Revolting

Michael pulled Hannah behind the house to the place where the big gardens were. William had asked him to bring Hannah to the gardens to meet with her friend. Michael was reluctant to leave her alone with anyone, but William had convinced him that this might be helpful to jog her memory.

When they rounded the house, and the garden came into view, Hannah stopped, and her body trembled like a leaf in the wind. He looked from her to the gardens, which weren't very impressive in early spring. The long narrow rectangles were mostly mulch with new greens just beginning to peek through for some early greens and vegetables. The monotony was broken by the perennials that were already in full leaf. A very pregnant woman was waiting near the strawberry beds, and Michael felt a small stab of guilt. That was the widow of the man he'd accidentally bitten. He rubbed Hannah's back, trying to offer her comfort. "You go on, Babe. I'm going to wait right over here by the trees, okay?" She tipped her head up at him, but he couldn't tell how much she understood. He gave her a little nudge from behind, urging her toward the gardens. "Go see your friend."

Hannah started walking slowly, her body in the half-crouched defensive posture she adopted when she was unsure of her surroundings. Her eyes darted to Michael, back to the big house, and then rested on the figure in the garden. She crept closer until she was just a few feet from the place where the little blond woman was half-sitting with her hip propped on a stool. Hannah bent down and touched a strawberry blossom before she squared up to the blond. The woman smiled and brushed a stray curl out of her face. "Hey Hannah." She said softly, and gently. "Do you remember me?"

Hannah's eyes scanned the woman up and down, and some unreadable emotions flickered across her expression. Her eyes rested on Daisy's big round belly, and her brows drew together. Daisy chuckled and rested her hands on her stomach. "Yeah, I know this wasn't here last time you saw me. At least, it wasn't showing yet." Hannah seemed mystified by the baby bump and crept a little closer, reaching out a hand to touch it. Daisy patiently allowed her to skim her fingers over her tummy. The baby chose just that moment to wiggle around and nudge Hannah's hand with a little elbow or knee. Hannah made a sound in her throat that sounded sad.

"I'm really glad you are back," Daisy continued, tipping her head to look into Hannah's face. "I felt really bad when you left. I really wanted a chance to tell you that what happened... it wasn't your fault. Okay? What happened to Gabe? I don't blame you, nobody does." Her eyes went to the tree line. She could no longer see Michael, but she knew he was there. She lowered her voice, so that even with supernatural hearing, Michael wouldn't be able to hear her words. "Gabe wanted to be turned. He was obsessed with it. Sometimes, when I think back to that day, I can't help but wonder... if he tangled with Michael on purpose. He was so stubborn." She sniffled a little and grabbed Hannah's hands. Hannah was surprised but she didn't turn away. "You got caught up in something that you had no control over. I've missed you so much."

Hannah was blinking rapidly, as though she were trying not to let tears escape from her eyes. She eased closer to Daisy, until she was leaning slightly against her knee. "Yeah, I know you remember me, right?" Daisy squeezed her fingers gently. "Wanna come in the kitchen with me?" Daisy pushed herself off the stool and tugged Hannah toward the house. "Lets go bake something!"

Hannah looked over her shoulder with an uncertain look and resisted when Daisy tried to pull her toward the house. Daisy wanted to wait calmly and encourage her friend, but she already needed to pee again, urgently. "I know he's your mate Hannah... and... I'm glad he brought you back to us. But come on," she tugged again. "Chicks before dicks, right?"

Surprisingly, Hannah's mouth quirked in a half smile, as if she got the joke. With a last look to the woods she followed Daisy towards the back steps and the kitchen.

Back in the woods Michael growled. He wasn't happy that the blond woman had taken Hannah into the house away from his line of sight. His inner wolf was extremely uneasy. He tried to reassure himself that this was a good thing. If Hannah trusted Daisy enough to follow her into the pack house, that must mean she had some memory of the woman. It was a step in the right direction for Hannah.

And maybe a step closer to a second rejection for Michael.

He swallowed nervously and faded back farther into he trees. He had survived the loss of his Alpha title. He had survived the loss of his pack. But he wasn't sure if he could survive being rejected a second time. The pain the first time had been unbelievable, like someone had pulled his insides to his outsides while he had a coronary embolism at the same time. His brain had been scrambled up like eggs in a frying pan. And that was only after laying eyes on her for a few minutes. How about now that he had been sleeping beside her, how about now that he had tasted those little lips? How about now that he had already lost his heart?

"Shit," he swore, yanking his t-shirt off over his head. Since Hannah was safe inside the pack house with her friend, he needed to go on a run, and take out some of the frustration that was starting to build up in his chest. Being the good guy was fucking hard.