赤裸裸的滑稽故事

The return to Summer had been put on hold after Roman’s unexpected visit to Winter.

Caleb called Fiona, updated her, and told her that he and Ashleigh needed to stay for at least a few more days. He wanted to get the defense system up and running and ensure that Galen and Bell were safe and secure.

But he also knew that Ashleigh was struggling with Axel’s announcement and hoped that she would take the time to work things out with her brother.

“Mom says that everything is running on schedule,” Caleb said as he stepped back into their room.

He and Ashleigh were staying with Bell and Galen. Her parents had offered to host them, but he had felt more at ease staying with his brother.

“Training has increased, and the production of weapons and armor is better than expected.”

Caleb awaited her response, but Ashleigh remained silent, staring out the window.

“Ash?” he called to her.

She didn’t respond.

Caleb was worried. Even before they had come to Winter, something was off about his wife. Their bond, though strong and still open, felt… restricted. He wasn’t sure exactly what that meant, only that he felt as though he wasn’t getting the whole picture from her.

“Ash,” he called again, this time reaching out to her.

When his fingertips brushed her shoulder, she jumped, eyes widening and a look of complete surprise on her face.

“Caleb…?” she asked as though she wasn’t sure._.

“Are you alright?” he asked, kneeling before her and taking her hands in his while looking up into her eyes.

Ashleigh took a deep breath and then looked away.

“Yea, I’m fine,” she said, pulling away from him.

Caleb stared at her. He wanted to give her space and allow her time to deal with whatever it was that was keeping her from opening up to him.

But there was something different about this time. It wasn’t like when she rejected their bond or her fear of losing control. Something else was going on, and it was changing her.

“I thought we agreed,” he said gently, reaching for her hand again. “To be honest with each with each other… not to keep secrets anymore.”

Ashleigh turned back to him. She furrowed her brows and looked at him with uncertainty.

“What do you mean…?” Ashleigh said. “What secrets?”

Caleb looked into her eyes for any indication that she was trying to block him, to keep him from figuring out what she was hiding. But all he could see; all he could feel was honest confusion.

“Ash, come on,” he said. “It’s obvious that you’re hiding something. I want to give you the space you need to deal with it and tell me on your own, but I’m concerned. The way you’ve been acting… it’s not like you.”

Her expression shifted, her face relaxed, and she leaned back in her chair, pulling her hand away from him and turning her eyes to the window once more.

“I am fine,” she said. Her tone was even and calm. “There is nothing for you to be concerned about.”

“Ashleigh…” Caleb called to her, reaching for her hand.

She moved her hand to rest on the arm of the chair away from him.

“Should you really be questioning me on keeping secrets, anyway?” she asked.

Caleb stood and crossed his arms as he looked at her. Her entire demeanor had changed. She felt cold and distant. He knew she was still upset with him about the information he had shared regarding Alice, but this reaction seemed a bit too much.

“What is going on with you?” Caleb asked. “Why can’t I get a sense of how you’re feeling right now?”

‘Caleb…’ she whispered from deep inside.

Ashleigh stood from her chair and looked up at him. There was a strength in her eyes, a fierceness. She was a warrior, and he knew that better than most, but she had never looked at him that way.

“You do not own me. You are not entitled to my every thought, feeling, or action,” Ashleigh said in a low tone. “I am more than you will ever realize, and I will not bow to you.”

Caleb was shocked and confused by her words. He didn’t understand at all where this was coming from or why she would think this way about him.

“Ashleigh, that wasn’t what I meant at all!” he quickly said.

He reached for her, and she moved again. Then, finally, she took a step away from him and turned her back on him entirely. She got to the door before he called out to her.

“Where are you going?” he asked. “We’re supposed to go see Galen and Bell soon.”

‘Caleb…!’ she cried out silently.

“I am not going,” she said. “I have other things to attend to.”

“Ashleigh, please just talk to me!” Caleb called after her, but she didn’t give him the chance to say anything more as she left the room.

***

It was dark.

There were flickers of light in the distance, one or two, then nothing but dark emptiness.

She was floating. Somewhere between being awake and asleep, her thoughts were almost entirely silent.

Everything was silent.

Until it wasn’t.

Soft mumbles, a voice that held feeling. A warmth. A guidance. Calling, coaxing, waiting for her to respond.

“Caleb…” Ashleigh whispered, finding the words and bringing them to her lips.

But the words went into the darkness and were gone, never reaching anyone else’s ears.

The warmth was leaving. Even the mumbles began to fade away.

“Caleb…!” she cried out.

But again, the darkness swallowed her words.

Ashleigh was alone. She was trapped.

“I told you to fight for your own thoughts,” a sad whisper echoed in the darkness. “I can’t help you much longer.”

A soft whimper in the distance, an injured wolf.

“What is that?” Ashleigh asked.

“She won’t survive much longer. Not without you.”

“Who?” Ashleigh asked.

“Wake up, Ashleigh. Take control of who you are.”

***

Ashleigh was surprised to find herself standing in the middle of the training grounds. She couldn’t remember how or why she had even come here.

‘Training.’

‘Preparing.’

Ashleigh shook her head, clearing the cobwebs from her mind. She had been training, preparing for the coming battle. She must have lost track of time.

Hurrying to get showered and dressed, she made her way to the hospital. She wanted to check in on Bell and Ren.

Corrine had told them the night before that both Bell and Ren were recovering and that Bell had woken and even made a few jokes. But Ashleigh wanted to see for herself that her best friend was alright.

As she approached the room, she recognized his familiar scent. She smiled, hurrying inside to surprise him with a kiss.

Caleb turned as the door opened. He was surprised to see her, confused by the smile she wore. Even more so by the kiss she gave him.

“Why didn’t you wait for me?” she asked.

“What?” Caleb replied, “You said you weren’t coming….”

Ashleigh looked at Caleb as though he were crazy.

“I never said that,” she replied. “I told you I needed to do some training, some preparing. But I never said I wasn’t coming.”

Caleb didn’t understand what was happening, but now wasn’t the time to deal with it.

“I guess… I misunderstood,” he said.