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~Unwanted~

I left for home at the end of my shift with
worry so fierce it felt like giants crushing my stomach. I pulled
my car over twice out of fear that I’d vomit on myself. The pretend
illness I’d considered faking was making a very real
appearance.

As I crept into the house, dinner was in full
swing. Mom and Ethan served lasagna while others helped themselves
to salad and garlic bread. The acidic smells of dinner filled my
nostrils and turned my stomach. My mouth was parched as I attempted
a swallow, silently begging my stomach to stay in place as I slid
wordlessly into my seat next to Kylin.

“Sophie, grab a plate!” Ethan called above
the bustling table.

“I got it.” Tristan set a plate down in front
of me in time for Ethan to scoop some lasagna onto it. I picked up
my fork and pushed it around the plate for a minute or two, not
particularly interested in actually putting food in my belly.

“How was work Sophie?” I nearly jumped out of
my skin at Gavin’s inquiry.

“Good.” I returned feebly.

“Honey, are you not feeling well? You’re not
eating.” Mom asked.

“Upset stomach.” I bobbed my head
slightly.

I caught Daniel’s gaze several times over the
course of the evening. He was acting fine – smiling, sharing jokes
with Gavin, and complimenting Mom on her cooking. Nothing seemed
out of the ordinary with him. Perhaps he hadn’t seen anything. I
prayed. Maybe I’d imagined it? Relief tiptoed into my thoughts a
little at a time. My nerves, which spent the majority of dinner on
the verge of hysterics, began to calm just enough for my thoughts
to focus on what to do next.

“Sophie, help me with dishes?” An impish grin
played on Daniel’s face as he called across the table to me. A
massive floodgate opened and panic drowned my insides once
again.

Trembling, I forced my lips to move. “Sure.”
I was certain what little dinner I choked down would come back up.
Whether consciously or not, Daniel didn’t make eye contact with me
again until everyone was leaving the table.

“Hey gorgeous.” He flashed his devilish,
lopsided smile.

“Hi.” I croaked.

“So here we are. Alone. With dirty dishes to
wash again.” He grabbed a stack of utensils and dropped them into
the empty bread dish.

“Hmm.” I nodded as I stacked cups and
plates.

“It was great to see you today. You know, at
the farmers’ market.”

“Really?” Was he toying with me? Where was
this going? Please just get it over with.

“I enjoy your company, Sophie. You’re pretty
funny when you want to be.” The sincerity in his voice disarmed me.
I nearly dropped my stack of dishes in the sink. “Easy killer.
Those dishes didn’t do anything to you.”

My face burned as I checked a few plates for
chips and cracks.

“Actually, I meant to ask you what your
schedule is for the next few days. I was hoping we could hang out.
There is something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.” Did his
voice just quiver? Is Daniel nervous?

“What?” I asked as nonchalantly as I could
muster though the room started spinning around me.

He laughed out loud. “Just something. But it
requires some time alone. Actually alone not just in the kitchen
with the rest of your family in the next room.”

“Okay.” I muttered.

He shifted gears. “Have you seen LJ blow
raspberries yet? He just started yesterday and it’s the cutest
thing.”

“No, I haven’t seen that yet.” I struggled to
make my voice light and more cheerful.

“And I swear he tries to reach for me. When
I’m nearby, he gets all excited and wiggles frantically.” He
chuckled. “I love that kid.”

The spinning stopped and I felt infinitely
more relaxed the longer Daniel talked. As he spoke on about my
nephew, I studied his face. The dark stubble on his chin
accentuated the rugged appearance he presented but his eyes were
gentle and sparkling, seemingly lit with a soulful fire. He was
incredibly handsome.

“Actually I want a dozen kids myself. Maybe
more.” Daniel placed the last glass on the drying rack and stepped
closer to me. Without warning his hand swept back a lock of my hair
from my cheek, sending a ripple down my spine. “Thank you for doing
the dishes with me.”

“It’s nothing.” I stammered as my cheeks lit
up again.

“I’ll leave you alone now. But maybe you
could make some time for me this week?”

“Alright.” I murmured as he grinned again and
left me at the sink, leaning for support.

