The Run

Chapter Four

An hour later, I find myself in a huge mall the town over from where the pack resides. It really was huge, or at least it was to me. I couldn’t help but find myself in shock, as I stared up at the huge domed ceiling, the two story building was the biggest thing I have ever seen, including Oratio’s house.

“Come on!” He laughed at my expression, pulling me along. I couldn’t help but stare at the back of him, as he pulled the little one and I through the huge crowds of people. With his curly, brown hair and beautiful green eyes he was one of the most attractive wolves that I had ever seen... NOT that I go around looking for wolves or anything, because, you know... That would be weird...

Lost in thought, I hadn’t noticed that we had stopped until I almost bumped into the back of him. In front of me, was a large baby store. “I figured that we should have some things for the pup... I mean... kitten... Especially now that you’re both going to be living with me.” He smiled at me uncertainly. I don’t exactly remember ever agreeing to this, but I couldn’t deny the fact that my little one needed supplies, and a booster seat for the car. I figured that I would make an escape when he wasn’t around, which would give me the time I needed to get the baby items from the house and take them with me.

Looking at the adoring way he smiled at me, I felt a twinge of guilt in my stomach. I know he loved me, even though I didn’t even know him. But this would only lead to disaster. Interspecies relationships weren’t meant to happen, I couldn’t be with him, no matter how much I knew I wanted to be, deep down. This was wrong, what was happening. It would be safer for the baby and Oratio if we left the town.

I follow him through the aisles of the store, only stopped when he turned to look at me. “You know.. I have absolutely no idea what you want or need, so...” He trailed off, blushing. Giggling at his expression, I move forward and start to search the aisles of the store for the clothes, blankets, diapers and other things that I would need to take care of the baby.

When I had finally finished and had everything that I thought I needed, we had filled up two trolleys full of baby things. Looking down at my toes, I felt bad for tricking Oratio into buying these things for me. If I wasn’t pretending to stay with him, I wouldn’t have to make him buy a cot, or a changing table and it would have brought the price down of these things a lot...

Staring down at my feet, I wordlessly wait for him to say something, anything about how expensive it was, and that he wouldn’t buy these things. I honestly didn’t want him to buy any of this. I had always had to work so hard for everything that I had; it felt bad to be getting things so easily. I felt my heart trying to break from my chest and run out of the mall, into the free open space.

“Do you mind if we go back to car, I think it would be easier to see whether or not we could fit all of this shopping and more in the car before we buy anything else.” Oratio’s voice broke me out of my guilty thoughts. I knew he was only trying to do the best for me, but I couldn’t help the small frown that formed on my face when he said nothing about the price, or the amount of things we had already. “Ker-is.....” He sounded out my name uncertainly “I didn’t mean to upset you, we don’t have to go back to the car if you don’t want too” He gave me a confused, dejected look. I couldn’t help giggling at him; he looked so much like my father, when my mother had refused him something that he had wanted.

At this, his face immediately brightened, realizing that I wasn’t upset with him. “Let’s go back to the car, and try to set up this car seat thing...” I agreed, allowing him to wrap his arm around my waist. I knew that his car would fit everything; I was good with assuming how much cargo a vehicle could carry after all of my time carrying my own little ‘house’ in a car. He suddenly laughed heartily, happy that I was just lost in the clouds again, causing my heart to do a cheerful flip in my chest. I still didn’t understand why I liked him so much; it would only make it so much harder to leave him behind when I left...