bChapter /bb472 /b

    It’s as we sit in silence that his frantic sobs finally quiet and are slowly reced by bthe /bbsteady /brhythm of his slightly wheezed snore. He hasn’t slept or ate right in thest two months band /bhis condition shows it easily as he’s nearly back to the same weight he was when he got here despite our efforts to counteract his depression by upping his medication. Q

    I close my eyes andy my cheek against his head as I listen to everything around me. I reassigned everyone that normally helps in the pack house to other tasks, closed the med wing with the exception of emergencies and canceled all the meetings that were scheduled today. I knew today would be tough but nothing could have prepared me for the brutal reality of this young man choosing to leave.

    The pack house is eerily quiet as if the house has been swallowed whole in preparation for the sadness, the sheer trauma of his departure. I have no idea how long I’ve been sitting with him when the shuffle of my mate’s feet starts down the hall. My eyes remain closed as I listen to her approach. It’s not long before the familiar creak of the door is heard and her feet approach the bed.

    “I thought I’d find you with him.” Lilly speaks gently as she sits on the bed.

    “He doesn’t look like he’s fairing very well.”

    “He’s not.” I sigh as I speak. “I’ve never had someone so terrified of returning actually do so. It reminds me of the battered women I’ve encountered. It doesn’t matter what you do or say, they must be the one to leave. He’s an adult. My hands are tied. I can not legally force him to

    stay.”

    “You haven’t heard anything else from Xavier?” I shake my head as Cole stirs in my arms.

    “No. Last I heard from him was two weeks ago. It was quite distressing to hear from him after the council informed me of the transportation arrangements. Alpha Redmen won’t send a bus or van to pick up two pack members yet he won’t allow anyone from our pack to transport them home. The only option the council had was to find a pack with a driver that would be in the area to transport them eight of the twelve hours back north and Alpha Redmen is supposed to pick them up from there.”

    “Who’s picking us up?” Cole asks meekly.

    “Several new packs have joined the program and several packs have runs starting this bweek/bb. /bbI /bbelieve the ck Moon pack has a bus that dropped prospects off two hours away at bckridge /bas well as some wayward teens at Wolfington academy yesterday. We’re on his bway /bbback /bbnorth /b

    and Alpha ckston has agreed to house the two of you over the weekend until bAlpha /bRedmen sends his driver to pick you up Monday afternoon on his way back to the pack.”

    I loosen my hold around him at the same speed that he pushes himself up off my chest.

    “I don’t like it alpha. Too many things could go wrong.”

    “I agree. It feels like a set up but there’s only so much I can do. When I talked to your delta, David, he told me that under no circumstances would me or anyone from my pack be allowed into Red Fang territory. If we were to enter uninvited then we would be arrested, beaten and reported to the council as rogues.”

    “They can do that?” His voice is in awe at such a threat.

    “Yes, unfortunately. While werewolfws try to

    imic humanws in many ways, territory is not one of them. Wolves will fight to the death to defend their border so that kind of statement isn’t taken lightly.”

    He nods again but the tension in his body shows just how ufortable he is with the n.

    “What time is it?” He asks now that he’s a bit more awake from his nap.

    “Almost noon.” Lilly responds to his question first as she walks over to the closet dresser and opens a drawer.

    “All the new stuff is still in here.” She speaks with shock and confusion in her voice.

    “Yes, ma’am. Dad tends to take most new stuff from me and I didn’t want to chance losing what you were kind enough to give.”

    His voice is calm but sad with his confession. Lilly simply nods her head.

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