Werewolf Rage Book #2 in the Taming The Wolf Series (21 page)

Ava closed her eyes and tried to control her breath and
her emotions. They’d done it. They’d made her lose it. She turned away, walking away from Cyrus for the last time and out the front door. She felt her father hurry after her and wanted to scream. “Look, I don’t want a ride from you after all. This little emotional drama has exhausted me. I’ll catch a ride from someone else,” she said and walked down the familiar steps and down to the sidewalk.

Harry kept pace with her, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“What are your plans Ava? What will you do from here on out?” he asked in a tight voice. “Who will take care of you and protect you?”

Ava looked at him in irritated confusion.
  “I’ll be taking of myself and protecting myself. It turns out I don’t need anyone to do that for me.  I’m more than capable.”

Harry didn’t say anything for a moment. “And money?”

Ava sighed in irritation. “There are no restrictions on my trust fund. I’ll be taking that and starting a new life somewhere. Tell Perry I said hi,” she said and crossed the street, leaving her father standing on the sidewalk by himself.

She hurried down the street, trying to put as much distance as she could between herself and her past.
She reached the pharmacy and frowned, wishing there had been time to see Patricia, but knowing that it was probably for the best. Just more sad memories. More painful connections.

She turned her head sharply as she saw the figure of a lone man leaning up against the brick wall of the pub in the early morning light.
She caught her breath and frowned.
Cole.
If she had to deal with one more emotional good bye she was going to shoot someone.

Cole raised a hand and stood up straight before walking toward her slowly, watching her.

“Cute skirt. You look so sweet,” he said with a grin.

Ava smiled in a carefree way that denied all the raw pain and emotion swimming around in her system. “That’s me.
Sweet,” she said with a sarcastic smile.

Cole
nodded, his eyes sad suddenly. “Perry called me and told me you were on the run again. Need a lift?”

Ava nodded her head in relief.
“Actually yes. I would love a ride,” she said and Cole motioned to a motorcycle. Ava raised her eyebrow and glanced down at her skirt.

Cole grinned.
“I promise I won’t look if you have to hike up your skirt,” he said, lying blatantly.

Ava ignored him
and hopped on the bike. Of course he didn’t have helmets. What werewolf believed they weren’t super human? Cole pushed the bike so fast it felt like she was flying. She even relaxed enough to lean against Cole’s large hard back and found herself enjoying the ride.

Hours later when Cole dropped her off at the small airport he stayed on the bike, watching her with a faint smile on his face.
“You know you’re almost there.”

Ava smiled in
polite confusion. “What?”

“You’re feeling again.
You’re not frozen in agony anymore. You’re on your way to healing,” Cole said, his clear green eyes looking very pleased at the discovery.

Ava shrugged and glanced over her shoulder at the airport doors, itching to be away.
“I hope you’re right.”

Cole narrowed his eyes at her.
“I’m going to come looking for you Ava. You still owe me a chance.”

Ava laughed and shook her head.
“I’ve paid my dues. I don’t owe anyone anything.”

Cole shook his head.
“Not so. I helped you save Cyrus. I did that for you. You owe me Beautiful and someday soon you’re going to pay up,” he promised.

Ava went perfectly still and glared at Cole.
“
Don’t Cole
. Don’t push this,” she said tightly, feeling her heart speed up.

Cole smiled and shook his head.
“I
can’t not
Ava. Dream of me,” he said and then rode away in a blur of sound and motion.

Ava blinked a few times, frowning before her face lightened.
Cole thought she’d be as easy to find this time as the last time. She laughed out loud and lifted her face to the sun. He’d give up eventually. She wouldn’t be found by him or anyone. She turned around and walked through the automatic doors and breathed in the smell of freedom. Now, to start living again.

              Ava walked out of the airport automatic doors and sniffed the fresh, wet air. It was so different than Canada or Seattle. It smelled old.  Ancient and wild.  She ignored the curious looks of the men and women rushing past her and took a moment to drink it in.  She pulled out a torn and wrinkled post card her cousin Yvonne had sent her months ago and sighed happily. It really was that beautiful. Today was her first day as Ava Thurman. She hoped Ireland was ready for her.

              Ava pushed a stray lock of her wavy dark blond hair out of her eyes and grinned at the little girl staring up at her so hopefully.

             
“I can’t do it Miss,” the seven year old declared, shaking her head with a frown.

             
Ava reached down and touched a strand of bright red hair and bent down to get on eye level. “Poppy, what if I tell you that I know you can?”

             
The little red headed girl bit her lip and looked at Ava searchingly before she leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “I’m not like the other girls. I can’t do this stuff,” she said miserably.

             
Ava glanced at her class and her two assistants putting the other girls through their drills. Poppy was definitely behind the others, but mostly from lack of confidence. “Ignore them. This is just you and me. Now, concentrate all your strength in your arms and your core. I want you to kick your legs up and I’ll steady you. But then I’m going to let go and I want you to hold it for five seconds on your own. Ready?”

