Kierra

He pauses only a moment before coming closer, stepping right up to me and reaching for my hands. I pull back but he doesn't stop, his amber eyes on them before raising to my face, an honest smile forming. Grabbing a hold of them, he pulls them out from my body and inspects my palms.

"How many miles did you do?"

"Round trip was around forty miles or so, not including water."

He looks impressed.

"All in one form?"

I nod, tugging on my hands. He lets go, but I don't pull them back, instead grabbing the edges of his coat and opening them wide. The man lets me, holding his arms out so I can see what he's packing.

The inside of his jacket has several hidden pockets and latches that hold knives. One is clipped to his waist that looks like a large Bowie. Not sure how I missed that before. Looking into his face as I step forward, I work on a hunch.

A once again hot hand slips around him. There it is. A gun in the waistband at the small of his back. Since I have nothing to do with guns, I have no idea what kind it is. My eyes narrow as I continue to look into his face, stepping back and releasing him.

"Who are you?"

Before he can answer me, I hear a large vehicle pulling in to my drive. Looking towards it, can't see the truck yet, but it isn't quiet. They're really early.

"When they leave, me and you are gonna have a chat."

He nods, actually looking serious now, as well as a little guilty. That look right there lets me know it's going to be something I'm really not going to like. I hurry inside and start up a pot of boiling water, pulling down packets of hot chocolate. The kind with the tiny marshmallows, because yes.

Hearing them honk as they pull up closer, I go out to meet them, not even bothering to grab a coat for myself. My temperature has risen since finding the weaponry on someone who I brought to my home, who was alone with Bastion. Who I left alone with Bastion.

I know this is on me, hence the raised temperature. My anger is piqued. Waving to them, the driver hops out and we talk about where I'm wanting it set up. Pretty much right in front of where they're parked, situated between two pines and kitty-corner to the end of the porch.

He asks if they can pull out and come back in with the back end pointing towards the house. I readily agree, telling him to do whatever is easiest for them. Can imagine him thinking me crazy; him and his partner all bundled up and I'm out in jeans and a t-shirt.

As they pull out to get turned around, I go in to the boiling water. Xavier is sitting at the desk while Asher and Bastion take up the couch, the giant wolf focusing on what the boy is pointing out in one of his new books. Pulling a couple traveling mugs down, I dump a packet in each one.

Mom had pawned them on Faline and I because she had so many. About time they see some use. Probably should have rinsed 'em out first. Oh well, a little cupboard dust never hurt anyone.

That annoying beeping starts up signaling something large is backing up. Takes them forever to pull in while in reverse. I ask Bastion if he'd like a cup while I'm making it. He shakes his head. I look to Xavier, another head shake. Biting my lip, I look to Asher, who just gives me a droll look.

I smile and can't help the low laugh. Reaching into the fridge and grabbing a plastic covered square, Tigger comes running out of hiding, meowing as he hears cheese. Cat is freaky when he does that.

Standing up against me, he pulls on my shirt as he yells for a slice. Ripping off pieces and giving him one at a time, have to be careful that he has a hold of it before letting go. If it falls to the floor and lays flat, he starts having issues. Which may sound funny till you have to pry up soggy cheese bits yourself that get caught under your fingernails. I'm good, thanks.

Four small pieces later he's over in his tree cleaning himself. Xavier and Bastion laugh, the wolf licks his lips. I glare at him, knowing he does it just to get a rise out of me. I broadcast the image of me putting my foot up his rear end.

Bastion covers his mouth, eyes dancing, Xavier looks between us with raised brows, Asher just gives a wolfish smile. Hearing the beeping right outside, I turn off the stove and fill the two mugs. Topping both with the right lids that I have to scrounge for, they get taken out to the two poor freezing men. It isn't that cold, geez. They both take them gratefully.

A few minutes later, Bastion comes out all bundled up to watch them. Asher follows him out, as does Xavier a couple of minutes after. The midnight wolf stays up on the porch so he doesn't scare the poor guys to death, sitting next to the chair that the Imp is in.

I take the time to talk to him about what I'd told Bastion earlier, about if something were to happen to me, that I want him to take the boy to Ava's. He nods slowly, but not satisfied, I make him promise me that he'll do as I ask. I feel his reluctance, but he agrees.

Now all that's left is to ask Ava about it, but I'm pretty sure she'll agree to. She'll be raving mad about me making plans for my death, but it needs to be done. It's 'being responsible' an all that.

It takes them almost an hour, but they finally get it up and return the mugs. Bastion had gone in earlier because he got too cold. Need to convince him that he needs more meat on his bones before he can be out for longer periods.

After paying both men a hefty tip, they leave with big smiles. I'd measured with my eyes at the store, now to see if I was good or way off. My jeep goes in rather easily, leaving about three feet on either side. Sweet.

Guess it's more a garage then shed, but either way, it works. There's no door to close, and that's why I wanted it where it is. One of the pine trees has upper branches that go out far enough to keep too much snow from piling up in front of it. Hopefully.

I find myself procrastinating, so not looking forward to the talk I need to have. Heaving a sigh, I stiffen my spine and go into the house. Xavier is once more sitting at the desk, but Bastion and Asher are nowhere to be seen.

