Page 28 of My Fugitive Wolf
Leo and Stephen headed toward the front of the van. Stephen got into the driver's side, while Leo rode shotgun. It wouldn't have surprised her if these guys had driven covered wagons with a team of horses across the west. The image almost made her smile.
Kellen handed a fist full of keys to George, who turned away and headed back into the restaurant. At the same time, Carlie broke away and came directly for Samara. The woman's eyes were filled with worry. Samara had no idea what Kellen had told the couple about her situation.
"Hey, hon." Carlie pulled Samara into an unexpected hug then slipped a piece of paper into her hand. "I don't know what sort of trouble you're in, but it doesn't matter. I've trusted Kellen to protect my own kids when we needed an emergency babysitter, so you just stay by his side and those three will make sure whatever is wrong gets righted and they'll do it fast."
A well of sorrow opened up in her chest. She didn’t know Carlie or George that well, but she felt the tug of a bond between her and the older woman. Instead of responding, she unfolded the piece of paper. There were two phone numbers on it.
"Those are our numbers," Carlie explained. "Text us once you're on the road so we'll have your number as well. It's a backup plan just in case you need it. Also, if something happens to any of those three, you call us and let us know, okay?"
"Even Leo?" Samara tried to make it sound like a joke as she placed the paper in her pocket. She promised herself she’d add the numbers to the phone Kellen had given her once they were on the road.
Carlie didn't respond. Instead, she leaned forward, gave Samara a quick peck on the cheek, and whispered. "Be good. But if you can't be good, be careful."
Then she was gone, leaving Samara somewhat stunned. She could only watch Carlie's braids swing in time to her steps as she made her way up the ramp heading into the restaurant.
The van's engine started; the brief rev made it clear it was time for her to get on board. Through the windows, she saw Kellen sitting in the left-side second row seat, so she made her way around to the right. The door was already open, waiting for her to climb in.
For the first half-hour, there was nothing but silence between all four of them, not even music on the radio. The two-lane road heading out of Winterbourne and toward Prescott gave her time to just stare off into the distance, letting her mind wander. She avoided harsh topics like yesterday's bloody fight. An hour after that the forest thinned out and other small towns appeared and disappeared as they continued westward. Her eyes closed once they crossed into Prescott. Another hour passed and the city view changed one more time. They'd hit Flagstaff.
"Are you hungry? Thirsty? Do you need us to stop?" Kellen spoke to her for the first time since they left.
"No, I don't need to stop, but I wouldn't mind a drink."
He opened a cooler that had been set between their seats and pulled out a bottle of water.
"How are your stitches? Do you need more aspirin?"
She hadn't thought about her stitches until he mentioned them. All the violence from yesterday seemed to have completely disconnected her body from her emotions. Only now did she realize that the stitches itched but didn't hurt.
"I'm not in pain. Not from the stitches. Can we remove them?"
"Let me see." He pulled out his phone and activated the flashlight. Samara had to unbuckle her seat belt to get her neck close enough to Kellen for him to take a look at her wound. The tickle of his breath against her pulse caused a brief hitch in her breath, but she closed her eyes and focused on the warmth of Kellen's fingers delicately lifting her chin so he could get a better view of her neck.
How could she still feel attracted to someone who demonstrated such power and ferocity as he had yesterday? It had to be more than what he would do to protect her. What was it about him that tangled up her inner desires despite the violence?
"Interesting," he muttered before turning off the light and pulling away, leaving her feeling colder than before.
"What is?" she asked.
"You're almost healed. We can remove your stitches the next time we stop."
"That's not normal."
"No. It should have taken another four or five days minimum for you to heal to this point."
"So, you think my wolf shadow is still there, inside of me."
"It's the only explanation that I have."
She could see Leo and Stephen look at each other while she clicked her seatbelt back into place.
"I know that's not what you wanted to hear," he said.
"I'd rather hear the truth than live with wishful thinking."
"But you're still disappointed."
All she could do was nod because her throat tightened around all the foul words stuck in it.
