Badlands: The Lion’s Den(34)

Krystle stuck her hands in her pockets.

“And why don’t you just tell Jose you’re pregnant with his cub?”

Krystle didn’t deny it. “We don’t really talk about stuff like that,” she mumbled. “Who knows how he’d react? My track record with men hasn’t exactly been fantastic.”

Before Flora could say anything, Jose stepped into the doorway, and for the first time since Flora had met him, the unflappable shifter looked as mad as hell.

“Maybe you’d know if you’d just trusted me enough to tell me,” he said angrily. “Why would you go to Cottonwood by yourself when you were pregnant with my cub? Why risk your safety like that?”

“You’re still checking out every chick in the Lion’s Den! It’s not like you’re ready to settle down!” Krystle yelled. “And what are you doing spying on me?”

“I’m spying because I care about you, and I wanted to know what the hell is going on! And checking out girls is different than banging them! You were the one who said you wanted an open relationship, and I haven’t been with anyone else in months! If you wanted me to stop looking at other girls, you should have told me!” Jose’s face was turning red as he shouted at the top of his lungs. “How do you expect us to work if you won’t tell me a damn thing that’s happening with you?”

“See what you did?” Krystle snapped at Flora. “Why couldn’t you stay out of it?” And she stomped off, with Jose following.

Flora, shaken, stepped out of the doorway and saw Krystle shift into lynx form and run off, leaving an angry Jose standing there yelling at her as she fled.

She headed glumly back into the club, to return to work. Should she have kept her mouth shut? She didn’t want Krystle travelling through dangerous territory if she was pregnant – but she hadn’t meant for Jose to find out that way.

The next morning, Flora and Finn headed out to meet the bears. They were going to bring them into Hudson territory, pack some supplies, and leave after lunch. Finn knew a route that would get them there in three days.

As they walked, Finn tipped his head up and sniffed the air.

“Krystle?” he yelled out.

Krystle came trotting up to them, scowling. Her hair was rumpled and she looked as if she hadn’t slept well.

“I heard you guys were going near bear territory,” she muttered to Flora. “I didn’t want you to be murdered. Even if you are a nosy, interfering furbag.”

Finn let out an annoyed growl. “That’s my mate you’re talking about,” he rumbled.

“It’s okay,” Flora said placatingly.

Krystle heaved a sigh and shook her head. “No, it’s not. I’m really sorry. I am expecting Jose’s cub, I didn’t handle it well, and I blew it. You’re the only family I have, Flora, and you were just trying to help. You forgive me?”

“Of course. But you’ve got to try to patch things up with Jose.”

“Pretty sure that ship has sailed,” Krystle said with an unhappy look. “He wasn’t at work when I went back last night, and I haven’t heard from him today. He’s pissed at me. Not surprisingly. Just tell me what’s up with these bears, and we’ll worry about that later.”

Flora filled Krystle in on the problems that Madison and her friends were facing, as they settled in at the warehouse to wait. And wait. And wait.

None of the bears showed up. They kept scenting the air in case any of Ruben’s men headed their way, but they were all alone in the empty building.

Flora grew more and more worried as they sat there waiting. There was no way for her to contact them. Could Ruben have captured them? But why would he bother?

Finally, after an hour and a half, they left.

“Listen, you have to understand about girls like Madison,” Finn said as they walked back to the Lion’s Den. “Someone coming from an abusive background, running away from home, is going to be a troubled person with a lot of issues. She’s not going to be the most reliable person.”

“She wants to take her brother to a safe place. There is nothing more important to her,” Flora protested. “And as far as I can tell, she is reliable. She showed up on time to meet me, every time. Early, even. Okay, I’ll just try again tomorrow. Same time.”

“I’ll come with you,” Krystle said.

“I appreciate it. But what will I do if she just never shows up again?” Flora worried. “If she just disappears?”

“Happens all the time in Darwin,” Finn said. “I’m sorry, Flora, but that’s most likely what’s going to happen here. She changed her mind.”