The King's Rogue

Ch 5 Sister

Brother seemed to know where he was going, heading down halls and up an elevator, then down more halls. He'd let me go once we were in the building. He'd kept walking, and it was hard not to follow. At least he didn't push for more conversation. The nurses smiled at him as he went by, a genuine smile. All of them. Many called out to him, calling him Brother and waving.

I didn't get it. How could one guy make everyone so happy? I kept falling further and further behind. The nurses smiled at me, but it was that Hello stranger, may I help you? What do I need to do to get you out of my way? sort of professional attitude. None of them saw me as me, not the way they saw Brother, their eyes lighting up as they called out his name.

He slowed and stopped, so gracefully, quietly rapping on a door. I was enraptured by the movement, and the smooth sudden lack of it. I had noticed it as he moved down the hall; an effortless glide. Every move he made was just so smooth. Watching the way he moved had me hoping we would have a chance to run as wolves at some point tonight. I could forgive him for ratting me out to Michael's parents. I could even forgive his concern and empty reassurances, if he could teach me how to move like that.

I decided I was enchanted and bemused by this unassuming stranger that just... lived. That's what it was. In his walk, in his gaze... there was no burden of pain, no judgement or condemnation. He gave everyone that same accepting friendship he had offered me. What was it he had asked Michael? Could he celebrate life? It was as if this guy did, every second of every minute. I could, when I ran using my parkour, and lately when I did the small stunts I was learning with my small motorbike. I found myself trying to glide like he did. He stuck his head back out of the doorway and I looked up, embarrassed and almost guilty at being caught trying to emulate him.

I heard a woman's voice and Brother stuck his head back in the room, talking to whoever was there for a moment. His hand moved, motioning me back. It was with relief I merged into the wall, leaning back and looking bored. Nothing here to notice, people, I'm a nobody, move on. The woman who gave Brother a hug as she left the room did just that, walking past me without a second look.

"Little Brother!"

He motioned me to hurry over, motioning more when I didn't move fast enough for him. He said something to whoever was still in the room, then stepped around me as I came up to the door. Somehow I was moved into the room as he stepped out, closing the door most of the way behind him.

"Well, come over here so I can see you! Geez, you're acting like a scaredy cat. Hurry up! My mom won't stay gone forever, and I still want to spend some time with Brother."

My heart started pounding as I looked toward the bed. I couldn't understand the panic that hit me so suddenly.

The girl in the bed gave an exasperated sigh, then patted the bed next to her. She might have been around thirteen? She was wearing a white knit hat with some pink in the front. The blanket on the bed looked like some hand-made crocheted thing, mostly white with random pink lines of different widths.

It wasn't until I started looking around the room, anywhere but at the girl, that she literally growled, startling me into staring at her.

"I don't have all night," she snapped. Then she gave this frustrated sigh, and said more calmly, "Come on," she tapped the bed again, "I don't bite... much!"

She gave me such a cocky grin, I couldn't help but give the slightest chuckle as I headed over next to the bed. She grabbed my arm, pulling me closer and shoving me so I was sitting on its edge. Aggressive little brat, that's what she was! But the smile she suddenly sported was as real as Brother's.

"I'm glad your here," she whispered conspiringly. "I wasn't sure you'd come. Is Michael ok? Is he going to go with Brother in the morning? Are you ok? I was soooo worried when I heard you and Michael went missing! Are you going too? What was it like there? Isn't Lone Wolf just the best! Mac is annoying sometimes though. He just doesn't understand us wolves! He will someday though. What do you think of Max? Isn't he just the cutest? Do you know he didn't even know what a s'mores was? What color fur do you have? Have you seen Brother as a wolf yet? What are we going to do about those omegas? Do you...?"