Page 4 of Axes & Nos
“Seriously Dax, what did you do? Don’t walk away from me, I’m talking to you.” Oh, he sounded mad, better get inside with the humans where it’s safe. He would behave himself around humans, because we wouldn’t want them to know we were something different, something other, something extra. Imagine having an apex predator inside you and running toward humans to keep you safe from your brother who is also an apex predator. Yep, Chase was right, I’m a loser.
You are a loser. How did I get stuck with you for my human side? I could have had someone way cooler, but no I got stuck with you.Of course you would put your two cents in now. If I’m a loser you’re a loser, you’re literally a part of me dipshit. If anyone should be upset about being stuck with anyone it should be me being stuck with you. You are the absolute worst, I give you zero stars, do not recommend, that’s how big of an asshole you are.
I can hear Chase’s boots fast approaching me from behind. If the humans weren’t around, he would already be next to me, probably slapping me in the back of my head. I bet he’s pissed he can’t use his shifter speed to reach me. Ha! I should feel a little guilty for taunting him, I really should, but for some reason I can’t find it in me to feel an ounce of guilt. Right as I reach the door, I turn to face him, giving him a megawatt smile, one slightly less smug.
“You’re being a bit paranoid big brother; I have done exactly zero things that will piss you off.” I watch his eyes narrow, searching my face for a lie. Ha, jokes on him, I told zero lies.
“Whatever you’re hiding from me I will find out. You are the worst at keeping a secret.” This time Chase gave him a smug smile as he passed through the door in front of me. Oh, ye of little faith big brother, oh ye of little faith. If he only knew about all the times, I secretly helped him behind his back. He would totally make me second in the ambush, not that it is even a thing, but it’s the thought that counts.
Chapter Two
Myra
“Yes, I’m pulling in right now. No, I don’t need your help unpacking my apartment. I’ll work on it tomorrow after we get the office set up.” I try to reassure my boss, aka my best friend in the whole fucking universe Alia that I have everything under control. She’s been a nervous wreck since she agreed to Mr. Anderson’s job offer. It was my job to make sure everything went smoothly during her transition.
“I know. I know you are capable. You’re the most capable person I know. I bet every single box is organized, wrapped perfectly, and labeled to an inch of its life.” Alia chuckled knowingly over the phone, and I blushed with embarrassment. She wasn’t trying to say it like it was a bad thing, she just knew me well enough to know my habits.
“You know me so well. See, I’ll have it unloaded and unpacked faster than you can say lawsuit.” I laugh back at her in return. Alia’s the only person who has ever truly understood my almost manic need to organize. It’s why we work so well together, Alia is zero percent organized and I’m one thousand percent organized. We are the perfect friendship; a match made in organization heaven.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to see if Chase or Dax can come help unload at least? I hate to think of you all aloneunloading a trailer by yourself.” Concern laced Alia’s voice, and I felt a little guilty for causing her stress over nothing.
“Trailer? How much stuff do you think I own? Girl, I have my truck packed down with boxes and it isn’t even full. I didn’t even bring a bed with me. It will take me all of twenty to thirty minutes to unload. There is no reason for you to send those boys over here for some boxes. They’ve been lumberjacking all week long, so let them have a night off. We’re already going to work them hard tomorrow setting up the office.” It’s not that I don’t appreciate her offer for help, but since Steven’s betrayal I’ve preferred to do things for myself.
“Woman, what do you mean you don’t have a bed!? Why didn’t you tell me you didn’t have a bed?” Alia screeches into the phone, causing me to flinch. I can hear muffled voices talking through the phone. Alia must be telling Chase I don’t have a bed. Who knew telling someone you didn’t pack a bed would upset them so much.
“Calm down woman, I have a bed, it’s just a blow-up air mattress. It’s temporary until I can find a new bed frame and buy myself a new mattress. Mine wouldn’t have survived the trip, it was falling apart. It was made out of that fake wood stuff, the kind you get in a box kit to put together. I’m pretty sure when I put it together, I messed up the alignment because it was always slightly crooked and dipped in one corner.” I finish my rambling to the sound of Alia giggling over the phone. Great, now my best friend in the universe is laughing at me.
“Okay, okay. Myra the badass independent woman has it under control. I’ll mind my business.” Alia declares in surrender, the laughter in her voice still evident.
“You’re bumped down from best friend in the universe to best friend in Texas for laughing at me. I should be laughing at you for having a meltdown because I told you I didn’t bring a bed. It’s a bed, it’s not like I didn’t bring underwear or brasor will be walking around town naked because I didn’t bring clothes. I’m a big girl and I can sleep on the floor if I want to.” I groan a little, realizing I just gave her a shit ton of ammo to use against me later.
“I am still your best friend in the universe. There is no downgrading me, ever. And just so we are clear, if anyone tries to steal my title I will fight them for it in mud with a bikini.” I hear some whistling and hooting somewhere in the background, then I hear Chase’s voice come over the phone.