             
Poppy took a deep breath and shrugged. “It won’t help,” she muttered under her breath.

             
Ava raised an eyebrow and then stepped back as Poppy glared at the mat they were standing on. She closed her eyes for a moment as if she were praying and then centered her hands and kicked her short, quivering pale legs up in the air.

             
Ava grasped her ankles in her hands and smiled as Poppy steadied herself. A few seconds later, Ava let go and watched the girl, counting silently in her mind. As she reached six, Poppy toppled to the side but when she bounced up, she had a huge grin on her face.

             
“That was five seconds!” she yelled, clapping her hands ecstatically.

             
Ava shook her head with a frown. “No Poppy, that was six!” she yelled and then picked up the little girl and hugged her quickly before setting her back down.

             
Poppy blushed, still grinning. “Maybe I can do this stuff,” she said wonderingly.

             
Ava laughed softly and patted her shoulder as she motioned Poppy to one of the groups. “Of course you can. Now, join your group and show me what else you can do,” she directed the girl.

             
Poppy skipped over to a group of five girls working on the balance beam and Ava moved to the next child with a disheartened scowl on her face. Forty- five minutes later her last session of the day was done and she blew her whistle.

             
“All right girls. Remember your daily exercises and I’ll see you tomorrow,” she called out as her assistants moved to the doors. Aideen and Caitlin were both college students and were only a year younger than her. Ava walked over and grabbed her water bottle as she smiled at parents and waved at her students as they left. She grinned as she watched Poppy pull on a tall red haired man’s arm while she jumped up and down.

             
Ava laughed happily to herself as she enjoyed the girl’s triumph almost as much as Poppy was enjoying it. Ava’s smile slipped though as Poppy began pulling the man over to her. She had her assistants help the girls leave just so she wouldn’t have to talk to all of the parents every time. It had been a year and a half since she’d last seen Paskell, but she still felt the effects of the withdrawals she went through when Cyrus had left her. Her aversion to men was a side effect she couldn’t seem to get rid of.

             
Ava watched silently as the tall man, holding Poppy’s hand in his walked toward her with a half-smile. Ava looked away quickly, surprised that she had been thinking how cute he was. Probably because he was most likely married and therefore safe. She cleared her throat and put on a professional smile as the man and his daughter reached her.

             
“Poppy says you helped her do a handstand today,” he said, raising a reddish brown eyebrow questioningly.

             
Ava’s smile became genuine as she grinned down at Poppy. “And she’d be right,” she said, reaching over and running her hand down the bright red hair one more time. “We’d be happy to show you,” she said looking at Poppy questioningly.

             
Poppy nodded her head quickly, excited to show her dad what she could do. “You won’t believe this Dad,” she promised and then moved back on the mat.

             
Ava joined her immediately and crouched down to talk to her softly. “Poppy, I think it’s time we showed off a little, since your dad’s here. Let’s go for seven seconds this time. But remember, focus all your strength in your arms and core. You can do this.”

             
Poppy stared at her with a determined frown and nodded her head. “I know.”             

             
Ava stood up, smiling as she stepped back. “Okay Poppy. When you’re ready,” she said and then watched breathlessly as Poppy centered her hands as she’d been taught and kicked her pale little legs high in the air. Ava grabbed her ankles gently and as she talked softly to the girl, slowly letting go and stepping back as she began counting in her head.

             
Poppy’s little arms were quivering but she was holding steady, three . . . four . . . five . . . six . . . seven . . . eight.

             
Ava grinned as Poppy’s legs fell to the side. Ava grabbed her and lifted her up. “You did it! You held it for eight seconds!” she yelled giving the girl a high five.

             
Poppy squealed in delight and skipped to her father who picked her up easily in his arms as he grinned at Ava.

             
“Well, it looks like you’re turning my daughter into a future Olympian.”

             
Ava looked at Poppy’s shining face and nodded. “I train winners. Poppy just happens to be my favorite though,” she said as Poppy’s eyes went wide with happiness.

             
“Can I get a drink before we go dad?” Poppy asked, wiping a little perspiration off her forehead.

             
The man nodded and the young girl ran off. Ava’s smile slipped as she realized that for the next minute or so, she was now alone with a man. She glanced around him and saw that her assistants had already left.

             
“So you’re a werewolf then?” the man said looking at her closely.

             
Ava’s only reaction was a widening of the eyes and a complete stillness. She stared more closely at the man and used her senses. With the men from Paskell, she could always sense their unleashed power. This man just felt like a regular man.

             
“And why would you say such a thing?” she asked softly staring at the man with narrowed eyes.

             
He grinned and crossed his arms over his chest as he looked down at his feet for a second. “I’m no idiot Luv. Besides, it takes one to know one.”

