Kidnapped!

Tak didn't waste any time- the second I stood upright on my good leg he picked me up and shut the door with his foot, turning and walking towards the house. I could faintly hear Christmas music spilling out of the restaurant- one of the kitchen doors was open, and I could see someone peering out after us. I immediately felt embarrassed.

"No, what will your family think?" I hissed, wriggling again.

"Most people would notice right away that you're injured, and be concerned," he replied, stiffly. "My pack would never let me live it down if they saw me letting you struggle to walk."

"Your pack? What, like your family?" I asked, confused

"Pretty much." He didn't elaborate. Probably some strange heritage thing that I wouldn't understand, I thought to myself.

"All right, granddad is upstairs," he said. "The stairs are wide enough, but please, unless you want your revenge, don't struggle while I'm going up them?"

"All right, no revenge," I said, looking at the ground. It looked pretty far away. I hadn't really considered how tall Tak was.

He opened his front door, and a great baying sounded from another room. Two, then another, then finally a fourth, huge dogs came spilling out of an open doorway, running towards Takoda at full speed.

"Down!" he shouted, and I felt my entire body jump at the sudden volume and outright power of his voice, and I almost complied. The huge dogs hit the floor in an instant, two of them rolling onto their bellies and panting.

"Sorry, they got excited. A new smell and all," he said, stepping around them gingerly. "Ahhh, you've gotten too fat, ayaaaa," he lilted, shifting one of them aside with his foot. "Now go run, until you've earned your dinner."

"Aww, poor pup," I said, looking over his shoulder as the dog moved towards the open door, head down.

"It's his fault," he replied. I turned and saw that he had a wide smile. I accidentally met his eyes, and unconsciously my fingers tightened on his shirt. God, why were his eyes so entrancing? I couldn't break his gaze.

He leaned his head forward slightly. "You'll have to hold on tighter than that," he whispered. Why was he so close? I was going to do something stupid, my heart was hammering in my chest so hard I was forgetting about my injuries. My head spun.

"Ah, what?" I asked stupidly.

He chuckled, not breaking eye contact. "Hold on tighter than that, or you'll get your revenge," he said, even quieter than before. Before I could fully understand his words, he was racing up the stairs to our right. He was correct, I almost tumbled out of his arms with how quickly he was moving- it was like being on the hood of a car while it was accelerating. He reached the landing, skidding to a stop in front of a door.

He nudged it open, and set me down on a plain twin bed, and pulled up a chair.

"Stay here," he instructed firmly. "I'm going to the washroom to find a uniform. Don't move."

"I don't think I can," I said, avoiding his eyes.

He went back out, and I could hear his heavy footsteps descending as quickly as we had come up-his steps sounded just as fast as machine gun fire in a movie. How on earth was he moving so quickly? Maybe he played football in high school or something.

I looked around the bare room, finding nothing interesting to see, and turned my attention to my palms. They had dried again, during the course of my day, but the skin was reddish and hot to the touch.

Awesome.

It didn't take long for Tak to come back upstairs; he had some folded clothes in his hands. He set them down next to me on the bed, and took the chair. It looked some kind of comical, given how big he was.

"Lain," he said. "I brought you some clothes, and when you change, I'll bring grandad in here so he can help examine you. Whatever you do, I need you to be honest. He can smell a lie a mile away."

"What's with you and smelling," I joked. He looked at me, and I felt that weird sensation in the pit of my stomach again. "Sorry, just making light. What kind of questions is he going to be asking?"

"First, our uniform is short sleeves. So the little bit I saw yesterday, that probably doesn't compare to the rest that will be covered, is going to be a question," he continued. I dropped my head, my hair falling in front of me like a shield. A really crappy shield, because he just pushed it out of the way, back behind my head again. His fingers grazed where my stepmother had struck me, and I shuddered.

His hand dropped away as if he'd touched fire.

When he spoke again, his tone had lowered a great deal, and his voice was much quieter. "That'll be a question. The extent of your injuries will be another, so, again, the damage hidden under regular clothes. He might have a few personal questions. He's not going to judge you, or look down on you. He's a sweet old man." I looked up. Those existed?

"Like what?"

