Sanctuary (5 page)

After
almost an hour of trying to relax I couldn’t stand it anymore. I was restless.
I decided to go exploring the woods. I needed to do something that would keep
me busy. I walked through the trees enjoying the early evening smells and
sounds. The night animals were just now coming out of hiding. I walked along
the edge of the lake until I found a clearing with long soft grass. I decided
to go for a swim. I stripped out of the dress I was wearing and tossed it
aside. I jumped into the water and squealed as the ice cold water covered me to
my neck. I cussed as I tried to adjust to the chilly water.

“The
RV you are in has warm water,” Dakota said amused as he stepped out from behind
a tree.

“How
long have you been here?” I asked feeling a blush start to creep up my cheeks.

“Long
enough,” he said smiling as he sat down on the bank.

“Do
you always sneak up on people?” I knew I sounded testy, but for some reason
people were always sneaking up on me and it was getting annoying.

He
laughed. “I wasn’t really sneaking. I was out for a walk. I didn’t know you
would be swimming.”

“You
don’t ever swim in the lake?” I asked as I floated around.

He
nodded. “I try to do it when others aren’t around,” he said playfully.

I
scowled. “You are the one that keeps appearing out of nowhere. Why do you do
that?”

He
shrugged. “It is just a habit. I will attempt to make my presence known from
now on. At least before you strip naked and go swimming.” He was smiling like
he was teasing. I figured he had been there when I undressed.

I
smiled to. I found it extremely hard to be mad at him. “You could come in if
you want.” I didn’t really know what possessed me to offer. I wouldn’t have
minded the company.

He
smiled. “I am fine here watching. What was your position in the pack you were
in?” he asked changing the subject.

I
watched him not really sure how to answer. “I didn’t have one. I am too young
to rank.”

“You’re
not twenty one?” he asked confused.

“No
I’m eighteen. Your ninja wolf sense didn’t pick that up?” I asked playfully.

He
grinned. “No it didn’t. I am going to have to work on paying more attention. I
don’t understand how you are pregnant out of season, and before you are
mature.”

I
shrugged. “No one does. It is all been a very confusing experience.”

“The
other girls like you were all over twenty one. Perhaps you being younger is
significant in some way.” He looked like he was deep in thought as he
considered it.

“Well
if you come up with an answer let me know,” I said as I began to swim around.

Breaking
branches to the right of me caught my attention. Three wolves appeared on the
edge of the lake. They were growling and snarling. They weren’t part of
Dakota’s pack, at least I didn’t think so.

“Kylie,
come here,” Dakota ordered as he waded into the water toward me.

I
hurried toward him. When I got close he reached out for me and I took his hand.
He pulled me behind him then faced the three wolves watching us. “Leave my
land,” Dakota ordered watching them.

The
one in the middle shifted into human form. “We are here for the girl. Stand in
the way and face Elijah’s wrath.”

“Tell
Elijah if he comes near my grounds again then I will find him myself. The
pregnant girl will be the least of his worries,” Dakota countered.

The
man’s eyes shifted to me as I stood behind Dakota. “Why would the original clan
protect a werewolf? The matter does not concern your people.” He sounded like
he was getting impatient, but he made no move to advance on either of us.

“We
protect who we want without explanation, now leave or I will make you,” Dakota
growled refusing to explain. I kind of wondered if he even knew why he was
protecting me. The man watched Dakota for a minute then shifted back into a
wolf and disappeared into the trees. Once they were gone Dakota slipped his shirt
off and put it on me. “We need to get back to the park where it is safe,” he
said as he tugged on my hand.

I
nodded and he led me through the woods back toward the park. It was cold
because I was wet. By the time we made it to his camper I was shivering. He
pulled me inside the small camper. I looked around wondering how he managed to
live in such a small place. He grabbed a towel and started drying my hair.

He
pulled his shirt off me and tossed it aside. I was a little nervous because I
was naked in front of him, but I pushed the feeling away. He dried me with the
towel and smiled like he knew the effect he had on me. He retrieved the
comforter off his bed and wrapped it around me. He sat on the bed; then pulled
me down onto the bed. He laid down next to me and pulled me against his chest
like he was attempting to keep me warm. I laid snuggled into his chest. I
relaxed as I breathed in his scent. I was comfortable with him. The bed
basically took up the entire camper. I could hear the sound of people laughing
and talking as they passed by. He didn’t speak, he just laid holding me. I
didn’t mind, I liked being there even though I knew it wasn’t a good idea to be
this close to him. He was another complication I really didn’t need.

