赤裸裸的滑稽故事

The last remnants of sunlight streamed through the grand windows with their curtains drawn back. It was the soft light of the setting sun. Gone was the blinding yellow, replaced by dark hues of purple and gold.

There was music playing, a soothing melody that seemed to force a person to close their eyes even for a moment and breathe.

She looked around her. The sheer green and blue fabric were familiar. She sat up and then got to her knees.

She crawled down to the end of the bed and pulled the fabric apart. Before her was a space that she was very familiar with.

The treehouse.

But Ashleigh didn’t remember coming to the treehouse.

She got off the bed and walked toward the enormous window where she could see the sunset in the sky.

But when she reached the glass, she found herself more confused than ever. Ashleigh was well aware of the view as she had admired it countless times.

It should be the hills and trees of Summer. But instead, it was the blue green waters of her island honeymoon.

She turned and found herself standing in the middle of the oceanside cabin she had shared with Caleb.

Ashleigh furrowed her brows and stared back out at the water.

His arms slipped around her waist, and his chin rested on her shoulder. Ashleigh reflexively leaned back into his body as though it were an extension of her own.

“Hello,” Caleb whispered.

“Hi,” Ashleigh replied.

She turned in his arms and nuzzled against his throat, inhaling his comforting scent. Breathing it in and pushing it over her body until she was sure she smelled like him.

“Do you feel more comfortable here than at the treehouse?” Caleb asked.

Ashleigh looked back out at the ocean and the small island in the distance.

“No,” she said. “It just felt… far.”

Caleb nodded.

“I understand,” he whispered.

The music she had heard, the soft lulling melody, faded. In its place came a song she recognized from several of the movies Renee had insisted they watch.

A slow song about falling in love.

Caleb began to sway, still holding her in his arms.

“What are you–?” Ashleigh started to ask, but her own laughter stopped her as Caleb spun her around and pulled her close again.

“For I can’t help,” Caleb spoke the lyrics. “Falling in love with you.”

Ashleigh smiled as Caleb continued to sway and turn her as the song went on. It was only then that she realized this was the first time she had ever danced with her husband.

They danced for three more songs. Their bodies pressed together as they swayed and moved to the music.

“I love you, Caleb,” she whispered.

“I love you, Ashleigh,” he replied.

“This is amazing,” she said, glancing out at the waters. “It’s so peaceful.”

“Ash,” Caleb whispered. “We can’t stay here forever.”

“Just a little longer,” she whispered back.

Caleb took a deep breath and spun his wife once more before leading her to the sofa. He sat down and then had her lay with her head on his lap.

Caleb ran his fingers through Ashleigh’s honey-colored locks.

Ashleigh smiled as she laid her head in Caleb’s lap and closed her eyes.

She saw him sitting at a table drinking from his stein, an imposing figure with rosy cheeks and a goofy grin. It was one of the only times Ashleigh had ever seen Wyatt drunk.

“Ash…” Caleb whispered.

“I know…” she whispered back sadly. “I know…”

“I’m sorry,” Caleb said, fingers caressing her scalp.

“I thought maybe it was just a nightmare,” she sighed. “Just a fear response to mom being in the hospital.”

Caleb ran his thumb against her cheek.

“I hoped for the same thing,” Caleb replied softly. “With my dad and Wyatt both.”

She let out another sigh and then sat up and faced Caleb.

“Can you show me?” she asked.

“Show you what?” Caleb asked.

“I just need to see for myself…. “ Ashleigh replied.

Caleb inhaled through his nose, taking a moment to try and figure out how to respond to her request. In the end, he decided that being straightforward was the best option.

“No,” he whispered. “I can’t show you what I saw.”

“Oh…” Ashleigh replied with disappointment.

“I won’t show you,” he said. “What I saw… it can’t be erased.”

Ashleigh sat up and turned to Caleb.

“I can handle it,” she said.

“No one could handle seeing their father like that,” Caleb countered.

Ashleigh didn’t know if she agreed. But she didn’t have the energy to fight.

“Ash,” Caleb called once again. “It’s time to wake up.”

When she opened her eyes, she was in a hospital room. She sat up, still feeling a little dizzy, but generally, she was all right.

Caleb was sitting in the chair beside her.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hey,” she replied.

Suddenly Ashleigh felt the weight of the waking world hit her once again. Caleb held her close as another wave of tears fell over her.

Caleb held her for a long time. He stroked her back and rocked her as the tears fell. Then, when she had finally cried all the tears she could, they lay together in the bed she had slept in. Ashleigh had her head on his chest and was listening to the soothing sound of his heart.

“Ash,” Caleb began. “There is more I need to tell you about when I found Wyatt.”

Ashleigh closed her eyes and clenched her jaw.

“I know, I acted tough in our mindscape… but the truth is… I don’t want to know the details of what happened to him right now. I’m not sure I can handle it.”

Caleb nodded.

“Honestly, Ashleigh, I don’t know all the details about what happened to him,” Caleb said. “But I’m going to find out.”

Ashleigh looked at him with furrowed brows.

“Axel has asked me to help put together all the pieces while he can’t.”

At first, she didn’t understand what he meant, but then she remembered what she had read about the passing of an alpha in Winter.

Axel and all the rest of Winter would need to focus on celebrating Wyatt’s life over the next week.

“It’s smart,” Ashleigh said. “Being from Summer means you don’t have to follow our traditions.”

“I agree,” Caleb said. “But you should know I’m not the only one that will be working on this.”

“What do you mean? Who else?”

Caleb licked his lips and swallowed.

“Alice.”