“No.”
“Yes. Tilly, it's my job.”
“No. I can't do this alone. Kay, I don't know anything about being in the city. I've only visited a few times and hated every second of it.”
“He wants to hide you in the city?”
I nodded. “I'm scared, Kayla.”
“Then don't go.”
“I think I have to. Come with me.”
“I don't think I can.”
“If I speak with my dad and he says okay?”
“In the end, I always do what the Alpha tells me. You know that. But when I talked to him this evening he said to join the others in the field. So that's the plan first thing in the morning.”
“Then I guess I'll have to talk to him tonight.”
“Don't.”
“What?”
She sighed. “Tilly, I get enough shit from people just because we're friends. If you pull me off of this, I'll never live it down.”
“Do you even hear yourself? Since when do you care what other people think?”
“I care. I just don't often show it.”
“I'm not ready to do this life thing without you.”
“I'm only a phone call away.”
She hugged me.
“It's not safe out there right now.”
“I know, but this is what I was born to do.”
“Really? I thought you were born to take care of me.”
I could feel her laughter wrack her whole body.
“You're going to be okay.”
I nodded, but hugged her tighter.
“Be careful.”
“Who me? Always.”
“Kayla, I'm serious. Be careful. There are people out to get us all.”
“I'll be careful.”
“Is this it then?”