I
woke up to the sound of someone knocking. Dakota moved next to me and I
remembered where I was. I didn’t even remember falling asleep next to him. He
got up; walked to the door and answered it. “What is it Anna?”

“Dakota
there have been outsiders spotted around the borders of the camp. I called an
emergency meeting,” Anna said from just outside the door.

Dakota
frowned. “I saw some earlier tonight, but I thought I scared them off.”

“Apparently
not. No one has seen the girl either. Her friend is looking for her.” She
sounded a little annoyed. I wasn’t sure if it was just me or if she was really
annoyed.

“Kylie
is with me. Tell Damon she is fine and give me about ten minutes and I will be
at the meeting,” he said firmly. His tone had changed like he was worried. He
must have thought the other wolves heeded his warning. The way Damon talked
about Dakota and his people made me think normal werewolves feared them.

“Oh…”
she stuttered like she wasn’t sure what to say. “I will tell them.” I heard her
hurry off and Dakota shut the door and looked at me.

“It
appears they are not heeding my warning. I need to go to this meeting. You are
welcome to stay here,” he said as he pulled his shirt on.

“I
should come with you shouldn’t I?” I asked as I sat up pulling the cover around
me a little tighter.

“It
is up to you,” he said as he tossed me one of his shirts.

I
slid it on then stood. “I should go get some of my clothes,” I said nervously.
I didn’t think it would be a good idea to show up to a meeting in his shirt.

He
nodded. “We have the meetings down by the lake. I will see you there,” he said
as he opened the door for me.

I
smiled nervously and slipped past him. He was starting to make me nervous and I
didn’t like it. I pushed the feeling away as I hurried toward the RV Damon and
I shared. I didn’t want to complicate things anymore by thinking about Dakota.

“There
you are,” Damon said as I stepped into the RV.

“Sorry
I lost track of time,” I muttered as I dug through one of my bags.

He
scoffed. “Or you forgot which bed is yours. You seem like you do that a lot,”
he countered.

I
glared at him as I shoved the bag aside. “I’m sorry last time I checked you
weren’t my boss.”

He
crossed his arms like he was preparing to argue. “I was assigned to protect
you. You can’t just disappear for a few hours without a trace.”

I
rolled my eyes and walked into the tiny bedroom. I slid the door shut and
started to change. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t feel like arguing. I
already had enough on my mind without adding an argument with Damon to the
list.

“Fine,
don’t talk to me. I have a meeting to attend anyway. You know the one where
everyone is trying to protect you.” He slammed the door as he left. He
obviously wanted me to know he was irritated with me.

I
quickly finished dressing and made my way to the edge of the lake where
everyone was already gathering. I spotted Rachel and she waved me over to the
log she was sitting on.

I
took a seat next to her and looked over at where Dakota, Damon, and I assumed
Anna stood. I figured it was Anna because she had acted like she was in charge.
I was thinking she was Dakota’s second in command. She was tall and pretty. She
looked older than me, but I was sure she was even older than I thought
especially if she was like Dakota. I still couldn’t believe Dakota was as old
as he claimed.

“Listen
up everyone,” Dakota said over the noise of the group. The group immediately
silenced so he could speak. “There are outsiders in the area. It is important
that you avoid confrontation with them and alert me if you see them. So far
they have not made any attempt to attack. They may just be scouting, so pay
attention.”

“They
are here because of the girl. We need to make her leave. She is disrupting our
way of life,” one woman said from across me. Some people in the crowd murmured
in agreement.

I
didn’t completely disagree with her. I had tried to get Dakota to tell Damon
no, but he refused. I was worried something like this would happen. I didn’t
feel right bringing problems to Dakota’s people.

Dakota
raised his hands to silence them. “It is not our way to turn those in need
away. It is true the outsiders may be here because of her; however we agreed as
a unit to accept her despite the risks. There has also been a new development.”
He paused and looked at me. The group waited, anticipating what he had to say.
“I believe one or both of the children will be born a wolf, part of our clan.”
A murmur went through the crowd. People began to whisper and look at me.

