Sanctuary (3 page)

I
heard whispering voices so I opened my eyes. I was in a bed. The blankets were
warm and soft. I slowly sat up and looked around. I wasn’t in a normal room, it
looked like the room of an RV or camper. A man was standing at the edge of the
bed. He had long black hair, tanned skin, and light blue eyes. He had the same
eyes the wolf in the parking lot had.

“Where’s
Damon? I asked slightly worried. He stepped aside. Damon was laying on a couch.
He had a bandage around his head and chest. I was suddenly really worried. I
scrambled off the bed and hurried over to him. “Damon,” I said panicked as I
touched his arm. He didn’t move. A sudden pain in my belly made me gasp. One of
my hands went to my belly; while I used the other to try to steady myself.

“You
are not healed yet, and neither is he,” the man chided as he put his arm around
me and easily lifted me.

I
watched him curiously as he carried me back to the bed. “Who are you?” I asked
as he sat me down on the bed.

“My
name is Dakota,” he said quietly as he poured me a glass of water and offered
it to me.

“Are
you going to hurt me?” I asked a little worried.

He
looked confused. “Why would I help you, just to hurt you?”

I
smiled a little relived as I accepted the glass of water. “You obviously have
no clue who I am. Around me people tend to say one thing and do another.”

“I
know who you are. I have been watching you for a while,” he said quietly.

“Do
you want to kill them too?” I asked softly. I didn’t know what I could do if he
did. Damon was out of commission and it wasn’t like I could run.

He
sat on the edge of the bed watching me. “My people and I don’t hurt others. We
look at your pregnancy as a miracle that should be cherished, not destroyed.”

I
looked at him confused. “Aren’t you werewolves? Don’t they all kind of have the
same belief systems?”

He
scowled and shook his head. “We are the descendants of the original clan. We
are nomads, we never stay in one place for long. There aren’t many of us left.”

“What
is the difference between you and other werewolves?” I was confused. I saw him
in wolf form. To me that made him a werewolf, but he obviously didn’t agree.

“The
members of the original clan are born wolves. We can just shift into humans
when we want too; just like you can shift into a wolf when you want to,” he
said as he watched me.

“So
you are more wolf then human?” I wasn’t sure if I was understanding right. I
was really confused about what he wanted with me.

He
nodded. “We stay away from humans as much as possible. Like I said we are
nomadic.”

I
ran my fingers through my hair trying to decide what to ask him. I had so many
questions. I was also worried Elijah would come after me here and hurt them.
“Damon and I should leave. I tend to bring trouble.”

“Elijah
won’t come here. He may treat werewolves like slaves, but he has no power over
us,” Dakota said sharply.

I
was about to reply when Damon groaned. Dakota moved over toward him as if he
wanted to be prepared for Damon to fight. Damon sat up quickly and looked
around. His eyes landed on Dakota then on me. “Seriously Kylie,” he muttered.

I
scowled. “He was never going to hurt me. You wouldn’t listen,” I said
defensively.

He
groaned and laid back down on the couch. “You’re on your own. I don’t know why
I ever agreed to protect you,” he said sounding grumpy.

“I
do not take offense that you were trying to protect her, but you could have
asked more questions before you assumed I was there to hurt her,” Dakota said
as he watched Damon.

Damon
glared at him. “Obviously you don’t know who she is. She is a moving target so
excuse me for assuming any werewolf is an enemy.”

“I
am not a werewolf,” Dakota countered; then walked out of the RV without saying
another word.

Damon
sat up and looked from the door Dakota just exited to me. “Did he just say he
isn’t a werewolf?”

I
nodded. “He is a wolf that shifts into a human, not a human that shifts into a
wolf.”

Damon’s
eyes widened as he scrambled to his feet. “He’s part of the original clan?” he
asked excitedly as he peeked through the blinds.

“That
is what he said. What do you know about them?” I asked now more curious than
before.

He
shook his head. “Not much. I know that a vampire wouldn’t dare mess with them
so if it is them then we are safer than we could be anywhere else. I have only
heard stories. The original clan are legends to a young werewolf. Supposedly
they can live for hundreds of years like vampires. Their bite is deadly to a
vampire. Some say they are the reason werewolves were created.” He walked to
another window and looked out. “It looks like we are in an RV park,” he said
confused.

“They
said they are nomads,” I said as I watched him go from window to window and
look. “What do you think they want from us? Dakota said he has been watching me
for a while.”

Damon
looked at me for a second then looked back out the window. “I don’t know. They
don’t take kindly to werewolves. I have heard they think we are petty and
immature. We aren’t fit for their ways. They are kind of uppity if you ask me.”

I
smiled. “That isn’t really that far off track.”

He
scowled at me. “I am not petty or immature.”

I
scoffed. “And I am not pregnant, I just gained a pound or two.”

He
rolled his eyes as he pulled his shirt on. “Whatever, I am going out there to
talk to them. If they offer you sanctuary we won’t have to worry about Elijah
anymore.”

I
was going to argue considering he wasn’t the best guy to represent my cause.
Before I could speak he was out the door. I groaned. They would never agree to
it with him representing me. He was an ass and half the time he was annoying. I
grumbled as I got out of the bed and hurried out the door. Damon was right; we
were in an RV park near a lake. It was in the middle of nowhere. Nothing but
woods surrounded us. I immediately regretted stepping out of the RV. Everyone
was looking at me and it made me nervous. I hurried over to Damon. He was
standing not far from me looking around like he was just as nervous as me.
Everyone was looking at us like we were interesting specimens.

“Friends
this is Kylie and her mate, Damon,” Dakota said stepping closer to us.

“Whoa
he isn’t my mate,” I said a little startled.

“Jeez
don’t say it like its offensive,” Damon mumbled.

