“Yeah, keep telling yourself that, Bass,” Nico laughed.
“Make yourself useful, Nico. Go back home and try to stall my father. I’ll be there soon.”
“Sure thing, Bass. See ya again, Kat.” He flashed her a mischievous smile before walking away.
The phone started to ring so Katalina ran for it.
“Hey, wait up a sec, Nico.” She heard Bass shout before she picked up the phone.
Katalina put down the phone, feeling happier that Arne was on the mend and she could pick him up. She turned to head for her bedroom when she heard Bass talking.
“I need to know you’ve got my back.”
“Sure, man, but I’m sure it won’t come to that.”
“Nico, I’m not sure I can talk myself out of this one.”
“You really willing to take on your own dad?”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.”
Katalina ran for her bedroom. She randomly grabbed clothes from her drawers and wardrobe, not bothering to fold them; her stomach churned uncomfortably, dread, like a live living thing clawed its way through her veins. Her mind made up, they were leaving now; the sooner they were back on pack lands, the sooner she could fix this mess.
Chapter 22
Katalina sipped her way through one last cup of tea with her grandmother before they hit the road. The car was packed. A suitcase full of random clothes and a few boxes of her things had been strapped down in the back of Bass’s truck.
“I’ll take the rest of your things to my house for when you need them, Kat,” her grandmother said quietly, unsure of Katalina’s reaction.
“Yep,” she answered trying to sound more positive than she felt.
“Have you heard from the vet?”
“Yeah, he’s going to be fine. We’ll get him before we go. The vet said he just has to take it easy for a few days.”
“Now, you make sure to drive safely with my granddaughter as your cargo, Sebastian.”
“Yes, ma'am, I’ll take good care of Katalina, don’t you worry.”
“I’m not worried. Kat is a strong young woman. She’ll do just fine taking care of herself.”
Katalina smiled at her grandmother over her mug. I sure hope you’re right, Gram.
Saying goodbye to her grandmother and the house she’d grown up in was a lot harder than Katalina had first thought. Sure she wanted to be back at Jackson’s making sure Toby and Cage were okay, but there was still a part of her that wasn’t ready to let go of her old life. Leaving this time was final. She’d always have a home with her grandmother or aunt, but this house—her home—she needed to say goodbye. She glanced one last time at the house before climbing into the car. She pictured her smiling, happy parents standing beside her grandmother, waving goodbye.
Tears welled in her eyes. “Goodbye, Mom, Dad,” she whispered. “I love you.”
Swallowing down her grief, she breathed in one last gulp of fresh winter air and entered the car, slamming the door behind her.
“Drive, Bass, before I change my mind and hide in that house forever.”
The car rumbled to life and made its way down the drive. He pulled out onto the road, passed the spot where her life had changed irrevocably and drove her away. Unable to hold in her tears, Katalina pulled her knees up to her chest, silently crying as she watched the world flash by. Bass’s hand linked with hers. It was strong and warm, a constant reminder she wasn’t alone, and never would be again.
They picked up Arne on the way and headed away from Detroit, the drive up the 175 a quiet one. Bass seemed happy with the silence, and Katalina was grateful; she didn’t know what to say to him. She was also frightened that if he did break the silence, she might ask him the question that had been spinning around and around inside her mind.
I’m not sure even I can talk myself out of this one.
What did he mean? And what was he willing to do to keep her safe? The problem was deep down, she already knew the answer, and she wasn’t sure she liked it. Anything.
*****
“Hey, Kat.” Bass’s fingers stroked hair from her face. “Baby, we're nearly there. Do you want to stretch your legs?”
“Mmm, sure.” She stretched her arms up and yawned. “Come on, boy. Let’s take a walk,” she said, scratching Arne behind the ear.
Katalina walked Arne along the edge of the car park away from the gas station. Tall trees towered above her. They’d left suburbia far behind. The landscape had become more rugged and wild the closer they were to Jackson’s. She smiled as Bass approached, two takeaway cups in his hands. He looked at home here, surrounded by wilderness, the harsh, unforgiving landscape, a perfect backdrop for his chiseled face and sculpted body, his wolf as wild as the surroundings. It was as if she could see the wolf just below the surface: restless, ready, and waiting for blood. He passed her the cup, looking at her with a wild edge in his eyes. She stared at her wolf in human skin, wondering what he was thinking and why his wolf shone in his dark eyes.