~6~

The next day, Isobel fitted La Rue in a bikini and dress. La Rue still didn't like the idea of the bra and underwear, but she also didn't like the full body bathing suit. Since she wouldn't decide for herself, Isobel and Thyrious did for her. She scowled at herself in the mirror until Isobel brought out the plain blue dress to wear over it.

When she was ready to go, Thyrious turned her to him and said, "Remember, you do not have to get in the water. If someone forces you, tell Isobel."

"I tell Isobel," she smiled. "You work?"

In his mind, Thyrious thought, not if I'm going to worry about you. But he said, "Yes. I will see you when you return. Have fun."

La Rue hugged him, joy radiating off her. "Thyrious good. I fun. Isobel fun."

"Go now," he said and gently pushed her towards the group of females waiting. She ran over to Isobel and they started on their way. At the edge of the forest, La Rue turned and waved with a bright smile. Thyrious smiled and waved back.

When La Rue and the other females got to the river, there were other groups of people there spread out along the side. Their group stopped near a family and a few males, then began to prepare to jump in. La Rue and Isobel found a spot on a soft grassy area where they would get some sun and laid out two towels and a picnic basket. When La Rue glanced around, she saw males eyeing her and Isobel, now that their dresses were off. She felt on edge, especially without Thyrious here.

Isobel gave her a little shake and La Rue looked away from the males to her. "What?"

"They know not to come near our group. They will stay away," she said and pulled out a hair tie. "Just relax."

"Thyrious know?"

Isobel gave her a 'duh' smile and said, "He's the one who ordered they stay away from us. If they even try something on us, they are as good as dead."

La Rue nodded, liking the sound of that. She decided to take Isobel's advice and relax, laying on her back with her hand under her head, and closed her eyes. The breeze blew across her face, birds chirped in the distance while other creatures skittered about, people talked and laughed, water splashed. It was all so peaceful here. It wasn't anything she had imagined before. She had never imagined peace because most of her life had been spent running.

"La Rue!"

La Rue opened her eyes to see Reyna and a few other females holding up a blue plastic thing that had a hole in the middle. She furrowed her brows. "What?" she asked Isobel.

Isobel looked at the thing and said, "That's an innertube. It's a way to float on water." Delight brightened La Rue's eyes until Isobel said, "But it isn't safe on a river like this. You could get swept away or flip over. There are sharp rocks at the bottom if you're in shallow water."

"Come on, La Rue!" Reyna said, smiling. La Rue thought it was genuine. But Isobel put a hand on her shoulder. La Rue saw something like caution in the female's eyes. "Isobel, don't be such a party-pooper! Let the girl try it!"

"Reyna, I don't like it!"

"There's a rope," said one of Reyna's friends. "We'll hold on. She won't go anywhere."

"How do I know that?" Isobel said, standing up. "Reyna, you're already on Thyrious's list. This won't help your case."

"It's just a ride. A short one where she won't get hurt!" Reyna shot back, then turned to La Rue. "Come on, La Rue. I promise nothing will harm you and we'll keep a good hold on the rope."

Although La Rue didn't completely trust Reyna, she saw other people were floating on the water and were having fun. Maybe this wasn't as bad as Isobel was thinking. "Fun?"

Reyna grinned. "Much fun!"

La Rue turned to Isobel. "No harm, Isobel. Fun."

She didn't look convinced. "I hope you're right, La Rue."

La Rue ran over to Reyna and then to the river. Reyna threw the plastic innertube into the water and said, "Jump into the middle and hold onto the handles."

La Rue nodded and prepared herself. Swinging her arms, she jumped.

The innertube flipped on top of her and she began to splutter, kicking her feet as hard as she could, only to fall under the surface again. She felt the innertube above her, but couldn't grab the slippery plastic to hold on. She inhaled and water burst into her mouth, making her choke. Tears began to sting her eyes and she felt the water pulling her downstream. Isobel was right. She should have stayed on the ground, should have stayed where it was safe.

An arm wrapped around her waist and she felt a hard body behind hers. A moment later, her head burst above the water and she was being carried to shore. She fought to get there, spluttering and coughing.

Finally, she made it with the help of her savior, and she climbed onto the grass, heaving. "Are you alright?"

She looked up and saw one of the males from earlier. "No swim deep. Home. Now."

The male looked confused but sat beside her, looking at her with brown eyes. "You can't talk, can you?"

She scowled at him. "La Rue talk. Go!"

He shook his head. "I don't think so, darling. I just saved your life!"

Isobel had just seen La Rue go under and pulled her phone out. "Hello?" Thyrious said on the other end.

"Help! She just got into the water and I don't think she can swim!"

