Chapter 28

Lena sniffed at the air, the scent vaguely familiar, but not recalling much for her. " Jess?"

"What's up Lena?" Jess pulled her head up from the carving station.

"You.. smell that?"

"Dog?" Jess brushed aside, carving her customer's crown roast.

Lena's eyes darted up and around searching faces.

"What's wrong?" Jess didn't look up, there was nothing unusual about the butcher having wolf customers. The furrier species always had a tendency to prefer fresher cuts, and it lead to the butchery to be a frequented shop for them.

"I.. know this one.." Lena missed the wolf she was looking for even as she was right in front of her, having not gotten a good look at her that night.

"That shouldn't be a surprise, more than half of them get their meat here. They have a more refined tastes for the freshest meat, and that leads most of them to come here." Jess shrugged, wrapping the meat.

"Yeah." Lena brushed off.

"Well if you find em, try to sell em the crown roast. I already have it out." Jess teased handing off the meat to her customer. "Anything else I can get you?"

"Yes, I'd like to speak to Kara." Lena could hear it now, remembering the voice as it spoke her wolf's name.

"Cat!" Lena spat.

"It's nice to see you without a gun in your hand."

"Yeah well, one isn't too far away. And if you don't get the hell out you'll see it real soon." Lena threatened.

"Lena! She just spent a couple hundred dollars! Be nice." Jess hissed. "Plus she is a good tipper. "

"You don't want to start a war. Now do you?" Cat asked a little too smug.

"For her? Id consider it. Now get the fuck out!" Lena was quiet attempting not to disturb her other customers.

"Come on, I'm a single mother. I'm nothing to fear. "

"Last time I saw you, you were silvering my girlfriend!"

"I…. Didn't know you two were.."

"We aren't quite... I.. nothing official. "Lena retreated within herself. "It's none of your business! Now get out!" Cat spotted it first then, the marking on Lena's neck, proof.

"Look, does it change anything if I tell you that she asked me to come? " Cat asked.

"She asked you to come?" Lena couldn't look more unconvinced if she tried.

"And recommended the crown roast." Cat was quick to add.

"Sure." Lena rolled her eyes.

"Look?" Cat pulled out her phone and showed Lena the message as proof.

"Ok, so you had someone message you that and changed their contact info to say Kara."

"Jesus, it even has her number under it, now can I talk to her?" Cat huffed.

"That could be anyone's number."

"So you claim to be her girlfriend and you don't know her number?" Cat gave Lena a look.

"She lives here, so I don't tend to need her number. No. Now please leave. " Lena waved Cat off.

"Please, I have someone waiting in the car." Cat urged.

"Good. Go back to them and take them with you! Now, goodbye!"

"Fine then. " Cat walked away, only to sit down at a table, her food in hand as she whipped her phone back out, quickly typing away.

"What the fuck is she doing!?" Lena grumbled.

"Oh besides making sure you can pay me this week? Probably getting an Uber. " Jess hypothesized.

"You didn't see what I saw. " Lena glared.

"Really? Or did I just not see it Happening to my girlfriend!" Jess teased.

"Jess she was scared! She was scared and fighting for her life! Just to be left alone! But that bitch silvered her! Tied her down and was going to drag her somewhere to do god knows what!?" Lena was growing worked up thinking of it. Even from across the room, and out of the corner of her eye Cat could still see the marking, almost even better now as it shown on Lena's skin almost with the same depth as both of her own, growing darker and more defined as Lena got more and more worked up or concerned about Kara. Everything she thought was officially confirmed.

"Fine.."

"She had them beat her on the floor! Kara would still have bruises if it weren't for me giving her my blood."

"Calm down!" Jess covered Lena's mouth.

"Fine." Lena growled glaring at Cat.

"Wait, isn't that?"

"Why the hell ?" Lena stared at the front door as the pup entered. "Ruby? What are you doing here? Where is your mom?"

Ruby was shaking, clearly still not ok as she headed to Cat and sat with her.

"That's it!" Lena broke, running to their table. "Ruby are you alright!?"

"I.." Ruby stuttered, looking to Cat and then to Lena.

