Chapter 8: Bad Blood

I remembered little things that felt off when I was a child. But my parents just blew it off as a phase I'd grow out of, and eventually, I did. Although, I always felt like something was missing. Maybe that's why I turned to the career of investigating crimes. I couldn't solve my puzzle, but I could solve others, and it was somewhat of a distraction.

"Yet, another thing Thane has failed to tell me."

"Get used to that," Atticus says, leaning against a tree, "He's not one to bear all the little details."

I leer at Atticus, "And you do?"

"I prefer to keep it brutally honest," Atticus says.

I had dealt with many people, but Atticus seemed to have a way to put your nerves at ease. That felt strange, or maybe it was the bond we were supposed to share?

"I can't read your mind, by the way," Atticus says, with a slight tilt of his head.

My brows furrow," You can't?" That was odd; Thane would always peek into my thoughts. 

"No. It might be because you met Thane first but, I don't hear anything."

Huh, that sounded sad; even after a few days with Thane, knowing what I was thinking pulled us closer together somehow. Atticus clears his throat then takes off his shirt, "Here, you seem like you need this more than I do."

I was wary at first of Atticus' gesture, but I didn't have another pair of clothes. 

"For Selen's Sake, just take the shirt already, woman," he slightly chuckles.

I snatch it from him, then pull it over my head; his shirt stops at my knees. 

"Damn, that looks sexy on her…." I heard Atticus say but in my head.

"What the-" I look at him and catch his gaze; he slightly tilts his head.

"What's wrong?" he asks, his hands in his jean pockets.

I look him up and down, "Atticus?"

"What? I'm not doing anything."

Whoa, he didn't know I could hear him! HA! This was perfect. I could ask him questions, and if he doesn't say it out loud, I might be able to hear him through his thoughts.

I try to hide my excitement by biting my lip, "I still have a couple more questions for you."

"Shoot."

"Whatever gets you to stay here with me longer."

I smile, "Perfect, first question, what happened to the rest of my pack?"

"My father wanted their land, so he killed everyone in your pack. As of now, you are the only one left."

My heart sinks a bit," So, I'm an ophan as a Werewolf too…." God certainly 

"Yeah. I'm sorry that happened to you," I felt the sincerity in Atticus' voice. Talking to him and watching how he acted seemed strange; he didn't feel dangerous. Although, I guess I haven't struck a nerve yet.

"Why didn't your father just move?"

Atticus stifles a chuckle, "We don't do that. We find a place to call home, and then we expand it. There is no moving unless it's dire."

"That's ridiculous."

"That's the way we are, sweetheart," Atticus says, then turns his head to the side.

"Yikes, that slipped out…." I heard him say in his thoughts. 

I purse my lips together; good lord, this man was a softy, wasn't he? But it was kind of cute.

"That may be the case for you but, I've lived with humans all my life. To me, this sounds like another murder."

"I can see why you'd think that-" Atticus suddenly stops and stares behind me.

"Why did you stop?" I start to turn around, but suddenly I'm whisked off my feet, "AH! Atticus, what are you doing?!"

I feel a brisk breeze of air, then burning on my cheek. I place a hand on it, and I see blood when I lift it off.

My heart spikes, "What's going on?!" I shout.

"A hunter must have followed you."

"Wha- How?!"

Atticus puts me down and shifts, "Get on." I do as he says and clench his fur with my hands as he swerves through trees and brush. 

But something pulls me hard, and I fly off of Atticus' back, I scream, falling to the ground. And as I look up, a dark hooded figure with a silver wolf head emblem approaches me.

"Evette!" I hear Atticus cry out as the hunter raises his dagger over me. I could see my face struck with fear in the blade's reflection. 

"No, I won't let this happen again!" I hear Atticus say through his thoughts, and before I knew it, he jumps in front of me, and the blade scrapes against his side, leaving behind a nasty gash.

I gasped, but the hooded man seemed taken back by Atticus' action. He turns around and flees. I hear Atticus whimpering. I crawl to him, "You dummy! Why did you do that!?"

He shifts to human form, "Better the knife graze me than kill you," he grimaces. I swallow hard as I look at the gash. It wasn't deep, but it's not shallow either. 

Shit. He needed a doctor.

"Just help me up," Atticus says; I wrap his arms around my neck and help him stand, "Get me to my place, and I'll be fine. I'm a fast healer."

"That doesn't mean you should be taking risks like that," what surprised me is that I was scared he was seriously hurt.

"Awe, is someone worried about me?" He smirks.

"If you weren't hurt right now, I would elbow you in the stomach," I retort.

Atticus chuckles, "Ouch! Don't make me laugh!"

"Good lord, you're heavy!" I groan with him putting most of his weight on me.

"Hey, if I said that to you, you'd get offended," Atticus snarks, the grimaces again.

"Shut it!"

We finally make it to his house, which looks like a typical everyday home. I push open the door, but I see nobody around, "Hello?! Anyone?" I shout, but no response.

"They won't answer you. My room is over there," he gestures to the first door down the hall.

I help him lay on the bed; then, I throw a blanket over his lower half. 

"Are you going just to lay here and let yourself bleed?"

Atticus chuckles, "You haven't been Werewolf for long, huh?"

I leer at him, "Get smart with me again, and I'll leave," I say playfully.

He stares at me with warmth in his eyes; then I remember what he said during the attack, and without thinking, I ask him, "What did you mean by 'you won't let this happen again?"

Atticus suddenly sits up, his blanket falls covering his lap, "You can hear my thoughts?" I see a smile curve his lips.

Crap.

"Only a little," I lie, "I want to tell me what you meant by that?"

Atticus looks at me for a little while, "Will you come back?"

I double-blink," What?"

"I want to see you again. If you come back, I'll tell you."

I smile, realizing what he's trying to do, "Depends, Thane might not let me come back..."

"Then sneak out," Atticus winks at me.

"Okay, dingus, were not six-teen," I chuckle.

"Awe, are you gonna do everything your Daddy tells you," He says, playing around.

I gasp, then smack him, "Gross! Never say that! Bad!" I point my finger at him; he grimaces but smiles.

"Ugh, I was joking," he falls back onto the bed. I cross my arms, "Good lord, what is it with men liking being called "Daddy," I cringe.

"Don't ask me," he chuckles. 

I feel a flutter in my chest as I look at Atticus. How could he ever kill someone? I was having a hard time believing what people were saying about him.

"I should probably get going; Thane might be on the hunt for me already." 

I wait for Atticus to say something, but he says nothing and stares at the ceiling.

I purse my lips, "I'll try to come back when I can, but I promise anything..."

I watch as his jaw clenches, "Hey," I say softly, "Thank you for taking the blow for me, and your shirt, which your not getting back, by the way," I give him a playful smile.

Atticus looks at and can see the longing in his eyes. His hand slowly reaches out to touch my cheek; I glance at him, then lean into his hand, letting him caress me.

"I prayed to Selene to see you again," he smiles, "I'm glad she heard me this time."

I felt a lump in my throat; I slightly turned away. My heart ached, knowing Atticus couldn't reach out to me like a normal person would because of his past with his brother.

There had to be a way to fix this...

"Go, or I'll want to make stay with me," Atticus says, his voice strained.

I slowly make my way out, but I noticed a hollow feeling that was creeping its way to the surface. As I exit the house, I turn back to look at it. There was no one there with him and I didn't like the fact that I had to leave him alone.

I make myself turn away, but my wolf scrapes at my subconscious to turn around, to go back.

"Fuck," my voice cracks, as my hand clenches my chest, "My heart hurts..."