A roar sounded on the phone and in the distance. After a moment, he said, "Tell me what happened."

She did and Thyrious hung up. Isobel went up to Reyna and slapped her across the face. "How dare you! You idiot! You careless, selfish--"

"Isobel!"

Isobel spun around to see Enya. "What?"

Enya pointed down the river to see two bodies on the ground, thrashing about.

"No!" La Rue cried, trying to push the male off her, but he was too strong. He was trying to grab the strings to her bra thing and take it off.

"Hold still, darling. This is going to be my thanks for saving you!"

"No! Go! No want!"

He laughed and gave up on the bra and went to the bottoms. He managed to get one side untied and had them down when she stilled. Realization hit her as he began to take off his own pants. She couldn't be doing this again! Not again! No, no, no!

His hand had just touched her thigh to push it aside when he disappeared. La Rue frantically looked about and saw Thyrious. She burst into tears and wanted to get up, but he said, "Stay there, La Rue." From his shoulder, he lay a towel over her. "I will be right back. Don't move, okay?"

She nodded, pulling the towel up to her chin, shaking uncontrollably.

Thyrious left La Rue laying on the ground, covered by a towel and stalked the male who had dared hurt her. Urine caught his nose and he grinned. "You were warned, and now I have no patience left."

The male held up his hands. "Wait! Please! It wasn't my idea!"

"Oh, I know! But you still went ahead and did it! That makes you just as guilty!" Thyrious grabbed the male by the throat and dragged him out of earshot and eyesight.

Isobel rushed up to La Rue and dropped down to hug her friend. "Are you alright? Did he hurt you? I'm so sorry, La Rue!"

La Rue hugged the female back, still shaking. "No hurt. No alright."

Isobel sat up and looked into her face, her eyes. "If Enya hadn't said something, I wouldn't have known where you were! It's a good thing Thyrious is fast! I'm not sure I would have been able to do anything."

La Rue wondered if this was rambling and why Isobel was doing it. She didn't ponder long because she still felt his hands on her, still felt her bottoms loose and pulled away. Bile rose in her throat. "Isobel!" she croaked.

Isobel seemed to understand, because she helped La Rue roll over before she threw up.

Thyrious washed his hands in the river then returned to La Rue, who was in Isobel's arms. He saw bile nearby and became enraged again, but swallowed it as he walked up to them. Isobel jumped as he knelt, but handed La Rue over, backing away slowly. She knew, like others of his pack, to not interfere when he was in this mood.

Before she could get too far though, he said, "Isobel, take the females home. Find Embry and have him lock her up."

She nodded, then turned and ran.

Thyrious cursed when he realized he didn't have anything to fully cover La Rue, then remembered he wore a shirt. "Are you able to sit up on your own?" She nodded, so he let go of her to take off his shirt then handed it to her. La Rue hurriedly slipped the shirt on, then wrapped her arms around his neck.

Standing, he held her close to his chest, striding after the females in the distance. No words were said as he walked home, but he sensed the female in his arms didn't know how to explain. Luckily, Isobel did and he understood fully. Thyrious didn't blame La Rue for what happened. Having her in his arms, alive, gave him the ability to clear his mind of rage and think.

Her arms tightened suddenly and he glanced down, seeing fear in her eyes. "La Rue?"

"Thyrious, I no want again!" she said desperately. "I say no. Male say I thank. Male took me to ground. He said yes."

"I know," he said.

She looked up at him, still fearful. He couldn't understand why. "No want, Thyrious. I no want male!"

"La Rue, calm down." She blanched, as if those words summed up everything. He furrowed his brows. "La Rue, he won't come back for you. Never again."

She didn't say anything, just became stiff against him. Thyrious growled low in his throat, which didn't help matters. If anything, it made things worse.

La Rue whimpered, then struggled out of his arms. Thyrious gently set her on her feet and held her shoulders, fearing she would trip somehow. "What is wrong?" he asked.

La Rue hugged herself, not looking at him. "Thyrious no believe." Thyrious was about to argue but she continued. "La Rue no want again. La Rue no want run. No want alone."

"You are not running away!" he growled. "You are not going to leave me, La Rue. I will not allow it!"

Tears streamed down her face. "Male said same. I no child, Thyrious. I no pup. I know." She took a step back. "I no allow again."

"What are you talking about?" he demanded, stepping close to her. "Explain to me what is going on in your head. What are you afraid of? I made sure he won't come hurt you again, so what is wrong?"

She shook her head, turned, shifted into her wolf, and ran.

<Uh oh... Where do you suppose La Rue is going? Do you think she'll go far? Let me know in the comments!

Hope you enjoyed!>