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For a while, the topic of conversation changed to how the pack was doing. Veronica wanted to know everything that had been going on with them. Sara saw how difficult it must have been for her to leave her friends and family behind when she left. She wondered what could have happened to make Xavier’s sister want to leave.
Several times, she tried to divert the conversation back to the pressing questions she had concerning Veronica, but every time Veronica would turn the conversation around again. The woman was like an open whodunit novel. She had seen a glimpse of the tantalizing story behind Xavier’s sister, and now Sara knew she wouldn’t be able to put the book down until she knew it all.
The afternoon wore on in an easy conversation. They both consumed way too much coffee and cake. Veronica was a very easy person to talk to, and Sara warmed to her more and more.
Sara’s ears pricked up when she heard the key turn in the front door. “It sounds like Xavier’s home,” she said with a happy smile.
But Veronica had a completely different reaction. She shrank back in her seat, looking afraid. No longer was she the outgoing and bubbly woman Sara had been chatting to all afternoon. Then her face changed to a look of determination, and she pulled herself upright, straightening her back and jutting out her chin.
Sara frowned. She could never have imagined Xavier causing that kind of a reaction in someone. “We’re in here,” she called, hearing Xavier’s footsteps in the hall.
Xavier walked into the kitchen, smiling a greeting, and froze. He could not keep the look of shock from his face at the sight of his sister. Sara swore she could see his wolf hackles go up.
She hadn’t even realized that Veronica had stood, but all of a sudden, she and Xavier were circling each other in the middle of the kitchen. She sat back in her chair, listening to them both growling in the back of their throats.
“Wait,” Sara said, surprising even herself as she hopped up and got between the two angry shifters. She held her hands out, pacifyingly toward each of them. “Veronica is here for your help, Xavier. She doesn’t mean any harm. She just needs your protection.”
Xavier looked at her sharply, then back at his sister. “Is this true?” he demanded.
Veronica visibly shrank, her shoulders slumping and her head going down. “Yes,” she said. “I didn’t come here for trouble.”
“But you’re bringing it with you,” Xavier growled in response.
“Please, sit down, both of you,” Sara pleaded. “Let’s talk about this. Xavier, you at least need to hear her out. She is your sister, after all.”
Xavier gave a final growl, then relented, his shoulders slipping lower. Sara exhaled heavily, uncurling her hands that she hadn’t even realized were balled into fists.
EIGHT
XAVIER
Xavier forced himself to sit at the table opposite his sister. She hadn’t changed, turning up out of the blue and dragging trouble behind her.
“Well, what’s all this about?” he demanded.
She looked like he’d slapped her. She sat back, her cheeks flushed. She gave him the impression she was ready to bolt.
He softened. “Okay, Veronica. You took me by surprise turning up here unannounced. Have you not heard of a cell phone?”
“I had to ditch it,” she said. “I didn’t want them to trace me.”
“Didn’t wantwhoto trace you?” He found it hard to feel sorry for her. This was exactly the sort of stunt she used to pull.
“Don’t be mad at me, Xavier,” she said, sorrow in her forest-green eyes. “I got involved with a pack out west. I missed pack life. I missed home. But they weren’t like the pack here. The leader was a psycho. I had to make a run for it in the night.”
“Fuck, Veronica. You can’t just turn up here expecting my protection. It’s been too long. Did Sara tell you we’re expecting a baby?”
Veronica smiled wanly. “Yes, she did. Congratulations,” she said.
Xavier had to confess that he had never witnessed his sister look so down or contrite. And a small part of him was pleased to see her. He would never admit it, but he’d worried about her a lot after she left. Still, this was seriously bad timing. If she brought any kind of threat to his door right now that put Sara in danger, he’d personally rip her throat out. It was bad enough having the Run River pack breathing down his neck without his sister and her problems landing in his lap as well.
“This is bad timing, sis,” he said. “I don’t want trouble here right now.”
“I only need to hide until it blows over,” she said, desperation in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know about Sara and the baby until I got here. I should go. I’ll find somewhere else to hide out.”
That was just like her to put him on the spot. He should tell her to get out of here. She made her bed. She could damn well lie in it.
“Please, let her stay,” chimed Sara. “I could never forgive myself if you turned her out and something happened to her. She is family and aunt to our unborn child.”
