Shift

Chapter 19

Here is Chapter 19. I'll try to do some more writing this weekend and get another chapter posted before Monday.

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Sean changed as soon as we entered the hospital. He was all smiles and sweet-talk. Some nurses rolled their eyes, but the majority seemed to bat their lashes. I mainly went unnoticed. Perhaps this is how he usually acts when he's working, but today it's forced. He's tired and stressed. I can see it in the tenseness of his jaw, the tightness around his eyes, and the dark circles that told me that he was up most of the night. He and Owen had been having whispered conversations into the early morning.

I followed him around like a lost puppy, and he didn't introduce me to anyone. The good doctor wasn't the only one who was stressed out; I may have been a little growly today. I don't want to meet their elders, but I'll do it for them. At least until they started looking at me like a test subject, then I was out. I would speak with Axel or Raven. They seem to be more of the type to be willing to go rogue. Or maybe Luke. If I talked to Luke, I had a feeling no one would be able to find us – not right away.

"Sang, it's time to go." Sean gently grasped my elbow, directing us down a hall.

My hand came up to my face, my finger pressing my lip into my teeth. Sean's released my elbow, grabbing my hand and holding it. His cool palm was pressed against mine, and I relaxed a bit. Simple touches made me feel safe with these guys, but I didn't want to feel safe right now. I needed to be on my toes. I slipped my hand from his. Sean stiffened slightly, and I hoped that he would understand.

We neared the women's bathroom, and I saw a familiar flash. I cleared my throat as I slowed my pace. "I need to use the restroom."

His weary green eyes searched my face before he nodded. "I'll wait here."

I made it halfway into the bathroom before I was pushed back against the wall—my favorite creepy masked man. The white mask is a bit unsettling, but he did rescue me, so I didn't feel that I had to fear him. He towered over me. I was positive that he was taller than any of the guys.

"Listen to me, Sang." His voice was a bit distorted. "When you meet with the elders, do not speak of your parents. Only tell them of your torture. Do not give them your blood or your saliva." I opened my mouth to protest. That's pretty much all that I was here for. "You will listen to me. Otherwise, I may have to retaliate. Wouldn't want anything bad to have to your pretty doctor, would you?"

A low growl built in my chest as my hand shot out. My palm slammed into the masked man's solar plexus. He grunted but was otherwise unaffected. Instead, he grabbed my wrist, holding my hand in place. My fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt until I felt something warm dripping over my fingers. Glancing down, I realized that it was blood. His blood. My eyes darted back up to his creepy mask. A low chuckle left him.

"Good. You'll be able to protect those boys, but you still need them to train you." He pulled my hand away from his chest and dragged me over to the sink.

"Protect them? From what?" My words were barely above a whisper, but they came out frantically.

"Everything that is going to happen. You're the only one who can protect them, Sang."

I shook my head. "I can't protect all fourteen of them. They've been protecting me."

He stuck my hand under the warm water, scrubbing it with soap. "They don't need to protect you. I've been protecting you. They're headstrong and young; they'll charge into this thinking that they are protecting you. That will only get them killed."