"She saw something a little rough this afternoon." Cat admitted.

"You mother fucker!" Lena grabbed Cat by the collar of her shirt. "You pull your shit with me but you don't dare touch the kid!"

"She didn't do anything!" Ruby yelled crying.

"Ruby?" Lena turned to the child and knelt down.

"We are here to talk to Kara, ok! I.. we... I need to talk to Kara. And Cat said Kara wanted to see her too anyways ok?" Ruby shook, her breath Shaky as she cried.

"I swear if this is a fuuu… funny truck it something I'm gonna bury you." Lena censored herself this time on Ruby's behalf. "Come on back. I will grab her for you two." Lena instructed, heading back ahead of them, gesturing for them to sit in the downstairs den while she went to go talk to Kara.

"Kara?" Lena knocked on the door to her open floor plan upstairs, hoping not to startle or wake the wolf.

"Yes? Lena? Is everything ok?"

"You.. have visitors? It's Cat and Ruby."

"Ruby?" Kara opened the door for Lena.

"That's the one you're surprised by?" Lena rose an eyebrow.

"Yes, I asked to see Cat." Kara nodded.

"Why? She silvered you! She was hunting you! What is going on!?" Lena pressed impatient and stressed, almost feeling betrayed.

"It's a long story. I.. my wolf needs to see her. To sort some things out ." Kara didn't quite know how to explain to a vampire.

"I.. is everything ok? What happened with Alex?" Lena worried.

"Yes. I.. things were just tense. But it's ok. I'm ok." Kara comforted, seeing the fear in Lena as Lena reached out.

"Baby." Lena's heart fell as Kara evaded her hand aimed to caress Kara's cheek. "Oh… I. I get it.." Lena's hand dropped.

"Lena. I'm sorry. I-"

"No, no. I'm sorry. I thought- " Lena turned away.

"Lena! Please!"

"No. I.. I'll send Cat up for you." Lena ran down the steps, holding her emotions back, feeling a fool as she saw Cat's face. "She is upstairs. " Lena sniffed, rushing away, to the kitchen and collapsing out of sight from anyone else.

"You ok to wait here while I talk to her?" Cat requested.

"Yeah." Ruby nodded, curling up on the couch scared, still seeing Alex each time she closed her eyes.

"It's going to be ok. Alex and I don't always see eye to eye, but she is strong."

"I.. I know!" Ruby fought, posturing a false confidence.

"She will be ok." Cat patted Ruby on the shoulder.

"I… I'm sorry I got you in trouble!" Ruby blurted out the only thought she had other than questions about Alex.

"No. You didn't get me in trouble. I did that. And it is all ok now anyway. But please go to your mom if you have those questions from now on."

"I know…. I know that now." Ruby nodded.

"And I mean it. Alex is ok. Your mom shot me a message a couple minutes ago. Alex is stable."

"Thank you Cat." Ruby smiled relieved.

"Here, play a game or something." Cat handed her phone over.

"I have my own!" Ruby giggled.

"Good, play a game or something. Don't dwell on the scary stuff. It doesn't make it easier. " Cat suggested.

"Thanks." Ruby nodded gently, pulling out her own phone to attempt to find some distraction while Cat spoke with Kara.

Cat headed up, unsure what Kara wanted or how their wolves would react to being in the same room. A part of her was terrified, but another part was accepting, ready for whatever might happen.

Kara paced from behind the door, panting anxiously, her and her wolf on the same page; a unified front of worried for Lena and needing to know.

"Kara? I.. it's Cat." She knocked on the door.

"Hey." Kara opened the door for Lena as she passed by it, still pacing.

Cat could immediately smell the pheromones thick in the room, dense and overwhelming, but clearly not for her. "Well hi back." Cat smiled hollow.

"I'm relieved you didn't bring the whole pack. " Kara offered half a joke.

"Well. I didn't feel like starting a war. "

"Why Ruby?"

"Well … she has something to tell you. But I figured I should go first because after what she tells you, you probably won't be able to focus on much else."

"Is everything ok?" Kara's eyes snapped back to Cat.

"J..just a scare. Everyone is ok now."

