Bearly Enough (21 page)

Lucy’s jaw dropped.

Stone cleared his throat. “That’s not all. Another twenty
thousand will be deposited into your family’s savings account.”

“Seventy-thousand dollars total per child?” she whispered.

“Obviously having cubs is very important to the tribe,”
Stone said dryly.

“And, if I have more than five?” she asked quietly.

“The cub will still get fifty-thousand in a savings account,
but the family will be given fifty-thousand instead of twenty.”

Lucy hung her head in her hands, struggling to process the
information.

“Jeremy has that kind of money?”

“It’s not Jeremy’s money. It’s the tribe’s money. And yes,
our tribe has an obscene amount of money.”

“But—but people would
hate
me,” Lucy argued. She
tried to imagine how people would feel toward her if she had that kind of
money. She wouldn’t even know what to do with it!

“They wouldn’t hate you,” Stone assured her, “They would be
so grateful for your help. I know these people. I grew up with them” He was
quiet for a moment. “Of course there will always be some sour grapes, but I
don’t think you need to worry. The majority of the clan will love you.” He took
a bite of a muffin. “If you choose to stay,” he added.

Lucy felt fear pull at her. “And if I choose to run?” she
whispered, looking at Stone, silently imploring him to answer honestly.

Stone jumped up from his chair and came to her, his eyes
warm yet intense. His words came tumbling out in a rush. “It’s not worth it.
Jeremy is ruthless. He would find you. Please! Don’t take the risk.”

Lucy said nothing, but just nodded. She reached out and
squeezed Stone’s hand. He gave her a confused look, then slowly stood up and
went back to his seat.

Lucy could imagine this. She could see herself here, with
Stone.

But could she imagine this with little children around the
table?

Could she still picture herself sitting here with Stone,
twenty years from now?

She looked around the house. If they were to have five
children they would never be able to stay in this house. They would need more
space.

Yet, she knew that Jeremy would take care of it.

The rest of breakfast was light-hearted, and afterward Lucy
spent more time thinking in her room. She wanted to spend time with Stone, but
she knew that would only be a distraction.

More than once, she cried out of frustration at having to make
such a decision. How was she supposed to decide her whole life in three short
days?

But as night neared, she knew what she needed to do.
Tomorrow she needed to respond to Jeremy, and she was only running around the
same options again and again in her head.

She ate dinner with Stone and afterward she had a knot in
her stomach. “I need to talk to my sister,” she told him.

He winced. “I don’t think I can do that Lucy.”

“Please, Stone. I need to.”

He paced the small kitchen. Finally he stopped and looked at
her. “I can let you call her. I can’t run the risk of inviting them here
again.”

That would have to work.

“Okay,” Lucy agreed. “Thank you.”

Stone dialed the number and handed Lucy the phone. “I’ll
give you some privacy,” he said, before stepping out back.

Lucy was certain that he would still be listening.

“Hello?” Gabby answered on the first ring.

All of her anger at Gabby disappeared the second she heard
her older sister’s voice on the phone. She found the whole story tumbling out.

Gabby listened carefully, adding some thoughts and advice
throughout the conversation.

Then she asked Lucy a simple question. “Remember what we
talked about?”

“Before you left?” Lucy hedged. That’s when Gabby had
suggested she help Lucy escape.

“Yes,” Gabby said, emphasizing the word.

“I remember,” Lucy said, “and I think that’s best.”

She hoped that Gabby would understand her meaning.

“Good,” Gabby said tersely. “Then everything will work out
for you. Think more on it tonight
.
And try not to stay up past
midnight
.
I know how much you need your sleep.” It was cryptic, but Lucy understood
immediately.

“Yes, I agree.”

“Okay. Love you, Luce,” Gabby said, slipping in to her
normal sister voice.

“Love you, too.”

Then Lucy hung up the phone and took a deep breath.

The hours passed by slowly, and Lucy felt increasingly
nervous about what she had resolved to do.

She still wasn’t sure, but she wasn’t going to turn back
now.

Anxious, but trying to hide it, she went downstairs to say
good night to Stone. Their dinner had been quiet and awkward—there had been
much that was unspoken between them.

“Umm, I just wanted to say goodnight,” Lucy said, venturing
down the steps.

Stone was sitting at the dining room table with some kind of
map laid out before him. He glanced up at Lucy, his eyes filled with questions.

