Sanctuary (6 page)

I
walked through the trees trying to relax. I didn’t want to stray too far from
the camp. I didn’t want to run into anyone who was out too hurt me, but I
needed to get away from the camp.

“Kylie!”
a male voice called from somewhere behind me. I recognized the voice
immediately. It was Danny. I turned and looked, but I couldn’t see him. I
hesitated because the last time I saw him he was handing me over to Lucy.

“Danny?”
I said confused as I slowly moved forward.

Danny
stumbled out of the trees in front of me. He was covered in blood. I caught him
as he collapsed in front of me. The suddenness surprised me and he was heavy so
I went to my knees trying to support him. He had cuts and bruises all over his
face. There was blood everywhere. Someone had beat him senseless. “I’ve been
looking everywhere for you,” he said smiling softly.

“Danny
what happened?” I asked nervously as I looked around. I was hoping whoever did
this wasn’t still around.

“Some
of Elijah’s guys. We need to get out of here. They probably aren’t far behind
me.” He went to get up and groaned in pain.

“No,
don’t. I will help you,” I said quickly. I didn’t want him to hurt himself more
then he already was.

“Kylie!”
Dakota’s voice called. He wasn’t far away.

“Dakota,
over here,” I called back to him relieved he came to look for me.

He
came through the trees and hesitated when he saw Danny. “Who is that?” He
sounded unsure like he didn’t know what else to say.

“This
is Danny. He was one of my friends in my pack. Can you help me? He is hurt.” I
knew Dakota wouldn’t like allowing another outside in the camp, but I couldn’t
leave Danny here like this. He had passed out and wasn’t moving anymore. I was
starting to get worried.

Dakota
nodded and picked him up. He carried him back toward the park. “You can put him
in my RV. I will take care of him,” I said as I followed him.

Dakota
didn’t speak he just walked to my RV. He didn’t look happy, but I ignored it. I
wasn’t going to leave Danny out in the woods and Dakota knew it. I stepped into
the RV and held the door open for Dakota.

“What
are you doing?” Damon asked annoyed. He sounded like he was still pouting.

I
looked at him not sure what to say. I had forgotten about him. I didn’t know if
he knew about what Danny did or not. I hoped he wouldn’t say anything. Dakota
came in before I could say anything.

Damon’s
eyes widened and I shot him a look that told him to keep his mouth shut. “You
have to be kidding me,” Damon muttered as he moved away from the couch so
Dakota could lay Danny down.

“Is
he a threat to anyone?” Dakota asked Damon. He was looking directly at him
instead of me. He obviously didn’t trust me to tell him the truth.

“He
isn’t,” I said as I wet some rags to clean him up.

Damon
scoffed but didn’t speak. He was making Dakota even more suspicious. “Kylie if
he is a danger to my people I don’t want him here,” Dakota said quietly.

“He
isn’t a danger. I will leave before I leave him out in the woods like this.” I
didn’t understand how they expected me to just leave him. Even though he had
betrayed me he did it because he was scared and he thought it would be the best
thing for me and the pack.

“Come
on Kylie he sold you out the last time you saw him. You almost died because of
him,” Damon argued obviously ignoring my silent pleas not to say anything.

“What?
Who is he? Why are you caring for him if he is a danger to you?” Dakota asked
angrily.

“He
isn’t a danger! The last time he was just scared and ignorant like everyone
else. He didn’t know Andrew was going to have me killed,” I said defensively.

“Damn
it Kylie, get him better and make him leave. That is an order!” Dakota said
angrily and walked out. It was the first time I had seen Dakota actually get
really angry.

I
scowled at Damon. It was his fault Dakota found out about Danny. If Damon could
have kept his mouth shut things would have been so much easier.

“Don’t
look at me like that just because you have a bleeding heart. It is going to end
up getting you killed. It is my job to somehow try to prevent that even if it
means saving you from yourself,” he growled and walked out.

I
rolled my eyes and wet back to cleaning Danny up and trying to figure out how
he had even found this place and me.

It
had been four hours and Danny still hadn’t woke up. I was starting to get
hungry and I was restless, but I didn’t want to leave the RV and deal with
Damon and Dakota. Before I could decide what I was going to do the door opened
and Dakota came in.

“I
made something to eat if you want to join me,” he said quietly. His eyes were
hard like he was still angry. Normally his expression was a lot softer.

I
sighed. I was too hungry to turn down food. “That sounds nice,” I said as I
stood.

He
held the door for me and I stepped outside and stretched. It was early morning
and the park was starting to quiet down. I followed him to his camper. I sat
down at the picnic table and he handed me a plate of food. It looked like
chicken with rice and vegetables.

“You
know he can’t stay,” Dakota said softly as he sat down across from me.

“I
never said I wanted him too. I just couldn’t leave him in the woods like that,”
I said as I picked at the food. It was good, but I was suddenly not as hungry
as I had been before.

“Has
he said anything? How did he find you?” he asked as he started eating his own
food.

