Chapter 10
My answer seemed to be enough for Grayson since he went back to devouring his meal. I watched him eat. It was messy and vicious, like an animal. Looking at the meat in my own hands, I wondered if that was my true nature.
Having lost my appetite, I handed the meat back to him. He gave me a curious look but took it without question. He wasn’t one to care if I ate or not.
I settled myself into a comfortable position and watched the creek water as its flow cascaded over the pebbles in a never-ending dance of ripples and waves.
"I want to go back to the beach." I told Grayson, who grunted.
"We’re too exposed on the beach and there’s no fresh water." He was right but still I pouted. Staying here was the logical thing to do but the idea of salty ocean waves washing over my legs as I soaked in the sun pulled at me.
I needed to walk, to be able to move around freely and be of use. I wanted to explore the island, climb a mountain and see what we were really dealing with. I wanted to not be so damn dependent on Grayson.
I struggled in my seat, trying my weight on my not-so-bad foot. Grayson watched me from under his brows as he continued to rip muscle from bone.
Using the log for balance, I stood wobbly for a moment. Shifting the weight briefly onto the bad ankle had shot out a tremendous amount of pain. It was so sharp, I felt it throughout my whole body. I lowered myself gently back down, suppressing a whimper.
Grayson’s prediction that it would be fine in a few days seemed like a stretch, I doubted the thought that it wasn’t broken. Pulling back the pant leg, I looked for signs of the source of pain. There wasn’t any bruising, it didn’t even look swollen.
Maybe I was just weak. I had never felt like this before but I also didn’t have any other incident to relate it to. The pain in my ribs had been renewed as well and I closed my eyes to breath through it, waiting for the waves to settle.
Being still, almost in a meditative state, helped. My breathing came in and out like the rush of the ocean. I could hear the sea waters sync to my own breathing and soon that was all I could hear. After a few moments of this, the island felt to pull with the waters.
In, then out, came my breath.
Like a heartbeat, everything felt connected.
In, then out.
I could feel the energy of the island like a light beaming from its center. The light beat through me and imaginary roots tangled themselves around my limbs, pumping its energy into me with each breath.
In, then out.
In. It was as though the island was its own entity. I couldn’t decipher the difference between my breath and the waves or the wind. In. A language was being spoken between us as I listened to the white noise vibrating through my skin where it touched the earth below me. Out.
A hand grasped my shoulder, pulling me from my trance. It shook me, reminding me of my sore bones again.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Grayson yelled.
I looked up at him, anger and what looked like a touch of fear was in his mean eyes.
"I was...Meditating. Why?"
A very curious look peered down from where Grayson loomed over me. I looked around for what might be causing his distress.
Nothing appeared to have changed.
The air seemed a bit lighter and quite brighter after having my eyes closed. It was like my view had been polished, everything a little more crisp. Other than how I saw things, nothing seemed out of place. There was no threat that I could tell.
I looked down at myself. I had not, in fact, merged with the island or became one with the ocean or air. Everything looked normal, which made me question if he had ever seen someone meditate before?
His stare of scrutiny continued in his silence until I asked, "What?"
"You didn’t...Feel that?" He asked.
I thought back, trying to figure out what he could be talking about. I knew what I felt while I meditated but that was all in my head. Was there an earthquake? I wouldn’t doubt these mountains were actually volcanoes.
"Feel what?" I asked.
He rocked back on his heels, squinting his eyes as he contemplated me. Slowly he rose and walked back to his spot by the fire. It was then I noticed his food on the ground.
Whatever he had seen in me had made him drop his beloved meal.
I chuckled from the uncomfortableness before asking again. "What is it?"
He said nothing and sat still, staring into the fire with a confused, and still somehow angry, look on his face. I decided not to push, the pain in my body had significantly subsided and the last thing I wanted was another outburst from the bi-polar Grayson.
"Well, can you at least build us some kind of shelter? I’m not built to sleep in the elements like some kind of wild thing."
The last bit made him glare at me briefly, his attitude returning. Standing, he disappeared into the forest again. My shoulders relaxed a little by his absence. Whatever spooked him had caused a tension that gave me an eerie feeling.
This island was different from anywhere I had ever been, which I had been experiencing a lot of lately. It felt alive and made me feel more alive with it. There was a magic here that drew me in. I leaned back and watched the birds swoop through the trees while waiting for Grayson to return, a new feeling of connection keeping me company in his place.
I had drifted into a nap and the breaking of branches roused me. Looking over, Grayson was working at the treeline, fastening sticks and plants together.
I watched for the better part of the day as he disappeared and reappeared, working intently on the shelter I requested. He seemed to know what he was doing, the structure of the hut coming together before the sun started to vanish from between the forest walls.
The little home came together with four walls, a roof, and even a makeshift door that leaned against its opening in a secure enough way. He packed in heaps of leaves, ferns, and other brush from plants I couldn’t name.
He left again, this time not returning until dark had set in. He stoked the fire, restarting the flames from the coals that remained and produced another rabbit for cooking from his belt. I tried to remember the last time I had gone so long without talking and the only time that came to mind was when I was studying for finals.
I wanted to break the silence and lighten the mood that was Grayson. I thought of what small talk conversation might spark his interest enough to answer.
"Did you always know you were a werewolf?"
I waited, he didn’t answer. His hands were busy with stripping skin from meat on the poor animal.
I thought some more, "What about the alpha thing? How does that work?"
Still nothing. I tried one more time, this time with my own spark of attitude.
"Have you always won the girls over like this, with your shining personality?"
It was sarcastic enough for me to be awarded with an annoyed glance.
"We’re not doing that." He answered.
"Doing what?"
"Getting to know each other. I’m taking care of you because I have to. That’s it."
I rolled my eyes at him, the coldness getting old. "Ok, then let’s talk shop. How are you planning to get us off this island?"
"When I know, you’ll know."
"So you have no plan," I retorted.
He stood and I flinched, assuming he was going to strike me for back-talking to him. He handed me food and returned to his seat. I took a slow bite, feeling a bit sick from meat and creek water being the only things I’ve consumed since arriving here.
I forced down as much of the rabbit as I could and washed it down with the water. Watching me struggle, Grayson finally took his attention away from his eating.
"What now?" He said it slow, thick with aggravation.
"Would it kill you to find some vegetables or fruit while you’re out getting food? We are on a tropical island after all, I’m sure there are bananas or anything other than just meat."
He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw. He was probably thinking of how ungrateful I was being but no part of me wanted to apologize to man as cruel as him.
Dramatically, he dropped his food and wiped his hands on his pants. He stood again and this time I was sure he would hit me. I struggled to get away, the dull pain awakening. He grabbed my legs first and with minimal effort swung me over his shoulder.
I gasped with the discomfort as he walked me away from the fire, each step bouncing twinges of ache into my ribs. My whimpers were ignored by him. He entered the hut and flipped me onto the bedding he had collected.
The fear of pain ran away as a new fear came to my mind. I squeezed my legs shut, unsure of his intentions. He had said he wasn’t that kind of man but could I really trust him?
He was used to certain accommodations in his life that were no longer available. Would his lack of female companionship make him reconsider his stance on taking me against my will?
He didn’t seem to notice my reaction and grunted before placing the door over the entryway as he left, closing me in the darkness of the shelter I had asked for.