TWENTY-EIGHT | BLOODLETTING

Mom and Alpha Azure come back after an hour, both grim-faced, but at least they're both still whole. I'm pretty sure Mom'd take a chunk of anyone who'd do either of us harm. I feel a little part of me relax, but the majority of me is still exhausted, and the rest too numb to dwell on much else aside from the events of tonight.

"Scarlett, let's go somewhere else to talk," Mom addresses me, glancing at the door to the infirmary behind me. I nod, wrapping my arms tighter around myself, like I'm holding myself together. Maybe I am. Maybe this is the only way my world won't spin apart. The silly notion comes and goes like a cloud of smoke through my thoughts.

"Yeah, okay." I rasp. Mom wraps an arm around my shoulders, drawing me close into her side. Gentle, soothing thoughts trickle into my mind through our bond, but they don't really have much effect on my current mood. I just need to know things are going to be okay.

"Your mother and I discussed a few things," Alpha Azure begins as we all begin to walk. Mom on my right, the Alpha on my left. *That's a good sign, at least.* "For one, this attack on my daughter will be taken as an invitation for war." I'm stunned silent by that, but don't have time to dwell as he continues. "Your mother has volunteered to talk to our strategists in exchange for sanctuary-"

"S-sanctuary?" I can't help from blurting out. I look between Mom's solemn expression and the Alpha's.

"It's clear that your family is responsible for the attack, therefore, it reasons that they will return to hunt you. Quite frankly, we'll be expecting you and your mother to remain in Kiwina as bait." The Alpha explains. "As such, your mother asked to be temporarily placed under the Pack's protection so you two can cleanly sever your bonds with your Pack."

"Y-You want us to join the Pack?" I ask stupidly. It sounds too good to be true. Too easy of a resolution.

"Temporarily." Mom tells me, feeling my rising mixed emotions through our bond.

I'm terrified to loose the last of my family's connection, yes, but it's so much more than that. By breaking the bond that ties us to the Reinier Pack, we risk insanity. If this all goes well, Mom and I, at best, could be free of the Reiniers', but then be forced to find a new Pack soon after. Unless Alpha Azure wanted to induct us as more permanent members. Worst case, after the Reiniers' we're out of the picture, we'd be stepping on a lot of tails by remaining in the Azure Pack. We could be forced out - or worse - cause a civil war.

"I-I don't know-" I begin slowly, thinking of everyone I've met so far. Such kind, nice people - but at least, what with everything that's happened tonight, I can't expect them all to just accept us with open arms. Last thing I want is to tear the Pack apart.

"I've already agreed to the terms, and consulted the rest of the Pack, Scarlett." Alpha Azure seems to have the same powers Blue does when it comes to deciphering my expressions. "Until this war is over and we either come to an agreement with the Reiniers' or destroy them, you and your mother will be welcomed as refugees."

"I see." I mutter softly. I can't help but wonder what Blue's thoughts were on the matter. My heart seems to twist inside my chest as I think of all the turmoil and pain I've already caused tonight. By now we've reached the edges of the Azure's territory.

"We'd better be getting home, it's getting late." Mom sighs, bowing her head to the Alpha in respect. "Thank you for agreeing to take us in, Alpha Azure. I'll be by tomorrow to begin going over strategy with your team."

"I'll remind them in the morning," He nods to Mom and we begin walking down the path. "By the way, Scarlett," Alpha Azure asks before we get too far. I pause and look back at him. "Would you be able to work more this next week? Sandy's going to be tending to Caly-"

"Of course, Alpha Azure!" I feel my mood lighten suddenly, relieved to have more work on my hands.

"You have a job?" Mom sputters, her eyes going between me and the Alpha. I smile at her sheepishly. Since I'd been out most of last week, the Azures hadn't asked me to come in to work a shift at Lia's yet.

"She only just started a little while a go, I'm afraid." Alpha Azure nods. "My wife and I own a little grocery store on the boundary of the territory. Scarlett here is our newest hire."

"I see." Mom nods slowly, her expression still mixed with shock and incredulity. I've never had a job before - there was never any need. "If you have any other positions available-" Mom begins, getting a curious look in her eye.

"The more the better, honestly. None of our children want to help with the store and we just can't seem to hire anyone for longer than a few weeks." Alpha Azure perks up a bit, a little warmth entering his eyes.

