Mary and the Bear

Chapter Fourteen

Shannon rolled over sleepily and stretched. What she wanted was another hour or two of sleep, but one look at the clock assured her that she wouldn't get it, at least not today. She rolled out of bed on legs that wobbled before getting her equilibrium. Then she made her way into the bathroom, her mouth stretching in a yawn as she went.

There was a strange taste in her mouth. It was probably from the medicine, but it tasted like blood. She wondered if she bit the inside of her mouth while she slept. As for the medicine, it worked wonders. This was the most rested she'd felt in weeks, even her legs were relaxed. She'd really slept hard last night. Usually she woke several times during the night startled, her wolf agitated. It hadn't happened last night, for which she was grateful. She didn't intend to make the pills a habit, but it was nice knowing she had them to fall back on whenever necessary.

The delivery truck should be here in about an hour. There was enough time to cook breakfast. As she headed into the kitchen, she heard a familiar vehicle in the drive. What did he want? She opened the door and stepped onto the porch. Her brother Rory stepped out of the blue, crew cab truck he used for business.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?” She was a little wary, considering all the unfinished business between them.

He walked up to the porch like he owned the place, sliding his shades on top of his curly red head. Those curls should have looked feminine but there was nothing remotely feminine about him. He was a big, burly fellow, if a little on the short side. He stood only five-nine, but he loomed much larger, his power emanating from him like an aura.

He nailed her with a hard look. “If you're needing help, why didn't you call me? I'm still your brother, aren't I?"

Oh, hell. Kyle blabbed. “I take it you ran into Kyle?"

"You could say that, but you'd be wrong. Man called, wanting to know why my sister had to hire help when her brother owned a construction company. Same thing I'm wanting to know. Is there any reason why you didn't call me?"

Hell, he was pissed. His accent was showing. Come on, Shannon. Think fast. You do not want him knowing what's really going on with you. He'd find a way to use it against you. “This is Raven Pack business. It doesn't concern the Alpha of the Sparrowhawk clan.” Maybe that would cause him to back off.

"As long as it affects my baby sister, it affects me. I'm here, not as the Alpha but as your big brother. I ask you again, why didn't you come to me if you needed help?"

Because I didn't know if I could trust you. She thought it, but didn't say it. Despite their differences, he was blood, and she'd never do or say anything to deliberately hurt him. In the heat of an argument? That was different. They both tended to be a little loose with the lips when angry. But to deliberately say words that she knew would cut, that she couldn't do. So now she had to find a reason to give him that wasn't a lie, yet not the full truth. He would smell a lie. It had to be something he would believe.

As much as she loved her brother, this was one thing she couldn't tell him. There was no telling what he would do, what levels he would sink to ‘for her good.’ They already disagreed and fought over what was good for her. She wasn't giving him ammunition to use against her.

"I'm building a safe room for the Alpha. The Raven Pack doesn't have one and one will be needed soon. The Alpha's mate is human and hasn't gone through her first Change yet, and the Beta just had a cub. A place will be needed for his first time as well. Since I'm living here rent free, I volunteered to create one for the Pack."

What she said was true to a point. Every Pack has a safe house or a safe room. It was a place where new shifters went for their first couple of Changes until they learned to control their beast. It could also be used by the Alpha as a holding cell for Pack members who got out of line until an appropriate disciplinary action could be determined.

She just hoped he didn't remember that she'd never like the idea of safe rooms. She thought they were nicely decorated jail cells. Not allowing any hint of weakness to show, she silently dared him to disagree with her.

"Then it's a good thing I brought my tools. I'll assume you made all the necessary measurements and you ordered everything that we'll need?"

He was letting it go. Just like that. Either she was getting better at lying or, for whatever twisted reason his mind had concocted, he was letting her get away with it. At least for now. “Yes, I took measurements. The supplies should be arriving in about an hour. Since you're here, and you don't appear to be leaving anytime soon, come on in. I was just about to cook breakfast."

"Sounds like I arrived just in time.” He followed her back to the kitchen and helped her to cook. They fell into a routine born over many years of doing the same. There was a strange kind of comfort in it, knowing that no matter what else about their relationship had changed, this remained the same.

As they ate, they spoke of mundane things. Rory updated her on the happenings within the pack since she'd been gone. They hadn't found anyone to replace her, and before she realized it, she was agreeing to continue keeping the books for his business and for the pack, just as she had before. “I won't come to Sparta. You'll have to bring the books to me."

"That's fine. Whatever paperwork we have that can't be transmitted electronically will be hand delivered or mailed."

His ready agreement made her instantly suspicious.

"Show me the room.” They'd eaten and the dishes were washed and put away.

"Actually, it's the basement. I think it's perfect for what we've planned."

"I'll let you know how perfect it is after I've seen it.” He followed her to the door off of the kitchen that led below. “What are you going to do about this door?"

