Within a few minutes of walking, a black Jetta busted a U-turn right in the middle of the street. He veered off the road and jumped out of his car. Josh's long arms wrapped me in a hug and held me tight. I could feel the wind picking my hair up and blowing in a tangled mess. I was not sure if it was just a windy day or if it was creating a circle of relative protection around us.
I took a few deep breaths and slowed my heart rate down letting the wind subside around us. He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes. "You okay?"
I shook my head and pressed the heel of my palms into my eye sockets making the world go black for a second before taking another deep breath. "Can we go somewhere? Anywhere besides here?"
He did not ask questions and just pulled me towards the car door helping me in. The car was warm with the heat steadily humming on low. The radio was tuned into an old country classics station that only played the "golden oldies" on Saturday mornings. Josh climbed into the driver's seat and put the car in drive. The door locks automatically clicked shut as he made one last U-turn to head out of the compound. I could not help but stare out the window and wonder if this would be the last time, I was home.
Our pack bought the twenty acers of livable land and five acers of surrounding woods when the town was first starting. It was surrounded with a low wooden fence that would not do much to keep anyone out, but it let running wolves know when the property ended, and they were no longer under full protection from the pack. Outside of the gate shifting was frowned upon. Each founding family received an acer of land that they built on and added houses to for their descendants. When some families died out others took over their plots of land to make room for new members or families that had expanded past their one acer. We had been looking to purchase a few more acers since we had seen such large growth during our time of peace, but that was still all in talks.
Every family built their houses to their styles, so some were bright blue like ours while others were plain white. We even had a few log cabin style homes scattered about. The home itself would be essentially rented to the family but the land it sat on belonged to the Alpha. Each family paid for their own water and mortgage if they had to take one out to build, but we footed the costs for property taxes. Running a pack was expensive so we had small businesses scattered across the land ranging from a large garden that we all took turns tending and then selling at the local farmers markets to bee hives that we would all come together and harvest the honey from during the proper seasons. Some members of the pack held high paying jobs within the local community and would help contribute to living costs, but it was never required, and nobody received special treatment for it.
We were a family and I was being forced to leave it. As we drove little kids waved at us recognizing the car while other kids were in their yards wrestling in their wolf form gave us a short bark and then a howl. I had not noticed that tears were slipping down my cheeks until one dropped onto my hand making me jump.
"Are you ready to talk about what's going on?"
"Because my mate is an upper rank of another pack, we have to sign a treaty. In that treaty it states I will essentially be isolated from the pack until my eighteenth birthday when I will be forced out. I have the option to leave before then but not after. They cannot risk me sharing information with a potential enemy. My future children will be allowed on the property to visit but will hold no status for being part of their family."
He sucked in a sharp breath and his shoulders dropped. "So now you're wondering if staying the year is worth it or if you should just stop delaying the inevitable?"
"Exactly." He nodded and tightened his hands on the steering wheel. "I spoke with Adam last night, and we both hope that you will come with me to be my personal protector as Luna." His eyes widened and turned towards me almost swerving to the other side of the rode. "Josh!" He jerked the wheel back making my head bounce against the window. I groaned and rubbed the now sore spot on the back side of my head. Maybe asking while he was in control of the vehicle was not my smartest idea.
Josh was supposed to be my brother's beta. It was his blood right, but after everyone but us had found their mates we felt isolated and came together. It was not easy watching all our friends have an ultimate best friend and love of their life while we sat alone. It only made sense. Many thought we had mated and were just too naive to understand our friendship was not just a friendship. We had been each other's rocks since we were twelve and I could not imagine a home without him.
"Lils wouldn't that be betraying my own pack? It's my duty to step up and fill my father's role."
"We both know that John already has a beta lined up to overthrow you as soon as you take charge. With us you would not have that. You would be part of the inner circle and your voice heard just as much as every other ranking member. You wouldn't be afraid and looking over your shoulder."
"I will think about it, but where I stand now it would be a disgrace to my family." I pulled my knees up to my chest and curled my arms around them. Adam had warned me that this was what would probably happen, but I do not think I really believed him.
"Can you take me to the hotel in town? I'll stay there for the night and then find out what I am going to do from there." He nodded and sped the car up now that we had a solid destination.
"I can stay the night if you'd like. It is still my job to protect the alpha's family and you will always be a member of their family to me."
I shook my head and held onto my legs tighter. I dug my nails into my palms willing myself not to cry more. "I'll be okay. I think I just need some time alone."
We pulled into the hotel and Josh helped me check in then get my bag to the room. He gave me the tightest hug goodbye that I had ever experienced, and I knew that this could be the last time I was able to hug him. He stepped back and used his thumb to wipe the tear from my cheek. "I'm only a call away. I will see you Monday at school if you decide not to come back. We'll understand."
He turned and walked out before I could respond. My heart sank and I felt vile rise in my throat. I was going to vomit. I ran to the bathroom throwing up most of my lunch before flushing it down. Finding your mate was supposed to be the happiest time of your life, yet here I was being torn in half.
I pulled out my phone and sent a message to Adam.
Lily: I checked into a hotel in town. Lots of family drama.
Adam: Do you need me to come and get you?
Lily: No. I think I just need some alone time to get my thoughts straight. I'm just not sure what to do yet.
Adam: I'm always here for you. I can be there within minutes if you need me.
Lily: I know. I appreciate you saying that, but I just need to ghost everything for a little bit. Disconnect and get my head on straight you know?
Adam: I get that. Don't disconnect for too long though. I need to know you're safe. You're not protected out there.
Lily: I'll see you on Monday.
Adam: First period. Not a second later.
Lily: Not a second later.
I shut off my phone and put it on the nightstand table. I picked up the TV guide and flipped through the channels until I settled on reruns of I Love Lucy. I did not know if I should make a pros and cons list or just lay here and mope then order takeout later. Both seemed to be viable options, but I settled for closing my eyes and listening to the rain that had started to fall outside. The dark clouds matched the mood of my day and I felt calm wash over me. Being surrounded by water was like having a shield around my room. I knew if anything was to happen, I could protect myself.
I drifted off to sleep for a few hours and woke up starving. The I Love Lucy reruns had ended and transferred to Three's Company. I stretched my arms and heard a hard knock on the door. I tried to feel the rain outside, but it must have stopped at some point while I was sleeping.
I sighed and rolled out of bed expecting to find Adam waiting on the other side. I did not have to tell him which hotel I was staying at because of the energy pull. He could have easily found me by just focusing in on our bond.
I flipped the lock and the chain pulling the door open. "I told you I was fi-." I stopped midsentence as silver eyes stared back at me from within a dark hood.
"Oh, my dear. You're anything but fine now." I raised my hands causing the puddles at his feet to form ropes wrapping around his ankles, but I was groggy from sleep and too slow. He grabbed onto my hair and stabbed something into my neck. I could feel the air whip around us as my heart rate accelerated and I fought for control of my body, but just as quickly as it happened everything went still.
I could feel my heart rate slow to a dangerous crawl before the world went black