Lucy stood there, staring at him, and Stone slowly nodded,
rising. “Good night. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Right. See you in the morning,” she echoed. She turned and
headed back up the stairs, but Stone called out to her.

“Lucy.”

“Yes?” she turned around to look at him. She didn’t want to
question any more; if only she could be numb.

Stone stared long and hard at her, his face impossible to
read.

“Nothing,” he finally said, shaking his head. “You know that
I’m here if you need anything?”

Instead of responding with something snarky, Lucy simply
nodded.

She went upstairs, and instead of dressing in sleep clothes,
she turned out the light and climbed into bed fully dressed.

She lay there, wide-awake, staring at the shadows that were cast
by the moon on her ceiling.

Every few minutes she glanced at the clock on the wall.

Hours passed.

Finally, she crept out of bed, pressing her ear to the door
and listening for Stone. She couldn’t hear him, but that didn’t necessarily
mean anything.

Slowly, she unlocked the window in her room and shakily
climbed out onto the ledge. It was a long way down, and she had sworn that she
wasn’t going to do this. She edged along the side of the house, keeping her
palms flat along the stones and praying that no one was watching.

She glanced toward the forest and saw only trees.

Focusing on the task at hand, she shimmied towards a slant
in the roof, and offering up a silent prayer, she began to crawl across it on
her belly.

She glanced back at the woods, and this time saw her sister
standing just by the tree line.

Gabby!

Even though Gabby was too far away for them to communicate,
she felt better knowing that she was there. She hurried toward the edge, and
then carefully lowered her body over. The slant continued down part of the
house, and Lucy knew that she could get to the gutter and drop down without
really hurting herself.

She climbed over the gutter, and once her body was hanging,
she released herself.

Trying not to cry out, she dropped onto the grass and then
rolled toward the trees.

Adrenaline pumping through her body, she refused to look
back and sprinted toward the tree line.

Just. A. Little. Further.

Her breathing was ragged as she panted, and her legs burned,
but she pushed herself more, afraid that Stone, or worse, Jeremy, was watching
her.

She barreled into Gabby, knocking her down, and she heard
her sister gasp.

“Are you okay?” Gabby asked quickly, brushing herself off
and holding Lucy at arm’s length.

“Yes! I think so,” she replied breathlessly, afraid to look
back at Stone’s house. There was no going back now.

“Okay. Let’s go!” She grabbed Lucy’s hand and they went
tearing through the woods together. It was dark now, and it seemed a much
farther journey than before. She kept thinking that she heard someone behind
her, but she never looked back to check.

“Zane should be right up here,” Gabby panted. Lucy knew that
it was safer for Zane to wait on the Virtus side than to cross onto the
Cruentus lands and risk being caught or accused of trespassing.

“There!” Gabby cried, and they pushed forward until Lucy
heard Zane.

“Alright!” he said quietly, “You’re safe. You’re on Virtus
territory now.”

Gabby cried out with relief, sinking down onto the ground
and putting her head between her knees as she gulped for air.

Lucy looked around slowly, trying to make out any noticeable
differences, but the forest looked the same as it did a few yards back.

“It’s fine, Lucy,” Zane assured her, “I promise you’re
safe.”

Lucy nodded, unable to figure out why she still felt like
her nerves were on edge. Instead of feeling safe and relieved, the anxiety
within her seemed to grow.

“Lucy,” a soft voice called out.

Lucy screamed, jumping nearly a foot in the air, as Gabby
clung to Zane.

Stone came into view about twenty yards away, holding up his
arms in a type of surrender.

“I’m alone,” he called out, “And no one knows I’m here.”

“Don’t come any closer,” Zane warned, stepping toward Stone.

“I won’t cross the boundary line,” Stone said, “I just want
to talk to Lucy.”

Pain cut through Lucy at the sound of Stone’s pleading.

She took a step forward.

And then another one.

And another.

Zane was behind her now.

“Lucy, don’t!” Gabby cried. “Just turn around. Let’s go.”

“Tell me when to stop,” she said quietly to Zane.

She took a few more steps, cautiously, waiting for Zane to
stop her.

She could feel Stone’s eyes boring into her.

“There,” Zane called, and Lucy froze. She was on the Virtus
side, while Stone remained on Cruentus lands.

