Undauntable

Cut ties

“I need a ride to Williams Lake.”

Calix fell backwards onto his bed, jostling the phone, “What do I get out of it?”

His lips pulled into a smirk as his deep, brown eyes stared impatiently.

“You get to say you are my very best friend. Come on. Don’t make me beg,” I groaned, knowing damn well I would.

Calix was the only one who knew I'd gotten the letter, and telling him was a word vomit moment. But I couldn't risk asking Brielle or Brody. Grant would beg me to stay. Summer would tell me that I was making a mistake leaving. And Wes was no longer an option.

But I've spent too long following the paths that were paved for me. If I was going to do this, I needed to do it on my own.

Or mostly on my own... Outside of a ride. But I'm going to choose not to count that.

I figured out that the numbers on the second letter were latitude and longitude for a location about two hours north of here. I could shift and run, but I didn’t want anyone to suspect anything. If I claimed that Calix and I were going on a trip, Brielle would keep her mouth shut and Brody wouldn’t question me.

I don't need Brielle poking her nose in my business. She'd probably officially have me taken away for mental evaluation if she knew of my plans.

“Hmmm. I think I’d like to hear you beg, horn-dog,” Calix snorted, making me wish I was there to punch him in the throat.

Propping the phone up on my nightstand, I rested on my hands and knees, figuring I could have a little fun with my “begging”, “Calix,” I tilted my head before leaning back and pulling the ponytail from my hair and running my fingers through the strands, “Would you pretty,” I got back down on all fours, crawling towards the phone, “Pretty please drive me to Williams Lake?”

I slid my tongue slowly along my bottom lip, moistening it before pouting and fluttering my lashes.

“Goddamn, B. What the f**k was that?” Calix groaned, repositioning the phone as he sat up, “You’re going to give me blue balls over here.”

Fluttering my eyelashes some more, I smiled, “So that’s a yes?”

“Yes.. Yes,” he groaned, “Not cool though. I’m going to send you an unsolicited d**k jerking video for that.”

I fell back onto my bed laughing, “Please don’t. I’d rather not have to burn the top layer of my corneas tonight.”

“You’re a heartless woman,” he placed his hand over his chest, flashing me a megawatt smile.

“Thanks for being my ride or die,” I held my fist up, bumping the camera and he did the same, “Always, B. You know I’m here. You owe me a chat tomorrow, though. I’ve seen Wes, and the poor thing is waddling around here like a lost puppy.”

“Do we have to?”

“You know we do. You rejected him and left. Not a goodbye. Not a text. Nothing until today. You’re lucky I love you,” he scolded. Guilt hit me like a freight train. Not only did I abandon Wes and my position as the lead warrior; I’d abandoned my best friend.

“I’m sorry.”

He held a hand up, “Wait a minute. I need to get Cade in here to record you saying that.”

“Love you. See you tomorrow. THANKS.”

I hit the end call button before he could say another word, tossing my phone to the end of the bed. I heard a text come through, no doubt from Calix, but I ignored it.

Brody knocked on the wall outside of my door before walking inside carrying a single sock. He outstretched the sock to me like an offering, saying nothing.

I glanced around the room, waiting a beat before grabbing the sock from his palm and holding it up pinched between two fingers.

“Master has given Dobby a sock. You are a free elf now,” Brody made his voice sound as high pitched as he could, but it sounded like he’d been punched in the gut and was wheezing.

“Are you serious?”

He motioned his arms towards the door, “Free elves don’t remain in their rooms for five days straight. Join us for dinner tonight.”

“Only if you say that again but try harder with the voice.”

Brody repeated the line, making me burst out in a snort-filled laughter, “Okay, you earned my presence at dinner.”

“Be free my elf,” he grabbed my arms, pulling me off the bed and basically pushing me out the room.

The house smelled delicious, and my stomach growled audibly as I made it to the kitchen.

Brielle had her hair tied in a bun and was wearing pajamas. She looked stressed, “Do you need help with anything?”

“You’re alive,” she quipped back with a glare, “Sure, I need onions cut for the tacos,” she muttered, grabbing the stuff and sliding it across the counter angrily.

An awkward silence settled between us as I chopped, and she moved around me. Brody was busy keeping the pups entertained.

After what felt like forever, I heard her spoon clatter against the countertop. She turned around, pinning me with her gaze, “Why’d you do it?”

I placed the knife down, turning to lean against the counter. When I met her eyes, they were wild and wide. If she wanted to do this right now, we would.

“I can’t give Wes a family. No matter how hard I try; I can’t f*****g make him happy,” I shook my head, "I couldn't do it anymore."

She shook her head, “You obviously don’t understand how much he loves you. YOU,” Brielle threw her hands up in the air.

“No, I’m aware how much he loves me,” I raised my voice, “I’m also aware how much I love him. But sometimes love isn’t enough.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it,” she growled, "Love is always enough."

“You have no idea,” I gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to scream, “I loved him enough to let him go!”

“You took the easy way out,” she growled. Her words sliced me to the core. Nothing about what I’d done was easy. Not a damn thing.

“You have to be joking,” I stalked closer to her, “I walked away for Wes.”

“You walked away because you are selfish,” she screamed, and I’d slapped her across the face. Her head whipped to the side, where she hesitated before turning to hold my angry gaze.

“Mommy,” Theo’s tiny voice quivered from the other side of the island.

My eyes widened in horror as I realized he’d just seen me slap her.

Without another word, I headed upstairs to pack my bags. I’d overstayed my welcome, and if I have any say in it, Brielle will be someone of my past life.

I needed to cut ties with everything.

As I jogged down the steps, I heard Brielle consoling a crying Theo. My eyes met Brody’s as I headed for the front door. He looked like he understood.

It’s sad that he can see where my heart is more than my own sister.

Hesitating by the front door, I gave him a final middle finger salute before running.