Page 17 of Claimed by the Pack

7

Cheyenne

“You know we love you, Chey, but it's been three weeks and you're as nervous as a cat all the time and only leave the house to go to work. I think something happened to you that night that you're not telling us.”

Marta and Bonnie had ambushed me on Saturday morning, before I'd even had my coffee.

I'd been so jumpy for the past three weeks, scared of my own shadow, that when I stepped out of my room and found them waiting for me in the living room, I actually screamed.

I walked past the both to the little kitchen as I said, “You just startled me is all. You shouldn't sneak up on a person first thing in the morning.”

I got a mug out and began to pour my coffee.

The kitchen and living room are separated only by an island. I was wishing it were a wall when I realized they were both turned backwards on the couch, staring at me.

“This is us, Cheyenne. We only want to help you,” Bonnie said.

“I don't need any help. I got drunk, wandered around lost for a while, woke up in the woods and came home embarrassed as hell. I'll get over it.”

“That story doesn't even make sense. What did you eat, drink? Where did you sleep for two nights? Those woods are full of creepy-crawling creatures. You expect us to believe you just curled up and slept on the ground?”

“Yes, I do. If you love me as much as you say you do, you'll believe me. I already have to deal with the daily calls from my mother, urging me to come home. I feel lucky I was even able to convince her and my father to not come out here. Do me a favor and next time I go missing, please don't call them.”

Bonnie rolled her eyes as I walked back through the living room, trying to make it back to my room. I was surprised when Marta stepped in front of my door.

“Huh uh,” she said, “You've been avoiding this conversation for weeks and things are only getting worse. Bonnie says you're even distracted at work all the time, looking out the window and jumping every time the bells on the door ring. You have to tell us what really happened.”

I sighed. I wanted to growl, or scream even. I just wanted them to leave me alone. I had nightmares about hairy beasts every night. I was scared to death that they were coming to get me...and at the same time, I couldn't get Ridge off my mind. Not the Ridge that kidnapped me, but the man from the bar. The hot, funny, sweet, interesting man that I truly thought liked me. I knew it was crazy to think anything about him, or feel anything toward him other than anger...but those crazy feelings like I belonged with him still ate away at me.

Go figure.

I'd fall for a man who was part animal, and who would rather hold me captive in the woods than take me out on a real date.

I feel like I'm losing my mind some days, and I want to talk about it. But then I picture them...all three of them, turning into wolves in front of my eyes, and Chelsea's veiled threats. What confused me most was when I pictured Chase, or Chelsea with that baby. They were so soft and loving towards him. How could they be both monster and nurturer? None of it made any sense and I longed for the old days when I was simply a chubby, plain girl with a boring life.

“I already did,” I said. “Now if you don't mind, it's my day off and I'd like to spend some time organizing my closet today.”

“No.” Marta said, folding her arms across her chest.

I raised my eyebrows at her. “No?”

“No.” she said. Bonnie came over and stood next to her. Great, my roommate and my co-worker were going to push me around now too. “You're going to tell us the truth, Chey.”

“Please,” Bonnie said, “We love you. We can't let you go on like this.” It was like an intervention. They were telling me, in a way, that I'd have no peace unless I told them “the truth”. My mind was racing as I tried to think of a story to tell them that would satisfy their curiosity, but I was coming up blank until Marta said,

“That guy, Ridge...he hasn't been back to the club since that night. I told the police about him when they finally came out, but because he works for the Pack, I don't think they even looked into it. Did he do something to you, Cheyenne? Please tell us, it's okay.”

“No. I mean,” I turned my back to them and walked toward the couch. I was a terrible liar. I'd told the one about wandering in the woods, drunk, until I almost believed it...but now I had to start all over. It made my stomach hurt. I took a deep breath and said, “He didn't do anything to me, as in, hurt me. But...” I sat down and they practically rushed over and sat in the recliners opposite me. Their eyes were wide, like they were about to hear some racy gossip...so, I decided to give them some. “I left with him that night, and I wasn't drunk.”

Marta and Bonnie exchanged a look and Bonnie said, “Okay...and?”

“I live with a roommate, he lives with a roommate...so, we went looking for a place where we could...be alone.”

Marta's mouth was hanging open. “You had sex? For two days?”

I nodded and I probably looked ashamed. It wasn't about the “sex” however, it was the shame of telling such an outrageous lie. “We went to a place his friend owns in the woods...and we had, amazing, incredible, hot sex. I lost track of time. For two days we only got out of bed to eat, shower and do it all over again. I swear, I was just so caught up in it that I didn't even think about time passing or people being worried about me.”

Bonnie was shaking her head, slowly. I could tell by the look on her face that she didn't believe what I was saying, but she didn't say that outright. Instead, she said, “Why not tell us this before? I mean, you're over 21 and single, and so is he, I assume...so why hide it?”

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