Dakota
looked a little surprised. “He isn’t the father of the child?”

“No,
he’s the father’s brother,” I said quickly. I figured Dakota knew, but he obviously
didn’t.

“One
of the children’s father’s,” Damon said quickly.

I
shot Damon a look that suggested he shut the hell up before I smacked him. When
I looked back at Dakota and he was watching me curiously. “There is more the
one child?” he asked. A murmur went through the crowd and it made me nervous.

“Yes,
there are two,” I said as I looked around at the others. I wasn’t so sure
telling them everything was such a good idea.

“Where
is your mate; the father?” Dakota asked watching me.

“He
stayed behind,” I said hoping he wouldn’t ask any more questions.

Damon
made a coughing noise. “They,” he said quickly.

I
narrowed my eyes at Damon as I walked over to him. “What are you doing?” I
hissed trying to keep my voice low.

“I
think we should be honest with them,” he whispered.

“I
think he is right,” Dakota said watching me.

I
watched him for a second. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Dakota. I was just
tired of trusting people just to be turned on. “I think we should go,” I
muttered and went to walk past Damon.

Damon
caught me by my arm. “Your children have a better chance of being born if we
stay here than if we leave.”

I
looked at him defiantly. “The more people we tell the more we risk,” I said
softly.

“These
people are different. I can promise you that,” Damon said softly.

“We
won’t accept anyone if we do not know the truth. I cannot guarantee we will
accept you even if we do know the truth. These babies could be miracles or they
could be just the next step in your kind’s evolution,” Dakota said watching me.

I
sighed giving in. I had a feeling he wasn’t going to let this go and neither
was Damon. Damon seemed like he was excited to be here. “There are two children
and they both have different fathers. The fathers are both pack leaders;
Brayden and Dominic. I had to leave because their packs were attempting to kill
me and the children. There that is everything.”

The
crowd murmured and Dakota raised his hand to silence them. “I would never let
you leave if you were carrying my child. I take it they do not know?”

I
shook my head. “They would have never let me leave.”

“And
you are with the brother because?” Dakota asked watching me.

Damon
scowled. “Why does everyone act like I am that bad?”

I
shrugged ignoring Damon’s comment. “Someone I trusted told me he would keep me
safe.” It wasn’t the best reason in the world, but it was the only reason.

“He
isn’t doing a very good job,” Dakota said softly as he looked Damon over.

I
could see Damon stiffen defensively. “She crashed the car because you were in
the road. It wasn’t my fault.”

Dakota
looked back at me. I gave Damon a dirty look. He seemed to be having fun
telling on me. “He was going to run you over. He’s a pain in the ass and he
doesn’t listen.”

“I
need to confer with my people,” Dakota said quietly.

“I
don’t expect you to take me in. I have caused nothing but trouble for my own
pack I don’t want that on your pack,” I said quickly.

“Damn
it Kylie, don’t encourage them not to help you,” Damon growled.

“It’s
not fair to involve them,” I countered glaring at him.

“I
need to confer with my friend as well,” Damon said as he snatched my hand and
pulled me back into the trailer. “Are you insane?” he asked turning to face me
once we were inside.

“Damon
we don’t even know them. Why are you so sure you can trust them?” I asked
confused.

“They
are the original clan. They are legends. Everyone trusts them. If Maggie knew
where they were she would have sent us here. This is our one chance. You can
have these babies in peace if we remain here,” Damon argued.

“Somehow
I doubt that,” I said softly as I started to pace. Damon didn’t speak; he just
watched me. When I finally got tired of pacing I climbed back into the bed and
laid down. I didn’t know what to do. Maggie trusted Damon so I was beginning to
think I should just trust him.

After
a few minutes the door opened and Dakota came in. Damon stood watching him. “I
need to speak with Kylie,” Dakota said as he looked over at me.

Damon
looked over at me and rolled his eyes. “Great,” he muttered as he walked out
leaving Dakota and me alone.

“My
people have agreed to temporarily shelter you and your friend,” he said as he
sat on the edge of the bed.

“Dakota…”
I started to argue and he raised his hand to silence me.

“I
am not going to argue. The decision is ours to make and we are aware of the
dangers. My people feel that these children should be born. You are not
required to stay, but you are welcome to.” His tone was smooth and calm like he
expected me to argue.

“I
don’t see why it matters to your people. Why risk them for a werewolf?” I asked
trying to understand.

He
looked away for a minute without speaking. “Maybe eventually you will
understand. For now you should rest,” he said as he got up to leave.

I
had a feeling it was his nice way of saying he wasn’t going to tell me. I
sighed. “Fine, thank you since you won’t change your mind.”

He
smiled. “I won’t change my mind, you are right,” he said amused then left. I
laid back on the bed and closed my eyes. I hoped I wasn’t making a mistake by
staying. There was something about Dakota that I liked. I felt like I could
trust him, and that made me a little uneasy.

I
woke up again when I heard cussing. I sat up and looked at Damon as he dumped a
pot in the sink. The RV was filled with smoke. I tried not to smile, but it was
difficult. “What are you doing?”

He
looked over at me and grinned. “I am attempting to cook. I have never cooked in
my life and it isn’t working so well for me. I have been informed there isn’t a
diner or truck stop for miles. As Dakota put it, I have to fend for myself.”

I
giggled as I slid out of the bed. “I will cook you something. You act like it
is impossible.”

“I
would love you forever and ever. I am starving to death. I haven’t eaten since
the truck stop,” he said as he looked over my shoulder.

I
was trying not to laugh. He was trying to make hot dogs and he literally burned
them to a crisp. I cleaned the pan and made him a couple hot dogs. Once he was
sitting at the table eating his hot dogs I decided to go for a walk. I felt
like I had been in bed too long. I needed to get out.