"I ordered a steel reinforced one to replace it. I actually purchased two. I plan to put one here, and the other one will be installed at the bottom of the stairs."

She opened the door and led the way down. “Right now this is open, but I intend to close in this stairway and put the second door right here for extra security."

"So if someone gets past the first door, they still have to get past the second one."

"Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking."

He walked around the basement, looking around. “There's a bathroom down here. That's good. It looks like someone started remodeling this area and then stopped midway. The walls need finishing. What about these windows?"

"They're relatively small. I bought some steel netting to cover the windows. I don't think they are big enough for anything to get through, but you never know."

"The netting won't keep anything in unless you spray it with silver. It's not sturdy enough. A shifter's claws will go right through it. You need to install bars on the outside."

"Wouldn't anything trying to get in simply pull the bars off of the window?” She silently cursed herself. She'd told him they were trying to keep something from getting out. If that were the case, she shouldn't be worried about something getting in.

He gave her a look that spoke volumes, but didn't comment on her slip. “We'll put the netting on first, then put the bars over the netting. We'll spray both down with silver paint. The smell of the silver alone should be enough to deter any shifter from using the window as a means of getting out, or in. By putting everything on the outside, you'll still be able to open the windows. You don't want to cut off your air supply."

Grateful yet worried that he hadn't commented on her slip of the tongue, she gave the windows another look. She hadn't thought about the window as a source of fresh air. She was more concerned about security risk they posed.

"Have you located the breaker box?"

"Yes, it's over by the washer and dryer. The shut off valve for the water is down here, too, along with the furnace."

"Good. This would be a good location to put a panic room. It can also work as a safe room but it will function better at keeping people out."

She looked at him sharply. He stared at her knowingly. She neither confirmed nor denied his suspicion and he didn't push the issue. He knew what she doing, just not why she was doing it.

His sharp ears picked up the sound of an approaching vehicle. “Your supplies are here."

"I hear them. Did Kyle say if he was still coming?"

"Yes, he'll be here. I changed the time of his arrival. When he gets here, he'll be working for me. I've already set up payment arrangements."

Shannon didn't bother arguing. This was one of the reasons she and Rory usually fought. He was manipulative, controlling and domineering. It wasn't just the alpha in him; it was his nature. He had to be in charge, things had to go his way and he was always right. Add to that a quick temper and it was a wonder they didn't fight more often than they did.

Kyle showed up just in time to help with the truck. They unloaded it, piling everything in the basement for easy access. Under Rory's direction, they removed the basement door and framed the stairway first. Once that was finished, Rory and Kyle dry walled the interior wall, a tedious and time consuming process due to all the varying levels. When that was done, they broke for lunch, which Shannon prepared.

After lunch, Shannon prepped the wall for painting while the guys installed the first steel door. Rory worked like a man possessed. By the time he left late that night, both doors were installed, the walls had dry wall on them, and the windows were secured. He was coming back to install motion sensors and a video camera that could be controlled from the basement. By the time her brother was finished, the basement would be tougher to get into than Fort Knox.

Mary Elizabeth kept Hugh company while he worked. She didn't offer to help and he didn't ask. She would have only been in the way. The man had his routine down to a science. He was quick and competent. It was evident that he'd done this hundreds, if not thousands of times.

The man was a master at multi-tasking. He kept up with the food, kept track of the diners and servers all while maintaining a steady stream of conversation with her. He didn't say much about himself, preferring instead to talk about her. He asked so many questions, she felt like she was being interviewed.

He wanted to know everything. He asked about her childhood, her relationship with her parents, and her sister. He asked about previous relationships, her years at college and everything and anything between. His questions were insightful, forcing her to think hard and reach deep for answers. It was easy to be open with him, revealing things about herself that she'd never spoken to another soul. It helped that although she knew his mind was completely focused on what she was saying, his eyes were focused on what he was doing. It gave her a feeling of anonymity; the illusive safety of shared confessions in the dark. She stayed talking with him through lunch and into dinner, which he served to her personally.

Her cakes were a big hit. They received so much praise that she let Hugh talk her into making at least one dessert of her choice for each Sunday. Hugh made sure everyone knew who baked the delicious lemon cake on the menu. Even though she was uncomfortable with all of the attentions, there was a dry place in her soul that soaked it up, knowing she'd pleased so many people.

Around six she excused herself and returned home to prepare for tomorrow. She was ready to return to work, excited even. She was in a new town, a new facility, and her co-workers would all be new. She would be the one selecting the majority of them. Hiring employees to man the store was one of her new responsibilities as General Manager. There was merchandise to select for the new store and who knew what else needed to be done. The next few months would be challenging and she was looking forward to it.

Feeling a little stiff, she pulled out her yoga tape and exercised. Then she took another long soak in the tub, locked up, and turned in for the night.