I
shook my head. “He hasn’t woken up. I really don’t know how he could have found
me.”

Dakota
watched me for a few seconds, but I didn’t look up. “It is possible he is
working with Elijah. He could have been sent here to draw you out of the camp.”

I
looked up a little startled. I never thought of that. It was possible. I didn’t
know how else he could have found me. Elijah and his people already knew where
I was because they had been hanging around for a while. “I don’t know. I
suppose it is possible,” I said looking away.

“Kylie
you have to promise me you won’t trust him. Don’t go anywhere with him. Assume
he is here to hurt you.” He sounded like he was pleading with me instead of
asking me.

I
smiled. “I promise I won’t do anything stupid. I have gotten too far to trust
him blindly again.”

He
looked relieved and nodded. “Good then I won’t have to worry about you as
much.”

I
laughed. “You don’t even know me that well, you shouldn’t worry about me so
much.”

He
smiled. “I know you well enough.”

“Maybe
I should leave. They found me here, I don’t like putting your people in danger.
I could just keep moving and keep hiding,” I said quietly.

“No,
they won’t enter the camp. You are safe here whether they know you are here or
not,” Dakota said firmly.

I
wanted to argue, but his tone suggested I wouldn’t change his mind. I remained
silent and continued eating.

“Dakota,
there hasn’t been anyone spotted since the male werewolf was brought in the
camp,” Anna said softly. She startled me a little I hadn’t even heard her
approach.

Dakota
looked at me. “We have to assume this was part of their plan. If they disappeared
once you accepted him then he has a part to play.”

“That
isn’t true,” I said defensively. I didn’t want to believe Danny had any part in
Elijah’s plan. “It could just be a coincidence.”

Dakota
scowled. “You are not being very smart Kylie. You are in danger as long as he
remains in the camp. Elijah has control over your people. He has no control
over mine. It would make sense to assume he is in control of Danny.”

I
stood angrily. “If you want him to leave in the condition he is in then I leave
with him. I get that you don’t trust him and neither do I, but I won’t let him
die in the woods!” I was so furious I needed to walk away. I walked back toward
my RV without waiting for him to reply. I knew all he had to say was to tell me
how much of an idiot I was.

When
I got back Danny was still asleep. I stayed awake a couple more hours until I
couldn’t handle it any more then I fell into an uneasy sleep.

I
woke up when I felt someone crawl on the bed next to me. “Relax, you have to
share since your boyfriend is taking up my couch,” Damon whispered.

I
rolled my eyes. “You better not be a cover hog,” I muttered as I rolled on my
side and closed my eyes.

He
laughed softly. “I won’t hog your covers.”

“Good,”
I said quietly as I attempted to get comfortable again.

After
a few minutes of silence he spoke. “You have to be careful Kylie.”

I
sighed. “I know. I have been warned repeatedly.”

He
put his arm around me and pulled me closer to him. “We just all care about you
as irritating as it is.”

I
giggled and snuggled into him. “I know you guys care about me, but I can’t
change who I am.”

He
growled low in his throat. “I agree, you wouldn’t be you if you weren’t a pain
in the ass,” he said amused.

I
elbowed him in the ribs and he laughed. I felt a little bit better now that he
was here. He made me feel a little safer, and I slept a lot easier.

“What
are you doing here?” Damon’s low angry voice woke me up.

“I
just wanted to find Kylie. I felt bad about what happened and I want to protect
her,” Danny said. He sounded like he was afraid.

I
sat up quickly. Danny was sitting on the couch and Damon was towering over him
interrogating him. “Danny,” I said excitedly as I climbed off the bed. I was
relieved that he was finally awake.

Danny
smiled nervously at me, but he didn’t move. He was obviously worried Damon
would do something if he moved. “Hey Kylie.”

“How
are you feeling?” I asked as I sat down next to him.

“I’m
ok,” he said as he glanced up at Damon then back at me.

“How
did you find me?” I asked hoping he would give me answers. I was also hoping
they weren’t answers I didn’t want to hear.

He
shrugged. “I was looking for you and I heard a rumor about Elijah’s men
watching a camp. I decided to check it out and that is when I got jumped by a
couple of them.”

“Any
idea why they suddenly disappeared when you arrived?” Damon asked. His tone was
accusing and it annoyed me.

I
glared at Damon. “Why do you have to start off by accusing him of doing
something wrong?”

“Because
he probably is Kylie. He doesn’t exactly have a great track record when it
comes to you and those babies,” Damon countered returning my glare.

Danny
ran his hand through his hair nervously. “They did leave because you found me,”
Danny said quietly.

“I
told you, I should whip his ass,” Damon growled as he grabbed Danny by the
collar of his shirt and pulled him up.

“Just
let me explain,” Danny said quickly. The sound of fear in his voice was
evident. He was obviously worried Damon would hurt him.

The
door opened and Dakota came in. I was starting to get a little worried. If both
of them were in here they would end up hurting Danny.

“You
better explain quickly,” Dakota ordered.

