Chapter Two

“We’re here.” Fire’s voice drew her back to consciousness.

“Where is here?” Sage opened her eyes to look around. She fell asleep on the drive. Which reminded her just how tired she was.

“You’re in a secure compound or as secure as Declyn, and his people could make it. I think it’s the safest place on Earth, but then again, I’m biased.”

“Right,” she nodded her head. How had things spun out of her control so fast? She placed her arm over her mouth as she coughed groaning at the feeling in her chest.

“Do you feel alright?”

“Yeah, just a small cough.” She opened the door and swung her feet out until they were on the concrete. Her body leaned over as her eyes closed again. How much longer could she run and hide?

“Sage?”

“Sorry, I haven’t slept in a while so my body doesn’t want to move like it should.” She stood making sure she closed the door behind her.

She was standing in front of what looked like a garage with steps that went up the side of the building.

“This belongs to Enzo and Deja. They told me I could use it whenever I needed it, and you need it now. No one will bother you here. Come on up.”

Declyn walked up the stairs carrying Sage’s bag while Fire followed him. Sage walked up but stopped on the third step turning around. There were eyes on her after being followed for so long she knew what it felt like to be watched.

She scanned the area just catching sight of someone blending in with the shadows. The figure stepped out just enough so she could see that his face was mostly hidden, all she could see was his bright green eyes staring at her.

This is where she expected to panic. Her fight or flight instincts should be kicking in. They would if the feeling coming from the cloaked figure was evil, but it wasn’t. A year ago, she would be laughing at herself, but now she was an expert. She could tell from a look if you were out to hurt her and the figure staring at her wanted something that she was sure of, but it wasn’t to hurt her.

“Sage?” The sound of Fire’s voice made her jump, and the figure staring at her disappeared into the darkness.

“I’m coming.” She hurried up the steps and met Fire on the small porch. They shared a smile before walking into the apartment.

Her eyes swept the place. The living room was big enough to hold several people comfortably. There was a television on the wall and a couch with two arm chairs. The kitchen was off the back of the living room. She wandered around finding a bedroom that looked like it was decked out for a young man. There was a bathroom and another bedroom.

“The first bedroom was Ven’s. He still hasn’t moved his things out. I think he ducks in here when he needs time away from his parents. Don’t tell them I said that though. They are working on being the best parents ever.”

“They’re smothering him?”

“No, they’re giving him the love he missed out on. I just think at times he’s not sure how to return it.”

“He must be somewhere between sixteen and twenty-two.”

“Good guess. You can sleep in this bedroom.”

She walked into the bigger one tripping over her feet.

“Hey, are you alright?”

“I’m fine, just tired. It was nice of you to come get me. I just don’t want to put you or anyone else in jeopardy.”

“What do you think that Jim can do that will harm me or the others here?”

Her eyes darted around the room not willing to meet Fire’s gaze.

“Call me paranoid,” she shrugged.

“Well then. The fridge and the cabinets are stocked with food. If there is anything you need, you have my number, call. There is a nice club close by in case you want to get out and meet others. When you’re ready to explore let me know, and I’ll walk with you. There’s only one rule, don’t leave the apartment hungry.”

“That won’t be a problem. Thank you for everything you have done for me.” She was starving, but she wouldn’t tell Fire that. At this point in her life there wasn’t a reason to eat.

“It’s not that much, but you're welcome.”

Sage looked through the doorway where Fire’s guy was waiting for her. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He gave her a smile that made her feel safe for a moment before reality set in reminding her this was just a reprieve from the death waiting for her.

“Call me, if you need me.”

“I will.” They walked out the door leaving her alone.

She walked the apartment exploring before she finally went into her bedroom and changed her clothes. She reached for the ugly white nightgown she wore all the time. It covered every inch of her so no one would see what she hid underneath it.

Her fingers defiantly refused to pick it up. Instead, she reached for the red one. She shouldn’t wear red it would clash with her hair, but she didn’t care. She pulled it over her head and shimmied as it came down over her curves. It stopped several inches below her behind. She walked to the mirror to look at herself; her hands reached for the hem of the gown stripping it off as she blindly reached for the white one.

She eyed the bed so tired that all she wanted to do was drop. Instead, she walked toward the window that allowed her to see out. Not seeing anyone she walked to the door and opened it. She shivered as the cold air hit her warm body. Coming outside was a mistake, and she knew it, but she was looking for someone. Someone? She was looking for the figure with the green eyes.

She knew it was a male even though logically it could be a female. There, she felt the stare again. How could his gaze feel so different from all the others she had encountered lately? He stepped out of the shadows allowing her to see the outline of his body. He was tall and powerfully built. She met his eyes before her feet carried her backward, and she reached for the door handle. “Don’t be stupid,” she whispered out loud before she went into the apartment.

