Pieces of Three (11 page)

“Well, you can bring them here and I’ll gather them up.” She took the other three out of his hand.

Fine, the exchange didn’t go quite as he planned. “Alyssa.”

She dug her heels into the soft earth at the edge of the lake and pushed away from him. “I’m not going in the water.”

“I need for you to go in the water, I can’t have you get back on the ship without knowing how to swim.” He slid near her and took her hand, pressing it to his lips. “Please let Porter and I show you, and then after we will take you over to that waterfall. Behind it there is a little hidden spot.”

She turned away and put her hand up to her mouth.

“I promise you that neither Porter or I will let anything happen to you.” He rubbed her back.

“Then why do I have to learn? If we’re going to be on the boat together and you won’t let anything happen to me, then I don’t need to learn.”

He and Porter had to end up with the smart female who would reason with him. Noah always told him he would need a female who challenged him on all levels. Still, her shaking vibrated through his palm.

“That is if you’re taking me with you.”

“What?” He took her shoulders and turned her around. Porter had nailed at least part of her issue. They never spoke of the future. No wonder she had been quiet and distant. “Look at me.”

Rather than meeting his eyes, she stared at his chest.

“Porter was just mentioning how we had to talk to you about our plans, he said females like that.” He shuddered at how he sounded.

“He did?”

“Yes, and of course I agreed.” He needed to remember who the Alpha was here and he hardened his voice to the one he used when he spoke in front of the Lyknonians. “We would never leave you and we would never allow you to be harmed, and part of that is teaching you how to swim. The fact you never learned when you live on Anthros is a travesty, a travesty for anyone who ever lived on an island.”

With wide eyes, she finally looked up at him.

“Now are you going to allow a body of water to take you down when you have two of the most powerful shifters in all of the archipelago literally willing to risk their lives for yours?” Only second to the power of transforming was the rush he received when he would rule and help those around him reach all their potential.

She pressed her lips together, but at last shook her head.

“Of course not.” He stood and helped her up.

Without a word, she got out of her clothes.

He bit the inside of his mouth and reminded himself to keep on the task at hand. Reward would be his soon enough.

“Let’s give this a go.” He took both her hands and backed into the water.

They inched their way into the lake. The water crept up to her calves, her knees then her thighs. Once waist high, she stopped. Not wanting to force her, he turned to Porter.

Porter joined them. “You’re doing wonderful.”

She shrugged.

“Now the most important thing to remember is that the water will always hold you up.” He took a couple more steps back until the water reached right under her breasts.

“Is that what they tell someone who is sinking?” She lowered her head as if studying the water.

“If you don’t panic, you can’t sink.” Porter stood beside her. “Turn to your back, I promise neither of us will let go of you.”

“Yes, why don’t we do that?” Julian tilted his head, catching Porter’s attention. “Alyssa let me know she was concerned about what would happen after we left the island. She honestly thought we might abandon her.” He raised his eyebrows and crouched down in the water.

“Well I hope you told her that nothing could be further from the truth.” Porter also got down on his knees and managed to turn Alyssa to her back. “We would never leave you. In fact we are going to be taking you back to Lykos with us.”

He supported Alyssa’s head while Porter took over the rest of her.

She squeezed her eyes shut, and the water rippled with her shaking. “I don’t think I’ll be very welcome on your island.” One sad tear escaped the corner of her eye.

He and Porter looked at each other.

“It doesn’t matter what they think. Once I tell them what you did to help us, and once I tell them that you are part of us, they will accept you because I will demand it.” He raised his voice and hit the water. “I am in charge!”

At his outburst, Alyssa bolted up, slipped and landed face first in the water.

They both scrambled to catch her but Porter ended up pulling her into his arms.

She clung to him, gasping and coughing.

“Shh.” Porter moved her hair away from her face. “Take a breath. You just swallowed a little water.”

She shook her head. “I can’t do this.”

“That is absolutely not true.” He came over and took her hand.

