Page 32 of Bred By the Beast

“You think I’m a poacher,” Wilder said after the longest time, and this made her jerk her head up to look at him.

“I saw that room,” she said. She couldn’t help but look behind him, as if she could still see it now.

Wilder sighed. “It’s not what you think.”

“It looked like you tortured bears or something. How could you do something like that!” She felt sick.

After all, she had seen what those damn poachers had done to that bear, and Wilder even helped the cub.

“Is that what you do? Torture the parents, then put the kids into some kind of sanctuary and hunt them down when they’re set loose?” Poppy asked. “Is it a game to you?”

Wilder slammed his fists down on the table, startling her. “I have never, nor will I ever, murder another living being in my life. I know what humans do to bears, and to all kinds of beings just for the sheer sport of it. There are fucking wars because of it, so don’t ever compare me to poachers or humans. I have never given you any reason to question me. Not a single one.”

Poppy was shocked by his outburst. The passion in his voice took her breath away.

“That room is not what you think it is. I have never hurt, nor tortured an animal in all my life. Hunting and murder are two different things. The way you are today tells me you’re not ready to know what that room is about.” Wilder got to his feet, and he shocked her more by grabbing his jacket and storming out the door.

Only, he came back. “If you have absolutely no trust or belief in me, then fine, run off. Those poachers will kill you the moment they get the chance. Make a decision. Either trust me and have faith in me, or put yourself at the mercy of real monsters.” And with that, he slammed the door closed.

Poppy could only stare at the door, a frog in her throat and an overwhelming feeling of shame. In his eyes, she saw the anger, even a little hatred, and she felt that instant hit of guilt. She got to her feet and moved toward the door, only as she looked outside, there was no sign of Wilder. He was gone.

There was no way she could leave. The poachers were out there, and she looked toward the corridor where that room was, and she saw the key was still in the lock, but the door had been closed. Why hadn’t Wilder taken the key? Why was he so upset?

For weeks they’d shared everything, fell in love with each other, and then she pulled this stunt. No wonder he was pissed. She looked toward the fawn that was now sleeping. When Wilder had been shouting, the fawn had been alert.

Poppy looked around the kitchen, and she sighed. She had accused Wilder, but the state of that room made absolutely no sense to her. How could he not have been torturing animals? Yet, his outburst screamed of an innocent man with nothing to hide. Had he done bad things in the past and changed? She wasn’t ready to know what that room was? Did that mean Wilder was going to talk to her about it?

She dropped her head into her hands and felt like sobbing. This wasn’t good. She wished she could go back in time and not jump to conclusions. She looked around the kitchen, and it seemed so cold and empty. It was already dark outside.

Poppy didn’t know if Wilder was even going to come back, but if there was a chance, she was going to get a meal on the table as a peace offering.

In the fridge, were some meats labeled “stewing,” and another smaller pouch labeled “ground meat.” Wilder had an antique meat grinder bolted to the wooden counter. There was no time to stew any meat, as she wanted to make sure dinner was ready when Wilder got home. She grabbed the ground meat, then got to work on the vegetables. She was not the best cook in the world, but she did try her best.

Poppy chopped up some onion, carrot, celery, and got that started in the pot, along with the ground meat. Once that was stewing, she searched the cupboards for more essentials and found some canned beans and tomatoes. There were also some seasoning blends, and she grabbed them as well, and just let her hands do all the work. After all, her mouth had caused a great deal of trouble, and she didn’t want to upset Wilder.

With the meat bubbling on the stove, she peeled some potatoes and got them boiling as well. She found some sour cream and cheese, and got to work on grating the cheese. By the time the potatoes were boiled, she turned to see Wilder returning, and gone was the anger in his eyes. She felt instant relief that he was back safely. He also looked a little taken aback to see she was here cooking for him.

“Hi,” she said. “Dinner won’t be long. I’m just mashing the potatoes right now.” She offered him a smile and gave him her back.

She sensed that he didn’t move for the longest time, and she kept herself busy, serving him a large bowl, then serving herself some. Maybe next time, rather than jump to conclusions, she should just come into the kitchen to cook. That seemed the safest of all options.

Poppy put the filled bowl of food in front of him, along with a knife and fork. Wilder sat down at the kitchen table, and she joined him, sitting opposite, waiting expectantly.

At first, he didn’t eat. He just stared at her.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I saw that room and I jumped to conclusions and I shouldn’t have. I shouldn’t have run away, and those poachers, they think you can locate that bear.”

She was not going to hide from him. Wilder had saved her, already what felt like a dozen times since they’d met.

“I do know how to locate that bear,” Wilder said.

Poppy’s eyes went wide. “Those other men were killed, Wilder. You’re going to need to be careful.”

“You don’t think I should lure it into a trap, bring it back to my room and torture it?”

She looked at him, and it was so stupid. “No, I don’t.”

“But it killed a man, possibly more.”