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“Aww, why? She just next door,” Molly whined.
“Either I walk you over, or you don’t go,” I snapped, instantly regretting my harsh words.
“Molly doll, everyone was so scared when you went off on your adventure. None of us want you to get lost and scared like that again. Let your auntie walk you next door.” Alaska winked at Molly.
“Okay, fine,” she huffed and proceeded me out the door and trotted down the four steps past Miguel to the sidewalk.
I joined her as she pointed next door. “See? Aunt Betty is right there waiting for me.” Molly bolted the few steps down the sidewalk and up onto Betty’s front porch. Her house was painted a cheery yet muted yellow with off-white trim. She decorated the porch with hanging baskets of bleeding hearts, ferns, and ivy. Two rocking chairs sat on the left side, and the right had a single porch swing.
Betty waved. “Hey, Amelia. I’ve got her.”
I waved back. “Thanks. I’ll be home all day if you need me.”
“Aunt ‘Melia, I’ll be fine,” Molly yelled as she shot through Betty’s front door and straight out the back into the yard.
I heard her light-hearted giggles and smiled to myself. Miguel stood as I walked up the steps stopping me. “You okay?” He rubbed his hands up and down my arms. I wanted to lean into his touch and accept the invitation glowing in his eyes, but I didn’t. I didn’t want to start something that would shatter my heart when it eventually ended, like everything else in my life. Everything came to an end.
“I’m fine. You go do whatever you need to do. Alaska’s with me. There’s no one safer to be with.” I shrugged his hands off and moved up to the porch.
“Except your mates. We will always be the safest to be with. We would give our lives for yours.” His eyes flamed to life. I shrugged one shoulder and walked through my door without replying. I could feel his frustration and pain through the bond between us. It broke my heart, but it was best for all of us.
Alaska had made herself home in my kitchen by the time I got back. One cup of steaming coffee was on the counter, and my trusty Keurig was chugging away, filling another cup.
“Doctor your cup how you like. We are going to settle down and have a little chat.” Alaska pulled the second cup from beneath the brew spout as it finished dripping. She added a small spoonful of brown sugar, a splash of cream, and a healthy dose of Irish whiskey to hers. She tilted the bottle again, adding another splash to my cup.
“What if I don’t want to have a little chat?” I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I still had to figure out how to convince the guys that we were not destined mates, and then I wanted to curl up in a ball and sleep until I no longer felt the pain.
“Tuff shit, sweetheart. I’m here, and I’m not leaving until you do.” She blew across her mug and sauntered past me back into the living room.
She wasn’t going anywhere, and I was going to need more than that splash of whiskey to get me through this. I added another large pour, sugar, and cream and joined her on my couch.
“Now, Amelia, tell me what happened.” Alaska sat back and sipped on her coffee. “Then we are going to discuss you and your mates.”
“Do I have to go over this again?” I sighed. I completely ignored her second comment.
“Yes, and you’ll have to tell Leo and DJ and probably the rest of the security team and possibly Jerome from the pack in the States about your sighting of Sandoval. This crosses borders we haven’t learned about yet,” she calmly replied. “They didn’t want me to tell you, but they have found the same pattern of girls missing in the southern part of the States as well.”
“Fuck, I don’t think I could do that.” My hands began to shake at the thought of telling a stranger about what had happened to me. I know everyone trusted Jerome, and he was like a grandfather to all, but I didn’t know him. To me, he was a strange man I didn’t want to talk to. But if she was right about more girls being taken, then I needed to find a way.
“Maybe it will help to talk to Kat first or another of her team? Open up and share with their support; you can then share with the rest what’s important. Every bit of information is helpful.” Alaska sat forward.
“Wouldn’t it be better to wait till Kat gets home? She’s probably busy or traveling or something.” I wrung my hands. “And her team is busy with the other girls here and covering Kat’s appointments, aren’t they?”
“Stop procrastinating. You won’t be bothering her. If I know Kat, she’s already started helping Jerome’s pack with a few sessions. Ten bucks says one of his members has already volunteered to help by organizing her appointments. That woman can’t relax to save her life.” Alaska laughed as she handed me the phone.
“For the record, I don’t want to, but just to shut you up, I’ll call. You are like a dog with a bone when you set your mind to something.” I shook my head and picked up my phone. “When she doesn’t answer, we wait until she gets home.” I dialed Kat’s cell number from memory and waited, expecting to get her voicemail. She picked up on the second ring.
“Hi, Amelia. I am so glad you called. I was just thinking about you.” Kat’s voice instantly began to calm my nerves. “I’ve been worried since I was not able to feel you in the pride bonds.”
“Hi, Kat. I’m okay, I promise. I’m sorry to worry you. I don’t cut the bond off on purpose.” I took a deep breath. “Do you have a few minutes to talk?”
“For you, always. Is this a friendly chat or a phone session?” Kat was always good about making a good definition between both. Many would think that being friends with your therapist couldn’t work, but those people never met Katrina Denmark.
“I need a session today,” I whooshed out.
“Marsha, when is my next appointment?” I heard Kat talking to her assistant. Alaska was right: even on vacation, she was working.
“In about thirty minutes,” Marsha replied.