“Stop bossing everyone around. “ Porter pressed his palm to the back of her head. “You can call yourself a leader, but that doesn’t make you one.”

“I am the best suited to take over the position.” He ground his teeth together.

“So says you and the grand speeches you make.” Porter held her at arms length.

“At least I take action.”

“Instead of spouting off more words, Why don’t we concentrate on what’s really important.” Porter smiled at Alyssa and shot Julian a glare. “Well, if nothing else you know how fast we react. Why don’t we try again? This time without any outbursts.”

Though he longed to defy Porter and continue his talk, he stayed silent only because Alyssa nodded and allowed them to get her on her back again.

With nothing but the sound of the waterfall in the background, Alyssa floated. Her eyes remained closed, but rather than shaking, a calm seemed to take over her body.

“You are doing amazing,” he whispered.

“Did no one ever bother trying to teach you before?” Porter carefully moved his hand away from her legs.

“I fell off a pier when I was young. I thought I was going do die.” She swallowed. “I was so scared, so no one ever tried to show me again.”

“Well then I suppose you just had to wait for the two of us.” He chuckled though her story was far from humorous. Alyssa might not realize it but Porter had completely let go of her, and he was barely supporting her at all. “And there will be no dying any time soon.”

“That’s not true.” Her voice lowered. “It doesn’t matter anyway.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Porter returned his hands to her.

She didn’t respond.

“Alyssa.” Porter jutted his jaw out.

He held his breath waiting for her answer.

“It doesn’t matter because I’m going to die anyway.” She stood up. “No human has ever survived being with a Lykan.”

Porter opened his mouth but said nothing.

Someone could have kicked him in the chest. He inhaled and forced his words out. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“You know it’s true.” She reached out to both of them, putting one hand on Porter’s shoulder and the other on Julian’s chin. “I don’t regret it though, not one second. I would do it all over if I could.” Her eyes turned red and she took a moment to look at each of them before turning and walking back to the shore.

The sick nausea taking over his body was worse than the sickness caused by the injection the humans shot into him. “That’s not true, is it?” He turned to Porter. “We didn’t kill her.”

Porter swam away.

“We didn’t kill her.” He hit the water. The waterfall they wouldn’t be swimming behind tonight still roared in the background. “We didn’t.”

* * * *

“Do you need any help?” Porter stood behind Julian and crossed his arms.

“No.” Julian continued to work on the ship. In fact, he hadn’t stopped working on the ship since that morning.

After Alyssa’s revelation the night before, they all made their way back to their little camp. They didn’t speak much, but all got in bed and actually slept.

“Julian.” He stepped forward.

“We didn’t kill her.” Julian threw down the piece of wood he attempted to use to patch up the deck and stood. “That is insane you know that. It’s all the rhetoric drummed up by humans and the other members of the so-called Okeanos Federation to alienate the Lykans because they were terrified of us, and I’m going to tell her that.”

Porter held his hand up. “Maybe–”

“Don’t you ever tell me what to do. I tell you what to do.” Julian swiped his hand away, stomped across the ship and into the galley.

Porter ran after him.

Alyssa stood at the small countertop with some fruit and other rations to cobble together a meal. The moment they entered, she turned.

Julian rushed toward her and grabbed her shoulders. “Listen to me.”

“What?” She stared up at him. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing!” Julian squeezed her tighter. “Nothing is wrong, and nothing will be wrong, because all that garbage they filled your head with is one hundred percent not true, brought to you by slimy politicians to bring about change.”

“Sort of like what you do.” Porter joined them.

“Don’t you start with me, you’re in medicine. I demand you tell her!” Julian shook her.

Alyssa let out a little cry, and her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath.

“Julian!” He pried Julian off her.

“Tell her!”

“Take a breath.” He pulled Alyssa to him. Frustration, lack of mating during the height of the cycle, and being stuck on an island had all caused Julian’s outburst.

She hid her face in his chest.

Julian turned away and pounded his fist into the counter.