I
looked at Dakota a little confused. Damon looked just as confused and I was
relieved it wasn’t just me. Dakota had mentioned it was possible, but he
wouldn’t know for sure until they were born. I really didn’t see how it was
possible. I was a werewolf and so was Brayden and Dominic. I hadn’t even heard
of the original clan until we ran into them here.

“How
could you possibly know that? She is obviously a werewolf are either of the
fathers one of us?” Anna asked sounding unconvinced.

“No,”
Dakota said softly and the murmur in the crowd got even louder. He raised his
hands again to silence them. “However the babies have the capability to shift.
They shifted earlier this evening and they haven’t shifted back. There is only
about a week and a half until they are expected to be born it is possible they
will remain in wolf form.”

I
didn’t realize it until he said it, but he was right normally they would have
shifted back by now. As far as I knew they hadn’t shifted back. I was starting
to think Dakota may not be completely wrong.

“That
could be why everyone tries so hard to keep wolves from being born on the blue
moon. I mean if they are supposed to be powerful, what is more powerful than
the original clan?” Damon asked excitedly.

“My
thoughts exactly,” Dakota said smiling slightly. “If this turns out to be true
it will be the first birth in twenty five years. These children may be our only
hope for our people’s line to continue. I am willing to risk what we have to
see that they are born. If we send her away now; then they will more than
likely die.”

“What
if you are wrong? Or what if you are right and she uses us for protection then
leaves once they are born? The children will be gone with her; then we will
have done all this for nothing. Where are the fathers? What if they want the
children back?” Anna asked angrily.

“I
do not think Kylie will betray me,” Dakota said looking at me. I felt my pulse
quicken when he looked at me. He was right, I wouldn’t betray him. I trusted
him. For the first time I actually felt somewhat safe. I wasn’t crazy about how
they lived, but I wouldn’t leave because I wanted to be near Dakota.

“We
must speak as a group and come to a decision. The outsiders need to leave and
give us time to consider our choices,” the woman who had first spoken said.

“You
already did that!” Damon argued. Everyone started arguing back and forth. The
noise of the crowd was a little overwhelming.

“That’s
enough!” Dakota growled. For the first time his tone suggested he was actually
annoyed. I doubted Dakota got annoyed very often. The group fell silent. “We
will discuss this civilly,” he growled. He turned to look at Damon. “I
understand you do not understand our ways, but my people make decisions as a
group. Please take Kylie back to your RV and wait for us to get you.”

Damon
looked like he wanted to argue, but Dakota’s expression suggested that Damon do
as he was told. Damon muttered something under his breath and walked toward me.
“Come on princess,” he said trying to keep his tone light.

I
got up and followed Damon back toward the RV. “I am sure they are just scared.
They will come around,” I said quietly trying to cheer him up.

He
frowned. “What are they going to do call a private meeting every time something
happens? They might as well just kick us out.”

“Dakota
will convince them to let me stay. I am sure of it.” I was actually pretty
confident. I wasn’t sure what made me so confident. Something about the way
Dakota looked at me made me feel like he wanted me to stay.

“What
is it with you and Dakota? Are you seeing him now?” Damon sounded testy when he
spoke like he didn’t approve.

“He
is a friend,” I said trying not to get angry at his tone.

Damon
scoffed. “Ya, a friend like my brother, and Brayden, and Micah.”

I
stopped walking and looked at him a little shocked. It was the second time he
had referenced the men I had been with like he was trying to make me feel bad
about it. “I don’t find every girl you have been with and throw it in your
face. If I did I am sure I would have a list longer than my arm.”

“Ya
well I didn’t knock any of them up,” he countered.

“I
didn’t know this could happen. Do you think if I did I would have done it?” I
asked angrily. I was shouting even though I had been trying not to. I was tired
of being blamed for this like I had some control over it.

“Maybe,
maybe you like the attention.” He was shouting as well, and I was sure we would
end up drawing attention.

“I
don’t know why you even agreed to protect me. It is obvious you don’t like me
so why don’t you leave me alone and get back to your diner waitresses!” I
stalked off toward the woods. I didn’t want to go to the RV where he would be.
It was too much of a confined space.

“Fine,
just run away. You’re good at that!” he shouted at me, but he made no move to
follow me which was a relief. When I looked back at him he was going into the
RV.