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“Y-Yes, but…”
“But what?”
“He says it will be at least a week before he can come to see her. Even then, he made no guarantees that he would accept her into the—”
“Fuck!” McGoven slammed a fist onto the counter, and Loren felt an answering twinge through her chest. It was as if she were a mirror, reflecting whatever he felt. Now? More than rage plagued him. Fear?
“What the hell is he so busy doing that he has to wait a whole week?”
“He’s the Alpha Bill,” Sonia said softly. “If he says he’s busy, then he’s busy. Besides…as cruel as it sounds, she’s not one of his—at least not yet. He has no responsibility to her. Why should he hurry?”
“Because I don’twanther, that’s why.” McGoven groaned in frustration, cradling his face in his hands. “What the hell am I supposed to do with her for an entire damn week? It’s hard enough smoothing over that mess with her father. Sooner or later, the wrong people will start asking the right questions.”
“Help her,” Sonia suggested. “Protect her. Keep her safe. I know this is a lot to ask of you, but she doesn’t have anyone else. Look at me, Bill.”
He did, and something inside Loren lurched. It was the same envy she’d felt while Naomi pranced around in her fancy boots—but times a million. Poisonous jealousy.No,that voice within her cried.He shouldn’t look at her. Not her. Me!
Her jaw ached with the restraint it took to remain silent. This was insane. She had no right to be upset.
Then, Sonia placed her hand on his shoulder, and her mind went blank.NO!The protest ripped through her skull. Her body—as if Sonia simply touching him went against the fabric of her entire being.
Her lips parted with the impulse to voice just one word. Scream it.Mine—
“Loren, are you okay?” Sonia had both hands against the counter now, her head cocked with concern.
No, she wasn’t. Heart pounding, Loren darted past the kitchen for the front door. Outside, the cold air felt like a slap, but it didn’t help to knock any sense into her. She couldn’t erase the sight of them from her mind.
He can look at her,a part of her cruelly whispered.He seems to have no problem touching her—it’s you he can’t stand.
He said so himself.What am I supposed to do with her for a whole week?
Apparently, he was waiting for thisLukkato come for her. To take her where?
She had no idea. But wasn’t that how the game of her life seemed to be played? People just came and shuffled her from one place to the other, and she never had any say.
Well, I do now.
Gritting her teeth, she descended the porch steps while the wind tore at her braid and her bare feet sank into fresh mud. The slight discomfort wasn’t enough to make her turn back.
Where could she possibly go, anyway?
Run,that familiar instinct urged. Just run away.No one will miss you…
It wasn’t like she had any ties to New Walsh. Her father was dead. That crappy ranch house at the end of the street was empty.
She had nothing left. Except…
Her feet carried her forward without any input from her brain. Almost on autopilot, she reached her destination—the barn.
She was freezing by the time she muscled open the door and pushed her way inside. Once enclosed by the familiar four walls, she felt safe. It was with an almost dream-like calm that she went over to the saddle rack and grabbed a set of tack at random, then headed for the back stall.
Bunny and Esther greeted her warmly, but Loren only had eyes for Xavier. Out of the three, he was the only one fit enough to ride and, as if knowing her intention, he didn’t shy away for the first time in months as she opened his stall.
She had never ridden a horse before, though she seemed to instinctively know how to clip the reins onto his halter and lead him fearlessly to a nearby bench that made for the perfect makeshift mounting block.
A strange sense of urgency drove her on—Hurry, hurry, hurry. Can’t let him see.
Though what did it matter?