“How about we all calm down and Alyssa and I will take a walk, forage for something better than this food, and have a talk?” Whether or not Julian allowed them to go alone would tell him everything he needed to know and he would act accordingly. After all, he always ended up consoling Julian’s pets once they got too hard to take care of. It was almost as if Julian couldn’t deal with the loss, instead that was his specialty.

“Maybe that’s a good idea.” Julian pushed himself up and went to her. “Forgive me.”

She pushed back from him and smiled. “Always.”

Julian bent down and gave her a light peck. “By the time you get back, we will have a deck fit for walking on.”

She pressed her palm to his cheek and nodded, almost as if she sensed their time was coming to a close. “See you in a little bit.”

Julian nodded and returned to his work.

He found a large bowl for collecting whatever they found, took her hand and led her off the ship. “Well, I definitely got the better end of this deal.”

Without talking they walked through the trees, she held the bowl while he filled it up. She didn’t even smile when he picked the infamous pink fruit. They needed to speak. While part of him wanted to go off like Julian, he had to keep himself composed. “You know, I have always loved science.” He stopped and looked up at one of the trees wondering how long it stood there without being disturbed until they came along.

Alyssa didn’t respond.

“I always loved it because it made sense and followed rules, and I could rely on it.” He reached up and chose another piece of fruit. “I grew up with a lot of strife and infighting with the different packs.”

“I wondered about that.” She gazed up at him.

“How so?” He added his latest choice to the bowl and stared at her.

“All my life everything on my island was so planned and pristine, there were so many rules to keep everyone in line, safe and perfect, I think I wanted to be an Ambassador just to see something happen, see some strife and infighting and maybe help.” A smile took over her face. “You know what?”

He shook his head and brushed the hair back from her face. She truly was a natural beauty. The few days away from Anthros put natural color in her cheeks, gave her a glow. There was no way she was sick, no way they made her sick, no way their time together could be a death sentence. Anyone with eyes could see how she thrived. “What?”

“You and Julian, you gave me that. You gave me everything, the excitement and the drama, and seeing a world not pristine.” She turned up to the sky. “That’s why I always just made snap decisions, maybe I just wanted something to happen. The two of you gave me my dream in so many ways.”

“Alyssa.” He reached out for her.

“No.” She held up her hand. “Listen to me. I want you to promise me something.”

“You’re not dying. You’re not going to die.” The pleas simply left his mouth, no scientific backing or proof, only pure emotion. He swallowed and let the other side of his brain engage. “You’re basing everything on a few cases from decades ago, we don’t even know what really went on.”

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to act like anything is different.” She tilted her head. Yes, she heard the words, but she didn’t believe them. How did one undo something engrained in one’s brain since they were old enough to understand? Hell, he didn’t know what he believed. Back on Lykos females were dying as they stood in this oasis. “I don’t want to be a burden, ever, and I want you to promise me that no matter what that you and Julian will do what you were meant to do.”

Up until Alyssa spoke, he always thought he was meant to be one of the healers for the Lykans. The one who would use his knowledge and technology to help others, but in a flash he knew what he was meant to do. “I want to show you something.” He grabbed her hand and practically dragged her away.

“Where are we going?” A piece of fruit fell out of the bowl and she stopped to pick it up.

“Leave it.” He continued on his trek, almost crazed to get her to where they needed to go.

“Porter?” She kept up with him but continued looking back.

He guided them around the lake to the waterfall. The water rushed down into the lake.

“I don’t want another swimming lesson.” She raised her voice to be heard over the water and squeezed his hand.

“No, look what I found.” He set the bowl by a tree and picked her up. “Trust me?”

She nodded but bit her lip.

“You may get a tiny bit wet, but no swimming, close your eyes.”

She obeyed and hid her face in his shoulder.

He made his way into a little alcove he found on his first exploration on the island. Located under and behind the waterfall, the pounding of water drowned out anything else a human could hear and also gave a peek to the back of the waterfall. Julian found the same location swimming the day before from the other direction. He tapped her.