Page 30 of Crow Me A River

“Just having a chat,” Vin yelled back before tossing Tucker aside as if he weighed nothing, sending him sprawling across the ground.

Without giving the bastard another thought, Vin took off at a run toward the woods.

CHAPTER 12

Misty quickly grabbed a bag and what little else she had. She knew Jack, as well as her stepbrother, would be coming back soon, and she wanted to be long gone before they got there. She’d had her say, made her decision, and that was that.

Glancing at her measly bag sitting there barely full sent total despair through her soul. She had absolutely nothing but a few clothes and grooming crap. That was it. All she had to her name. On the way here, the plan had been to clear her head, get her stuff and then head back to the bar, but now she was rethinking that.

She’d learned how small Assjacket was, and she knew word would get around about her and the deal her stepbrother had made with Jack Crow. She wouldn’t just be that poor Crow in the eyes of those in the Murder, but everyone in Assjacket. Misty usually wasn’t a runner, but she was tired of trying to fit in anywhere. Every single time she tried, it just slapped her in the face.

Even knowing she would suffer alone, she’d rather suffer alone than be ridiculed or talked about. She was so done with that life. It was time to move on...again.

Being without a Murder wouldn’t kill her, but Crows were meant to be with other Crows. It was simply part of who they were. They stayed together, watched out for each other and depended on the Murder in ways most other Shifters probably wouldn’t understand. Even when they flew, they rarely flew alone. It was one of the reasons being thrown out of her old Murder had fucked with her so badly. She hadn’t just lost a place to live. She’d lost the connection her Crow naturally craved.

And now she was willingly doing it again.

Misty stared at the bag, wondering how many times she could pick up what little she owned and start over before there was nowhere left to go.

Her Crow had already been restless since leaving the others. She felt it more at night when everything became too quiet. The need to be near others of her kind never completely disappeared, no matter how much she wished it would. She could ignore it. Fight it. Hell, she'd gotten pretty damn good at both.

But she couldn't change what she was, and she knew that because she had tried, but failed.

A Crow alone was vulnerable. Not because she couldn't protect herself, but because Crows weren't built to do everything alone. They warned each other of danger, protected their own and found safety in numbers. A Murder was more than a stupid name for a bunch of Crows. It was instinct.

Unfortunately, every Murder Misty had ever belonged to came with rules she couldn’t live with. Apparently, the price of being herself was being alone.

Maybe it wasn’t the Murders that were the problem. Maybe it was her. She was the problem, and she hated how much that fucking thought hurt.

And then there was Vin.

Misty closed her eyes with a sigh. Of course, she knew what mating meant. She wasn’t some innocent who didn’t understand the bond between true Mates or what it meant when a Shifter found theirs. She’d just never believed it was something that would happen to her. Hell, until Vin, she wasn’t sure she’d ever wanted it to. But the thought of never seeing him again was almost impossible for her to think about. She had been lying to herself about her feelings for him because the feelings were there and they were strong and deep.

But Vin deserved better than a female Crow who couldn’t even manage to belong with her own kind. He had his shit together while everything she owned barely filled one bag. The last thing she wanted was to drag him into the mess that seemed to follow her everywhere she went. Maybe leaving now was best for everyone.

Misty swallowed past the lump in her throat and grabbed her guitar case. She wasn't going to cry. She wasn't going to sit in this piece-of-shit shack feeling sorry for herself either. She'd survived losing one Murder, and she'd survive leaving another.

Walking out of the shack, Misty felt the tears begin to flow. She didn’t want to leave, and yet she wasn’t strong enough to stay, but for different reasons this time. Yeah, this time it was to protect people. Billie Ann and her business, Vin and even Bruce, the talking, earring-wearing cat. People were going to see her differently now, which meant anyone associated with her could suffer, and she refused to be the reason that happened.

“Going somewhere?” Vin’s voice came from the darkness.

Misty stopped, squeezing her eyes shut. She knew if she opened her mouth, all that would come out would be pain and sorrow. So she just stood there, eyes closed as tears still managed to escape. She felt herself being turned around, and still she couldn’t look at him. His touch against her wet cheek made her jerk slightly, and slowly she opened her eyes but still couldn’t meet his gaze. “Let me go, Vin.”

“No.” His only response made her cry even harder.

He took her bag and guitar from her, then grabbed her hand, leading her away from the shack. As they continued to walk in silence, Misty was able to get herself under control enough to find her voice. “Where are we going?” she asked, her voice raspy from trying to hold in her tears.

“Away from there so I can talk to you.” Vin said, not slowing.

Misty didn’t ask anything else. She just followed, her hand still in his as her mind fought against everything her heart was screaming at her to do. She wanted to stay. God, she wanted to stay, but wanting something didn’t mean it was the right thing to do.

When the rental house came into view, Misty stopped. “Vin, I can’t stay here.”

He turned, his eyes searching hers. “Why?”

“I just can’t.” Misty tried to pull her hand away, but he held on. “Please don’t make this harder than it already is.”

“Then tell me what the hell is going on.” Vin frowned down at her. “A few hours ago, you were arguing with me about paying fifty bucks to stay here. Now you’re packed and crying. What changed?”