no matter what deals your dad makes, it won’t ever change that fact. I will have you again Georgie.” Snapping my head back up from staring at Rooster I narrow my eyes at him.
“Stop fucking calling me Georgie, it’s either Georgia or George.” I stalk toward him, my anger reaching the point where my natural survival instincts are shot to shit.
“I hate Georgie!” I stand in front of Rodney poking my nail into his naked chest.
“I hate it!” Before I know what’s happening Rodney has me in his arms, crushing his lips to mine.
That’s when all hell breaks loose because Rooster pounces on Rodney, pushing him off of me. I scream out, whether in shock or fear I’m not sure, because Rodney has a giant claw mark that’s bleeding across his chest. In the next instant, Rodney is transforming back into his coyote form and his pack is attacking Rooster.
That’s when I really start screaming my head off, trying to get them to stop. All I can think is that I need to help him, there’s no way he can defend himself against all of them. They’ll shred him to pieces. I run for the house, Dad keeps some shotguns by the front door, for just such an occasion. He doesn’t trust Rodney any more than I do.
Before I can make it inside one of Rodney’s coyotes jumps in front of me barring my entrance. I let out a frustrated screech, jumping to the side hoping to out-maneuver them. When that doesn’t work, I decide the next course of action is to use Rooster’s truck to help.
I can’t let him die, if he dies, I’ll never get answers to so many questions. Racing back toward the truck I dodge a few more coyotes, determined to help Rooster any way I can. Just as I get to the truck, I hear a loud feline yowl, followed by a coyote’s yelp. Jumping into the driver’s seat of the truck, I’m thankful Rooster left the keys in it as I rev it up.
“Alright assholes you asked for it.” I gun the truck toward the dog pile, where I’m sure Rooster is at the bottom. They scattered like roaches as I swerved close to the pile, clipping two of them in the process. I watch as the coyotes scatter, some of them limping, making a beeline for the trees along the back of the property.
When I can no longer see them, I slam the truck into park and get out to check on Rooster. What I find makes me drop to my knees beside him crying. His breathing is labored, his fur matted with blood, claw marks crisscross along his body. I’m afraid to touch him, afraid I’ll make it worse, but I need to get him inside in case they come back to finish the job.
“Oh Rooster, why didn’t you listen to me.” I press my forehead to his. When he licks my cheek, I let out a surprised yelp and plop down on my ass beside him, pulling his head into my lap.
“Stay with me, don’t you leave me. You’re not allowed to leave me mister.” I’m crying, holding his head in my lap, while gently petting his head when I see headlights coming down the driveway. When I see it’s my dad’s truck, I let out a sigh of relief.
“Hang in there Rooster, my Dad’s here.” Dad’s tires screeches as he slams on his brakes.
“Don’t leave me, we just found each other.” I whisper against his ear before my dad comes barreling towards us demanding what happened.