"I should warn you, I haven't done a lot of indoor-work in a while," Mom hedges. I know she doesn't like working in enclosed spaces. She always seemed to look for construction jobs or something with manual labor that was outside.

"There's nothing to it, really. I'll come in a few times to open and close the store, but what we really need are cashiers, backroom stockers, and just friendly faces to welcome in customers." Alpha Azure shrugs. "The registers do most of the work, really."

"Sounds good, then. I'd love to help." Mom nods resolutely to the Alpha. "Let me know when you need me to come in. Wisty can driver herself home if she needs to."

"I do appreciate your help, Marissa. Thank you." Alpha Azure nods. "I'll have Sandy send you a copy of the orientation information later." Mom nods again and we run off into the woods in the general direction of the house we're currently calling home.

- - -


I don't sleep well that night. For obvious reasons, nightmares plague my restless few moments of rest. Mom wakes me up a few times and even resorts to giving me tea to help me sleep. It doesn't work. And I'm even groggier when I get up for school the next morning and still oddly cold.

Mom's also in a rush to get out the door, presumably to help open Lia's or meet up with the Azure's strategists. But, as has become our routine, she has my lunch and sealed up thermos, of what I pray is coffee, waiting by my keys. I don't even have a second to thank her before she dashes out the door and calls back for me to 'keep your phone on'.

I shuffle through my morning ritual of mindlessly wolfing down my breakfast and coffee. Somehow, time seems to slip by me, and before I know it, I'm behind schedule. After a quick, but wholly necessary, shower, I'm dressed in my usual turtleneck and jeans combo - dashing out the door. Mom left me the car so I can drive myself home after school, but my mind's still a little foggy as I drive and almost nod off a few times on the way.

When I arrive at school, the parking lot is void of students, and the front doors to the building are closed. I curse under my breath, annoyance bubbling up as I shut off my car and grab my backpack and thermos. Once I've collected my books from my locker, I run, yes, literally run, up the flights of stairs. No one's in the halls anyway.

By the time I make it to Homeroom, Ms. Lewis is about half-way through morning announcements. She gives me a sympathetic look as I stumble into the classroom before asking me to take my seat. I'm actually huffing a bit from running up the stairs. My exhaustion is bone-deep and I can't seem to shake the slight chill to my skin.

I practically fall into my seat beside Blue. Yuri passes me a little smile that doesn't seem to reach his eyes before laying his chin on his desk. There're circle under both the Azure's eyes, but Blue doesn't meet my gaze when I try to catch his eyes. After Ms. Lewis finishes her announcements, we have a few minutes left before the bell rings.

Yuri stays quiet. Eyes closed, as if in sleep. And Blue doesn't seem much better. In fact...

The bell sounds before I can complete the though, not sure what's different about him today, but something really is. I mutter a quick 'see you guys later' as I leave, not wanting to be late to any other class today.

And it's not until we get to our next shared class, that I realize what's wrong. He's blocking me. The bond between us is silent as the grave. Not even a twinge of emotion funnels through it. At first, I dismiss it, 'cause he's never been particularly expressive in the bond, but it's not just that. There's literally nothing there when I try to sense him. It's like he's not really here.

"You okay?" I whisper the question to him in English as Mr. Hale passes out an assignment for us to complete. When the stack of paper reaches us, Blue passes me my sheet and begins to fill in the blanks on the page.

"Fine." He murmurs back, but there's no emotion in his voice. Like the very first day we met, it's a clipped tone he's using - distant.

"You sure?" I breathe before I can stop myself. I don't like him being like this. Close but only physically. Mentally, it's like he's somewhere else.

"I'm sure." He agrees...and yet... He won't look at me. Even when he talks to me, it's more like he's talking at me. He almost always looks directly at me when he talks to me, it's something I've come to love about him. And that's when I realize it. He blames me. Cold splinters through me, making my heart and stomach constrict painfully.

I feel my eyes sting uncharacteristically and my body cringes away from him. He doesn't react. That fact alone seems to solidify my guess. And I don't know why it feels like such a slap in the face. I know it shouldn't be a surprise. If I were in his shoes, I'd blame me too.

But that doesn't ease any of the hurt.

I don't say anything else to him for the remainder of the period, mindlessly working on my assignment while my scattered brain scrambles to think of something else - anything else. When the bell rings again, dismissing us for lunch, I can't seem to get out of the room fast enough.