*

I had the following day off work though Mom
kept me plenty busy with work around the house. Daniel, I realized,
had spent most of the morning in his room. I managed to slip away
from Mom around eleven. I carried a basket of veggies in from our
garden and washed my hands in the sink, mentally preparing for our
‘big talk’. Maybe it was just my imagination getting the better of
me and he hadn’t heard a word of my meeting with Jaime.

“Oh good, you’re here!” Lorelei, who I hadn’t
seen when I came in, sat at the dining room table while I made my
way toward the steps. “Can I ask a favor?” Seeing my chance slip
away, I unenthusiastically headed to the table. Both LJ and Nina
had a ton of stinky yellow baby food smeared across their
faces.

“Do you mind feeding Nina? She’s getting
impatient and John is at work.” Lorelei handed me a tiny jar of the
same smelly goo. I looked at the label. Yellow squash? Yeah right.
I thought. Making airplane sounds I moved the spoon closer to
Nina’s mouth. She giggled and opened up for the icky yellow mush.
Apparently the stuff tasted better than it smelled.

Lorelei looked really tired with dark circles
permanently painted under her beautiful eyes, which I assumed was
because of the babies keeping her up at night. Though John was an
equal partner when he was home, Lorelei still did most of the night
duty since John had to work during the day.

Lorelei and I sat in silence, feeding the
babies so fast I wasn’t sure they could even taste the food we gave
them.

“Life must be pretty sweet as a baby.” I
mused out loud. “So simple, so easy.”

In no time at all Nina and LJ were finished
eating. I tossed the baby food jars into the recycling bin and
bolted up the steps before Lorelei could ask for more help. I
brushed off a twinge of shame. I should have stayed to help her
clean up.

“It’s open.” He called. I pushed open the
door to Daniel’s room. He was sprawled out on the too small bed,
shirtless, a battered book in his hands. Upon seeing me, he put the
book down. “Hey cutie.”

I really hated how adorable his smile was. It
was nonchalant and extraordinarily attractive. I had a thing for
sexy smiles and Daniel’s definitely topped the list. More so than
Jaime’s.

“You said yesterday that you wanted to talk
to me about something.” I looked around for somewhere to sit. The
bed was my only option.

“I do.” Daniel stood up.

My jaw about hit the floor. His build was
flawless. His chest was broad and very muscular with skin so pale
it was almost translucent. His long arms, which lead from bulky
shoulders, swung gracefully as he walked. His stomach was sculpted
to perfection with ripples of muscles. His chestnut ponytail was
glossy in the sunlight and highlighted the smooth skin of his
back.

Daniel sauntered over to the overflowing
bookshelf where he dropped his book on top. “What did you want to
talk about?” I asked as he came near me, his jeans slinking lower
as he walked. They might have fallen down any minute. The thought
wasn’t comical.

“You and me.”

“You and me?” I repeated stupidly.

“I wanted to see you.”

“Uh…?” I lost my train of thought. Daniel was
smoking hot and standing way too close.

“Let me rephrase: I needed to see you.”
Daniel’s eyes seemed to penetrate some shadowy corner of my mind –
a section in which sinister desires lay hidden, with good reason.
Leaning toward me conspiratorially, he whispered, “I miss the sound
of your voice when you're not around. I miss your scent and even
your temper when you are annoyed at me.”

Daniel took a half step closer. His bare
chest was mere inches away from mine. “You're nervous.” The corners
of his mouth turned up ever so slightly. There was a glint in his
eyes.

“Daniel, I….” I put a hand to his chest and
stepped backwards, stammering as I spoke. “I'm not...” What's the
word I'm looking for? “Ready… for anything like....” He disregarded
my words.

“Do you know why I’ve stayed?” Daniel placed
one hand in my hair, the other pulled me nearer. “Because of you.
This is what I wanted to talk to you about. I belong here Sophie. I
belong here with you. And you don’t have to be ready yet. I am very
patient and I’ll wait until you say it’s time. But I don’t want
another wolf snatching you away from me. So say you’ll be mine,
even if it’s months or a year from now. Because I need you for my
own.”

“I haven't... I mean I didn't....” My mind
clawed helplessly for something to say.

