The sun rose over the forest, casting a beautiful ray of orange over the sky. This was my favorite part about living in the forest. It was so beautiful in the morning. Kiara was still sleeping, so sweet wrap in the sheets.
I see Ajay sitting on the log that surrounds the fire. I move and I take my seat, and he doesn't even look at me. He just stares into the flame, like a madman.
"Ajay."
He looks at me, and I see the bags under his eyes. He hasn't slept all day. Chetan, on the other hand, at least drinks himself until he passes out.
"You and Chetan need to get it together, she's one member of the pack, and we cannot afford to have two guys down. If there's an attack, Chetan is obviously too drunk to fight, and I have no idea where your head is at."
He takes a deep breath. "The tree said, she is going to be the pack's downfall,
and I just let her go with the vampires."
"I think the only reason why she's going to be a downfall is because everybody is fussing over her. You're letting the whole pack fall apart over her being gone."
He nods. "You're right."
"And I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but you need to crack down on Chetan's drinking."
"I know, I am. I think it might be the only way he gets through the pain."
I try to place myself in his shoes. I can't imagine Kiara just leaving and not knowing if she's safe. Shit, Zare is rooming with killers right now.
"I understand his mindset, but I believe she's going to be back."
"And why do you think that?" He eyes me, I don't think he's convinced she'll be coming back.
"Because she doesn't have everybody wrapped around her finger with them."
He rolls his eyes. I'm not going to lie, I'm not going to be upset if I offended him. The truth is the truth, and sometimes there's no way around the truth.
"Ajay, she continuously breaks the rules and puts herself in danger, because she knows you will always be there to save her. Maybe this is a good thing. Maybe she'll learn what it's like not to have that, and she won't take it for granted.
He nods. "Maybe."
I see Chetan moving over with that damn bottle of whiskey in his hands. I don't have much to say to him these days.
Getting up from the log, I hope Kiara is awake. "I am taking Kiara out for a while to keep her mind off of things."
"Okay, you need Smoke to go with you?"
"I am fine, I know how to handle myself."
He nods. "Have fun."
I smile seeing Kiara pour herself, a cup of coffee. She is looking incredibly sad today, which aches my heart. I hate seeing her so stressed out. I hate seeing her face break into a frown.
My arms wrap around her, pulling her into my body. The familiar set of her hair overtakes my nose as I kiss the top of her head.
"We are going to go for a walk, or swim in the river."
"You think we should leave?"
"Yes." I laugh.
"I don't know, the pack probably needs me."
"So you can sit around torturing yourself like everybody else?"
She breaks out of my arms and places her hands on her hips, her face redder than a tomato.
"And what do you know about family, having a sister?"
"I once had a brother, Kiara." I feel some of the anger escaping my lips.
Her eyes grow big, realizing she chose the wrong words.
"I'll tell you the whole story."