Saving Quinn

Chapter 2

"Hold on." I said and ran upstairs. "Mom?"

"I haven't moved sweetheart." Her voice sounded hoarse.

I opened the door to their room to find them in the same position that I'd left them in.

Mom laid on her back in bed and Dad sat beside her, holding her hand.

"Any luck?" She asked.

I shook my head and looked at my feet.

Mom had gotten sick around a year ago and it's only been getting worse. She says it's because she's getting older but we all know it's because of how stressed she is.

Ever since I didn't find my mate she's been working too hard trying to make me feel better.

Which is another reason Violet and I are leaving for college. Not having to worry about me, might help her get better.

She started coughing violently and held a tissue to her mouth.

When she pulled it away, little flecks of blood could be seen.

On the bedside table beside her was the bowl of soup I had prepared for her this morning.

"Mom, how are you ever going to get better if you don't eat." I asked. "I'll heat it up for you and you have to eat the whole bowl before Sky and I get back. Ok?"

"Your father can do it." She wheezed. "Go spend time with your sister."

I looked at Dad and he just nodded.

I ran back downstairs. "Ok let's go."

As we made our way to the backyard we chatted.

"So how've you been since I left?" She asked.

"I've been ok. But mom's getting worse." I said. "She wants to see you."

"I can't stand to see her like that. You know that." She said.

"And you know that that's no excuse." I said. "Sky, it's been two years."

"I know." She said. "Fine. I'll go see her."

"Thank you." I said. "I'll race you."

She smiled. "You've never won a race against me before, what makes you think you'll win this time?"

I walked behind a tree and started to undress myself. "I figured you're a little out of practice."

'We will strive to win this time.' Leia said.

'Yeah.' I thought as I shifted.

I left my clothes on one of the tree branches and trotted up to her.

Unlike me Skylar's fur is a classic Creme. Hers is shorter than mine but togther we looked almost identical.

'You sure took your precious time.' She said through the mind link.

I flicked my tail. 'Let's race to dead man's creek.'

'As soon as that leaf hits the ground.' She responded and huffed.

As soon as the leaf touched base we were off.

The wind was cool as it slipped through my fur. It felt good to run with my sister again.

I sped up.

'I see you've been practicing.' She said. 'You're still not faster than me.'

She sped past me.

We were neck and neck. Halfway there.

I pushed myself harder and managed to get just ahead of her.

Leia growled suddenly and then I felt it too. Smelled it actually.

I let Leia take control and she took a sharp right turn.

Skylar skidded to a stop and zoomed after me. 'The creek is the other way.'

Leia just kept running, we passed almost unnoticed by other people, chasing that delicious scent we knew belonged to our mate.

'Quinn we can't go that way in this form.' Skylar chased after us.

Leia left her in the dust as we cleared the pack house backyard.

We were most definitely closer.

"Stop her!" I heard someone shout.

We almost reached the border and got close enough to see two men standing with their backs to us.

They have a flat tire but something else we noticed was that they were heading in the direction o-

We were thrown to the ground by a force like a dumpster truck and it rested on top of us.

'Shift.' The beta demanded.

Leia lashed out at him and he rolled off of us.

We ran closer towards our mate. He has brown hair as far as we can tell.

We just have to see his eyes.

We were tackled and pinned to a tree so that we couldn't move.

Leia whimpered.

"You'd better hush. You're in enough trouble as it is.' The Gamma warned us.

We watched a stranger help with the tire and then their truck driving off.

'You will report to the pack house.' The Gamma said before releasing us.

Leia gave up control and receded to the very deepest corners of my mind, writhing with anger and grief.

We had been so close.

I slumped onto the ground.

'We don't have time for this.' The Gamma said.

'You insensitive asshole.' I heard Skylar. 'Leave her alone.'

I pushed myself to my feet and started walking slowly back in the other direction, towards home.

When I got there I shifted and got dressed.

My parents were waiting for me, in the living room.

"How was your run honey?" My mom asked.

My dad took one look at me and pulled me into a hug. "It'll be ok."

"I was so close." I muttered into his shoulder, letting the tears fall.

******

I almost cried writing this chapter. And I know I'll cry writing the next one.

Leah💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