"We're still in an impossible situation." The words come out harsh and bitter. "We didn't take you sooner because of the threat of Alex going back to prison and Chase asking us not to. But here we are and that threat still stands and Chase is still building the case. So we could have done something sooner and it wouldn't have mattered because we still might lose you and they may lock him up again anyway."
The truth of it burns.
Vee is silent.
Then she speaks. "If you had taken me sooner, I might have responded worse."
I look at her.
"I was so loyal to Ragon's pack," she continues. "Even when they were hurting me. I might have hated you for taking me before I was ready to leave."
The words stay between us.
"Do you hate us now?" I ask.
"No."
The relief is immediate and overwhelming.
But it doesn't last.
Because she still might leave. Still might be taken from us.
And there's nothing I can do to stop it.
"What do you want, Vee?" The question comes out rougher than I mean it to. "From all of this. From us."
She's quiet for a long moment.
"I still don't know," she says finally. "All I know is that I want to be able to choose. When the time comes, I want it to be my choice."
"What if you don't get to choose?" The words are out before I can stop them. "What if the registry rules against us? What if Alex's flag means we can't keep you even if you want to stay?"
Her expression shifts. I can't read it.
"Is that likely?" she asks.
"Chase says it's not looking good."
She goes still.
"So you might not be able to claim me. Ever."
"No. We might not."
The silence that falls is heavy. Choking.
"I want that for you too," I say. And I mean it. "I want you to be able to choose. But I'm terrified you're going to choose what we can't give you."
She looks at me. Really looks at me.
"I'm scared too," she says.
She closes the space between us and tucks herself against my chest.
The purr starts automatically. I can't stop it even if I wanted to. My arms come around her and the sound rumbles through my chest, deep and consuming.
"I'm sorry about Drake," she says into my shirt.
