Chapter 28
Kayla
After I finish with Noah, I make my way back to the bathroom.
I’m not ready to face Jackson just yet. Instead, I towel dry my hair and start brushing out the tangles.
I moisturize my face and then stare into the mirror a moment and let myself finally dwell on the events of today, the reality of today.
Renee betrayed me, betrayed us. The thought is much more painful than I thought it would be.
I grip the edges of the sink as memories of the first time we met run through my head.
“This will be really quick,” I tell Noah as we head into the grocery store.
True to my word, we exit the store less than fifteen minutes later.
It doesn’t take long to grocery shop when you have literally no money.
“See how fast that was?” Noah doesn’t say anything in return, but I don’t let it bother me.
“At least it’s warm out,” I tell him as we start down the sidewalk to begin the walk back to our apartment.
“Hey,” a guy says, suddenly in front of me. I jump in surprise; I didn’t even see him approach. “Can you help me?” he asks. “My car won’t start.”
I take Noah’s hand in mine. “Um, no. I don’t know anything about cars, but I can call for help for you.”
He grabs my hand, shocking me so much, I don’t fight back right away. “No, I need your help.” He pulls me towards the parking lot. My fight or flight instincts rush through me, and I try to pull my hand from his.
Suddenly, a woman appears and hits him over the back of the head with something hard enough to make him drop his hold on my hand and stumble back. “Get out of here!” she demands. The guy curses, holding the back of his head, and runs off.
I whirl around. “Noah!” He’s right behind me with wide eyes. “Are you okay?” He nods, fear still in his eyes. I take his hand in mine and turn to the woman.
She faces us. “Are you both okay?”
“Yes. Thank you so much. If you hadn’t showed up when you did...” A shudder runs through me.
She gives me a small smile. “We gals have to stick together.” She frowns at me. “Do you want me to call somebody?”
“No, we’re good. Thank you.”
“Okay.” She takes a step back. “I’ll walk with you to your car, just to make sure he’s really gone.”
“Oh, we’re just walking home,” I explain.
“Where do you live?” she asks.
“Just a few blocks down in those apartment buildings.” I point, and she looks in that direction.
“Come on. I’ll give you a ride.” I hesitate. “Come on. You're both shaken; let me get you home safely.”
I finally cave. “Okay. Thank you.” We follow her to her car, and Noah climbs in the backseat. I sit up front.
“So, I’m new to the area. You’ll have to tell me what’s good.”
I look over at her in interest. “Yeah? We are too. We’ve only been here two weeks, but it’s a really great town.”
“Yeah, I love what I’ve seen so far. Well, except for this morning.”
I grimace. “That’s the first time we’ve had any problems.”
“Good to know.”
It’s quiet as she drives. When she pulls into our parking lot, after I point it out to her, she drives right up to the front door.
“Thank you. We really appreciate it,” I tell her before I open my door and climb out.
Noah does the same and stands next to me.
I bend over, so I can see her. “I just got hired at Mama May’s Café in town.
It’s really good. You should stop by sometime. ”
She smiles at me. “I will. Thanks.”
“When you do, your meal’s on me,” I tell her.
The memory fades, and I wonder if she planned it all from the beginning.
She was the first friend I made here. I met her before I met Jessie, before I got to know Butch and Mama May.
I remember when she came for the first time to the café while I was working, took one look at Noah sitting at the table while I worked and volunteered to watch him two days a week, the days she didn’t work.
Now, I wonder if it was all a set-up. Did she know who I was from the beginning?
Did she target me? I feel a tear drip down my face, and I push it away in frustration.
Sowhat if she was my first friend? So what if she betrayed us?
But the thoughts don’t push away the pain in my chest. Another tear tracks down my cheek.
I become aware of a presence in the doorway.
I don’t glance over, but I know Jackson’s there.
I wipe my eyes again. I swallow hard and push my emotions away, forcing a smile.
When I turn, Jackson’s eyes run over my face.
I get the idea he doesn’t miss anything.
He confirms it when he asks, “What’s wrong? ”
I shake my head. “Nothing. I’m just being emotional.”
His face doesn’t change. “You’ve been through a lot today.
It’s okay to be emotional.” Those words coming from this man that oozes masculinity and has probably never cried a day in his life make me laugh.
I wipe another tear away and walk towards him.
I wait for him to move out of my way, but he doesn’t.
“So which part from today is making you cry? It's not the deadbeat uncle right?”
I choke on a laugh. “No. I would never shed a tear over him.”
“Good.”
He waits, and I get the feeling he’s not going to let me out of the bathroom until I tell him. I finally give up trying to hold out and sigh. “Renee,” I finally tell him. “I thought she was my friend.”
“I’m sorry.” He doesn’t offer empty words, and I appreciate that.
