Page 72 of His Sunshine Baby

“I’m sorry, Elena.”

Fuck.

I turn around and leave the house despite Levi and Chris calling my name. I don’t want any of them to hold me back. As soon as I step out, Reagan and Xavier start yelling at each other again, but I just don’t care anymore. I keep running, faster and faster, until I shape-shift mid-jump.

Running in my wolf form doesn’t make anything less painful, I’m just faster. I keep running, across the familiar streets, looking for somewhere to go. I don’t even know where to go. Not west, definitely not west.

I head north without thinking. I just want to be alone and cry my sorrow away. My steps naturally take me to our northern border, to the wild forest, where no one goes at this hour during such a downpour. I hear people calling me, trying to mind-link me, but I shut the voices out. I don’t want to hear or listen to anyone now.

I find a large tree to crawl under and curl up around some roots.

I finally let myself cry. It’s not just a few tears, I’m fucking bawling like a kid. I can’t remember the last time I cried somuch. My tears melt with the rain, but I can only hear my wolf’s sorrow. I’m mad at the whole world right now.

It’s not fair. This is all so fucking unfair. Why do I have to go through all this shit? After everything I’ve already gone through? Haven’t I paid enough for my mistakes? I can’t go through it all again. I just can’t. I don’t want to let that nightmare happen again.

I freeze when I sense a wolf close by. Fuck.

“Hey, babe.”

The tawny wolf has to dig a little to take the small spot next to me. Thankfully, Danny is a little smaller than me. He crawls to get beside me, ruining his fur with the mud. My best friend’s green eyes finally meet mine, and I feel even more tears coming.

“It’s okay, babe. Just go for it.”

I let my tears flow, and Danny rubs his head against mine, trying to comfort me. Damn, thank Moon Goddess it’s him. Danny is probably the only person I’m willing to see right now.

I spend a long time crying, letting my feelings out without restraint. It’s like I’ve been holding it in way too long.

“Danny…”

“I know. Levi called me.”

“What are you doing here? What about your seminar?”

“Are you kidding me? Who gives a shit about some stupid seminar? My babe needs me, so I ran here!”

“Gosh, Danny. I love you.”

“I know. But I’m taken, you know. And a bit too gay.”

“Idiot.”

“Yeah, yeah, love you too.”

We stay like this for a while, two wolves curled up against one another. I don’t want to talk, and I don’t care about the rain drenching us. I just keep crying silently with Danny’s head resting on mine.

“Elena…”

I growl a bit. I don’t want to talk. But of course, Danny ignores me.

“We need to think of a plan, babe.”

I growl again. What plan? Aside from killing Diego, I can’t think of anything as satisfying.

“What if you stayed with him? With Black, on his territory?”

“Are you nuts, Danny? On the Velvet Moon’s territory? You can’t be serious.”

“I am dead serious, babe. I know it’s not our turf, but anything is better than having you anywhere near Diego.”

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