Rising Storm (Westin Force #2) - Julie Trettel Page 0,59
she interrupted. “Isn’t that supposed to be the job of a silverback? I mean I don’t know a whole lot about gorillas, but I’m pretty sure about that one fact.”
I laughed. “Yes, you are correct. I was working at a wildlife preserve. I thought I was doing good and helping innocent animals, but one day they trucked in an entire band of gorillas. I was so excited and couldn’t stay away from them. I hadn’t spent time with my kind in many years, but I overheard some of the humans talking about them. They were going to separate this family and sell them off to the highest bidder. When they came for one of the young, the leader, a very large silverback, lost it and tried to fight them off. They shot him.”
Shelby gasped. She already had tears in her eyes as she listened to my story.
“They sold off his meat to local markets. I didn’t wait or think it through, I freed them all that night. They were scared and without a leader and didn’t know what to do or where to go. I shifted, led them away to safety, and never looked back. I couldn’t imagine ever returning to my skin after that. Humans are cruel. If I had any doubts about that, the Raglan had put those to rest. I don’t understand why you all prefer to live in your skin and hang on to such an evil legacy.”
Shelby hugged me. “Not all humans are that terrible. I was raised human, so I don’t think about it, I guess. I mean I totally understand why you would feel that way, I just grew up differently.”
“My mother was an asshole.”
Shelby laughed and wiped a tear from her cheek. She had a sweet spirit. She was compassionate and caring.
“I’m serious. She preferred being a gorilla. I was a drunken mistake. I have no idea who my father was, just some guy she met on a night out in the city. She got pregnant and had to spend nine whole months living in her skin. She never let me forget it either. She always reminded me that I was her biggest mistake in life.”
My friend was clenching her fists tightly by the end of my admission.
“I’m sorry you went through that. I’m not a violent person, but someone needs to kick that woman’s ass. I hope I never cross paths with her, or it will be me. No child should ever be told something that horrible. Every baby is a blessing from God. You are a blessing, Emma, not a mistake. God doesn’t make mistakes.”
I shrugged. “I was somebody back home, you know. I proudly led my band. Other troupes respected me and left us alone to live in peace. I miss them. I miss feeling needed.”
She frowned. “You’re needed here, Emma. You have to know that. Painter, he needs you so much more than you realize. We need you. Heck, I need you back here every day to help put my kids to sleep. You made that so incredibly easy on me today.”
I snorted and shook my head. “I didn’t really do anything.”
“That song you hummed for them knocked them right out. You’re going to have to teach it to me.”
“It’s just a gorilla song, something we do when we’re happy. Rocking babies is peaceful and well, happy. I don’t know if I can teach it, it’s just something we do.”
“I’ve never heard Silas or Painter sing like that. I suspect the guys would torment them over it, so I’m certain they’ve never sang like that.”
I stared at her confused. “Painter sings to me every night as we fall asleep.”
Shelby beamed. “See, that’s what I’m talking about. There’s something vulnerable about that song. The Painter I know would never show that kind of weakness around anyone, except his one true mate. You soften his rough edges.”
I was horrified at the thought. He was out on a mission and I softened him? “That will just make him weak. That’s not a good thing.”
“Trust me, there is nothing weak about Painter. Soft and weak are not the same, Emma. You bring him peace and light. I noticed it when Clara and I stopped by, but hearing Ben talk about it only confirmed it. He’s a better man, more balanced, because of you.”
I contemplated what she said as I helped her clean up the mess. I preferred things in order, so cleaning always made me happy as I sang along while we