Stone was just ten feet away from her, and even in the
moonlight she could see the pain in his eyes.

“I won’t stop you if this is what you want,” he told her
quietly. “I won’t even tell Jeremy where you are, though I’m sure he’ll figure
it out.” He looked at her, and Lucy could feel her skin burning.

Why did he make her feel so much?

“Just answer me one thing,” he said softly. “Why?”

“I-’’ she began, but she didn’t know how to finish.

What was she doing?

What the hell was she doing?

She loved her sister, but Gabby had her own life now, and
what was Lucy doing?

Being typical Lucy.

Running away from her problems, running away what was
probably
best
for her.

Was Stone
best
for her?

Gabby was safe, Stone was the unknown.

And in an instant, she saw her whole life flash before her
eyes.

She saw herself with Stone,
happy
with Stone, hugging
him around the waist as Stone had his arms around her shoulders. She could see
herself adjusting to this new life, making the best of it, and being happy. She
could see her children, running around the yard, and Stone playing with them
outside.

She clapped her hand to her mouth, her eyes wide.

She turned slowly around to look at Gabby, who was staring
at her with confusion.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered to her sister, “I love you.”

She turned back to Stone, his face a mixture of sadness and
regret, and walked tentatively toward him.

Stone gasped when she crossed the line, and Zane hissed with
anger.

“I was wrong,” Lucy breathed. “I was wrong.”

She threw her arms around Stone, and a moment later he was
hugging her tightly, joy radiating through his entire body.

Stone hugged Lucy back, unsure of what had just happened.

No fucking way—did that just happen?

“Are you serious?” he asked, in a husky voice, pulling Lucy
to him and kissing her firmly on the mouth.

She giggled, kissing him back, clinging to his body.

It felt damn good.

“Lucy, no!” came Gabby’s hurt voice, and Lucy released Stone
quickly, turning around to face her sister, reaching down to find Stone’s hand.

He grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

“I’m sorry, Gabby,” she apologized, her voice filled with
hurt. “I have to do what I think is right.”

Gabby moved toward them, careful not to come too close. “But
this isn’t right,” she pointed out, her voice growing angry. “We’re sisters. We
should be together.”

“I know,” Lucy said, her voice heavy. “That’s what I
thought, too.” She paused. “But I see now that you have your own life. You have
a husband, and I’m sure you will have children too. If I came to your tribe,
aside from you, what would I have?”

Gabby was silent for a moment. “You would have freedom!” she
cried out in frustration.

Lucy laughed softly. “Freedom? Like the freedom that you
have, Gabby? You were forced to make a choice. You had to stay there and settle
down, just like I would have to do if I came with you. I don’t like what I have
to do with the Cruentus, but it’s not much different than the offer you got.”

“I don’t understand,” Gabby said flatly.

“Gabby,” Zane said, his voice a warning. “Your sister has
made her choice. We don’t have much time.”

That snapped Stone into action.

As much as he hated that fucker Zane, he had a point. Nothing
good could come from all of them being discovered in the forest at this hour of
the night. Especially fraternizing with the so-called enemy. And part of Stone
didn’t trust Jeremy entirely. Even though Lucy was choosing to stay with the
Cruentus, she had initially chosen to run to her sister’s tribe, and there
would be hell to pay if Jeremy ever found out.

“He’s right,” Stone said softly into Lucy’s ear, “We need to
get back to the house.”

“Please, Gabby, try to understand,” Lucy pleaded.

“I just don’t see how you could do this, how you could walk
away from me!” Gabby cried stubbornly.

She sounded like a damn child.

“It’s not about you, Gabby. This is about me. I have to do
what I think is right.”

“You’re a prisoner!” Gabby cried. “You’re brainwashed!
You’re choosing the very person who is holding you captive!”

Stone let out a cross between a growl and a roar, and he
felt Lucy’s body go tense.

“I won’t hurt you,” he promised Lucy.

“I don’t want you to hurt my sister, either,” she said
angrily.

Stone would love nothing more than to take a snap at Gabby
for trying to talk Lucy out of her decision. But out of respect for Lucy, he
kept his temper in check.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive you for this,” Gabby said
quietly, and she looked at them one more time before she turned her back.

“Gabby! No!” Lucy cried, and she tried to break free of
Stone’s grip, but he held her tightly.

“Be careful,” he warned.

