Escape

[Matthew "Sully" Sullivan]

"Well, you do have a family," Sully said. "You have me. I... I didn't deal with this very well at first, but I want you to know that I do care. I didn't understand what you are... not at first. I had this image in my head of werewolves as vicious creatures. I see now that it isn't true. People like Zander and Rochelle and you... you're good people. I don't ever want to see you hurt. You're my sister."

[Kris Lupin]

Ashura looked at him. "So you thought I was a...a...monster? I use to think that after finding dead animals in my cave the morning after a full moon. But that was when I hated being one, but now I don't mind being one, I just live my life the only way I know how." She wasn't sure if she made sense or not.

[Matthew "Sully" Sullivan]

Sully shook his head. "No... no, I didn't think that. I just... I didn't know what to think. I just thought werewolves were monsters, and it confused me to see you, so sweet and pretty... my little sister... as one of them. But I see things differently now. I know that not all werewolves are bad. Some of them are... but most are not. Rochelle has helped me to see this. I love her... very much. It's different from the way I love you. I'm going to be her mate."

[Kris Lupin]

Ashura looked at the floor. "Th-that's good." She closed her eyes imagining that she was outside. She still wasn't all that comfortable indoors, she tugged on her hair as she waited for him to continue talking.

[Matthew "Sully" Sullivan]

Sully noticed that she was nervous and he moved closer to her. "It's all right, lass," he said softly. "There's nothing to be nervous about. You're safe here. But I do have something I need to tell you, which you're probably not going to like."

[Kris Lupin]

Ashura looked up at him worried. "Wh-what is it?"

[Matthew "Sully" Sullivan]

Sully sighed. "I have to go away for a while. I don't know when I'm going to be back. Rochelle and I have to hide for a while, because of something I did. A few months ago, I killed a werewolf who was about to eat a little boy in France. Now his mate, a woman named Gretchen who was Rochelle's pack leader, is looking for the person who did it, and if she finds out it was me, she's going to kill me. I don't want to leave... but I have no choice. I just wanted you to know that I'm not running away from you this time... that I have another reason for leaving."

[Kris Lupin]

"Oh." Was all Ashura could think to say. She looked at the floor thinking of what she could say but nothing came to mind.

[Matthew "Sully" Sullivan]

Sully sighed. She was so quiet, and it was hard to know what she was thinking. He supposed it came from all the time she had spent alone in the woods. "Are you going to be all right while I'm gone? I really don't like leaving you, now that I've finally found you."

[Kris Lupin]

"I've been fine without you all my life, I just wish you didn't have to leave. I don't know why...I barely know you..." Ashura said as she kept her eyes on the floor.

[Matthew "Sully" Sullivan]

"I wish I didn't have to leave, either," Sully said. "I hate the thought of leaving you now, after I've finally found you again. But I have no choice. If Gretchen finds out that I killed her mate, she will come after me. I can try to write to you, if you think you'll get the messages. And I'll come back as soon as I possibly can."

[Kris Lupin]

"But what if you never come back? My life was so much simpler before I knew you, but now I have mixed feelings about what I want and need, I mean..." Ashura sighed then covered her face and said a muffled, "I don't know what I mean."

[Matthew "Sully" Sullivan]

Sully put his hands on her shoulders. "I will come back, I promise. I know my promises may not mean much... I've hardly kept any other promises to you. But I swear to you, somehow... I will come back."

[Kris Lupin]

Ashura was glad he told her but wasn't sure if she could believe him. She didn't know anything about him, and now she wasn't going to know him. She kept her face covered to hide the tears she felt running down her cheeks.

[Matthew "Sully" Sullivan]

Sully put his arms around her. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I don't want to go... but until I can figure out how to handle things with Gretchen, I have to get away from her. I wish... I wish I didn't have to go... or that I could take you with me. But I don't want you in danger."

[Kris Lupin]

A part of Ashura wanted to leave but another part wanted to stay. She didn't know what to do, she felt angery, hurt and worried. She was hurt that he was leaving and angery that she didn't have time to get to know him and she was worried that he wont get to come back.

[Matthew "Sully" Sullivan]

"I'll figure something out, I promise," Sully said. "I know it seems like I'm just running away again, but right now, Gretchen and her back... they're too strong. I can't fight her... I'll likely be killed. And now that I'm finally getting my life together again, and I have Rochelle and I've found you again... I don't want to lose it. So I have to lose Gretchen, you understand? Once it's safe, I swear I'll come back."

[Kris Lupin]

"I understand." Ashura said. (sorry it's short)

[Matthew "Sully" Sullivan]

Sully wiped at his eyes. "Ashura, I want you to understand... even if... even if you were the one who... killed Jessie... I don't care anymore, OK? I still love her and miss her, but I don't blame... whoever did it anymore. I know that they might not have been able to control themselves. Somehow... I don't think it was you, but even if it was... I still love you." He hugged her again. "Is there anything I can do for you... anything that you need? I hate to think of you eating trash and stealing food... do you need money?"

[Kris Lupin]

"I...I don't know how to use money....most of the clothes I have I stole from houses when the owners were gone...actually all of them are..." Ashura told him.