Then I wouldn’t have been too late, I would have got to him before she saw him. We could have discussed what we would say to her. Have a plan.
She looked different, she had changed a little since we last saw her, but she was still the beautiful mate my wolf knew and loved. I walked towards her, I wanted to go to her and wrap my arms around her. But I knew she wouldn't like that, so I helped Mekhi first.
The panther, fuck. He even looked like a gang banger with that throat tattoo. Shit, he was covered in tattoos. Fucking drug dealer. My wolf wanted to rip his throat out and take Clare far from here. But I knew that wouldn’t work, I couldn’t hurt him. He was protected by the packs… maybe if I lured him out and away from here. I bet he didn’t have the same protection down in Port Angeles, their pack would be more than helpful to rid the world of some scum.
The emotions comingfrom Mekhi and Clare were throwing me off, my wolf snapping at the panther. Taunting him to start shit with me. I argued with him, sparing him trying to push him over the edge and shift. My hackles were rising and I was ready. Clare needed to leave him, I would protect her.I have always protected her.
“Can someone please tell me what’s going on?”
We all turned to Clare, she looked pale and clammy. I could hear her heart racing as she watched the scene in front of her unfold. She bent over slightly, gripping her stomach and her hand cupping her mouth. Her eyes widened before she turned on her heel and ran.
Oh shit, she was gonna be sick. We had made her physically sick.
“Clare,” we all called out in unison as she ran towards the restroom.
I didn’t stop, I ran after her. So did panther boy. The door slammed and locked. But Frankie got there first.
“Clare, sweetheart. Let me in.” he coaxed. She didn’t speak, but we heard as she threw up, I asked her to let me in. I wanted to take care of her.
“Back the fuck up if you know what’s good for her.” Frankie shoved me back.
He was strong, but I had body mass on him. I could take him down easily. I had fought with panther shifters before. I could have him pinned under me in less than a minute.
I growled, letting my wolf close to the surface.
“You lied to her, you compelled her. She’d been struggling, because of you assholes. She can't remember the last two years of her life because you took that from her.”
I shook my head, he was overreacting and trying to make us feel like shit for what we did. We did feel bad, but I wasn't going to let him know that, and have him lie to make himself feel better.
“That’s bullshit, she just doesn’t remember us. We had us wiped from her memories so she would leave and chase her dreams. We care more for her than you will ever know. You just don’t understand.”
His eyes glowed and I grinned. He was gonna shift and I would be able to take him out.Do it cat boy.I taunted in my mind.
“We aren’t some drug dealer. Does she know that you pedal drugs on campus? That you’re not a student there? That you’re lying to her?”
I shoved him hard into the wall, when he moved away there was a large dent. Fuck. I clenched my fists. I didn’t mean to destroy her house. I just wanted him to shift first, attack first so I could do the same.
“You must have spent a lot of time with her then, because she can’t remember shit. She wanted to come back home; she’s lost. You did that to her. You stole those memories from her and you can’t get them back. You know how that shit works and you still messed with it.”
That wasn't true, she does remember things, he was just trying to make Mekhi feel more guilty than he already was about it. Mekhi wasn't hiding his emotions, they flowed from him so thick it was almost unbearable. Frankie knew it was hurting him, that was why he was saying those lies. Jabbing at him until he shifted and attacked him. Only Mekhi wasn't like that. He was a softie.
I wasn’t. I had no issues hurting this asshole.
“You didn’t deny the drug thing, fucking scumbag.”
We all heard the toilet flush and the opening of the lock. No one spoke as we watched the door that Clare was behind open.
We all stood back to give Clare room, Mekhi several feet from me. But he was just as worried about Clare as I was. He just knew she needed space, and I didnt want to give anymore room and let the panther be closer to her.
She emerged, pale and shaking. The long strands of her hair were stuck to her damp brow as she pushed her hair behind her ears. Her eyes, so blue and deep locked onto mine and I could feel her pain.
“You… you took my memories?” My heart stopped, she heard everything we had said in the heat of the moment. I didn’t want her to find out this way. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. Stuipd panther shifted fucked this up for us.
Mekhi moved forward a few steps, his hands stretched out wanting to comfort her as he spoke up.
“Your parents told us that you were going to college in Colorado when we started dating. That we had to let you go when the time came. They hated us. Said we couldn’t be seen with you in public, that the type of relationship we had was perverted.
“You didn’t care, you loved us. We loved you. We still do. But we couldn’t go with you. So you changed your plans to stay with us and your parents were angry with us… you. We didn't want that for you…”
