You Are Not Rejecting Me novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: The Porch

The phone finished erasing itself and went dark in my hand.

"Owain did that from wherever he is," Idris said.

"Everything's gone."

"We read it. Cadell heard her. I heard her."

"The pack won't take your word," I said. "You're the Alpha's brother. They'll say you'd lie for him."

Cadell was sitting on an overturned crate with his elbows on his knees.

He had not spoken since the barn.

"Marigold has the vet's invoice," he said, at last, to the floor.

"The bartender saw the man at the next table. I'll find the girl in the jacket."

"That's not enough by sundown," Idris said.

"It's what I've got."

His voice cracked on the last word.

I put my hand on his shoulder, and he covered it with his, once, and let go.

At five, the sun lay low over the pines.

Idris and I stood on the front porch of the lodge, alone.

Cadell had gone ahead to the gathering ground.

Idris leaned on the rail with his arms folded.

He had not looked at me for ten minutes.

"Say it," I said.

"Say what?"

"Whatever you've been not saying all afternoon."

He let out a breath.

"If Owain says the bond is half-rejected, the pack will take her side," he said.

He kept his eyes on the trees.

"When your sister says something to a room, you follow it. You've done that your whole life."

"Idris."

"I can't ask you to stand against her tonight. She's your twin."

"You're not asking."

"I'm saying I'll understand if you can't," he said. "I'll understand. That's all."

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