“Gabby, please!” Lucy called out, and Stone could see her
tears glistening in the moonlight.

Zane was waiting for Gabby, his arm outstretched.

“We’re blood,” Gabby murmured, turning back around to look
at Lucy again. “You’re walking away from the chance for us to be a family
again. We only have each other!”

He could smell the anger and hurt rise up in Lucy.

“You’re my big sister,” she shot back, squeezing at Stone’s
hand. “You’re supposed to defend me and support me, not make me feel like shit!
And that’s not true anyway. You have Zane now!”

“I’m not making you feel like shit!” Gabby said hotly. “You’re
doing that all on your own!”

Lucy gasped as if she had been physically hurt, and then
squared her shoulders. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Gabby,” she said quietly.
“I’ll always love you. I’ll always be grateful that you took care of me.”

Gabby simply stared at her and then shook her head.
“Goodbye, Lucy.” She turned and walked toward Zane, who pulled her to him and
wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

Lucy let out a sob as she watched her sister, and then
collapsed into Stone’s arms. Stone steadied her, pulling Lucy toward him.

That fucking bitch of a sister seemed to have just broken
Lucy’s heart, and he would be damned if Gabby was going to make Lucy feel bad
for choosing him.

“It will be okay,” he murmured, “give her time. We’ll find a
way for you to see her again. She’s just upset, but she’ll come around.”

Lucy sniffled, nodding, and pressed further into Stone’s
arms.

Stone could give two shits about Gabby, especially after she
made Lucy feel so terrible, but he would do everything in his power to make
Lucy happy, even if that meant having to sneak around again so that Lucy could
see her sister.

“Come on,” he said quietly; they needed to get back. He led
her through the woods, knowing they could move much faster if he carried her,
but he could tell that Lucy wasn’t in the mood.

“What will happen if Jeremy finds out that I tried to join
the other tribe?” Lucy asked after a long silence.

“I’m not sure,” he answered honestly, “but let’s try not to
bring it up. And if it does come up make sure you talk about how foolish of an
idea it was and how you weren’t thinking clearly.” Stone didn’t want Jeremy to
distrust Lucy; it was clear that Jeremy was already annoyed with her antics.

“Let’s just get you home and get a good night’s rest,” Stone
said, trying to sound as confident as possible. “Then we can deal with
everything in the morning. We can get in touch with Jeremy tomorrow.”

Lucy nodded and allowed Stone to lead her back to his house.
Nothing seemed unusual; Stone hoped that no one was aware of Lucy fleeing.

Lucy was dead on her feet, and Stone finally gave up trying
to support her and scooped her up and carried her upstairs. He slipped off her
shoes and socks, and pulled off her pants, which were caked with dirt. He left
her shirt on.

“I’m so tired,” she sighed, rolling over in bed. Stone
pulled the sheet up over her and went to leave.

“No,” she mumbled, “don’t leave.” Stone hesitated beside the
bed. “Please,” she added.

Sighing, Stone sat down next to her.

She tapped the bed next to her, and Stone lay down, wrapping
his arm around her waist and inhaling deeply.

Lucy sighed and within a minute, her breathing was slow and
steady, already in a somewhat peaceful slumber.

Stone lay awake for a long time, breathing in the scent of
Lucy, and wondering what her decision meant.

He had been floored to find her missing, and even more
shocked when he realized what she had done. He would never admit it, but his
heart nearly broke in two when he realized that she was choosing the Virtus.

Stone had sworn that he would never care about another girl.
He had loved his younger sister so deeply and losing her in such a brutal way
had changed him to his core. He had then moved onto a string of emotion-free
hookups with women, never committing himself and never allowing himself to
feel.

For the first time, he had allowed himself to feel
something, and realizing that Lucy was choosing differently had been crushing.

But now she had chosen him.

At least, it seemed that she had.

What if when Lucy woke up she told Stone that she had chosen
the tribe but not him?

No.

That couldn’t be.

Tomorrow they would wake up and everything would be
different.

Fear gripped Stone.

He would be with the
princess
.

If Lucy had truly chosen him they would need to marry and
then start a family.

A family.

Cubs.

Stone gulped.

Could he handle that? Could he be a good father?

But then he smelled Lucy next to him, breathed in her sweet
scent once more, and Stone curled his muscular body around her.

Somehow everything would be fine.

