197- Leaving and leaning


    As we step outside, I’m confused to find that I actually have no idea where we are. I really was just


    running and following the tracking spell. I don’t know how far I ran. It’s a good thing the others are here


    to bring back the cars because I would be wandering all night trying to find my way back. I’m also fairly


    sure that I left my phone in the car when I jumped out in a hurry. Kiara clutches my hand tightly as the


    cars pull up on the street in front of us.


    “Megan, Darrien. You stay here and speak to the police when they arrive. Direct further questions to


    me. Shaun, you stay with them too.” Bemy directs as Shaun hops out the car. At Megan’s insistence


    he stays a good couple of metres away from us.


    “Yes Alpha Kane.” He responds cheerfully. Aaron and Rio also climb out of the vehicles. Rio stops to


    chat with one of the other Shifters whose name I still don’t know. Aaron immediately approaches me.


    Actually a better way to phrase it is that he storms over. He looks almost angry. Or at least as angry as


    he ever looks. Is he avoiding looking at me straight on? Darn it. He IS upset with me. I guess he didn’t


    appreciate being ordered out of the room. But the ce was on FIRE. There was no point in both of us


    being there. I expected him to march right up to me, but with a nce at Kiara he stops a fair distance


    away and then just stands there, ramrod straight back and arms crossed over his chest. Yeah… I’m


    going to have to do something about him. Megan and Shaun have moved on toforting the Shifter


    woman who was being held hostage at the house. I call out to Megan.


    “Megs? Make sure she has somewhere safe to stay.” I remind her. Megan gives a casual wave as if


    she had already considered that. The Shifter woman sends a watery smile my way. She’s not had a


    great night and now half of her home is burned up.


    “Kiara? Can I sit you in the back seat of my car so I can get dressed? We can put the heater on for


    you?” Bemy suggests gently. She turns to look at me and I nod.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    “I’lle sit with you.” I promise. She nods her consent and Bemy carefully lowers her into the back


    seat of the ck car. She slides along the seat to ball herself up against the far side car door and I


    move with her cing myself in the middle seat. Kiara moves from against the car door and instead


    sters herself to my side. Bemy steps away and grabs something from the boot of the car, new


    clothes I assume. When he returns, he looks a little odd. His face and arms are absolutely filthy with


    ash and soot, but his blue shirt and ck track pants are immactely clean. They look very out of


    ce. Ugh, we all need to get cleaned up. Every single one of us is a mess, although Kiara is definitely


    the worst. She looks like she hasn’t gotten to clean herself up since she was taken. She is still wearing


    her ratty old pyjamas. Bemy doesn’t get into the car with us, instead he kneels down by the open car


    door.


    “Kiara? I promised we wouldn’t take you anywhere without your permission. Would you like toe


    back to where Ryann and I live? We can get you some food and a bath. We will probably have to have


    a quick talk with some police but we will try and get it over with as soon as possible. He promises.


    Kiara nods and Bemy moves into the driver’s seat. I assume it will just be the three of us going since


    we’re still keeping the others away from Kiara which is why I’m shocked when Aaron climbs into the


    back seat beside me. Kiara whimpers and moves away from me and Aaron to press her back against


    the car door.


    “Hey, sweetheart, it’s okay. This is Aaron, he is my good friend and he also works as my personal


    b*dyguard. It’s his job to keep me safe. He will help keep you safe too. I know he looks kind of big and


    scary but he’s really not. I trust himpletely and totally so you can too.” I do my best to reassure her.


    She still seems nervous and doesn’t move from her ce, but she does rx a little bit. Bemy starts


    the car and we start towards home.


    The silence in the back seat is painful. Kiara is silent because she isn’t talking. Aaron is usually silent,


    but this is different to usual. Usually he responds non–verbally and I can see his attentiveness and


    interest. Right now it feels


    1/2


    197- Leaving and leaning


    more like he is pointedly ignoring me.


    “Aaron are you okay?” I ask.


    “Yes Miss Gale.” he responds coldly. Ouch, yeah he’s pissed.


    “You don’t seem okay. You seem kind of angry. Are you mad at me Aaron?” I demand. Without


    hesitation he responds.


    “Of course Miss Gale.” Darn, of course? Aaron really must be upset with me. Still, like Bemy, i


    suspect that he is less angry and more concerned. Aaron really is a giant teddy bear after all. Bemy


    nces back from the driver’s seat but I give him a smile to show him that I’m handling it. Aaron isn’t


    doing anything wrong, he’s allowed to be upset with me.


    “Are you angry because I made you leave? Or more urately because I made you leave me behind?”


    I rify. He gives


    a short nod.


    “Right, well would it help if I apologise?” I ask. Aaron turns his head towards me a little and narrows his


    eyes. Right… Well, I don’t know what that means, but he still deserves an apology.


    “Aaron, I am sorry that I ordered you to leave and made it impossible for you to do your job. I really do


    appreciate. everything you do for me and I will do my best to be more respectful of that in the future.


    Also I promise not to stay in a burning building without you again, next time you can totally stay with


    me. Forgive me?” I wink at him. Aaron considers my face then a small smile creeps across his own. He


    gives a slight nod. I bump his elbow with my own.


    “Thanks Aaron.“I tell him gratefully.


    Kiara coughs again which draws my attention back to her. I notice that Kiara has been watching my


    interactions with Aaron intently. She looks a little confused by it. I wink at her.


    “Aaron doesn’t talk much. But it’s fun to try and trick him into it. You should have a try sometime.” I joke.


    It was the right thing to say. Kiara straightens up and sits in the car seat beside me properly, no longer


    cowering away from Aaron. I squeeze her hand in encouragement and she gives me a small, weak


    smile. That smile does more for making me feel better than all the painkillers in the world. She is


    hurting and scared, but she can still smile. It’s going to be a long and difficult road to her recovery, but I


    know that she is going to be okay.


    Chapter Comments


    9


    POST COMMENT NOW