“Please find a new best friend so I can watch this mud wrestling match. You would make me the happiest man alive if you made this happen. Ow!” I try to contain my giggle as I listen to Chase and Alia fight over the phone before Alia comes back over the line.
“Don’t listen to him, he’s ridiculous. He would say anything to get me in a bikini mud wrestling. Okay, anything just to get me in a bikini the mud wrestling is just an extra bonus. I will forever be your best friend in the whole universe, there is no replacing me, end of story. No more talk of downgrading me to your best friend in Texas. Is that understood?” Alia gave a little growl, sounding like she was an animal. Now the giggles were coming and there was no stopping them.
“Okay. Okay. You win, no one else could ever replace you.” I reassure her just as I’m reaching my new home. It’s a cute little grandma looking cabin. It’s painted pale yellow with robin's egg blue shutters and flower boxes under the windows. There was a steppingstone path leading to the front door and small flower gardens on each side of the concrete porch. It sits on a few acres of woods surrounding it, giving me the feeling of being in my own little world. I release a sigh of contentment just looking at it. Alia interrupts my peaceful moment with her voice over the car speaker.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” She asks in a panicked voice.
“I’m fine, I just pulled up to my rental, and it shocked me with how freaking cute it is. The pictures you sent did not do it justice. It’s like something out of some fairytale storybook. I half expect there to be a grey-haired woman inside rocking in a rocking chair knitting a blanket or gloves or something. Alia, it's perfect!” I haven’t even gone inside, and it already feels like home to me. Chills ripple up my arms with this feeling of such rightness it’s scary.
“I knew you would love it! I’ll let you go so you can unload and get settled. Just promise me if you need help you will call me back.” Are those tears I feel building in the corners of my eyes? Nope. We do not cry, that is not something I allow anymore. Even these happy tears are not welcome. Tears are for the weak, I’m never going to be weak again. Sucking in a breath I get myself under control before responding. If Alia hears tears in my voice, she will haul her ass right to my front door.
“I will see you first thing tomorrow morning, bright and early. Don’t let those boys move anything until I’m there. I already have a plan of action for unloading all the office stuff and where it should go based on the pictures you sent me of the layout. I don’t want them putting something in the wrong spot.” Alia laughed but agreed before we said our goodbyes and hung up.
Taking a fortifying breath, I opened my door and got out of my truck. I patted Betty’s door like always as a thank you for not breaking down on our ride. She wasn’t some new ride with all the bells and whistles; no she was full of dents and dings. If you didn’t treat her like a dirty slut when you drove her, she wouldn’t cooperate. I had to put her in gear just right, turn the wheel just right, pump the gas and clutch just right or she wouldn’t even start. Which is probably why no one has been able to steal her yet.
Betty was the first purchase I made after kicking Steven out. The only thing he brought into our relationship was his pristine BMW that his parents bought him for graduation. When he left of course the car went with him, so I had to find a ride to get around with. Plus side, I didn’t have to pay the astronomical insurance on the BMW anymore, minus side I had to find something cheap quickly. The moment I saw Betty sitting in the driveway of the lady who was selling her I knew she was it. I can still remember the ad the lady placed:
1980 Chevy Silverado C-10, single cab, pretty dinged up body, fading green and white paint, for sale. Needs lots of work but runs. No AC, clean title. $2000.00 cash.
Betty had been a project car for the lady’s husband, but they had a new baby on the way and didn’t have the time or money to spend on it anymore. While I was slightly sad for the husband, I was thrilled for myself. The truck needed work, but she was beautiful in my eyes. All of her dings only added to her character.
The lack of AC was the only thing I fixed right away, because Texas heat plus chubby girl equals no thank you. I’d put some work into her over the years, most of it myself, because mechanics are expensive, and a lady should know how to work on her own vehicle. At least that’s what my granddad used to say when I was little. Maybe if he and my grandmother had lived longer, he would have taught me how to work on vehicles. Hell, maybe if they both had lived longer, I would have been taught all kinds of things. After Granddad passed right before I started high schoolmy grandmother did the best she could. They were both in their seventies when I was thrust on them at six. I was lucky enough to have her until a month after I graduated high school.
Just thinking about losing them makes my heart hurt and I rub the place where it rests to try and ease the ache. I’m the lone survivor of the Banks family, all that’s left to carry on theirlegacy. I don’t even know what their legacy was for me to carry it on. I had six short years with my mother before I went to live with my grandparents. Even after we lost Granddad, Grams held on until I finished high school before she left me all alone in this world with no one to turn to. Steven found me a few months after she passed and look how that turned out. Fucker used me and took every penny of my heritance. Taking a fortifying breath, I stomp my foot determined not to dwell on the negatives in my life and bask in the beauty of my new home instead.