Runaway

thirty two

long time no see, apologies for the crazy long delays, but this time, i think i'm back for good :)))

My hands shake as Dexter's eyes follow me.

"In another lifetime this would've been all I wanted. Safety, a loving mate, a beautiful home, but now it's not enough. None of this can replace my memories, or help me shift and find my werewolf. I know that it's dangerous Dexter but staying in this beautiful prison isn't going to get me anywhere." I wave my arms around for emphasis, "I know it's selfish but I need to know my own heritage and actually live without being confined to rules and spaces." I stand up to grab my snacks, "I'm sorry Dexter this isn't about anyone else, it's about me."

"I know Isabelle." Dexter's voice is so quiet I'm not even sure I heard him correctly. "You need a plan though, you can't go out into the world with a bunch of stolen snacks and no money or experience."

"I don't have time to figure out a plan, I need to leave as soon as I can." I reply turning away from Dexter, what's his end game?

"Isabelle, I'm trying to help you. You've never been in the world unprotected before, it's not as easy as it looks on TV."

I wave my hand dismissively, "Dexter I'm not an idiot. I can do this, I know I can." I say doubt running through my mind, can I do this? Am I really prepared to just leave in the middle of the night? Am I an idiot running away knowing I'm being hunted by different Alphas?

"Let me help you." Dexter replies, his eyes are soft and his tone calm.

I bite my lip, help is exactly what I need, but from Dexter? Dexter who keeps popping up as an unexplained character in this story, Dexter who yelled at me, Dexter who knows Theo and Xavier, am I an idiot to trust him?

"How can I trust you?"

"You can't, but you don't exactly have a lot of other options." Dexter's reply was as cold as the arctic. No ones really on my side.

"Why do you want to help me?" I ask, trying a new angle. Maybe if I can know why, I can see if Dexter's worth trusting.

"Because you're right Isabelle. You can't remain here forever, but you've also never been out in the world without protection and control. The human world isn't all it's cut out to be."

I clench my fists, he's right. My whole life I've lived in a bubble, I know more about the human world than the supernatural world, but only marginally.

"What sort of help are you offering?" I ask, what am I about to sign myself up for?

"I have two conditions before I disclose anything, you have to agree to both if you want my help."

"Okay, what are they?"

"Firstly, you have to listen to everything I say. I don't want any of this fighting back, I know what I'm doing and you're going to have to trust that."

I nod my head, I can deal with that, at least temporarily.

"Secondly, I'm coming with you."

I open my mouth to protest by Dexter raises his hand, "these are my conditions, take it or leave it."

I stare at him, why is this one of his conditions? Can I do this without him? Do I really need his help? I sigh, dropping my gaze, the answer is clear.

"You can come Dexter. But we are equals, I will listen to you because you know what you're doing but I will not be kept in the dark. I'm sick of being a puppet in this, we're equals, we make decisions together." I say triumphantly, these are terms I can work with.