“I’ll miss you too, Aunty Toya.” Carly launched herself up into Toya’s arms and she hugged her tight.
“And I you, little mouse.” Toya clutched her to her chest. “I cannot wait to have pups of my own because I know you will be a good big sister to them.” Toya kissed her head. “You are just as much mine as you are Amy’s. You know that, right?” Toya pulled back and Carly laughed.
“I know.” Then her face grew solemn again. “Watch over her.” She looked back at me. “She is going to need a lot of support and guidance.”
Toya smirked. “As she always does.” They laughed together and then Wendy walked into the room.
“Abby is waiting for you upstairs.” Wendy stuck a thumb and pointed back up the stairs. “She said something was ready?” Wendy sounded confused, but Carly looked excited as she wiggled out of Toya’s arms.
“The tea party is ready!” She squealed.
“What?” The three of us asked at the same time.
Alannah came out of the kitchen laughing. “Abby asked me to help her throw a tea party. Carly is the guest of honor.” Alannah winked at us. “But Wendy is right. Ternen just delivered the snacks and drinks upstairs. Everyone else is already at her table. They are just waiting on you.”
Carly squealed as she ran upstairs. I watched her go before I quickly looked at Alannah. “How are you feeling?” I walked over and raised my hand, waiting for permission before I touched her swollen belly.
She laughed. “I thought you and your mom were just joking about my stomach, but just look at me. I’m a balloon.” She chuckled again as I felt a kick. Her face grew a little serious. “Ididn’t realize how tired and sick I had felt until I woke up today. I woke up rested, happy, and strong for the first time in months.” She rubbed her stomach. “You saved us, and I don’t know if I will ever be able to thank you enough. But my pups will know how much you did for us.”
I kissed her cheek. “You deserve to be happy.” I stepped back. “Stay close and stay safe.” She nodded once before Toya and I turned and left out the front door.
Lynn was waiting with my mother outside. They both looked up as we left the house. She started to shake a little, but Toya and I both pretended not to see. “Ready to go?” I asked.
My mom smiled and rubbed her shoulder. “Lynn wanted to ask a favor.”
I walked over and waited. “Okay…”
Lynn shuffled for a few seconds. “I know that this is just a bandaid. And it won’t help me process anything that has happened.” She was stalling and trying to explain herself.
“Just ask.” I tipped my head to the side and waited.
She met my eyes and I saw panic there. “I’m terrified to leave. So much so that my wolf is digging into me. She feels safe here, and we haven’t felt safe since leaving our pack.”
That was a kick to the stomach. “Understandable.” I looked at my mom. “I failed you.”
Lynn shook her head. “No. Amy you didn’t.” She grabbed my hand. “You had things you had to do.”
I nodded. “But I should have kept a better eye on you and what was happening.” I rubbed my thumb over the side of her hand. “I owe you.” She shook her head. “Just tell me what you need. Do you need to stay here? Done. I won’t make you leave.”
She shook her head more vigorously. “It’s not that.”
“Then how can I help?” I watched her fight with her words. My mom stepped closer to her and rubbed her back.
“You can do this.” My mom’s words seemed to bolster her.
Lynn met my eyes again, and I still saw the panic, but something else was there. A hidden strength she probably didn’t even know she had. “I want you to command me to not be afraid.”
I reeled back like I was slapped. “What?” My gaze snapped to my moms, but she was focused on Lynn. “Lynn…”
“Before you say no, can you listen to my reasoning first?” She rushed out. I watched her for a second and then nodded.
“Of course.”
She shuddered. She was obviously worried I would have said no before she could try to reason with me. “I’m terrified to leave.” She started. “But I need to leave. I can’t stay here for the rest of my life. I have a pack, a position in that pack, and potentially a second chance out there. But mainly…I need to take back my strength. Derek needs to die, and I need to see it through. I won’t be able to move on without it. He has become my boogyman.” Her face morphed into a mask of hatred. “He doesn’t deserve to have that much power over anyone. Including me. He took a bond that was supposed to be sacred and turned into torture.” She looked lost as her brain forced her back to that place. I squeezed her hand, and I watched her eyes struggle to focus back on me. “If you take the fear away, then I can function. I can do my job. I can keep my rank and dignity in our pack. But most of all.” She looked down to the ground. “If you take the fear away, when I see Derek, I won’t be back there in that dark room. He won’t have power over me anymore. And I will be able to kill him.”
“You can kill him now.” Toya tossed out softly. Her support was unwavering.
But Lynn shook her head. “Physically? Yes. I can.” She seemed to gain a bit of strength from that. “Mentally? I don’t know if I am strong enough yet. But we have run out of time.” She lifted her hand. “I’m shaking this hard just thinking about leaving myroom for a night. Being back in the pack terrifies me because if they see what I have become, they will shun me.”
