Page 19 of Frank's Felon
Delilah turned her head away. At least he didn’t smell any fear on her. If anything, he sensed anger.
Before he could speak, Tess squirmed in his arms. “Put me down!”
The second Frank set Tess on her feet, she threw herself at Delilah. “Lily! I can’t believe you’re alive!”
Both women clasped one another tight as if their lives depended on one another. Maybe they did. Frank had never had any siblings, but he knew how much Tess had suffered with the loss of her family, especially Lily—Delilah—of whom she spoke often. No words were exchanged as they stood there, eyes closed, rocking against one another. Tess’s tears of joy went straight through him. Frank was happy for her. For both of them. The relief of realizing Delilah wasn’t working for the WSSO, but that she had simply been searching for her sister, gave Frank a glimmer of hope that perhaps he and Delilah could get to know one another better, maybe even start fresh.
As his eyes found hers, she looked away. He had his answer. Delilah wanted nothing to do with him.
* * *
DELILAH
Delilah’s heart sank as Frank slipped into the woods. The big brute hadn’t meant to hurt Tess, she was sure of it. He had been leaping at Delilah, and Tess had intercepted to save her big sister. Of all places to cross paths with Frank again. . . There he was, guarding her sister.
The moment Delilah had seen him from the tree-line, always hovering near Tess, she had thought he was holding her captive. Then he had wandered off, and Tess hadn’t bothered moving from the area. She was helping with the pack’s children, as if it were her job.
She had to admit, she was glad Frank hadn’t been holding Tess prisoner. That would have made him the enemy and she didn’t want to hate, let alone hurt Frank, but she would have, to protect Tess.
Delilah had so many questions for her sister, not the least of which was why this pack trusted her with their children. Tess had no teaching experience or even a college degree. Their pack, their family, hadn’t been able to afford college for either of them. Back when she was a teen, Delilah had dreamed of going to college. She had worked hard, getting all A's through high school and then applied for scholarships. The state school had accepted Delilah and given her a full scholarship, but then William had forbidden her from attending.
Now she and Tess were together again, and their pack was gone. They could do anything, go anywhere together. Tess certainly had gained confidence since Delilah had last seen her. That alone made Delilah wonder what else had changed since they’d seen one another. Right now, she didn’t care. She had her sister back, alive and well, or well enough given the concussion Frank had just given her.
Still holding one another, she and Tess walked through the woods, past several cabins, small and large, until they finally reached a compound. As a shifter who’d been running through cities and woods for months now, walking naked was nothing new. Walking alongside her sister who was equally naked, through a camp full of shifters on the other hand, was quite strange. This was definitely not something they would have done down in Florida. Yet it was oddly familiar too from her early teens in North Carolina.
“I hope you have some clothes I can borrow,” Delilah said as Tess led her up the steps of a large house.
“I have a few items that will fit, but they’ll be snug. Don’t worry, we can borrow from one of the other shifters here. They’re very good about sharing, pulling together when necessary.”
“You’re here voluntarily then?” Delilah asked, still unsure how Tess fit into this pack. Delilah had heard rumors of women being held against their will in these woods.
“I’m blood-bonded to Damien, their alpha.”
Delilah grabbed Tess by the arm and turned her. “Willingly?”
Tess smiled as she squeezed Delilah’s hand. “Yes, willingly. I’m happy here, Lily. More than ever now that I know you’re alive. Come on in. We have a lot to talk about.”
As Delilah ascended the steps to the house, she could almost feel someone watching her in the distance—Frank. She scented the air, subtly so Tess wouldn’t notice. Tess turned suddenly. “You’re safe here. I promise you.”
“That guard. . .”
“Frank? Believe it or not, he was trying to protect me. And the kids nearby. We’ve had trouble along the border lately and with the WSSO. He’s a good guy, Lily. I promise you, he won’t bother you.”
Delilah turned around one last time, to scan the trees. It must have been wishful thinking, because there was no one there watching. Frank had gladly walked away from her, which was for the best. Now that she had found Tess, and her baby sister was safe, Delilah wouldn’t be staying very long.
* * *
FRANK
Frank cut over to another path and worked his way around to come up from another angle as the two females approached Tess’s house. He wanted to make sure Tess was okay after he had knocked her out. She seemed fine, beyond fine. . .glowing, ecstatic in fact. Tess had her sister, after being convinced the WSSO had killed her along with the rest of her pack.
Though their wolves had been so similar in color and markings, the two women didn’t look at all like sisters. Except for the cheeks and nose, perhaps. Delilah had brilliant green eyes compared to Tess’s pale green. Delilah was taller, leaner, built to fight, though with her curves she came across as all female. Where Tess had brown hair with red highlights, Delilah’s hair was a rich red that reminded Frank of autumn. Yet unlike Tess, Delilah seemed to hide her emotions. His Del was guarded. Even after everything Tess had been through at the hands of the WSSO, she had never once lost her smile or her capacity to reach out to others.
On second thought, the women were alike. Seeing them together, the exchange of smiles and familiarity they had with one another left no doubt what they meant to one another. They both fought hard for the ones they loved.
Frank faded into the shadows of a tree as he listened to their conversation. He had spent days thinking the worst about Delilah only to find out he had jumped to conclusions about her. She hadn’t done anything wrong. His heart began racing again at the possibility that perhaps there could still be something between them. Then he remembered her anger of a few minutes ago, how she looked at him with utter disdain. He’d never have her. Despite how certain his wolf and he had been, Delilah would never be his. Some guard he was. . . he hadn’t protected her from his own lust. He had never asked her what she wanted.
“You’re here voluntarily then?” Delilah asked Tess.
