Running Red: Lost Moon

Chapter 34: Lookout

Kevin shrugged. "I never wanted to be a part of their little club anyways." He sighed and stood up. "Fine. I can't get mad at you for what you did. I've done just as much, if not worse, to survive when I was your age. I was lucky to have been found and taken in like I was. But you need to talk to someone, even if they aren't, a professional."

"I'll be fine. It's two more years." He gave a weak smile. "I can handle it."

"I'm taking your word for it."

Laik watched as Kevin left the room, and he slumped against the bed. There was a low growl from the mirror, and Laik turned to the mirror. "Do your worse. You've seen what I went through." He covered his ears when the growl turned into a snarl. It's better to just let him throw the tantrum. The shadow in the mirror will finally leave him alone for a little longer. He was just so damn tired.

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Levi was slowly looking through the journals, his eyes skimming over words looking for things that stood out and could help. At one point, he rubbed at his eyes when words started to blur together. He was doing everything he could to ignore the old photo of his biological father tucked into the back of the journal. When the words kept blurring, he closed the journal and dropped his head into both of his hands.

He felt like he was drowning. The longer he stayed in the Alpha's house, the more he felt like he was sinking further. Levi stood up to pace the spare room he was set up in. He wanted to scream. Stopping, he looked at his open door and quickly peeked out.

When he didn't hear anyone, or see anyone, he glanced down the hall towards Kevin's closed office door. The office door was always closed or open ajar. He could hear talking, but the words were too low and half the time muffled. Glancing the other way, he saw the front door. Maybe a walk. He just needed some space to breathe. Grabbing his coat, he started for the door when Echo asked. "Where are you going?"

Levi jumped and slowly answered as he backed off towards the front door. "Just a walk around the block."

"We're supposed to stay inside."

"I know, but it's a lap around the block. Hell, I'll take sitting on the front porch right now. I need air." He started for the door with Echo on his heels. "I need to stop feeling like I'm suffocating."

He glanced up the stairs listening. Who was he kidding? Laik moved around the damn house like a ghost. Levi craned his head towards the living room, and found a blanket tossed over the back of the couch with a discarded book. He turned to lean into the dining room and found it empty. Levi moved to the front door to find Laik's shoes still there. Laik was still inside, so he should be fine. He quickly crammed his feet into his boots. Once outside, Levi managed to close the door without it making a sound. When he turned from the door, Levi jumped with a strangled shout.

Laik was sitting on the railing around the porch with an amused look on his face. "I would be impressed if I hadn't heard you pacing the room and you hit the creaky floorboard in front of the bathroom."

"I..." Levi threw his hands up. "Fuck it! I'm going crazy in there, and if I don't get some fresh air, I'm going to scream!" And then he threw both hands in his direction with an aggravated, "And you need a damn bell!"

Laik's expression changed, and he sighed as he hopped down off the railing, "Stay here for a second."

He disappeared into the house, and Levi frowned. "What the hell was that about?" He looked at Echo, who shrugged. Levi huffed and walked over to the porch swing to flop on it.

The sound of a throat clearing had him looking over at the stairs. The man had a closed off demeanor. He was standing there with a frown on his face before he finally spoke, "It's good to finally meet you, Levi."