ChapterEleven
Harley
Having to leave my wolf behind to go and meet with a so-called Empath had me seriously regretting the fact that I had told anyone about the damned nightmare. It wasn't like it was my first, so I couldn't quite figure out why it was such a big deal.
"Scooter will be fine," Zade's voice came from behind me as I stood at the edge of the woods, staring into the shadows cast by the setting sun. "But we need to hit the road. Are you ready?"
"Yeah, sure." I followed him toward the truck and stopped short when I saw Scott's van idling next to it. "Is Scott going, too?"
"Yeah, he is."
"Really?" Suddenly leaving the wolf wasn't quite as distressing. After all, in the forest I'd gotten the same safe, comfortable feeling from being around Scott that I did from burying my face in my four-legged friend's fur. "Can I ride with him?" I heard a chuckle from behind me and spun around, catching Scott watching us. "Can I ride with you?" Zade looked like he had just bitten into a lemon, so I hurried to make my case. "It would give you and Levi some time alone, yeah?"
Zade narrowed his eyes but nodded slowly. "I suppose, but you have to obey him."
"Yeah, sure," I agreed, hopping into the van and closing the door before Zade could change his mind. When Scott climbed in next to me, I lost a little bit of my bravado. "I guess I should have asked if you minded being saddled with me."
Scott snorted and shook his head. "You literally never have to worry about that, Har." He followed Zade's truck out onto the main road. "You're welcome to find something on the radio."
Everybody had been really nice to me – especially considering how much work my episodes caused them – but there was something about the way that Scott treated me that helped me to relax. Or maybe it was how hedidn'ttreat me – specifically, like I was a bomb that could go off any minute – that made him so easy to be around.
I pressed the knob to turn the radio on and immediately cranked the volume when my lips began moving with the song that came on. I saw Scott glance at me from the corner of his eye, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he began to sing along with me, both of us belting it out at the top of our lungs.
The ride was shorter than I expected, and it wasn't long before we pulled into what looked like a tiny village. All of the houses and other buildings were brightly painted with white trim and radiated out from some sort of community building like spokes on an old-fashioned wagon wheel. It was adorable.
When the van rolled to a stop, Scott offered me a hand down and walked beside me to where Zade stood on the porch of the community building, huffing impatiently.
"Why don't you come with me?" Levi asked, throwing a narrow-eyed look at Zade. "I'll introduce you to Trevor."
Trevor ended up being a gentle soul with light brown hair streaked with red and gold and large caramel eyes. He was heavy set and wore a loose tunic over a pair of blue jeans. He greeted me quietly, smiling when I leaned down to speak to the three gangly puppies scrambling around his bare feet.
"Come in and have a seat, Harley." He waited for me to settle onto the sofa and sat down across from me. "I understand you need some help deciphering a dream?"
"Oh, um, not really," I stuttered, looking around for Levi.
"It's more that he can't seem to remember his dreams, Trevor," Levi spoke up. "But we're pretty sure that they are nightmares."
"And you think it might help if he can remember them?"
Levi nodded. "We hope so."
Trevor smiled at me and reached over to take a handful of animal crackers from the bowl in the center of the coffee table. "I'd be happy to try and help," he offered, popping a cookie into his mouth. "Assuming it's what you want, Harley?"
I blew out the breath I was holding and nodded slowly. "I think it is." I plucked at a loose thread on my jeans. "If I can't remember, the doctor says they'll have to put me on medication to control me." An involuntary shudder ripped through my body. "I really don't want that."
Trevor's eyes twitched, his lips pursing into a slight frown, but he nodded in agreement. "Okay. As long as you're sure it's what you want." He offered me the bowl of cookies.
"No, thanks," I said and then jerked my head up at the gasp from Levi. "Just on the cookies, Levi," I said, barely managing to hold back a laugh. "I'm accepting the help on the dreams, honest."
"Sorry," Levi mumbled, a flush coloring his cheeks as he stared down at his feet.
I wasn't really sure what to say – I mean, it wasn't as if he actually owed me an apology – so I turned back to Trevor instead. "What do I need to do? Take a nap?"
Trevor shook his head. "No. We just need to spend a few minutes meditating. Do you want to start now?"
I nodded. "The sooner, the better."
"Okay." Trevor struggled to his feet and waited for me to follow. "Levi, do you mind asking everyone to wait out here?"