"Like, standard conversation. Life goals, your thoughts on the weather, what kind of food you like, your favorite band," he continued. "What you're hiding from," he added, lightly. "Do you need help dressing?"

Inappropriate images flashed through my head. I choked slightly. "Ah, no, but- actually," I hesitated.

He raised an eyebrow. "So, you do think I'm pretty," he said flirtatiously.

"What? No!"

"Yes, you said so," he continued, and I saw a sparkle in his emerald eyes.

"I never said that," I exclaimed hotly.

"Yes, you surely did," he replied, grinning and scooting that tiny chair closer to me. "You said, pretty boys don't do well in prison."

"I just meant in general," I said, flushing.

"See, now, Grandad can smell a lie a mile away, but you're nowhere near a mile away from me. In fact, if we were any closer, you'd be in my lap," he continued. I hid my face in my hands, not minding the burn from touching the cuts and scrapes.

"Ah, I teased too much," he said, in a different tone, and touched my wrists. "All right, I'll back off. But seriously, Lain, what did you need?"

"I need you to cut this pant leg," I whispered through my hands. "It won't come off."

"I'll get some scissors," he said, and stood. I uncovered my face. He opened a little drawer from the nondescript dresser nearby, knelt on the floor by my injured leg, and began cutting from the end of the pants. By the time he reached the middle of my calf, the bottom edge of the scissors was scraping along my skin.

"No, stop, I can't," I gasped. "It's too much."

He set the scissors beside me on the bed, and examined the jeans. "Lain," he said after a few moments. "Where is the clock?"

"What clock?" I asked, confused.

"The clock in this room. What wall is the clock on?"

I looked around, confused. "Uh, it's- it's on the wall on the right." I looked down to see him smiling. "What?"

"It's cut. You should be able to take them off, now," he said, standing. "Stay seated as much as possible, don't try to balance on one leg and get the new clothes on."

"What?" I looked at the jeans. Sure enough, there was a clean cut all the way to my waist. "How did- I didn't even feel it rip! It didn't even make a noise?" I looked up at him, even more confused than before.

"Don't think about it too much," he said, again. "Get dressed, call when you're finished. I'll be outside the door."

*************

Finally, I had struggled into the clothes he'd brought. The restaurant name was embroidered on the left side of the shirt over a pocket, and the skirt was to my knees. Speaking of knees-

I bit my lip. It looked very bad, very bruised, very swollen, and very, very hot to touch.

"Tak," I said. He responded, and opened the door.

"You decent?" He asked, grinning.

"If I wasn't, it would be a little late," I replied. He'd shaken loose his hair while he was waiting outside, and it fell around his shoulders in a rough heap. Why in the world was he so ridiculously attractive? I could barely keep my eyes off him; so much so that I felt my hands start to shake when he looked at me-

Like he was looking at me now, as he stepped back into the room and sat on the bed next to me-

I looked at my hands and clenched them in my lap. I was being ridiculous. He was being very kind, and all I was doing was being a pervert about it. He could even be a serial killer. Well, at least I had seen some spark of kindness before I got offed. Better than how I figured it would end, with one parent or the other going off in a drunken rage and shooting me to death in my sleep. I closed my eyes.

He put his arm around my shoulders, and turned my head towards him with a hand on my chin. I couldn't help but look. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but he leaned forward ever so slightly and kissed me gently.

I was overwhelmed with a feeling of warmth and that same smell of sunshine when our lips touched- I felt myself putting my hands on his shoulders and pulling him towards me, holding on tightly. Everything else melted away, and I felt myself beginning to breathe hard. Before I completely lost control, I pulled back, and he did too.

"Oh my god, I've just met you yesterday," I covered my eyes with my hands. "I'm sorry, Tak. I don't know what came over me. Please, please forget that."

"I don't think I can," he said, frankly. I groaned. "No," he continued. "I kissed you because I wanted to. Did you- are you not interested?"

"I am far too interested," I said bluntly. "It's not fair to me, how interested I am."

"That makes two of us then," he chuckled. I peeked through my fingers. He lowered his head again to look back at me. "It's all right that we met yesterday. We can do things at your pace."

"I don't have a pace," I rebutted bluntly. "I don't even know what a pace is."

