Page 57 of Resisting Nature

I’m still reeling on how that has happened. I cut ties with everyone in my old life, my parents aside, and we have always been careful. When they come to visit, they fly into Denver sothey could get lost just in case someone had followed them and then drove up to see me in Laramie.

Questions swarm my mind, keeping me from easing into the water and locking down every muscle in my body.

How did he find me?

What will he do to Miles and the others if he catches them off guard?

Why bother with me after all this time?

Does he know about Teague?

At the thought of the sweet little boy, I’m jerking myself out of the tub and rushing to get dressed. With a towel wrapped around me, I rush my way into the bedroom and quickly throw on a pair of shorts and one of Miles’s shirt sans bra.

I need to be in something comfortable if I’m not going to be able to settle down. I don’t forget a pair of socks just in case I need to wear shoes to run.

Piling my hair on top of my head, I make my way back out to the living room. Brandon’s back is to me where he stands staring out the window into the backyard. He isn’t nearly as bulky as the others, but I can feel the power rolling off him in waves. His stance showcases his military background; back straight, legs spread, and hands clasped behind his back. He looks like he could spring into action at a moment’s notice.

“Are you okay, Alexa?” He doesn’t turn to me but moves to the next window to stare out as if he’s going to get a different view.

It’s the same one.

“Truthfully?” I laugh nervously before taking a seat on the couch once more with the blanket around my shoulders.

“Always, we’re a pack now. We have to be honest with each member in order to protect all of us. It’s a family.” He still doesn’t turn to me, but I feel his words.

I never thought of it that way. I’ve always just had my parents to rely on and then Rylie and Missy. Warmth floods me at the thought of having more people to find comfort in while dread attacks me all over again. It means more people could be hurt by Grant in order to get to me.

“A family?” Picking up a pillow I had placed on the couch, I hug it to my chest.

“The best one to be in.” His upper body turns to me for a moment before he resumes his guard duties.

“I think I can get used to that,” I say with a smile.

“You will.” His promise is quick before silence fills the room once more. I don’t want to bother him by turning on the TV. Miles has explained to me about their heightened senses. Brandon is likely sharper and using his hearing to pick up on anything around the house as well as watching out into the property.

It leaves me to sit in silence because there’s no way I’ll be able to pick up my book either. The house creaks with the wind, causing me to jump at every sound, but Brandon doesn’t move. This is the first time I’ve seen him so serious. Granted, I haven’t known him for long. I’m more used to Roper being the strong, silent type. From what I’ve seen from Brandon thus far, he’s the funny one alongside Miles.

This side of him is new.

“You don’t have to be quiet,” he offers while moving to the other side of the living room to check out front.

“I was just trying to be helpful by being quiet.” I duck my head to play with the edge of the pillow.

“That’s fine, but you don’t need to hold your breath every time the house makes a sound.” He points out while not sounding like he is.

“Oh.”

He’s moving around behind me and then comes to take a seat next to me. “Everything will be okay, Alexa.”

“How do you know? Brandon, Grant is a dangerous man. He ran drugs for people,killedfor those same people. He can’t be taken lightly.” Panic wells in me again.

“And we aren’t either.” His hand is warm on my shoulder, but it isn’t the right warmth to help calm me down. “Mason and Miles are on his trail. Derek and Roper are coming to join the efforts. We are going to get this fucker, and you’ll never have to worry again.”

His confidence is nice, but it isn’t convincing my panic-consumed mind. “Didn’t your mom tell you to never say never?”

“She might have, but I was too busy tormenting things to listen.” He chuckles, trying to lighten the mood of the situation. I appreciate it, but I can’t allow it.

Forcing a sad smile, I get up and head into the kitchen. “Do you want anything?”

---