Chapter 358: 1-2

“Such a good wolf,” Ben whispered softly petting Kayla, sitting in the sand, “you’re okay, no one is going to hurt you,” he continued as she whimpered. Bad… sorry… bad… sorry the words on repeat in her mind. “Lets wash your fur in the water,” he cooed as Rainy cried silently, the baby attached to her chest much calmer than before. When Kayla wouldn’t move closer to the water, Ben lifted his hand just as Oakley had, slowly ocean water lifted, clumps flowing. He dropped his hand, to Kayla’s legs the water falling, where he rested his hand. “I’m really sorry about this,” I heard Chris mutter from behind me, “She didn’t mean-” “I know – they shouldn’t have been here to begin with,” Marlon said slowly, the words hurting to say, but all he could think of was what Kayla was enduring, and feeling selfish that it wasn’t his daughters and son that had suffered the way she had. The way Chris’ children had. Slowly after he calmed her, he brought his hand out again, this time however instead of dropping the ball of water he brought it closer, using his other hand Ben used the water to remove the blood from Kayla’s nuzzle, “see, all clean now,” he murmured. “Come on, lets get you home,” he whispered to her lifting her in wolf form, she was still a small tiny thing, it was odd looking because of her size and him carrying her but no one said a thing. Gabriel handed the child to Chris, while Grant, Julia, Gabriel and I followed Ben and Kayla back to the house. When we made it to the house Ben placed Kayla on the deck, “Here,” he turned the outdoor shower on, “You can wash off all the sand before you go inside…” the drops tinkering on the wooden floor. When he took a step away, the loud whine pierced the quiet night, stooping down his face right in front of Kayla’s wolf, “I’ll come see you tomorrow I promise, I even have a surprise for you,” his hands petting her face lovingly. Waiting until Ben, Grant and Julia went home, and Rainy followed Kayla inside with the babies, Chris huffed, “that poor boy…” I squinted my eyes not understanding, he snorted, “Chelsea you saw how small Kayla is in wolf form, I know that boy could have seriously injured her if he wanted, I don’t understand how she got him so badly,” he said confused, we just saw the naked girl running screaming. Who knows what she can do...“I – she’s the Earth Elemental-” “And Ben is Water…” Gabriel interrupted me but I just nodded in agreement; Ben was the Water Elemental. . . Kieran POV I sat with Oakley in the quiet, while my thoughts were racing, rolling and tumbling out of control, but the biggest problem I felt I was having been that I didn’t want to talk to her about it. I didn’t want to sully her with my dirtiness. I didn’t want her to know how bad I was, then she would surely stay away from me, and I think I wanted her around. No I knew I wanted her around, it was selfish and she’d probably end up hurt, but she was just so kind. Even though she probably could feel that the hand she was holding was dirty she still held it, in hers with a face that I could only explain as cherishing. “I – I wish I knew you back in Middleburg,” she whispered shocking me, why would she want to know me before then? “Why?” I questioned. “Well I guess – I guess – if I had you and Ben, I don’t think I would’ve been so sad, or alone,” she shrugged and as clueless as I am I didn’t know what to say back to her. “I didn’t think someone like you existed,” I blurted out the truth. I couldn’t explain it but here on the island, with the other children, there were groups, people that I would see hanging out with each other, none of them had been like Oakley. Reaching out to me. I of course understood. “Maybe,” she said in a singing voice, “I was made for you,” my heart raced, I swallowed hard and my body stiffened. Nyx purred, her words pleasing him, why doesn’t she seem put off on the idea? I wondered but then it hit me that she didn’t know I was her mate, she only wanted to be my friend. Once she found out that I was her mate and that would be when I’d be proven right. Again I said nothing, just enjoying this, until she yawned, “Sorry,” she said covering her mouth, her eyes closing. Sighing I stood, “Sleepy? I – I can walk you back?” I offered not ready to let her hand go just yet. Nodding she stood, her hand still in mine, we walked quietly until she was home. My hand flexed around hers. Oakley stood in front of me, a frown on her face, she looked down at our hands, “Thank you for letting me hold your hand, I know it wasn’t easy for you,” my eyes widened at her words. She was still confusing me. She was thanking me? Nodding, I felt her release my hand and walked inside her home. I turned away after looking at the door she went in for some time, each step away my feet felt heavier. I lifted my hand just walking and staring at it, wondering how I held her hand. They were dirty, cursed – I don’t get to finish the thought. There was a blow to the side of my head and I’m falling forward, blackness taking over before I even hit the ground.