“I’m sorry love.I hope you understand why we can’t trust Willow, though,” he said softly.
“I get that she seems untrustworthy because she wants to take me away, but I don’t feel like she’s here to harm me.I don’t want you to send her away.Look what she was able to help me do in just the short time she was here.”
“I understand that, but if there’s more to this and she knows it, then we need to know it.There should be no reason for her to keep it from us.”
“I think she has my best intentions at heart, though,” El argued.
“We can’t be sure, El, and with you, there’s no way any of us are taking any risks,” Shawn explained.
“I know, but please don’t make her leave.Give her a chance.I’ve told her I’m not going anywhere with her, and she’s agreed to honor my request.”
“We won’t leave you alone with her,” Trip told El sternly.
“It’s not like you have.I mean Shawn was in his room while I was helping her unpack,” El reiterated.
“Then, this should be easy to manage.Let’s agree that Willow can stay, but none of us will back off, okay?”Ryan told everyone.
Everyone nodded their agreement.El felt like she had won a war, even though she knew it was more like a battle.The victory made her smile.
“Well, now that, that is all settled, I’m still hungry,” El giggled.
Chapter 21
El
Willow’sfirst week went by as uneventful as it could be.Adam followed Willow around any chance he could, and one of El’s mates was always close by as well.El felt a bit claustrophobic, but she didn’t want to complain.Having a female friend that understood a bit of what she was going through helped.El hoped she was just as helpful to Willow who was adjusting to having a mate.
“Where’s your shadow?”El asked Willow when she came across her reading a book by the gigantic pool off to the back of the patio.
“Ryan needed him for something.”
“I bet you’re glad to get a break,” El joked.
“I find that I’m enjoying his company more and more.Although I will admit, I’ve lived my whole life mostly in solitude so having not only him around but having you and everyone else is quite a change for me.”
“I get that.I came from a large family, but it wasn’t like anyone had anything to do with me.It was mostly just me and my grandpa when I could be with him, or me and Shawn after he passed away.”
“Has Shawn started trying to get in touch with his panther?”Willow asked.
“Ryan finally gave the okay for him to start using my grandpa’s home to try.”
“I’d be glad to go with him and help,” Willow said.
“Do you think Adam is ready for you to spend the day with another male unattended,” El teased.
“Probably not, but he understands my mission here,” Willow told her.
“Is Shawn part of your mission?”El asked a bit put-off by her statement.
“Yes, your mates must all be ready for battle.Shawn is not in touch with his panther side, which makes him the weakest link.He’s also your connection to the Pantera, so he must be strong.The Pantera pray on the weak.”
“Shawn’s definitely not weak,” El defended him.
“I know, but a shifter who isn’t in touch with his animal side is weak regardless of how strong their human form is.Shawn needs to be able to shift and fight in his panther form as well as utilize his panther’s strengths while in his human form.Just like I’ve been teaching you.”
“He’ll do it.Shawn’s a quick study,” El said confidently.
“I hope so.I know I haven’t brought it up for a couple of days, but I still very much wish you’d let me take you away.”
