~5~

La Rue woke to arms wrapped around her and sunlight filtering through the curtains. She squirmed and rubbed her eyes, then lifted them to see Thyrious. He was watching her with concerned eyes and a frown on his face. She remembered the day before and what had occurred then laid her head down again, unwilling to get up from bed and venture out into the world.

"La Rue?" Thyrious asked softly.

"No."

"You don't know what I was going to say."

La Rue sat up and looked at him. His eyes were full of emotions she couldn't read clearly. His body was a large wall he would use if he had to. His hands were gentle on her as he caressed her face. She still didn't want to tell him though. She didn't want to reveal what had happened all those years ago when she was still just a pup, when she was still learning how to walk and talk.

"La Rue, I won't let anyone hurt you," he said softly.

She looked away. "I know. Thyrious is good."

"Who is Hans?" he asked.

She shook her head. "No talk."

"Why not?"

"Bad."

Thyrious gazed down at the female with a longing to know what was going through her head. He wanted to know what was so frightening about this Hans, what he had done to her.

After a few minutes of silence, Thyrious sighed and pulled La Rue into his arms, then carried her to the bathroom. She glanced around, stiffening, then relaxed as he set her on the counter then turned the water on in the tub. When he turned back to her, he said, "Will you tell me eventually?"

Gratitude shone in her eyes. "Yes."

He nodded once then helped her out of the clothes from yesterday, then into the tub. "Just relax. I am going to make food then come back. If you need anything, call me."

She smiled shyly. "I will."

Once Thyrious left, La Rue sank in lower to the water until it was to her chin, then breathed in deeply. The air was thick with moisture, and smelled of lavender. Her head cleared a bit as she breathed, and she came to reason that maybe she could tell Thyrious some of the story, the major parts anyways. She didn't want to manipulate Thyrious, but she didn't want him to know everything. She didn't want him to know what she had done to cause all of this.

Fifteen minutes later, La Rue was clean and Thyrious returned, holding up a towel for her. She carefully stepped out of the water and joined him, letting him hug her with the towel. "Isobel wanted you to wear something for her. She said you would like it."

"What?"

He walked her into the bedroom and La Rue saw a glittery, green skirt with a off-white blouse. She had seen it in Isobel's closet the day before and liked it. She hadn't realized the female was watching her.

Thyrious watched as La Rue jumped up and down with glee, then started to put the outfit on. He ran up and stopped her. "Hold on."

She frowned. "Why?"

He picked up a bra and underwear Isobel brought as well. "You must wear these."

La Rue wrinkled her nose at the two pieces. "What?"

Thyrious set the underwear down and held up the bra. "This is a bra. It is to support these," he said, pointing to her breasts, flushing as he had never had to explain any of this to a girl before. "Turn around."

She did, and he helped her into the piece, making sure it was adjusted to fit. When he was done, La Rue fingered the garment and cupped her boobs with both hands. "I don't like."

"You'll get used to it," he said, then held out the underwear. "These go under your pants or skirts."

"Why?"

He opened his mouth to answer, then realized he didn't know. No one had ever explained why girls needed to wear underwear. "Just because they do," he said and waited for her to step into them.

Once she pulled them up, La Rue went to the mirror and gazed at the garments with a scrutinizing expression. "I don't want to."

"When you leave the house, you must."

"Why?"

Thyrious sighed. Why hadn't Isobel explained this yesterday? When La Rue readjusted the bra, he said, "They will protect you in many ways."

"Why?"

"Because that's what they're for."

She gazed at herself for another minute before turning to him. "Why protect what protect?"

He walked up to her and encircled her in his arms. He didn't know how to explain any of this. "You are beautiful, La Rue. Males like beautiful females. They will try to hurt you. These won't protect well, but will do a little."

La Rue heard his words, but her mind went back in time, to what had happened that made her run. She wasn't sure why she remembered something from so long ago, but she did. It was starting to make sense why she had to wear these. She looked up at Thyrious and said, "Not you? You no hurt La Rue?"

"No. I will protect you and keep you safe."

She gave a definite nod and undid his arms to grab the shirt and skirt, putting them on.

Thyrious had seen her eyes go foggy when he told her about males getting what they want, had seen something like realization afterwards. A growl began in his throat, so menacing, La Rue glanced at him. "Thyrious?"

He cleared his throat. "Are you ready?"

She glanced in the mirror then turned. "Yes."

Thyrious held his hand out and she took it. He led her to the kitchen where breakfast was waiting. She ate eagerly, having not eaten the night before, then glanced outside where other pack members were wandering around. "Go outside?"

Thyrious glanced outside too, scanning each person as they appeared. "Where?"

"Isobel?"

He smiled. "I have a different idea."

Twenty minutes later, Enya was waiting for them in a field of wildflowers. La Rue stayed beside Thyrious and waited. She took her cue from him, let his expressions and voice tell her what she was supposed to do.

"Alpha, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Enya said with a smile.

"This field is pretty soft, right? Soft enough for one without shoes?"

Enya glanced down to see no shoes on La Rue's feet. "Of course."

