Kip wound his arms around me. “We’re doing our best to find out who did this. John has a few groups talking to the pack, to see if he can find any clues. Your parents are out there, knocking on doors, trying to find someone who might have seen or heard something. My parents, my sister and brother, and some friends volunteered to come here and take care of your garden until you feel up to it.”
Warm tears trickled down my cheeks. “I hate this,” I groused. “I wanted to make you happy, and all I’m doing is dragging you down with me.”
“Then we go down as one.” Kip’s voice was strong and clear. “No matter what, we’re in this together.” He gripped my chin, forcing me to look him in the eye. “Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Kip.”
Funny how saying that gave me a modicum of strength.
Then all the tension bled out of him.
“Do you want me to tuck you in for a nap?” He sounded like a parent wanting to take care of their child, which at times both warmed and annoyed me in equal measure.
I hated to admit how exhausted I’d been since getting out of the hospital. The doctor told me it was to be expected with the trauma I’d undergone.
Didn’t mean I liked it, though.
I swallowed hard. “Can I go sit in the back? I haven’t seen the sun for a while.”
Just saying the words made me want to barf, but I knew I had to take that first step.
He smiled at me. “Sure, let’s go.”
Once he had a firm grip on my hand, he led me to the back door. When we got there, he turned, his expression serious.
“If you get nervous or scared or uncomfortable, you tell me and we’ll come back in. Don’t push yourself.”
“Yes, Kip.”
He leaned in for a kiss. “Remember that.”
The sun was brighter than hell when he opened the door. I winced against the brilliance which exploded in my head. Still, it felt warm on my skin, chasing away the chill that seemed to have settled deep inside me. I stepped outside and scanned the deck, desperately trying to find something.
“The rock is gone,” Kip said, his voice soft. “I had John take it away.”
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I used to be happy. I could afford to be, especially when I was with Kip.
Now I was a coward, too scared of his own shadow to step out into the world.
“Can we go back inside?” I begged Kip. “I think Iwilltake that nap.”
I felt absolutely fucking miserable about it.
Kip
We were so fuckingclose.
I’d been trying to get Mase to go outside since we got home. Every time he begged off, claiming headache or pain somewhere in his body. I knew that was likely to be true. The doctor told me that if a wolf had survived the initial attack, his healing boost would break under the strain of what he’d been through and he would probably still die. So yeah, the damage was that severe. It was no wonder he was having issues now.
He needs to see someone. Talk it out.
I sure as hell wasn’t qualified, especially seeing as how justthinkingabout it turned me into a homicidal maniac.
Shit, maybeIneed to talk to someone too.
A few months ago, the only thing we had to worry about was getting good grades. Then it was how to keep Mason from marrying someone because his family said he had to. The next hurdle became passing off a fake relationship as something real.
Something real I desperately wanted to hold on to.
