“That’s hard to say,” he smiles at me. “Maybe it imprinted on you.”
“Is Tiger going to be okay?”
“Yes, you don’t need to worry, Gwen. Its wings aren’t broken. It might have bashed against your window or the wall, and was probably terrified or shocked. Maybe it was chased by a predator.”
“Is it a boy or a girl?” Faye asks.
Daniel chuckles. “It’s probably a girl. You see its brown feathers? Female birds usually have simple coloring, while the males are colorful. This is a sparrow; male sparrows don’t have very colorful feathers, but they are slightly more brightly colored.”
“So, they are showoffs?” Faye asks. “Like Emil?”
Emil is her friend from pre-school, a fun boy who really likes her, but who also loves to show off in front of her.
“Exactly,” Daniel says dryly, making me laugh.
He puts Tiger back into her nest before turning to me. “Actually, it should be ready to fly away now. But it doesn’t seem like it wants to. There is nothing wrong with Tiger. She isn’t hurt.”
“So, you are telling me she just wants to stay?”
He shrugs. “I know it sounds weird, especially considering it’s a wild animal, but as things are…“ He points at Tiger, who flutters out of her cardboard nest and onto the shelf with the plushies. “See?”
Faye follows Tiger, chatting with her as if she can understand her. Maybe Tiger can – we’ll probably never find out. Faye then switches to talking to Marina and explaining the situation to her in her adorable way. She is the sweetest.
I keep watching the scene, finally realizing that the bird I saved might not even have needed saving, but came along with me willingly. Maybe it indeed was scared, but it’s certainly not scared anymore. “How do I look after a bird?” I ask. “What does it need?”
Daniel laughs. “I had a feeling you would ask that, Gwen. I will give you a list of things. You can get some of these from me, but you will need to buy bird food.”
“Got it.” I nod. “Thank you, Daniel.”
“Anytime.”
“How much do I owe you?”
Daniel shakes his head. “You still askthatquestion. When will you learn that Iwon’ttake any money from you?”
“But you help me so much all the time, especially with Tulip,” I say.
“So? You are my best friend’s daughter. You are like family to me; of course I will help when you need me. And I will be damned if I take a cent from you. If you want to pay me back, find a path for yourself that makes you happy.”
“I… I am not sure I know what you mean,” I admit.
“Gwennie, this place here, theunderpaidjob at the coffee shop,“ he pauses, “Brandon!Your dad can’t tell you anymore, so I will: You know you can do much better, don’t you? You know that you deserve more in life.”
“I don’t mind how my life is,” I say. “I like being with Faye and Marina-“
“These two aren’t the issue,” he says. “They are a lot of responsibility, maybe too much for a young person like you, but I understand why you choose to live with them.”
“You do?” I can’t help the wonder in my voice. Most people tell me I am insane for looking after them. Only Evelyn and Jacob have accepted it, and now Daniel’s telling me he understands.
“Of course, I would have done the same for my friend.”
“In a way, you are doing the same,” I point out. “Since Dad died, you have been watching out for me. Maddox’s goons never harmed me physically because of you, did they?”
Daniel raises his brows. “I might have had a few choice words with them.”
“And Maddox didn’t rat you out?”
“To whom?” he chuckles. “The alpha doesn’t give a shit about these smaller issues. Maddox knows that. Also, the pack obviously needs me.” They really do! Daniel is the only doctor we have, and obviously, he is essential for the pack. He also comes from a strong, powerful line of shifters.