Her feet took her to the bed. She snuggled under the covers and went to sleep.

*~*~*~*

“Where are you going?” Xander met his brother by the door.

“For a walk.” Caden’s voice was soft. He had been checking on Sage from a distance every night since she had arrived.

“To Enzo’s garage. This is the fifth night.”

“Can you feel her?”

“Not the way you can. She’s pulling you like a magnet. I don’t like it.”

Caden turned around to look at his brother. “I felt her the moment she crossed the barrier. I just want to be close to her for a few minutes.”

“It seems she wants the same thing.”

“She comes out at the same time every evening, but I’m not sure she realizes I’m there.”

Xander stared at him not saying a word.

“Her skin looks flushed, and her eyes are red. I think she may be sick but wouldn’t the Alpha or Deja pick up on the sickness?”

“I could ask Jessie to walk over there with me. That way, she could get a look at her while the two of you are pretending the other one doesn’t exist.”

“Thank you.”

“What are brothers for?”

They headed out the door Caden heading for Enzo’s garage while Xander walked towards Cole and Jessie’s house.

Sage stepped out on the porch wondering what she was doing out here. How many days had it been? Every night she came out, and the shadow of the male was always there watching over her. She felt like she couldn’t sleep without seeing him. It was her imagination; she was going crazy, but she was making peace with it. If she were crazy, maybe it would hurt less.

A smile lifted her lips as she met his eyes. His gaze always warmed her even though she was burning up one moment and freezing the other. Her hand lifted involuntarily, and she had to force it down. She wanted to call him over.

‘Stop acting like the world owes you something.’ It was that voice again. It wasn’t the alien in her head or even her own fear or desires. This voice was evil. It tried to take over her thoughts and control her body. This voice scared her.

She turned around needing to run back to the safety of her apartment and tripped sprawling over the wooden porch. She pushed using her arms to try to get up and fell again. Closing her eyes, she dropped her head, she was too weak to move.

It was the sound of footsteps on the stairs that made her try to lift her head. They were so light that she wouldn’t have heard them if her ear hadn’t been plastered to the wood.

“Stay back.” Was that her voice it sounded weak?

“I won’t hurt you. You fell, and I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

“Are you the person who has been watching me all this time?”

“Yes.”

“Are you here to kill me?”

“No. Let me help you.”

“I can’t. Do you know my name?”

“I heard the Alpha call you Sage.”

“Alpha?”

“Fire.”

“Of course, she’s an Alpha. She was always the strong one. You are?”

“Caden.”

“Thank you for coming to watch over me every night, I appreciate it. It will be better after I'm dead.”

“Dead? Move out the way Caden, I think she’s delusional.”

A woman stood between her and Caden making her sad. She wanted his face to be the last thing she saw.

Jessie bent over her checking for a temperature.

“She’s burning up, we need to get her inside. Xander, we need Cait now.”

Caden placed his arms under Sage and picked her up carrying her into the apartment.

“How do I keep forgetting that all of you have that superhuman strength?” Jessie muttered under her breath.

“Cait is coming.” Xander walked into the living room to find Sage laid out on the floor.

“Caden I need a pot of cold water and a sponge or a washcloth.”

He stood up walking into the kitchen his long legs eating up the floor space.

“What’s wrong with her?”

Jessie looked up worry in her eyes. “I don’t know. The flu has been going around; she might have that. It could be something worse. Right now, all I know is that she’s too hot. I’ll try to wipe her down with cold water. It should help to bring down her temperature.”

“Jessie, what’s wrong?” Cait rushed in followed by Tristan and the Alphas.

“Possible flu.”

Caden brought over a pot of cold water and a washcloth. Jessie started washing her face while Cait took her temperature.

“She has a fever of one hundred and four degrees.” She took two blood samples giving one of them to Tristan. She analyzed one while he did the other.

“She has a nasty bacterial infection,” Tristan announced. He got closer to her before kneeling at her side. He took his stethoscope and dropped it on the floor before he put his ear to her chest.

He backed up and looked at Cait, “Listen.”

She put her ear to Sage’s chest and looked up worry lingering in her eyes.

“I’m going to give her a shot of a Kur’ik muscle relaxer. It will allow her to breathe a little easier as her body slows down, but it will not put her out.” Tristan looked at Cait to see if she agreed.

“That will help, but we’re also going to need some antibiotics, as well as Albuterol and steroids.”

“I’ll get them,” Jessie volunteered.

“Is the pharmacy still open?” Fire asked.

“They have been operating under extended hours. There seems to be an epidemic hitting the city.”

“Something we should be aware of?” Cait stopped to look at Jessie.

“I asked at nursing school if the CDC was coming to town. They didn’t think it warranted that kind of action. They believe that it has something to do with the strange weather.”

“I’ll write you a script as soon as I’m done with her.”