He took my hands in his, and flipped them palm up to look at the damage. "Ah it's infected." He looked at me again. "Your pace is whatever you set it to be," he said. "I am not interested in doing anything you don't want to- within reason."

"Within reason?" I echoed.

"I'll explain that later," he said. "Now, for my own pace, I won't be able to do that again without losing control," he grinned mischievously. "I'll call Grandad in here, are you ready?"

"I guess?" I said. I expected him to move away from me, or shift position, maybe sit on the chair, but as soon as he came back, he sat right where he was and pulled my uninjured leg into his lap, reclaiming my hands again.

I heard someone enter the room, and looked. There was a man there, but I wouldn't have put him at an advanced age- his hair was just as black as Tak's, and his eyes were a clear, light green. His skin was smooth and dark, and he wore his hair in a single braid down his shoulder. He was just as tall as Tak was, and just as fit-looking.

"Ah, hello," I said. "I'm Laina. I'd get up and shake your hand, but-"

"But you have more important things to worry about now," the man replied, his voice deep as the ocean. "I am Han, Laina."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Han," I replied.

"Just Han, is all right," he held up his hand. "Tell me, what trouble did my boy cause you?"

Be honest, I thought. "I am afraid I caused it Mr- I mean, Han. I wasn't checking where I was going and ran into him on a crosswalk."

Han turned to Tak, who looked embarrassed. "Are you a big oaf that cannot be aware of his surroundings?" he asked. His words didn't match his tone- he sounded amused.

"Yes, Grandad," Tak replied meekly. "I allowed myself to be distracted."

"You are lucky it was a girl, and not a car, that ended up hitting you, Takoda," Han said sternly. "Let me see the damage, little one."

I brought my hands forward from Tak's grip, and held them up for him to see. "It is infected," he said, looking at the scrapes critically. "There is a fever; it will spread through your body, and soon. What other injuries do you have?" He stepped forward and sat in the chair before us. I gestured to my knee. He touched it, gingerly, and I stifled the scream into my throat that threatened to come.

"Have you been walking like this?" Han asked.

"This morning I did," I replied. "After that, Tak carried me."

"Good," he replied. "Tak, get some water. And my herbs. And a brace, please." Tak touched my shoulder gently, removing my leg from his lap with his other hand, and left the room.

"And these other injuries?" Han said, touching my arm with a gentle hand. "Some old, some new."

"They are from home," I said shortly, through the lump in my throat.

"Are you such a disobedient child?"

"No, not really," I replied, hoarsely. "Sometimes I want to sleep in, or maybe I don't do my chores quickly enough."

"These are in self defense," Han said, looking at my other arm. "Raise your shirt."

I hesitated.

"Not to your breasts, child," he said patiently. "Show me your stomach and spine." I did as I was told, and he lightly examined each bruise and welt, taking his time on some, pressing around them in a circle.

I heard a growl, and my head snapped up. Takoda was standing in the doorway, his green eyes glittering, hands full of supplies. Did he just…growl like an angry dog?

Han didn't seem to notice, or he didn't care. With one hand still exploring the damage, he pointed with the other to the little nightstand, and Tak set everything down with a thump.

"Patience," he said. I didn't think it was towards me. Takoda stood by the nightstand, his arms crossed, with a scowl on his face. It was terrifying to see, and I felt my heart speed up. Was he angry with me? I examined his physique. He wasn't some old, tired man like my father. I'd never survive.

"You are making her nervous, still your spirit," Han said quietly. Tak straightened like he'd been scolded in school, and he met my eyes. I didn't see anger there, but something that was harder to understand.

"You may lower your shirt," Han said after a few more minutes. I did so, and Tak strode forward and sat next to me again, the bed springs protesting under his weight. Han stood, and began to sort out the jumble that Tak had set down, putting this and that into a mortar and grinding it. Between the rhythm of the mortar and pestle, I could hear Tak begin to whisper.

"I wasn't angry with you," he murmured. "I'm sorry if I scared you."

"You're a pretty scary guy when you want to be," I whispered back.

"Not to you," he replied, resting his hand on my shoulder, his fingertips touching my neck. "Never to you."

"Say that to my nerves," I chuckled quietly. "I thought I was going to pass out for a minute, there."

He looked at me, and something in his countenance made me think of a kicked puppy. "Sorry, I thought I needed to be honest when we were sitting this close."

