The Cowgirl Rogue

Chapter 40

Simon walked out of the house when we pulled up to the house to greet us, and he was followed by Lukas and Penny. He grinned and did his half wave in greeting, and I rolled my eyes and scowled, feeling very annoyed.

"Be nice," Corbin said and looked at me with an amused smile on his face, and I glanced at him unimpressed before I rolled my eyes and parked the truck. Corbin winked and nudged my arm. "You need his help with something, Kel."

"He'll still help me even if I am a pain in the ass to him," I grumbled, and Corbin snorted and nodded because he knew that I wasn't wrong; Simon would help me with whatever I needed help with if I asked. I sighed and took the keys out of the truck before I opened the truck door.

"You're here!" Lukas exclaimed while he ran towards me, much to his grandmother's annoyance. Excitement and happiness filled his eyes while he stared at me, even though I could see a bit of pain in his eyes. "Where have you been?"

(07/17/2023)

"Working," I said and got out of the truck. I grunted and picked him up when he ran into me, and I hugged him just as tight as he hugged me. "How have you been doing, Kiddo?" I asked and raised an eyebrow in question.

"Good," he said before he paused and sighed, shaking his head. He pulled away from me and stared at me with dark gray eyes that were filled with pain and sadness but also happiness because I was here. "I miss Mama," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, and my heart broke just a bit. "I've missed you, too, Kel."

I moved a hand through his hair before I shook my head and sighed, ignoring the sting of guilt that filled my heart. "I've missed you, too, Bud," I said before I cleared my throat and raised an eyebrow in question. "Are you behaving yourself?"

"Yes," he said and nodded. He let go of my shoulders, and I put him down until he was standing on his two feet. "I have been behaving myself."

"Mmmhmm," I said, not convinced before I looked at Penny with a raised eyebrow in question, and Lukas groaned playfully. "Has he?"

"He has," Penny confirmed and nodded. "How are you?"

I bit back a small scowl and shrugged, staying silent.

"Been better?" she asked, and I bit back a small snort and slowly nodded.

"I'll be fine," I replied coldly before I moved a hand through my hair and across my face, shaking my head.

"Ya, she just needs rest," Corbin said and walked to my side. He patted my arm, sympathetically, and I moved away from him slowly, earning a small snort from him. "It's been a long day for her today, a-"

I gave him a small look, silencing him, and both Simon and Penny looked at each other before they looked at me, and I could tell that they were worried.

"What is it?" Simon asked and raised an eyebrow in question. "What happened?"

I bit back a small sigh and shook my head. "Can we talk in your office?" I asked and raised an eyebrow in question. "It's not something that I would like to talk about out here."

Simon pressed his lips into a thin line and nodded. He looked at Lukas and grinned, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Why don't I talk to both Corbin and Kel alone. Then they can hang out with you until it's time for them to go back to their pack, ya?" he asked and raised an eyebrow.

Lukas pressed his lips into a thin line and shifted on his feet. He looked at Simon before he looked at me, and I could tell that he did not like the idea of me leaving again. "For how long?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

I sighed and shook my head, pressing my lips into a thin line. "Not long," I admitted, and Lukas frowned. "I need to go back to the pack that I have been staying at, Kiddo. There is a lot of stuff going on with that pack and then the one with the controlled Alpha."