Lu didn't reply, but he did pick the kid up and start taking him out of the room.
"Wait!" Ajag cried out. "Where are you taking him?"
"Lu is just taking him downstairs to get something to eat," I quickly explained. "He'll be back soon. I want to make sure you don't have any injuries."
"I'm fine," Ajag replied, but I felt as if it was an automatic response.
Or he was evading.
He was still deathly pale and there were bruises forming along his cheek and on his wrists. I didn't want to think about the bruises he might have hidden under his clothes.
"Are you able to shift?" I asked.
That would cure most of it.
"I'll shift when Sy comes back."
I sighed. I suppose I had to accept that. I didn't like Ajag sitting there in pain, but I didn't think arguing with him was going to help anything. It still didn't sit well with me.
"I know you're planning on leaving."
Ajag stiffened, but didn't look at me. He had his head bent, staring down at his hands as he clutched them together so hard they were turning white.
"You don't have to go," I hurried to say. "I'll keep you safe. I promise. Everyone here will."
Ajag shook his head. "Nowhere is safe."
Technically, that was true, but we could make the ranch as safe as possible. It was better than being out there on the run day after day.
"Ajag—"
"I can't stay, Rad. It's too dangerous, for me and for you."
I closed my eyes for a moment, the pain in my chest so bad that I felt as if I might explode at any moment. I drew in a deep breath before opening my eyes once again.
"Give me one week," I stated. "One week and I won't fight you on leaving."
Ajag's brow furrowed. "Why do you care? I'm a stranger to you."
I couldn't exactly answer that because I wasn't sure myself. I just knew that I did care and I cared a lot. The thought of Ajag out there on the run made me sick to my stomach.
"One week," I repeated.
In one week, I could do a lot.
Chapter Six
~ Ajag ~
I'd done it. I'd given Rad the week he had begged for, but now it was time to leave. Even though a couple of shifts had healed most everything, I wanted to make sure I was in the best condition before Sy and I left so I'd spent the week recovering.
That week was up.
I glanced up from my cleaning when someone knocked on the attic door. I had wanted to straighten up the place so we weren't leaving a huge mess behind. After everything these people had done for me and Sy, it was the least I could do.
"Come in," I called out.
The door opened and Rad stepped into the room, quietly shutting the door behind him. I knew from the pensive look on his face what he wanted to say, or ask in this case. I just couldn't do it.
