Kierra

I pull up in front of the publishing house, the car that was there earlier now gone. A new vehicle is now in front, the black SUV looking thing reminding me of ones you see in movies that are either driven by bad guys or cops. Thanks to my overactive imagination, I keep an eye on the thing.

When the driver door opens, I stiffen automatically. To my amazement though, Xavier is the one to step out of it. His cheesy grin gets wider as he just watches me gape at him.

He casually walks up to my window and knocks on it. Closing my mouth and scowling, it gets rolled down just to have him stick his head in. Holding out his hand in front of me and waiting for my gesture to take what he has.

Already know what it is before I take it, but I'm still just staring at him.

"Please tell me you didn't steal it."

The maned wolf laughs, a sly grin taking over.

"What if I did?"

My scowling has him raising his hands.

"I didn't steal it. It's paid for and legal, just needs official plates."

There are multiple car lots in downtown Rockford, at least three within walking distance of where he's standing now. Most of them aren't known to have brand new models, so this one is more than likely used. Makes me feel a little better, but I'm still confused.

"If you bought it, why are you handing me the key?"

Xavier holds up a copy of his own on a keychain I don't remember him having before. Still at a loss, I continue looking at him, my hand lowers to rest on my steering wheel so I'm not looking like quite an idiot. He shrugs with a smile.

"I have a spare, but I bought it for you. Call it my rent money for my living in your home. Besides, you've grumbled a few times now about needing something bigger, so now you have something manageable."

Coming from mercenary work and living like a vagabond, I already knew he wasn't poor by any means. Probably one of the more wealthier people in Rockford, actually. But still, I don't take gifts very well, I never feel that I get the point across that I'm grateful. Mostly because I don't know what to do.

"Uh, thank you, Xavier, but you didn't have to do this."

And back to blundering I go, blushing as I try to look at him yet not wanting to at the same time. He sees that I'm flustered, and seems to be taking pleasure from it.

"You're a dork. You didn't have to do this, I would have gotten something later on."

He laughs, rocking back on his heels as a car goes by. His biker jackets gaping open over the shirt, the cool air not bothering him at all. The gawking stares from the females across the street are annoying though.

"Uhm, I got a call from Orion, we have to get back to the house. Faline has sent another to me."

The dark head nods as his brow furrows, opening his mouth as if to say something before he shakes his head.

"I'll follow you."

"Yep."

Pushing the nifty little button to roll the window back up, we start back home. Don't want to freeze my Imp.

"Sent another? You mean there is someone new at the house?"

Bastion sounds both interested and a bit reserved. Granted people aren't so much coming and going from his life, the only one having left, recently, being Asher. But so many people in such a short span of time is taxing. I should know.

"Yeah, from the sounds of it they're in bad shape. I want to help if I can, but it's still up to you if they stay. You and Maii."

My quick glance back reveals the young coyote having widened his eyes, but he looks pleased. Blue eyes direct over to who you can now basically call his brother. A shy look, but my Imp gives a smile back.

I know they're already friends, and when papers come in and everything goes through, they will be siblings, legally. Sort of. Are legal papers that were made up illegally still seen as legal if they aren't known to be forgeries? Hmm.

Think my life of crime needs a bit brushing up on. The drama TV shows are only good for so far, then you have to go to the real stuff, the forensics. See how things are found and go about figuring out how to avoid it. But shh, you didn't hear it from me.

My mind wanders back to Bryanna. She's been an animal much longer than I but knows even less than I do. How messed up is that? Not her fault, I know, but you'd think you'd look for others to learn something.

I have to hide my snort. Here I am thinking this crap, yet what was it I had done just weeks before? I hid. Was just lucky that I had Asher there with me to tell me some things, where she had no one apparently.

Orion said she more than likely wasn't from this area. Didn't have an accent that I could tell, so couldn't have been that far from where she is now. Even homegrown native Wisconsinites have a bit of an accent, and that's just north a bit.

Rock Cut State Park is very large and takes up much of the northern central span of the state. Machesney Park and Loves Park are largely wooded areas that branch out from it. Rockford is where things really get into the 'industrial' feel.

There'd been talk of reducing the size of the park to build up another town or housing development, but the higher-ups decided against it. Wonder if Gabriel had anything to do with that. The only thing that I recall being built up was a cell tower on the edge of the park.

Even with that though, with all the trees I can imagine calls can be finicky. Same for Wi-Fi. Guess that's one way to make sure you're not on the computer all the time.

I’m supposed to talk to that annoying man later today about getting that plantation-looking house. If I can keep my temper.

Ri-ight.

Anyway, the northern accent stops on the opposite side of the park, so Bryanna isn't from that way, which just leaves the three other directions. Sigh. Granted it doesn't matter, but knowing where someones from can give you a better idea of who they're likely to be. Sometimes.

Not trying to be stereotypical, but that does tend to be the way things are. Especially of those homegrown in Rockford. Going with that same train, Chicago is more than likely the same way.

Maybe not so much the upper class, but middle and lower tend to breed the same type. I managed to avoid that somehow, being bounced around the way I was while in foster care. But just going by my attitude on things now, can tell where half my roots are, and I'll always be lower middle class.

Would rather be that than one of the corrupt howdy doodies. More often than not, when you start out on the lower rungs of society, you appreciate things more. Pride and stubbornness are high as well, which can lead to butting heads everywhere.

I shake my head as we come up on the last turns before getting home. If I'm able to get the new place, what do I do with this one? Since finding out it's a blackout zone, I've decided to stop paying on things and see what happens. Hasn't been a month yet, so no results.

From where we are now, we'd be moving northeasterly. Maintenance of the place alone should have me running the other way, but it's needed. Besides, that's what kids are good for, right?

Speaking of kids, mine are vocally contemplating what the new person will be like. Well, one is, the other is more speaking with his hands and gestures. Still confused as to why he doesn't speak, maybe someone at the Shifter school will be able to clue me in.

Going past the house that I'd given to the Reds, there does appear to be a couple vehicles beside the driveway. Parked along it instead of closer up to the house itself. Probably ones left behind to fix up the place.

I leave them to it as I keep going to my home. Shade’s big ass truck is gone so that should leave some room, but Zypher's bike has taken over my shed garage. Least it's coming in handy, I guess.

Orion's van is parked where I normally do, so I maneuver my jeep over to where the truck is usually sitting. Xavier pulls in next to me so now the front of my home is a wall of metal butts. The smallest thing here after the bike is my jeep.

The black SUV is large, not as big as Orion's body-hauling van, but still multi-person carryable. The same van that had gotten my sister and I home when we rescued her. Hope he's gotten all my blood cleaned out of it; lost at least a couple pints in there.

First thing Bastion does when hopping out is go over and inspect the new black monster. Standing in front of my jeep, I put my hands on my hips and glare at the male who bought it. All he can do is grin at me.

Have a feeling the only real reason it was bought is so I get stuck driving it and he can take over my jeep.

Ha! I'm on to you, buddy.