Runaway To Me

Chapter 4

I could feel the hesitation rolling off Jensyn. She cradled her broken arm closely to her chest and looked frighteningly small standing at the front of my porch. Her brown eyes were flushed with emotion. Wisps of her light blonde hair that had escaped her ponytail fluttered in the light breeze.

"Jensyn." I squatted down to bring myself to her eye level. "I promise you that will be safe in my house. We will do all that we can to keep you safe on our lands. And if you decide to leave, our community will help you go."

"How can you promise that?" Her voice cracked.

"Because I am me. That doesn't sound like much, but it is."

I had a lot of experience dealing with traumatized, young rogues coming to our community. Wolves from all walks of life who had seen things they shouldn't have had to. Living beings with crushed souls and broken minds. But Jensyn was a different story, I couldn't put a finger on it, but I knew my usual routines wouldn't help her. Her story was rough, but I'd heard more atrocious crimes committed that brought wolves to our community.

"You have a choice here, Jensyn. I won't make you do anything, but I ask that you will take this day by day. Today I just ask that you let me welcome you into my home and you can relax and let your body heal."

The internal conflict was clearly displayed on her face. It wasn't the first time I'd seen this sort of tragedy play out on someone's face. But Jensyn's face showed a devastating depth of emotions. Poor girl has been through a lot in 24 hours.

If she would only just listen and go into my house, she could rest and be alone if she wanted. The key being if she wanted to. Stubborn female wolves were impossible to negotiate with, I knew that for sure. Only an idiot would try to argue with her.

"Okay." She agreed finally. "I'm sorry."

"You don't need to be sorry. I'd be apprehensive if the roles were reversed."

"Doesn't mean it's fair to take it out on you."

"I'm just conveniently located." I smiled at her.

The corners of her bow lips tugged up ever so slightly. I opened the door and ushered her in. I gave her a quick tour of downstairs and then showed her upstairs to the guest room.

"You'll stay here as long as you want. There's extra sheets in the closet and there should be plenty of towels in the attached bathroom." I deposited her bag at the foot of the bed.

"Your guest bedroom is nicer than the entire Alpha's quarters at home." Jensyn gave a twirl, taking in the whole room.

"I designed none of it. My brother, Killian, is a genius with designing architecture. He is wasting his true talents while he serves as my Beta."

"He's really good. What's your talent then?"

Her question caught me off guard and I told her so.

"Well, if Killian got all the architectural talent, what did you get?"

"Construction. I like to build things."

"He plans them and you build it?"

"If he plans it, yes. Otherwise I build without plans, leaving my intuition to its devices."

"Does that mean- did you... you built this house?"

"Yeah."

"Wow. If you handed me a hammer I wouldn't know the first thing. Give me a sword? And that would be a whole other story."

"Battle talents?"

She shrugged, "I guess. I'm pretty good in a fight."

"I would never have guessed."