Page 67 of Frank's Felon
Frankie didn’t even acknowledge him. She had stopped talking altogether. Only when Frank rose did she move, her dark eyes following him. The fear there gutted him, but there was nothing he could do except get Frankie home as soon as possible.
“Take care of Delilah. I’m just gathering some wood for a fire. I won’t go far, okay, Frankie.”
She nodded and rested her head on the ground next to Delilah’s. Frank didn’t go farther than ten feet in any direction, but he needed to check the area, to guard, to feel useful. Neither he nor his wolf had settled, and it wasn’t because they were in bear territory. Delilah was still out cold.
There were stories, not even legends, but eye-witness accounts from shifters he’d known over the years, telling of shifters who held a partial shift too long. A few recovered fine after a few days of rest and healing, but most never woke again, the strain too much for their wolves. They died in their sleep. Frank had even heard of a few who had woken but were never quite the same mentally afterward,.
Frank walked the perimeter, unable to find dry wood for a fire. At least Frankie had clothing. Even with the temperature dropping, she’d be okay. He still had to figure out how to tell her about her dad. Hell, that wasn’t a conversation he was sure he could manage without harming her further.
* * *
DELILAH
The caress along her cheek felt heavenly. Delilah was incredibly tired, but she was alive and the pain down her back had decreased to an annoying ache. Her wolf was working overtime, apparently.
Delilah opened her eyes to the sight of Frank sitting beside her, a definite frown on his face. He wore a long dark sleeve shirt. Black. Rather sexy the way it showed off his broad shoulders.
“Where’s Frankie?” she asked, her voice raspy. She was parched.
Frank lowered a canteen of water to her lips and she drank. “She’s asleep, next to you.”
Delilah turned her head enough to see that Frankie was curled up beside her, under a blanket. In fact, they were both under blankets.
“The bear shifters came back with blankets, clothing, food. And another reminder to be gone by tomorrow night. I’m not sure what’s going on in their territory, but I got the impression we’re safer the sooner we leave.”
She looked up at the night sky. “I don’t think I can move yet.”
Frank’s hand rested on her shoulder. “We’re good for now. If you can’t walk in the morning, I’ll carry you. Frankie needs to sleep too.”
She took a long look at him, to make sure he was okay. Physically, he looked fine but that scowl remained on his face. “You mad at me?” she said before her head fell back to the ground, too heavy to keep up.
A large hand cupped her face and then lightly drew over the bites on her shoulder. They still smarted, which Frank probably knew given how light his touch was.
“Worried. Scared. Mad at the situation, but not you. Never you.”
“Never?” she laughed until the pain moving through her forced her to lay still.
Frank leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Okay, maybe never is too strong a word, but after what happened here, Del. . .” He was shaking his head, his words lost.
“I’m sorry,” she said, turning her head to face away.
“You will not apologize for saving Frankie.” He sighed and lowered his voice. “I don’t ever want to feel that scared again, Del.”
“Makes two of us,” she said, trying to smile.
His thumb smoothed over her lips, then he placed a gentle kiss there. “Rest, Del. You need to sleep.”
“And you?”
“Not closing my eyes. Not until we’re home.”
Home. She liked the sound of that, but his pack could never be her home. If she returned with Frank, Damien might agree to hand her over. She had implied back when they were discussing the situation with Damien and Tess that she’d go willingly, but that had been for show so they wouldn’t lock her up.
She hadn’t been lying to the white wolves. She didn’t plan on letting herself get turned over to the DSA. Which meant somewhere between here and Damien’s pack, she’d have to part ways with Frank.
“You’re doing it again,” Frank said, his voice low so he wouldn’t wake Frankie.
He loved that child. Delilah could see it in his face every time he looked at or spoke about her. Delilah gazed at Frankie’s full cheeks, hercleancheeks. Frank had cleaned her up, taken care of her. He’d make a great dad one day.