"Do I need to be worried?"

"Ruby will explain in a minute. But.. uugh you said you needed to talk to me? That you had some questions?"

"Y.. yes?" Kara nodded.

"Well?" Cat urged on patiently.

Kara was silent.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing! Nothing!" Kara denied.

" . You are a worse liar than I was when Raymond was alive. "

"Was Raymond always… as terrible as he was when he was an alpha?" Kara blurted out.

"What do you mean?" Cat needed clarification.

"Look! I know he is your dead husband and all but he was a piece of shit! He was terrible. He raped and abused you! He beat the shit out of me! I… I mean I know I was terrible too. And I assaulted you, but…"

"You what now?"

"I.. I'm sorry." Kara crumbled.

"You never assaulted me."

"You… and I .. in the woods … the morning you didn't run with him. The morning you ran away with me."

"Kara you did nothing wrong that night."

"Yes I did!"

"And you certainly don't assault me!"

"You told me that we couldn't. That you wanted to stop." Kara argued.

"And then you got off of me. And-"

"I will never forgive myself for that. I don't blame you for never talking to me again really."

"Kara. I told you to stop to save your life!" Cat snapped.

"What?" Kara shook her head.

"He beat the shit out of you for barely doing anything more than kissing me. What do you think he would have done if we had actually done anything… I stopped you because I wanted to save your life."

"You.. didn't .. you don't hate me. I.. didn't." Kara processed.

"Kara, I liked you, if it wasn't for him. I would have… we would have.. I still like you. " Kara admitted.

"But I thought…"

"I just didn't want you dead." Cat sighed looking away. "I liked you, I do like you. I cared about you. Not like that matters now tho. "

"You liked me?" Kara blushed, the confession kind, however also helping her sort things out.

"You didn't do anything wrong Kara."

"Cat. Thank you." Kara hugged cat tight, appreciative.

"It's ok." Cat patted Kara on the back.

"You... smell... normal?" Kara was shocked by Cat's scent as she approached. "What happened? You… ever since my first rut, you smelled… diferent." Kara didnt want to admit how hevanly the scent of Cat was to her for that short time. "But now, its , normal."

"Yeah. That happens when you already have a mate. "

"I..d..d.. don't." Kara stammered

"Yes, you do." Cat had a soft laugh.

Kara released the hug confused

"Yes. Lena."

"But she and I haven't. I haven't even given her the bite "

"Read it when you have the time." Cat opened her purse and removed a small children's storybook, clearly decades if not centuries old.

"What is it?" Kara wondered, turning it over, finding the title; Fur and Fangs.

"The only time I've seen anything like you and Lena ever happen before. " Cat answered.

"I.. thank you." Kara nodded.

"But.. you might not have time for a hot minute after what Ruby is gonna tell you. I can keep the pack busy for a day or two. So don't worry. They won't go running after you." Cat offered, pain in her eyes.

"What is it?"

"I.. Ruby is here to tell you, your sister is in the hospital." Cat admitted.

"Alex!?" Kara screamed throwing the book to the bed before sprinting downstairs to see Ruby curled up on the couch, eyes red, still shaking with fear as she tried to distract herself.

"Ruby what happened? Is Alex ok!?" Kara rushed to the pup's side.

"I! Kara!" Ruby sniffed, the idea of explaining it to Kara weighing on her.

"Are you ok?" Kara checked.

"No! I.. I saw her.. on the floor .. bleeding! Her wrist.. I.. Kara there was so much blood! I was so scared!" Ruby broke out into heavy sobs.

Kara was scared too, but she held herself together, being as tough as she could be for Ruby's sake; More than that, she was being a strong alpha to protect a pack member. "It's ok. I'm here. Alex will be ok. I know it. My sister is tough. I'm sorry you saw her hurt." Kara hugged Ruby and wiped away her tears.

"I.. need to see her.." Ruby sniffed, having a hard time believing that someone so wounded even could still be ok.

"Me too. How about we go see her. I will call an Uber to the hospital. Ok?" Kara suggested, keeping up her strong facade for Ruby.

End of Chapter 28