Danny
looked at me. “I was sent by Elijah, but I wasn’t sent to hurt you.”

Damon
slammed him into the table and Danny crumpled to the floor. “I knew it!” Damon
snapped.

“No
stop!” I said angrily as I shielded Danny from him. Dakota grabbed Damon’s arm
and shook his head. I turned my attention back to Danny. “Why did he send you?”
I asked hoping he would answer truthfully.

Danny
looked at Damon and Dakota nervously before looking back at me. “He wants you
to go to him. He says he won’t hurt you or the babies.”

“You
believe him?” I asked horrified.

Danny
shrugged. “He doesn’t seem like that bad of a guy. I mean I have met worse,” he
said looking at Damon.

Damon
scowled. “I wouldn’t kill a pregnant woman and her child,” he snapped.

“He
won’t kill them, he just wants Kylie’s loyalty. He said the babies could be
dangerous if they aren’t properly trained. He is only trying to help,” Danny
said as he took my hands. He was pleading with me and I didn’t understand why.

I
looked at Dakota confused. “Why does he trust Elijah?”

“He
has been told too. Elijah can control a werewolf’s will. He can make them trust
him and do as he commands. It is one of his powers. Danny is under his
control,” Dakota said softly.

“I’m
not I swear. Kylie these babies could end our kind. They could be dangerous,”
Danny argued.

“Danny
they are just babies. How could you think that?” I asked confused.

“They
aren’t natural. It isn’t the right season and you aren’t the right age. You
have to admit you are worried too. Elijah will be able to help you control
them.” Danny was pleading with me and it was starting to unnerve me.

“That’s
enough, Damon get him out of here. Take him to the border and let him leave,”
Dakota ordered.

“Dakota
wait,” I pleaded as Damon hauled Danny to his feet. I wasn’t through talking to
Danny. I needed more information.

“No,
he is trying to sway you by making you fear your own children. They are not
monsters Kylie, they are just children,” Dakota said quietly.

“He
will kill me if you don’t come back with me,” Danny said sounding fearful.

I
looked at Dakota horrified. “There has to be a way we can break Elijah’s hold
over Danny,” I said frantically.

Dakota
pulled me into a hug. “There are some battles you cannot win,” he whispered
then nodded at Damon. Damon started pulling Danny toward the door and I felt
tears roll down my cheeks. It could be the last time I saw Danny. He was a good
guy deep down, he was just confused like most of us were.

“Kylie
he will kill the entire pack and Micah too! Are these kids really worth all
that?” Danny asked starting to panic.

“What!
How?” I asked pulling away from Dakota.

“He
is there in Luna. I was sent to convince you to come back. He will destroy
everything if you don’t.” Danny looked sincere and that was the worst part. If
he was right everyone would die including my parents and Maggie. Everyone I
cared about would die because of me.

“He
has to be lying,” Damon said starting to sound worried himself.

“I’m
not, I was never lying. I have told you the truth,” Danny said watching me.

The
fear was hard to handle. I didn’t know what to do. There was only one thing I
could do. I had to return to Luna. “I’m going back,” I said frantically.

“No,
Kylie this isn’t the time to make rash decisions,” Dakota said grabbing my arm.
“Damon keep Danny here. I need to speak with Kylie,” Dakota ordered as he
pulled me out of the RV.

“It
isn’t a rash decision. You may be ok with your entire pack dying, but I am
not,” I said angrily.

“He
will kill you Kylie!” Dakota yelled as he turned to face me.

“I
don’t care! My entire family will die if I don’t. I won’t live with that. I
would rather go back and die then be here and know I am the reason they are all
dead.” I didn’t understand why he didn’t understand. I was looking out for the
greater good, not just for myself.

“You
have to know your family and the fathers of those children would not want you
to surrender.” He was trying to convince me and it wasn’t going to work. I knew
what I had to do. I had to do what I originally wanted to do. I had to quit running
and talk to Elijah.

“I
don’t care what they would want. I am doing what I want and I don’t expect you
to understand or to help me. You have already done too much for me,” I said
quietly.

He
looked like he wanted to argue, but he knew he wasn’t going to get anywhere.

When
he didn’t speak I hurried back into the RV. “Damon we have to go. We can’t just
do nothing.”

He
nodded. “This is a bad idea and we don’t have a car thanks to you.”

“I
have my truck not far from here,” Danny chimed in.

Damon
scowled at Danny. He looked like he wanted to punch Danny in the face. “Let’s
go,” he growled then stomped out.

I
followed Damon and Danny smiled weakly
a
I passed him
then followed me. There was no point in taking anything. If Elijah really
wanted to kill me I had no need for any of it. Dakota was standing outside the
RV. He was watching me and I felt my chest tighten. “Please don’t do this,” he
begged softly.

“I
don’t have a choice. I’m sorry,” I said then hurried after Danny and Damon. I
couldn’t stay there any longer. I was afraid he would convince me to stay. I
wanted to stay, but I couldn’t let Elijah hurt everyone I loved.