Patient Mates(6)

Kira was hit by a wave of guilt. Would things have been different for Lilah if she had been there? She hadn’t even considered what might have been happening with Lilah over the past two years.

“I’m sorry.”

Lilah snorted half-heartedly. “Why are you sorry?”

Kira sighed and pulled back to look her in the eyes, she winced again seeing the state of her face. “I’m sorry that he did this and I’m sorry I haven’t been around. And I’m sorry but there’s never an excuse for hitting.”

She pushed a curly lock out of Lilah’s eyes and ghosted her fingers over her face. “Do you love him?”

Lilah’s eyes glazed. “I thought so, now I’m not sure how I feel about anything.” She hesitated slightly. “It’s been a long time since I could sense anyone’s emotions. My wolf she... she’s become so quiet recently. Sometimes I worry that...” She hesitated uncertainly.

Kira smiled encouragingly. “What is it?”

“Sometimes I worry that she’ll leave me and I’ll be completely alone.”

Kira felt ice cold fear tear through her. She couldn’t imagine anything worse than losing contact with her wolf. She had to get her sister out of there.

“We have to leave.” Said Kira authoritatively, her wolf yapping in agreement.

“No I can’t...”

Kira took her sister’s hand and led her up the stairs to her bedroom. She pulled out Lilah’s suitcase from the closet. “Pack only essentials.”

Lilah stood staring at her as she disappeared into the bathroom and came out with some toiletries, unceremoniously dumping them in the case. Kira threw up her hands. “Don’t just stand there help me!”

Lilah hopped from foot to foot. “I can’t go. Joseph will just come after me, like last time...”

Kira stilled as she was pulling on a pair of jeans. “What happened?”

“I decided to go home to Mom and Dad. I made it to the airport before Joseph caught up with me. He told me I couldn’t leave the pack without permission, and I can’t rejoin our old pack unless this pack lets me go.”

It was one of the pack laws. When they become a member of a pack a wolf can only leave with permission or by getting thrown out. Which is why Kira leaving was so frowned upon. And a wolf couldn’t join a new pack until the old pack let them go. If a pack harbored a wolf from another pack it was considered an open act of aggression, which could lead to war... Unless the wolf could prove they were in danger from the old pack.

Kira’s wolf whimpered. “But surely your life is at risk...”

Lilah shook her head sorrowfully. “Who would believe me? The only people who have seen the bruises are Joseph and the Alpha and I was... too afraid to tell anyone else. The pack is loyal to Joseph anyway, even if they knew they wouldn’t go against him.”

Kira pulled on a t-shirt. “I came here today to tell you I was leaving.”

Lilah looked a little hurt. “You were?”

“Yes, and I still am and you are coming with me.”

“But...”

Kira held up a hand. “No buts. We’re leaving today.”

Lilah scowled. “We can’t go back to New Mexico; I can’t expect them to let me rejoin the pack. It would be like a declaration of war! I can’t risk our family getting hurt.”

“We’re not going home.” Kira told her patiently. “Now finish packing.”

Reluctantly Lilah complied, she asked a few more questions but Kira wouldn’t answer. She said there would be time to talk later.

When finally ready Lilah cast a forlorn look at her house and wavered but Kira wouldn’t let her change her mind. They were leaving, end of story.

They made sure the coast was clear and retraced the steps Kira had carefully taken as her wolf. The Alpha placed bear traps in the woods, pack members knew where they were placed but he did it to catch trespassers. He was not a friend to other shifter species, or other wolves.

When they reached the car Lilah was surprised to see it was already loaded up with Kira’s belongings. “Wow you weren’t kidding about leaving.”

Kira shrugged as they got in. “I kind of wanted to make a quick getaway. Other than you I doubted anyone would miss me.” She looked at her sister. “Was that you who tried to call me this morning?”

Lilah nodded and frowned. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have, I just...”

“No, I just wish you’d told me sooner, I wish I’d been around more, I...”

Lilah cut her off. “Maybe we should go before I change my mind completely.”

Kira started driving.

Lilah stared out of the window anxiously. “So where are we going anyway?”