Page 59 of My Fugitive Wolf
"Bullshit! You're breaking your promise to fight for me. You're walking away before we even know for sure what my wolf shadow wants. Mine! Not my grandfather's."
"Samara," he raised his hand toward her in a placating manner.
She smacked it away.
"You know what? You’re right. I’ll sleep alone tonight. You can go comfort yourself with your Grace and your brothers."
"Listen to me?—"
That was all he got out before she shoved him out the door and slammed it closed. Damn him and his wolf shadow.
She started shoving clothes into her backpack while mentally reviewing the railroad map she'd long ago memorized just in case she decided to leave and live her life as a rogue. Leo could get her a fake ID so she could take a regular train or bus instead of freight hopping. The tears started. Damn it. All she had wanted was to feel Kellen lying beside her, comforting her, stroking her skin, and reminding her that she didn’t have to do this alone. He had the power and strength to protect himself. Why couldn’t he do that and sleep next to her? She wasn’t made of glass that would break if she shifted back into a wolf again.
Not ready to face Kellen, she paced back and forth, she lay down on the bed half-heartedly creating an exit plan. She thought about her next destination. Colorado had mountains and temperatures that were closer to what she was used to, but it was also more likely to have wolf shifter packs. She could go west to California. The lure of seeing the Pacific Ocean excited her. She could lose herself in a beach community along the coast. There had to be places like the White Mountains Bar & Grill that would pay her under the table. Except this time, she'd know if the owner was a wolf shifter so she could avoid it. What would it feel like to dive into the deep blue sea? What would she find? Did dolphin shifters exist?
Her thoughts became sillier as evening passed into night.
There was a soft knock on the door. "Samara, it's Grace. I have dinner."
"Door's open."
Grace carried a tray filled with steak, mashed potatoes, broccoli, and iced tea. It would be so nice to order what she wanted and not what others thought she should eat once she left. If she decided to leave. Hotel food wouldn't taste the same after eating George's cooking, though.
Carlie and George. She'd never see them again.
"You're leaving us?" Grace asked, noticing Samara’s cinched backpack.
"No point in staying. There's nothing for me here with the so-called brotherhood. Your son is still a slave to his wolf shadow."
"I'll talk to him."
"Don't you dare!"
She not only startled Grace, but herself as well.
"I don't want a man who won't trust his own wolf shadow. I certainly don't want one who needs his mom to change his mind."
"I understand, but all relationships need care and understanding. I didn’t realize how much until it was too late."
"Congratulations. I'm not you and I'm not willing to wait for a man who won’t fight for me."
"Life as a rogue wolf is also not easy," she said as if Samara hadn't interrupted her. "You'll never be able to share what you are if you take human lovers. If you expose yourself to humans, the Riverstone Pack won't be the only ones to chase you down."
"I'll be careful. And honestly, I just want to get away from Kellen."
"You'll break his heart. Hasn't he suffered enough?"
Samara forced herself to ignore her own heart that thumped with sympathy she didn't want. "He broke his own heart. There's nothing I can do about that."
Her phone rang from where it was charging in the kitchen. Who could be calling her? The only people who had the number beside Kellen were George and Carlie. She pushed past Grace and ran into the kitchen, not caring if the brothers watched her.
"Hello?"
"Maria?" A heavy male voice heaved then coughed.
"George? What's wrong? What happened?"
Before he even started to talk again she put him on speakerphone while walking into the living room.