"Drink this," said Han, the loudness of his voice suddenly surprising me. I drank the water, and choked slightly- it was moderately bitter.

"Good medicine is always bitter," Han said. "That is how you tell true medicine from false medicine. She needs to rest for all of today. Bring one of the wolves in for company at night. Tak, stay here with her until then. She is not to move until the fever has raised, then passed."

"Oh, I can't stay here after ten," I started to stand, but Tak caught my waist gently. "I'll be killed, it was rough enough last night. I need to get going back at least at nine," I explained.

"Or what?" asked Han, calmly.

"Or I'll-" my voice caught. Honesty. "Or I will be punished even worse than before."

"Will you be punished either way?" he asked.

"Probably; yes, definitely," I amended.

"Then you do not return," Han replied simply, gathering his supplies up into a soft cloth. "If both choices are to be wrong, pick the third, correct choice. This simple room will be yours, and you have a devoted guard wolf in Tak. When you heal further, we may discuss the manner of your return."

"I can't do that," I said, panicking. "I can't- they're going to call the police, they'll find me. They'll file a missing person report and track me down, come to my work and find me there. I can't-"

"I was under the impression she was of the correct age, Tak? Is she before her time?" Han asked Tak, turning to him.

"I was sure she was an adult," Tak blinked at me, leaning forward. "You are eighteen, right?"

"Nineteen," I corrected. "But that doesn't-"

"Take her phone Tak, and message her elders she will not be returning for two weeks," said Han, interrupting my words. "If she begins to be harassed by these elders, throw it into the wolf den. I will handle the police, if anyone even comes here. They don't tend to get involved in pack matters," Han smiled at me gently, and I felt warmed as if a beam of sunlight had suddenly fallen on me through a cloudy day. While I was still processing what he said, Han left the room, and I was staring at Tak holding my phone. It looked like a toy in his hands.

"Not coming home, I will see you in two weeks. Don't bother calling. Much Love, Laina," Tak read out the words as he was typing them, then turned the phone off, then took out the battery, and handed me both pieces. "I won't take this away from you, of course," he said, seeing my shocked expression. "You can't go back there, though. And if they show up here, I'll show them exactly why I'm the guardian."

"You're kidnapping me," I whispered.

"In a sense," he replied easily. "Is it really kidnapping when it's in your best interest, though? I am open for debate. The winner gets a kiss from the loser, however."

"I don't- I'm not-" I stuttered.

Tak's expression changed from mischievous to serious. "No, Lain, it's all right. I mean it when I say we will go at your pace. You don't have to do it, or accept mine," he added. "Although, it's as plain as the sunrise that you feel the same way I do."

"I can't sleep with a wolf in here," I said, working through everything Han had said.

"Oh you saw them earlier, they're big fat boys," Tak said easily. "They wouldn't hurt a fly. Unless that fly was going to hurt you. Then the big bad wolf comes out." He grinned at me, sideways. "I might sleep in here myself. Not in the bed, just make a pallet on the floor. Unless you invited me."

I opened and shut my mouth, trying to come up with something to say.

"Your jacket got burned," was all I could think of, and I mentally facepalmed myself.

"I figured it was gone," he replied. "That's not a big deal. I'll just get another one." He studied my face. "You ok?"

"No," I replied honestly.

"Well, start from the beginning-" he said, then Han came back in, bringing bandages and more supplies. He went back and forth two more times, bringing a basin of colored water, and more herbs, before he stopped. Tak and I watched him silently.

"Open the scrapes on her hands and fingers, rinse them with the water in the basin, and wrap them tightly," instructed Han to Tak. "The medicine I've given her should encourage her fever, but the pain will be reduced."

"Encourage the fever?" I asked, looking up at Han, not understanding.

"Modern medicine tends to work against the body's habits," he replied slowly. "While undoubtedly necessary and correct in some cases, in others it is better to work in partnership with nature. Yours is such a case. Tak is here for your fever and will monitor it. If it gets too high, we will bring it down."

"Oh, all right," I responded, as if it were the most logical course. Han nodded at me, and left.

"All right," said Tak, taking my hand and bringing it to his lap. "Start from the beginning."

"Guard wolf?" I asked.