Page 30 of Ash
ChapterTwenty-Three
Lainey
“You should talk to her.” Oz’s voice was low from the kitchen but I could hear his whispered words easily from my place on the sofa. Where I had flopped myself after my shower. And even with the mountain of blankets over me, I was still shivering with cold.
“I mean, you can explain it to her better than any of us.” He continued.
“Ash should be the one who explains it. It's not, what were your words all those months ago,” Laura's voice went all wistful, “We don't interfere in the love lives of others?”
Frowning, I cocked my head to the side to listen better. She knew, she knew what Ash was and she hadn't told me. If I’d had the energy to be mad I would have been but the adrenaline was leaving me and it was making me sleepy. Not sleepy as in I was going to fall asleep because my brain just wouldn't shut off. But sleepy as in my whole body was exhausted. Too tired to think, too overstimulated to sleep.
I was in a no-win situation.
“It will come better from you Laura,” Oz said quietly. “Ash is-” He trailed off and I knew he knew I was listening. Right on queue he appeared by my shoulder. “How are you doing Lainey? Do you need anything?”
Staring straight ahead at the muted tv, I took three deep even breaths. Oz was a good man, and he treated my friend with nothing but love but I couldn't be sure he was a man at all.
“Are you- a dragon?” I finally managed “Are you the same as Ash?” Even saying his name was painful. And I didn't know why. Why was I missing a man I barely knew? We had spent one night together and yet for that one night I had felt more connected to him than any other person ever.
“No.” Oz's voice cut through my thoughts. “Laura?” The sofa dipped as Laura sat down. Reaching for my hand she squeezed my fingers softly.
“Oz is a wolf.”
I shot the handsome soldier, a panicked look.
Laughing, Laura shook her head. “Not a dire wolf like the ones who took you. Regular wolf.”She shrugged. “Well regular wolf shifter. Not a dragon like Ash.”
Lapsing into silence I mulled over her words. Ash was a dragon, Oz was a wolf. Were they all monsters? I opened my mouth and closed it again with a snap.
“You can ask questions, Lainey,” Oz said softly. “Between the two of us, we should be able to answer them. It's not like you don't know about our kind now, hey?” He chuckled lightly.
“There's more of you?” I blurted out before I could stop myself. “Silly question of course there is.” Blowing out a breath through my mouth, I asked the next question on my mind. “Ace and King and Leo? They are all like you and Ash?”
Laura shot a look at her mate and it was clear she was asking his permission. He nodded his head with a shrug. “They won't mind her knowing.”
“Ace is a wolf like Oz, a different pack though originally and the twins are lions.”
“Lions.” I breathed out. Lions in Wales. It was absurd and yet not as absurd as a dragon living just outside our town. “Ok.”
“You're taking it really well. I'm impressed.” Oz perched on the arm of the chair. “I expected more hysterics.”
Craning my head I studied him. “Did Laura fall apart?”
“Well… no but.” his eyes darted away.
“You're one of them aren't you?” I turned to my best friend in shock. “One of the -shifters?”
“We don't know yet, that's why Leo brought in the detective who got the alphas to release you. He’s a dire wolf alpha so they have to do as he says.”
I stared at her hard.
“So yeah I don't know but I was raised by them”
“Groomed by them.” Oz interrupted with a growl.
“Groomed?” I closed my eyes. What they were implying was disgusting but it didn't surprise me. I remembered what they had said to me as well. Both this time and the last time. “Will Ash-” I flattered. “Will he kill them?”
Silence.
