Chapter 412 Chapter 412
A long drive, without windows, was not what Noah needed. Normally he managed to cope with them, having the operation to focus on or the results of them, this time the source of his torment was sitting across from him beside Kobie. He could feel her tension, the anxiousness of riding in the vehicle, but she said nothing. He supposed the very idea that she had to endure this as part of a chain of events to get her daughter back was the reason why. She spent long moments looking at the tablet that Shaelan had put the pictures on. As sick as it was, he envied she had something to look at to distract her. Of course, being as it was her abducted daughter made him feel like the lowest form of being on earth for thinking it.
Kobie leaned over and looked at the tablet in Emersyn’s hand, “she’s beautiful.”
Emersyn smiled, that kind of smile only a mother could have. “she’s been my everything since the day I found out I was pregnant.”
Shaelan turned in her seat, “was it a good pregnancy?”
Emersyn smiled, “only if you consider throwing up for nine months good.” She sobered, “I felt like I was enormous by the end.”
Noah looked at her flat stomach. He’d held her in his arms when he carried her out, there was no extra anything on her body. His cat moved inside him, almost chastising him for thinking about her body. Noah blew out a breath and leaned forward, holding the edges of the seat in a tight grip. “Where exactly are we?”
“Still a good two hours out,” Calum answered without taking his eyes off the road.
“Should be a few good spots to stop and go for a quick run in this area,” Blair said, a little louder than necessary.
Noah watched Calum glance in the mirror at him. Something was supposed to be exchanged in that look, but Noah was too distracted to figure it out. He was all for them stopping and him being able to get out of the van and breathe some fresh air. From here all he could see was the light snow falling on the windshield and the hypnotic, yet annoying swipe of the wipers going back and forth.
“I’ll message Illias we’re making a quick stop,” Shaelan said as if it was already decided. “I wouldn’t mind stretching my legs.”
Calum glanced at her, “out of things to read?”
Shaelan laughed softly, “no, that will never happen, I just need a little air.” She turned and looked at Emersyn briefly.
Noah wondered if all the others trapped inside the can on wheels were also picking up on the anxiety coming from Emersyn. He didn’t blame her, not at all. If it were his child out there somewhere he’d be broadcasting a whole lot more than anxiety. He scowled and dragged his gaze from her, again, the chances of him ever having children of his own were pretty damn slim. What did he have to offer a child? Nights of restless wandering, moments of short temper, or the hours of self-loathing that brought him down so fast he never had time to prepare. No, he wouldn’t put a child through having to live with a basket case for a father. He braced his weight as the van turned a corner. Not that he could ever do what was necessary to have one in the first place.
“Here should work. We can see far enough to keep watch.” Calum said as he stopped the van.
Blair whipped the door open so fast that it startled Noah.
He was right behind him in climbing out. Taking a deep breath, he filled his lungs with fresh air. As he processed all the scents around them, he moved his eyes slowly to check out where they were. To the left was an open field, so not a good place to go, there was no telling how many eyes could see that field. On the other side were trees, not a thick grouping, but would still allow for some movement.
He turned to see the others were already out of the van. Emersyn stood there taking slow breaths, hugging the tablet to her chest. He moved his gaze down over her slowly, she could use more weight on her, he thought, to round out some of the hollow areas that captivity had carved into her body. “I’ll...”
Blair smacked him on the back, “go for a run, and blow off some of that crap you’re projecting.”
He turned and looked at him.
“Seriously, your angst slash rage slash depressing vibes are suffocating me.” His expression changed and he gave Noah a more understanding look. “None of us do windowless vehicles well,” he shrugged, “but you haven’t been for a run in at least a week, so go,” he motioned to the trees, “let the kitty out to play so I can breathe for the rest of the ride.”
Noah frowned and glanced at Kobie, on her face was her ‘understanding female’ expression, she nodded her head and then smiled at him. “We’ll stay here with Emersyn.” She glanced at her, “maybe borrow the bushes over there for a quick moment.”
Noah looked to where she pointed, then what she was saying clicked inside his head. “Maybe a short run.” He mumbled. Turning, he went to the other side of the van to strip down. He visibly jumped when he stopped and saw that Emersyn had followed him.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” She said quietly. “Um, I wanted to ask you to-to help me when we get where we’re going.”
Noah’s spine stiffened, he would do anything she needed, he owed her that. He nodded.
“I want to try and,” she looked down the front of her, “let my cat out, I think.”
He could feel the fear coming off her and stepped closer to lightly touch her shoulder. “I get it.” He held her look, “it’s beaten into us to not shift, then the,” he looked at the marks on her throat, which he hoped healed as his had eventually, “collar makes sure we don’t.”
“How does it feel? Finally, being able to free them?” She was shaking. He dropped his hand away so he would do something completely asinine like hug her.
“I won’t lie, it scared the hell out of me the first time after I was,” he frowned, “free.” He nodded, “but there’s nothing like opening up and running when you’re in that form.” He offered her a smile, that felt more awkward than anything thing he’d ever done.
“I always wondered.” She whispered. Forgetting there were no consequences now for speaking about such things was hard for him too for months afterward.
“I’ll help you,” he motioned to the van, “Kobie will, and Kelsey, you’ll meet her when we get back,” he swallowed the lump in his throat, “she helped me that first time, I freaked right out.”
Emersyn’s eyes rounded, “I never imagined doing it, never mind with so many of my kind.”
Noah sucked in a breath, then regretted it when he took the scent of her anxious excitement into his body. “They’re good people, Emersyn, every last one of them at home.” He looked at the ground, home, he’d never called it that before.
“I’m glad Aspyn will be coming back to a much better place than she left.”
Noah looked up to see Calum standing at the back of the van in cat form, the expression in his eyes easy to read and telling him they didn’t have all day.
Emersyn turned and then gasped, “you are so beautiful.” she smiled and stepped closer to him and then stopped, “I’ve never seen anyone this close after they shifted.”
Calum glanced behind him and then looked back at Noah.
He cleared his throat, “we don’t want to be stopped here too long...”
“Oh, yes of course. I’ll go sit with Kobie.” She gave him a stiff nod and walked back around the van.
Noah exhaled a loud breath and then nodded at Calum, letting him know he’d be right behind him in a moment. He’d have to clamp down on his animal, otherwise, he would probably run the last two hours to get back to Ed’s. As he stripped off his clothes with stiff movements, he realized he was looking forward to the mayhem back home. He even missed Jake and his odd sense of humor, not that he’d ever tell him that. Ever.
Shifting without hesitation, he went around the van and glanced at Emersyn, her gaze moving over him, and then she was smiling at him. That fueled a bigger need to run it off as Blair worded it. Scenting the air, he had no problem picking up the direction Calum and Shaelan had gone. He bound in that direction without pause. He’d make sure Emersyn got her daughter back and yeah, he’d check in on them and watch over them, likely for the rest of their lives, but even his cats’ thoughts confirmed they weren’t able to be a proper mate to anyone.