Wanting to change the subject, I ask, “So the guy that was near me when I woke up, is he the doctor?”
He nods. “He and his mate helped you; she finished with your healing while he monitored you.”
I take that in. “I should probably meet them and thank them.” I look up at him. “Do you know which room they’re staying in?”
“I can find out.” His voice is gruff. He scowls. “They all keep giving me their phone numbers.”
His response makes me smile. “You probably hate that, don’t you?”
“I’m not in a pack for a reason,” he all but growls.
I want to dive into that more, but I also want to thank the doctor and his mate before they go to sleep. “Do you mind getting me their room number?”
He pulls out his phone and texts. A minute later, a text comes in. “Room 327.”
“Okay.” I don’t move, and neither does he. I remind myself that I’m pain free right now because of them, and it’s all the motivation I need to get moving. “I’m just going to run down there real quick. Do you mind staying here with Noah?”
I look up at him in time to watch his eyes track down the front of me. “You’re wearing that?” he asks, his voice low.
I glance down at myself. “Uh, yeah. It’s shorts and a tank.
” I take in the expression on his face. “What? It’s not like I’m naked or something.
” He growls low in his chest and palms the back of his neck before turning away.
I follow him out of the bathroom and look for my flip flops.
I find them near the front door next to Noah’s shoes.
“I’ll be right back. Will you be awake to let me in? Or should I take a key?”
Jackson strides towards me and thrusts something into my hands. “I’ll go with you. Ransom’s coming to stay with Noah.”
“Oh. I’m fine to go by myself.”
“Not happening.” I take in the look in his eyes and shrug.
“Okay. What is this?” I ask, holding up one of his flannel shirts.
“It’s a shirt.”
I roll my eyes. “I know that. Why do I have it?”
“So, you can wear it.”
I frown. “It’s not even cold. Why would I wear it? Besides it’s yours.”
“Exactly.”
“Jackson, I don’t need this. I’m just going to—”
He stops right in front of me and puts a hand on the shirt, keeping it in my hand. “We’re going out into the hallway where anyone can see you, and we’re going to another male’s room. I need you covered up.”
I look down at myself. “I am covered up. Good grief, Jackson. You make it sound like I’m going to go parading down the halls naked.”
He growls again. “Can you stop talking about being naked?”
“For Pete’s sake.” I take the shirt and thrust my arms through it. “There. Happy now?” I scowl at him.
He steps so close, I catch my breath. I have no idea what he’s doing when he reaches out. A moment later, I look down to see him buttoning the buttons. “Are you kidding me right now?”
“No.” When I’m buttoned all the way, and by all the way, I mean all the way until it ends near my knees, he finally steps back. “Okay.”
I look down at myself and then up at him. “I look ridiculous.”
“Not the word I had in mind.”
“Stupid then?”
“No.”
I shake my head. “Let’s get this over with.” There’s a knock at the door. I blow out a breath of frustration and walk over to the door and open it when I see it’s Ransom. He takes one look at me and grins. I put a hand up. “Not a word.”
He smirks. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
He saunters past me, saying something to Jackson that’s too low for me to hear.
I step out into the hallway and head towards the elevators.
I quicken my pace, hoping to beat Jackson to the elevators.
If I do, he’ll just have to wait until I come back.
I push the button for the elevator and then slip inside and push the button to go down quickly.
I breathe a sigh of relief when the doors close.
It's a quick trip. When the doors open, I nearly jump out of my skin to see Jackson right outside the elevator doors.
He scowls at me. “You were supposed to wait for me.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not a child, Jackson.”
His eyes run over me for the second time tonight. “I know.” There’s a lot to unpack behind those two words, but I don’t touch it with a ten-foot pole.
“Come on.” I walk around the corner and start down the long hallway to room 327.
“You were attacked today and gravely injured,” Jackson says in a low voice. “My wolf and I are just having a hard time letting you out of our sight.”
It’s the first he’s brought up his wolf since he transformed into one. Was that just this morning? So much has happened. It’s insane to me that that’s not even at the top of the list for the crazy things that happened today. “About that, I want to learn more,” I tell him.
He nods. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
I glance up at him as we walk. I want to ask so many questions, but we get to the room, and I take a calming breath as he knocks.
The door opens a moment later to reveal a tall, good-looking guy with kind eyes.
“Kayla, Jackson, come on in.” He steps back to allow us entrance, and I step past him.
Around the corner, I eye the girl that looks to be around my age, maybe a few years older.
She smiles brightly. “Kayla, it’s so good to see you on your feet.
Hi, I’m Sage.” She puts out her hand, and I can’t not shake it.
Her eyes dance with humor. “I see you’re being taught the way of the wolves.
” Her words confuse me, and she must see because she motions to my shirt. “I see Jackson dressed you.”