Stone must have fallen asleep at some point, because when he
opened his eyes, it was light out. Lucy was still sound asleep, so he carefully
slipped out of the bed and tiptoed from the room.

He took a hot shower and then dressed.

The weather had changed, almost overnight, and Stone could
feel the chill in the air.

He went downstairs, made himself a cup of coffee and then
headed out on his back patio. He looked out into the woods and wondered what
Gabby and Zane were doing on the other side of the border.

“Fuckers,” he muttered.

He didn’t need another damn reason to dislike Zane, but now
he disliked Gabby, too.

“I see you’re up early.”

Stone whirled around at the voice and saw Jeremy standing a
few yards away.

Stone had been so deep in thought that he hadn’t heard, or
smelled, Jeremy approach. He felt instantly suspicious, unsure of what Jeremy
was doing there so early.

Stone gave Jeremy a long look. “Yes,” he said slowly. “I’m
surprised that you’re up so early as well.”

Jeremy shrugged, walking towards Stone and taking a seat in
the empty chair next to him. “I came to see Lucy,” he said.

“Isn’t it a little early?” Stone asked. “You gave her three
days.”

“Right. Today is the third day.”

“I know, but it’s barely eight in the morning.”

Jeremy shrugged again. “I’m busy. I have things to do.”

Stone shook his head and took another sip of his coffee.

They sat in silence for a few moments.

“What do you think of Evan?” Jeremy asked.

Stone looked at Jeremy and narrowed his eyes. “You know exactly
what I think of Evan. Have you forgotten the shit we went through just last
week?”

Jeremy nodded as if he were taking it into consideration.

“Not to mention how Evan still agrees with the former
practices of this tribe?” Stone stopped and took a deep breath, already feeling
himself getting worked up. “What does Evan have to do with any of this?” Stone
asked angrily, feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

“Nothing,” Jeremy said evasively, “I was just thinking about
a match for Lucy. Should she choose to stay.”

It took everything in Stone’s power not to explode at
Jeremy. Stone couldn’t give away that he already knew about Lucy’s choice, but
the idea of Lucy actually choosing Evan was preposterous.

“You said that Lucy had a choice,” Stone said softly, trying
to keep all menace out of his voice.

“Well, you never know. She might need a little help in
choosing a mate.” He looked carefully at Stone. “Should she care to stay.”

“I’m pretty damn sure she won’t choose that prick,” Stone
couldn’t help muttering.

Jeremy raised his eyebrows, but said nothing.

Stone didn’t stew for long, because Jeremy stood up, shaking
off the chill. “Shall we wake her? I have things to do today.”

Stone had no choice but to go inside, Jeremy close behind
him.

They walked into the house and Stone instantly sensed that
Lucy was awake.

She must have heard them enter, because she came slowly down
the steps, her eyes puffy and sleepy, her hair wild and un-brushed. She was
wearing just her shirt, which luckily came to the top of her thighs and managed
to cover her ass.

Just barely.

“Oh!” she gasped when she saw Jeremy, and quickly darted
back up the steps.

Jeremy laughed and Stone shot him a dirty look.

“I’m sorry,” she called down the steps, her voice still thick
with sleep. “I didn’t know anyone else was here.”

“Not a problem, Lucy dear,” Jeremy called upstairs, before
Stone could respond. “How about you dress and then come down to see us?”

Stone hated the way that Jeremy said
us
, and how it
implied that Stone was a part of this, that he knew what was going on.

Stone heard Lucy pad down the hallway. He knew that he
needed to be civil toward Jeremy.

“Can I get you something to eat?” he asked, heading into the
tiny kitchen and taking out a dozen eggs.

“No, I’m fine,” Jeremy said. He gestured to the carton of
eggs. “But don’t let that stop you from making something for yourself.”

Stone nodded, pulling out a frying pan and cracking some
eggs into it. He felt completely on edge now that Jeremy had brought up Evan. He
put some bread in the toaster, making sure that he made more than enough, and
then poured two cups of orange juice. The entire time he could feel Jeremy’s
eyes on him.

“You’re making her breakfast,” Jeremy stated.

Stone couldn’t read into it, and he didn’t care to. He
simply shrugged, setting the eggs and toast at the table, as well as the orange
juice. “She is staying in my house. She needs to eat. There’s plenty here for
you, too.”