Thyrious smiled. "How often do you bring the pups here?"

"Every afternoon. It gives them a chance to play-practice their hunting skills."

"Perfect," he said and turned to La Rue. "This is Enya. She is a caretaker of pups. She could use a hand."

"Pups?"

He nodded. "They'll be here later." Thyrious gestured to the field. "This is where they come to play. They like to shift into their wolves and try to sneak up on each other. It's a game."

La Rue nodded. "Hunt?"

"Yes."

"Hurt?"

"No hurt. They aren't allowed. It's only for play. They are only allowed claws and teeth when we say so."

Enya nodded in agreement. "It's also a way of teaching restraint."

"What restraint?"

Both Enya and Thyrious thought for a moment then Enya said, "Let's pretend Thyrious and I were fighting. I'm his enemy." La Rue stiffened. Thyrious put a hand on her back and she slightly relaxed. Enya went on. "Sometimes, Thyrious will tell us not to kill an enemy."

"Why?"

"Because he wants to ask them questions. In this, his fighters use restraint against the enemy, keeping themselves from making a killing blow."

La Rue nodded, understanding. "Pups no hurt pups. Pups hurt enemy Thyrious says hurt enemy."

Enya smiled. "Yes."

Thyrious now said,  "Would you like to help Enya today?"

"You?"

He smiled sadly. "No. I need to meet Embry."

"Why?"

Thyrious inwardly shook his head. It seemed like La Rue was getting more curious. "Because we have work to do." Before she could ask why again, he said, "But that's later. Right now, you and I are going on a trip." He nodded to Enya. "We will see you soon. Thank you for your time."

"No problem, Alpha."

As they walked away, Thyrious looked down at La Rue and saw her glancing back at Enya and the field, as if committing their looks to memory. They made it back near his home and saw Reyna waiting for them. La Rue instantly went into a fight-ready stance, but Thyrious got in front of her and faced the other female. "What is it, Reyna?"

She glanced at La Rue before bowing her head. "Alpha, the females and I are going to the river tomorrow. We were wondering if La Rue would like to join."

Surprised, Thyrious turned to La Rue. She also seemed surprised and said, "Isobel?"

Reyna answered, "Yes, she'll be there."

La Rue thought for a moment. "No swim deep."

"You don't have to swim, La Rue," Thyrious said. "You can stick your feet in and talk to the others. No one will expect you to figure out how to swim in a fast paced river." He looked pointedly at Reyna who nodded.

La Rue shrugged and said, "Yes."

Thyrious heard her nonchalant tone, but saw the excitement in her eyes. "Good." He turned to Reyna. "Thank you for offering. That was nice of you."

"Thank you, Alpha." With that, Reyna ran off to meet a friend.

La Rue and Thyrious went past their home and towards the pack house. He kept one hand on her back, not to guide, but to protect. He didn't think anyone in the pack would hurt her now, but he wasn't taking chances.

When they entered the building, he took her to his office and closed the door, then went to his chair behind his desk. La Rue explored, as usual, getting herself reacquainted with the enviroment before turning to him. "Here?"

"We're here because I want to show you something."

"What?"

She walked over and stood before him, green eyes curious. He grabbed her hands and said, "It's a picture. There is nothing to be afraid of, though. I just want you to say if you recognize the person shown there."

"Who?"

He hesitated. After her reaction to hearing about Hans, he didn't want her to be the same way. "Promise you trust me."

"I trust Thyrious."

"The picture is of Hans." He waited as she processed this and let her thoughts roam. When she nodded anxiously, he said, "He is not here. This is from a file we have of him. We made it long ago. The Alpha before me made the file and took the picture. I just want to know if it's the same one you are afraid of."

"Okay," she said.

Thyrious pulled her close and made her sit on his lap, then turned the picture over. It was of a blonde man with hazel eyes and a handsome smile. He was well muscled and very tall. What made him different from the other males with similar features was the scar running from his left temple, across his nose, and to the right corner of his mouth.

Thyrious waited as La Rue studied the picture, but he could see she recognized him from the way she audibly swallowed and her hands began to tremble. She set the picture down, seeming to be careful with it as if the male would jump out at her if she made any sudden movements, then leaned back on Thyrious with a shuddering sigh. "Yes."

He was relieved she didn't lie to him. Wrapping his arms around her, he set the picture in a drawer and out of sight. "That's all. No more. I won't bother you with this anymore until you're ready."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

She thought for a moment. "Why me picture?"

"Embry wants to make sure we're on the same page, that who he saw is the same person you are afraid of. Now, I can tell him yes and he and the others will be extra careful around him."

La Rue nodded slowly. Thyrious thought she was in another world right now, in her mind. He pressed a kiss to her head, making her jump and look at him. "What?"

He smiled. "It's called a kiss."

"Why?"

"It was to keep you here with me." He touched her chin and held her eyes. "Don't go into your head, La Rue. If you do, you'll be scared and sad."

"Scared and sad now."

"I know, but you'll be more if you go into your head."

She scowled which made him chuckle. "I no in head. No way."

<Well? What do you guys think?

Hope you enjoyed!>