“What a pair we'll make, don't you agree?”
His fingers encroached under my tank top and caressed the small of
my back. Those lips that hinted at a smile now disappeared from my
view. They occupied themselves with tender inspection of my skin.
Daniel’s kisses, gliding from my neck to my cheek, sent a not
unlikable chill down my spine. Their destination was clear.

Don’t do it, please don’t do it.

“I can’t.” I shook myself free of him and
dashed out of the room.

~Some legends refuse
to die~

“So there will be a hayride at the Johnson’s
tree farm in Mt. Jewett this Saturday. I thought it would be fun
for us to do.” Jaime’s hand stroked the back of my head as we
watched television on his couch. I had finally caved and told
everyone my boss had hired me to help him clear debris around his
yard and then I offered to help him build and paint a new wrap
around deck as a gift for his wife. Ironically, lying in such
magnitude eased Tristan and Lorelei off my back. It bought me
several weekends’ worth of days free to spend with Jaime without
interrogation or guarded eyes.

“And, it would be out of Kane.” Away from
Kane meant little chance of getting caught.

And away from Daniel. Though he never
mentioned my rejection, I saw it on his face everyday. I wounded
his pride and as a result, something dark simmered underneath
Daniel’s confident exterior. More than a few times I had to weasel
my way out of being alone with him.

“I’ve never been on a hayride.” I mused,
realizing how strange that probably sounded to him. Normal people
do things like that, right?

“Well then, we have to go. Hayrides are
supposed to be kind of spooky because they take you through haunted
woods and fields. You never know what might happen.” The emphasis
Jaime placed on ‘haunted woods’ made me laugh out loud.

“So am I supposed to be worried that evil
spirits and psychopaths with chain saws might jump out and get
me?”

“Something like that.” Jaime whispered as he
leaned in for a kiss.

“Honestly, I’ve never done any of that
Halloween stuff. Ever.” I grimaced as I took in his surprise.

“Really?”

“My family is kind of Amish-like in our
separation from the rest of the world. I mean, we don’t have a
problem with Halloween; we just didn’t really get into the whole
hu- “I startled myself as the first syllable of human escaped my
lips. I quickly moved back several inches from Jaime who stared at
me, completely confounded.

“I’m sorry, what was I saying?” I slapped my
forehead a little too hard.

“What?” Jaime’s face contorted from
confusion.

“Huh?”

“Ok-ay. Let’s start this conversation over.”
He spoke to me slowly, like I was a vacuous two-year old. “So we
are going on the hayride, correct?”

I nodded just as slowly as he spoke.

“You’re so odd sometimes.” His voice was
light as if my little anomalies were to be expected by now. “Come
here, you.” Jaime drew me into him, kisses pouring over my lips and
neck. Taking his collar in my hands, I pulled down onto the couch
with me.

*

The Saturday of the hayride was far chillier
than normal. I bundled myself in a wool sweater, jacket, and hat, a
scarf, and stuffed gloves in my pocket for good measure. Satisfied
that I would be warm enough, I made my way outside.

“Sophie! Wait up!” Tristan’s voice called
from behind me.

I waited as Tristan, trailed by Daniel,
stepped out of the house. “Heading out?”

“Yeah.” I replied. Going out for a hike,
maybe catch a movie.

“We’re going out as well.” Tristan piped up.
“Want a ride into town?”

“No thanks, I’m good.” I turned quickly and
got to my car before another word could be said. That was
close.

Jaime was sitting on his steps waiting when I
pulled into his driveway.

Dark purple and pink colors streaked across
the sky as we arrived at the Johnson tree farm. We arrived in time
to watch the first tractor pulling away with its metal wagon filled
with people sitting on straw bales. Jaime and I piled onto the
second wagon with about ten other people.

“Sophie!” I had just taken my seat near the
back when I heard the deep but soft voice. My head snapped around
so fast I think I gave Daniel a start. “What are you…?” His voice
trailed off. His eyes darted to the man sitting down next to
me.

Tristan shot me a pained look that turned
into an emotionless stare as Jaime put a hand in mine and kissed my
fingers, apparently oblivious to the unspoken conversation between
me, my brother, and wanna-be lover. My heart dropped into the
rocky, jagged pit of my belly. The edges sliced through the soft
muscle of my heart, tearing it more every moment I sat there
thinking of something to say, some way to explain why I was
sneaking and lying still.