Seeing my searching, he points to the basement door. Ah. I lean my rump against the island counter, looking at him. Okay, here we go.

"Alright, let's hear it."

He draws in a deep breath, holds it for a moment, then releases, spitting it out as he does so.

"I was hired to kill you."

I blink a few times, his words taking their time to click in my brain. When they do, my automatic response is sarcasm.

"Oh, is that all? I thought it'd be something more dire, like, the world's about to end and I only have a few days before I'm blown up with the planet and you need my tax forms."

He gives a smile, but goes serious again, so I sigh and ask a real question.

"Hired by whom? And are you going to? Think I'd rather know now so I can set things up for Bastion."

"I am not. Knowing who you are now, I can't go through with it. Just seeing how you are with that boy, I couldn't do it. I'm a bastard, but I'm not that cold-hearted. From what I overheard earlier, you are that boys sanity, his very life."

I cross my arms as I keep my eyes on him, not knowing how to take the news that he was sent to kill me. Probably by the same person who sent the Vamp.

"I've been in town for a week now, getting to know the place as well as a feel for the local groups. When I was contracted, I had no idea who you were, what you were. I'd heard abounding whispers that a Silver was in the area, but no one could confirm. When I saw you, I had my suspicions, but wasn't sure till I'd seen your eyes change, then confirmed when I got close and felt your draw."

I raise an eyebrow. The eyes I can see, it's all wacky. But a draw? That doesn't make sense. He elaborates when seeing my confusion.

"Most if not all supernaturals will feel it, as it's similar to what leaders and Alphas have to keep their people together and in line. Yours, however, is a little different in that it calls to me, to my animal, instead of an overbearing presence, it's more like a coaxing, a comfort."

"You make it sound like some kind of hippie hoo-doo. How do I turn it off?"

He shakes his head.

"That's just it, you can't, because that's who you are. It can even be seen with that boy. Coming here and seeing the place, it's obvious you didn't have anything to do with kids, but since having him, which I'm guessing is a recent development, you've made room for him in your life. Instead of getting rid of what could be seen as a problem or burden, you're ready to give your life for him. I'm getting off track here."

I nod, wanting to get off this subject.

"I didn't meet the man who contacted me personally, he sent someone else with the details. I knew you lived here, that was part of the information. It was by total chance that we met where and when we did. There were vague details given to me about what you looked and smelled like, as well as their view of your attitude."

He snorts as he thinks over whatever list he'd been given.

"Just knowing you for the past few hours, nothing of what they told me was very accurate. I was given pieces based on someone else's perspective. The one I met with was a Werewolf; brown hair, brown eyes, little over six-foot..."

I'd looked down, but at his description, my head snaps up, eyes flaring as they change. His breath catches as I direct my gaze at him, the ferocity I'm sure being a little overwhelming, or I hope so at least.

"The one who hired you, he's a Vampire, isn't he? Goes by Nicolaus? I don't know if that is his real name or not."

He gives a slow nod.

"Vampire yes, I wasn't given his name. Both of them have a major hard-on to see you dead. I was the first called in, but it took me some time to get here and get the lay of the city. Since then, I've heard I'm the third one they'd sent, and I'm not cheap."

My brows draw together. The third? Who was... My eyes widen.

"The tan Werewolf... He was the first."

A hand goes to my stomach as it cramps hard, the back of my other hand pressed tightly to my lips. Xavier's eyes darken as he starts to fume.

"The one who raped you?"

I nod and look away, my eyes closing as bile rises. That's how he'd found me to begin with, he knew exactly where to look.

"The man who kidnapped my sister hired you to kill me to get me out of the way, the Werewolf you'd met with was the one who first attacked me. I'd hoped I killed him."

I swallow hard as my mind rebels. I never realized the depth of that man's hatred towards me, and I have no idea what it stems from. Didn't think I'd be worth that much hatred.

"Your sister? Of course... The loss you sang of, it was for her, wasn't it?"

Nodding, I open my eyes.

"Where did you meet him?"

He shakes his head.

"I know what you're thinking, but where we met isn't where they're holding her. It was a neutral location."

I feel Asher slip into my mind, offering comfort and reassurance that we'll find her. Holding tight to that, I lower my hands, then cross my arms once more. Xavier is looking at me with a speculative look.

"What?"

"You're not like most Were women. Since the Change is so violent in both the original attack and first shift, many women become real mellow and quiet. You're very dominant, real take-charge, just like an Alpha would be."

I shrug. The thought of the women self brow-beating themselves is highly annoying. You survived; that makes you strong, don't retreat now. Your life may become different, but take charge of it, don't let your animal or any other take over.

"Did you meet in Loves Park?"

"Downtown Rockford."

Shivers charge up my spine. I hate Rockford, let alone Downtown. The whole town is an angry entity that is just waiting for any weakness or reason to suck the life from you.

"It would appear that I need to take a trip Downtown and roam around a bit. Might see, hear, or smell something familiar. Never thought I'd want to purposefully go down there, let alone to smell people."

"I would like to help, just tell me where you need me, and I'm there."