Page 30 of Haven

“Never heard of them. Must not be that badass of a pack.” Cole said with a shrug. “You know how many members?”

“That’s a question for Char. I do know it’s more than what you have that I’ve seen.” Sadie frowned, looking away from Kile’s half grin, which made him look even more handsome. “My main concern was to get Lily away from them. Char snuck me in because Lily didn’t trust anyone, not even Char. I wish I could tell you more, but I was in and out. I’m sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry for,” Kile spoke, his grin gone. “You shouldn’t have done that on your own.”

“I had no one else. I never liked Colton from the first time I met him.” Sadie frowned, looking at them all. “And he sure didn’t like me. I tried to talk to Lily, but the ass had her convinced that they were mates. I woke up one morning, and she was gone, leaving only a note.”

Sadie’s body shuddered at the memory. The fear she felt for her sister when finding her gone would never leave her. She knew the three men were waiting for her to continue, but she had to take a minute. The nightmare they had been living and were still living was raw and real.

“Even though I grew up with a shifter family, this is not my world. I didn’t know what to do or where to turn. I wanted to go to the police but knew I wouldn’t be believed. Secrecy was our life, and I was terrified to go to anyone. Char showed up a few weeks later. You know the rest other than what she can tell you about her pack.” Sadie glanced at the closed door where Char lay. “It’s my fault she is hurt. I should have never involved her.”

“She came to you,” Kile said, gaining her full attention.

“She did,” Sadie replied with self-disgust. “I should have known better than to involve her further, but I always promised to keep Lily safe. I failed and, in turn, put another life in danger.”

“None of this is your fault.” Kile stepped closer to her, putting his hand gently on her shoulder. “You are not alone now. And your leaving will not solve anything. As soon as you feel Lily is safe and Char is okay, that is your plan, isn’t it?” He cocked his eyebrow at her.

That was exactly her plan, she thought, almost choking on the large lump in her throat. At least it was until tonight, but now she was back to leaving, knowing it was the right thing to do. “Ifthere is a bounty on me, my being here is putting everyone in danger,” Sadie said as the door opened and Gemma walked out.

“She’s going to be okay,” Gemma informed them, looking tired and stressed. “Phil removed the arrow with very little damage. He wants her to stay here for a few days so he can keep an eye on it.”

“She needs to shift so she will heal faster,” Kile said with a worried frown. “Antibiotics won’t work on her.”

“Can I see her?” Sadie asked, looking toward the door where Char was.

“She wants to see both of you,” Gemma told Kile and Sadie. “Phil isn’t too happy about it, but go on, and we’ll wait for you.”

Kile put his hand on the small of her back. His hand felt huge, making her feel feminine. It was a strange but pleasant feeling. It was a safe feeling, something she hadn’t felt for a long time, and it was nice.

“How are you feeling?” Sadie headed for Char, who was still lying on her stomach, her head propped on a pillow. Her eyes opened and closed sleepily as she stared first at her and then at Kile.

“A little sore, but better,” Char said before her gaze went to Kile. “Trust him, Sadie.”

“What?” Sadie asked, though she heard her clearly. The statement took her by surprise.

“I know you and Lily have trust issues, which is understandable, especially after dealing with my brothers, but trust him,” Char explained, then moaned when she moved. “Okay, that hurt a little.”

“You need to shift, Char,” Kile told her with a frown. “We can talk after.”

“No,” Char said, her eyes narrowing. “None of you know who you are dealing with. My brother, Sebastian, will shun me, which he has already done. He doesn’t care what happens to me now. Colton will take Lily and make her his mate, he will treat her like shit, but she will have a life within the pack. But you, Sadie—.” Char said, then stopped talking. She stared at her with concern written all over her face.

“Me what?” Sadie frowned, stepping closer to Kile without realizing she was doing it until she felt his heat against her body.

Her eyes shot to Kile’s before snapping back to Sadie. “You are a human who broke into his camp and took something from the alpha’s brother.”

“Lily belongs to no one.” Sadie sneered hatred for Colton coloring her words. “She is a person, not some material thing.”

“She is a shifter,” Char whispered, giving her a sorrowful glance. “In some wolf packs, women are exactly that...material things to be owned.”

Sadie thought about that for a minute, confused, thinking of their father's love for their mother. He had never mistreated her, though he did wear the pants in the family, so to speak. And seeing Eric with Gemma for this short time, she only saw his love and respect for her. Looking back at Char, Sadie wondered if she was that ignorant in their ways. Obviously, she was because she was close to giving her all to Kile.

“If there is a bounty on me, why was Colton dead set on Lily and not me? Why didn’t the other men with him take me for thebounty money or whatever?” She asked, still trying to wrap her head around it all.

“Because I wasn’t going to let that happen.” Kile’s deep voice filled the room, making her glance up at him in surprise.

“Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.” Char moaned again as she moved to a more comfortable position.

“Simple enough for me.” Kile hissed, and Sadie could feel the tension coming off him in waves, which was very strange. Ignoring that sensation, she focused on Char.