I walked to the pump and started filling the pot. Mary seemed to read my mind because she went to the fire and added wood. Once I had the pot hung over the flames, I went to the door and opened it.
A cool breeze swept through the room. Outside, birds sang. I stepped into the light, closed my eyes, and sighed. The clearing was empty but the woods beyond was not. Their wills tickled my senses. The men waited and probably watched. It didn’t dim my enjoyment of the moment. I soaked up the sun, tilting my head only slightly, just enough to show my stitches. After a few moments, I walked back inside, determined to make use of my time.
Two hours saw Mary and I both bathed in tepid water and our dirty clothes washed. As we stood outside, hanging our clothes on the line someone had setup for us, I sensed the restless wills of those near. I excused myself, and Mary was quick to follow me.
I’d barely made it to the other end of the common room when someone knocked on the door. Before I could take another step, the door swung open and Thomas strode in.
“Enough,” he said, his gaze immediately falling on me.
“Excuse me?”
“You made a big speech about showing you kindness and consideration, then you run off and hide. Where’s your consideration for us?”
My mouth dropped open. I barely registered that he stalked across the room. What I’d said was that it wasn’t a game. How did he get a speech from that? Why did he think I needed to show them consideration? After everything they’d put me through?
“By hiding in here, you’re denying us a chance to show you any kindness.”
“By leaving me alone to heal, you are showing me kindness.”
He stopped in front of me and slowly shook his head. His nearness worried me, and I shuffled back half a step. He scowled and followed.
“You are not allowed to hide in here like a frightened rabbit.”
I stopped and stared at him, too angry to speak for a moment. A rabbit?
I had every right to cower in here. Despite my stitches and still sore neck, almost every man out there had the same thought: Try again. They couldn’t even give me the week I’d asked for to let me rest. It wouldn’t have been a surprise if they all started stomping their way into the room insisting.
“Wait. Why are you in here?” I asked.
“To talk some sense into you.”
“No. I mean, why you? Why not Paul or Henry or one of the other men out there waiting to meet me? You’ve already met me, talked to me, and told me you’re interested in me. Why did they let you through the door without a fight?”
He cocked a humorless grin at me and leaned close. A finger of fear trailed down my spine, and I struggled to hold myself still. He hadn’t attacked me. He’d killed the man who had. But I knew he still wanted to bite me.
“Who says they didn’t fight me?” His exhale brushed my ear on the side that was still stitched up. I wanted to step back but didn’t want to prove his words about hiding in fear correct.
I’m not defenseless, I reminded myself.
He didn’t immediately pull away. Instead, he stepped closer, set his hands on my shoulders, and breathed deeply. I trembled.
“Charlene,” he said softly, “let me protect you.”
I turned my head slightly to meet his gaze, our faces inches apart. The twist pulled at my healing skin.
“How? By letting you bite me? That’s not protection. If you wanted to protect me, you’d promise never to bite me or let anyone else try.”
He scowled, and I could feel his frustration and anger. His fingers on my shoulders twitched, and I held my breath. Without meaning for it to happen, my will solidified again. I held it ready.
After another moment, he straightened away and let his hands drop. With relief, I dropped the hold on my will as he gave his attention to Mary, who hesitated by the exterior door.
“Gregory misses you,” he said to her. “He didn’t realize he wouldn’t be able to spend time with you when he agreed to a postpone Claiming.”
Mary flushed, and I grew angry. He was only trying to manipulate the situation to get me to return to my old routine...if you could call it a routine. But how dare he make Mary feel guilty.
“Gregory is welcomed in here any time,” I said, staring at the back of Thomas’ head. “Just as Paul and Henry are. In fact, any of you who are not interested in biting me are welcome.”
He turned to eye me.
“And I’ll know when someone’s lying,” I said, crossing my arms stubbornly as I’d seen him do so many times.
He slowly bent his head in acknowledgement. Then, he turned and left.
A moment after Mary closed the door behind him, someone else knocked on the door. She arched a brow at me, and I nodded.