             
Ava looked at him doubtfully and his grin grew bigger. “Ah, you don’t believe me. Well, I heard there was a pale brown wolf making herself at home in our hills. I didn’t believe it until just now though. There’s a pack of us from this town and a few surrounding villages. We like to get together on Friday nights. We like to hunt together, but mostly it’s just an excuse to eat and get drunk. Join us next time. We meet up at O’Connell’s Bar in Ballybrit around seven. I can even pick you up,” he said, with a friendly gleam in his eye.

             
Ava raised an eyebrow and looked pointedly at his left hand that was shoved in his pocket. The man blinked in surprise and then blushed a little. He took out his hand and held it up for her inspection. “Single. Poppy’s ma took off with her man. So it’s just Poppy and me. She’s half-were. That might be why she struggles so much with her coordination and athletics.”

             
Ava smiled as Poppy walked back toward them. “I’m half too, but genetically I’m a werewolf. She might surprise you.”

             
Poppy walked up and put her hand confidently in her father’s and for some reason, seeing their hands clasped, made her heart hurt. She blinked the pain away and looked down at her feet as images of Harry Paskell, her own father swamped her. She took in a deep breath and raised her head, pulling her thoughts together.

             
“Thank you for the invitation. I can’t promise anything though,” she said hesitantly.

             
The man nodded his head and then tilted his head and looked at her quietly. “You’ll be welcomed. By the way, my name is Rory M’Guire. Just in case you were wondering,” he said with a wink.

             
Ava smiled and nodded. “It’s nice to meet you Rory and I’m Ava Thurman. Poppy, I’ll see you tomorrow then,” she said as Rory turned to walk away and Poppy waved happily at her.

             
Ava watched them walk out of her gym and felt a stirring of something. It almost felt as the elements of the earth were pushing at her. It gave her the feeling change was coming. She walked over to the large glass window looking out on the street and smiled softly at the ever present misty rain covering the streets and buildings. She loved Ireland but there were times she ached for the sun. It had been gray and misty for over two weeks now.

             
She walked around the studio and turned off all the lights and locked up. She grabbed her bike and began her 8.5 km ride back to her home. In miles it was about five and the perfect exercise for her after a day of teaching girls how to tumble. Her gym was in Galway but she preferred to live in Ballybrit. She loved the small town feel and the rolling green hills surrounding her small cottage. She’d gotten off the plane in Dublin a year and a half ago and had rented a car and driven across the whole country trying to find her stopping place. Driving through the little villages and towns surrounding Galway had convinced her this was where she needed to be. She’d soon found an empty studio to rent and before she knew it, she was the proud owner of Pinnacle Gymnastics. With a little advertising and a big investment from her trust fund, she was a business owner. And a happy one. She’d had to hire a solicitor to help her with all the red tape but within a few short months, she was overseeing six classes, ranging in ages and levels.

             
She stopped by the side of the old road and took a cap out of her back pack to slip on her head. If she didn’t, she’d be drenched and freezing. Spring time in Ireland was a wet, cold experience. She waved as a car flew past her and honked. She pushed harder on her bike, wanting to work her muscles to their limits. The more tired she was, the less time she had to think. And she’d been doing way too much of that lately.

             
She stood on her legs as she pumped up the hill, not breaking her tempo as she sped through the rain. She’d come to Ireland to heal and to leave her past behind her. She enjoyed her new life. These days she enjoyed life period. It was quiet and solitary, but that’s what she needed. After saving Cyrus from Braxton Mayhew she’d been able to close the book on the old Ava. The new Ava though, was someone she was still trying to figure out.

             
Before finding out she was a werewolf, life had been pretty uncomplicated. She’d spent her time with her friends and training with her gymnastics coach and being with her father. Ava closed her eyes as more thoughts of her father intruded into her mind. Harry Paskell was the best father she could have ever asked for. Kind, loving, understanding and strong. But she’d left him in the past with everything else. She shouldn’t feel so guilty about it. He had a new life now, a new son he’d named Finnegan but called Finn for short.

             
Ava grinned as she remembered the last few pictures Perry, her father’s new wife had emailed her last week. He’d been walking with his hands outstretched and a large grin on his face. His two bright white little teeth and his dimples were so cute it had made her want to catch the first plane to Canada.

             
But she’d sworn to never set foot in Paskell again. The town where she’d come so close to dying. Not once, but many times. And the place where she’d fallen in love with Cyrus Carlston.

             
Ava’s breath came in short gasps so she paused at the top of the hill and stepped to the side as she leaned over her handles. She’d been thinking so hard of her past she’d lost track of how fast she was going. She closed her eyes and lifted her face to the gentle rain and wished it would wash the pain out of her heart. She knew she was healing, but if that was the case why did it still hurt so much?

             
She opened her eyes and stared down at her new home and felt a comforting warmth wrap around her. She was safe here. Safe from hybrids. Safe from everyone. But not safe from feeling, it turned out. The more she healed, the more she was able to feel again. She still remembered the dark days after she had gone through her withdrawals and how dead she had felt inside. Those days were long gone. And like Cole had promised, she’d come back to life. Slowly, day by day, she’d found joy and purpose again. She’d found herself.