Katie had nowhere to go. She stood in front of her blackened house and said, “Will you please take me to Decker’s. I’ll stay with him a few nights.”
Conner growled low and menacing in his throat and countered, “You’ll stay with me. For however long you’d like.”
“Thanks, that’s…nice but I work here, and don’t want to drive an hour to work every day. It’ll be fine. I’ll look for an apartment later this week while I talk to the insurance company.” Life pretty much sucked. The alcohol was wearing off, but right about now she’d have given anything for a bottle of tequila.
Shana looked at her with concern “Katie, someone tried to intentionally hurt you. Maybe it’s best for you to get away for a while. You can stay at our house. Trevor misses you.” Seeing the look of fear on her friends face she added, “Only for a few days, and then you can do whatever you want.”
Damn, Shana was right. Someone wanted to kill her. It probably wasn’t the first time, but no one had ever tried to do it up close and personal before. “Fine, maybe a few days’ vacation will make me feel better. But I’m coming back to work as soon as possible.”
She was surprised when Conner got in the driver’s seat of Shana’s car. Shana got in the passenger seat, like everything was normal and Conner was her personal driver. “I guess I’ll climb in the back. I didn’t know you guys drove together.” She was a bit envious of the close relationship Shana and Conner shared.
“We didn’t. Conner must have stowed away. I didn’t lead him to you Katie, he merely followed. I wonder what Jake will have to say.” She turned angry eyes to Conner, who seemed unfazed.
“I’m sure he’ll thank me for keeping his precious wife from harm.”
Conner was still smiling. In fact, Katie realized she’d never seen him upset.
“We’ll see,” Was Shana’s cryptic reply.
“It seems like there is something going on here I should know about. Are you guys, uh…together or involved? I hear the sharing thing is pretty popular these days.”
“NO!!!” They both shouted their reply.
“Conner is Jake’s best friend” Shana explained.
* * * * *
The car ride back to Shana and Jake’s was uncomfortably quiet. Katie had a long stressful day, and found it was easy to doze off in the silence.
When Shana heard Katie’s even breathing indicating sleep she rounded on Conner, “I can’t believe you followed me. I told you I’d talk to her but you just couldn’t let it go. I’m so pissed right now Conner, I can’t wait to tell Jake. You’ll be in so much trouble.”
“Do you honestly think he’ll be mad, Shana? What do you think he would have done if the situation was reversed? He’d have chased you in a heartbeat. In fact he did, every damn day he was chasing you.” Conner didn’t feel the least bit troubled. He knew his Alpha would understand. If Katie wasn’t Shana’s friend, he knew she’d understand too. For Pete sakes, he’d saved Katie’s life tonight.
“That’s different. Jake would never have mated me without my knowledge, and consent. You should be ashamed. You’re a bad wolf.” She was acting like his mother. No, she was acting like his Alpha.
“I can’t say I’m sorry enough, but it’s between me and Katie. I would have talked to her a million times over and apologized, but I couldn’t find her. Let us work it out.” He was surprised at his annoyance. Usually he was very unassuming when unthreatened.#p#分页标题#e#
Shana knew he was right but she was indignant, and pregnant; a bad combination. She was riding high on emotions right now. Katie had stuck up for her, for years, and it was time for her to do the same for her friend. “She deserved better. She deserves a choice. You took that away from her. Maybe, one day she’ll forgive you, but I never will. I know what it’s like having your choices taken from you.”
He looked hopeless, and he felt doomed. Instead of getting down on himself, he was going to fight. “I realize you’re life hasn’t always been peaches and cream, Shana, but you have no right to pass judgment on me. I’m doing the best I can for Katie. I had no idea she would leave so suddenly. You know I love her, hell I was willing to die for her today. I have never been as agonized as I was standing outside her burning house, I could feel her pain. I want her happiness and love. I’d do anything for her.”
Shana knew he spoke the truth, she could smell it, but she was still vexed on her friend’s behalf. “Leave her to make her own choices.” She sounded uncompromising.