"Cousins," Ze'ev supplied quickly.
We weren't, but the sheriff didn't need to know that. As we were part of Ze'ev's pack now, and his last name was Volkov, that made our last name Volkov. It was a weird system, but it worked.
Besides, Volkov meant wolf.
The sheriff wrote something down in his notepad and then slid it and his pen into his pocket. "Okay, I'll file a police report first thing in the morning. You'll need to come down and sign it. If anything changes in the case, I'll give you a call."
"Thank you, Sheriff." Ze'ev reached out to shake the man's hand. "If you have any questions, please do the same."
The sheriff gave a curt nod and then gestured to his deputies. The idiots that had broken into the house and attacked Ajag had already been taken away, which was probably a good thing.
It was all I could do to stay rooted to the spot as Ze'ev walked the sheriff and his deputies out. The moment I heard vehicles headed down the driveway, I started for the stairs.
I needed to check and Ajag.
I didn't understand this need that was building inside of me. The need to protect him. The need to make sure he was healthy and happy. The need to just sit and watch him breath. I just knew it was there and it was growing by the second.
I raced up the stairs to the second floor and then down to the hallway closet. I didn't realize Lu was behind me until I tried to close the door and he grabbed it. When I glanced back at him, he gestured for me to go up the stairs. I quickly did as he instructed. When I reached the attic, I paused and looked around. There wasn't a single sign of Ajag or Sy.
"Where are they?"
Lu walked over to a coat rack on the wall and turned it.
My jaw dropped when a portion of the wall slid open. "When did you find that?"
"A couple of weeks ago,"Lu signed with his hands."I tripped and grabbed onto it when I fell. That's when the panel slid open."
I hurried over to the opening and looked inside. The breath I hadn't realized I was holding blew out of my mouth when I spotted Ajag and Sy curled up in the corner.
"Are you guys okay?"
"I okay," Sy answered. "Ajag not okay."
I glanced at Ajag. He was looking a little frayed around the edges. His face was pale white and there were tears flooding his eyes, even though they didn't spill down his cheeks.
"Why don't we get you two out of here," I said as I held out my hand. "I imagine you're pretty hungry right about now."
Sy grabbed my hand. "I hungry."
He would be. The pup was a bottomless pit.
I carefully helped Sy out of the small space before handing him off to Lu, and then I reached back in for Ajag. He stared at my hand as if I might lash out and strike him at any moment.
It was a telling gesture.
I slowly lowered my hand and then moved out of the way so he could easily pass by me. Considering all he had gone through tonight, I could understand his fear, but it also felt like there was something more to it, something he refused to discuss with me or anyone else.
Ajag clearly had secrets, but we all did so I didn't press him, no matter how much I wanted to. After he came out of the hidden room, I closed it once again and then turned to watch him.
He had hurried across the room to where Sy was sitting on the edge of the bed eating a cookie. As soon as he reached the little tyke, he dropped down to his knees and began checking him over as if he thought Sy might be injured.
Again, this was a telling gesture.
I knew they were running from something or someone. I wished Ajag would trust us—me—with whatever he was so scared of. I'd protect him and Sy and I knew the others would, too.
We just needed to know what or who he was running from.
"Lu, why don't you take Sy downstairs to get some real food,"I signed silently, glad that we had all learned sign language so we could understand Lu."I need to treat Ajag's wounds and I don't want Sy to see them."
