Louisa's POV
After Josephine walked away, I looked at Mana and Mata. They still looked terrified.
"She really doesn't have to say sorry to us, Miss." Mata looked up at me and said.
"We don't mind being beaten, you know." Mana rubbed his head and said.
I crouched down and got at eye level with them.
"Don't allow anyone to bully you again," I said in a soft voice. "When people do bad things to us, we should stop them. If we let it happen, they will keep doing bad things to us."
They looked at me with their giant watery eyes and nodded.
"Why didn't you hypnotize them?" I asked.
"We can't do it."
"People know that we're with you now."
"We don't want to bring you any trouble."
They lowered their heads and looked ashamed.
My heart was throbbing. I hugged them and said, "Always protect yourself before you want to protect others. Please don't get beaten again."
"OK, Miss. Next time we'll run away."
"We won't let anyone hurt us!"
They placed their arms gently around my shoulders and started to cry.
"Oh, mine! Are you talking to them?!" Akela's voice sounded surprised.
I stood up and looked at her with appreciation.
"Thank you for standing up for us today," I said.
"Oh, you don't have to mention it." She flapped her hands and said. "My brother told me that I should always be kind to others, or else I'll get ulcers in my mouth. I really hate ulcers, you know. It hurts! Whenever I get ulcers, I always ask myself, did I do something unkind to others?"
"Is that so?" I asked.
"What?" she asked.
"You don't want to do bad things because you'll have ulcers in your mouth?"
"Well, I doubt it. Josephine is always doing bad things to others, but she has never got ulcers. So I guess my brother just wants me to be kind to others. He's a really nice person. He knows about everything and he always buys me amazing stuff," Akela said.
"Do you want to stay with me in the Luna Tent tonight?" I asked. I was afraid that Josephine was going to hurt her. I was sure Josephine would bat her like batting a baby seal.
"I get scared when it's dark. So I wonder if you can come and stay with me," I added.
"Really?! I have always wanted to stay in the Luna Tent! And I am scared of darkness as well! You know what?! We can have a pajama party! We can have a pillow fight!" Akela clapped her hands and said.
"Great. So see you tonight in the tent," I said and walked away.
As I walked past Mick and Lynel, I said to them, "You two stay with Lady Akela today. Do not let Josephine or her people get any closer to her."
"Yes, Miss Louisa!" They nodded and said.
I looked at Darren, who appeared to be very worried.
"What's on your mind, Darren?" I asked.
"Louisa, we really have to talk," he said.
***
"Where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere!" Colt stood in front of the Luna Tent and waved at me. "Come on, let's go! Alex has already got the carriage ready."
"Colt, we might need a moment." I looked at him and said.
"A moment of what?" Colt looked puzzled.
As soon as he saw the serious look on my face, he immediately said, "OK. I guess I'll just take Will to the carriage first."
Then, he picked up Will in his arms and walked out of the tent.
Will struggled and pressed his hands against Colt's face.
"Don't take me away! I want to stay with Louisa!" he said.
Snow jumped on top of Colt's head and started to pull his hair.
"Zowie guacamole! Stop pulling my handsome hair!" Colt said.
Before he finished, Will had already stuck his fingers into Colt's nostrils.
I covered a bedsheet over Will's head and said, "Go ahead, Will. Go wait for me in the carriage. We'll be there in a minute."
"OK..." Will lifted the bedsheet and looked at me.
I kissed his forehead and he blushed. Then, he took Snow in his arms and covered his head with the bedsheet.
Mana and Mata stood at the entrance of the tent with my personal guards.
They looked very nervous until Eel got some towels and placed them over the bumps on their heads.
They nodded and bowed at him while using the towels to cover their heads.
I put down the curtain, shut the windows, and asked Darren, "What is it?"
"Louisa... Can we just... Go away?" Darren asked.
He sat on the edge of his bed and looked deflated.
"Darren, what are you talking about?" I asked.
Darren looked up at me and said, "Let's just go away and leave all this... We can hide in the mountains for a while. I know a place where we can hide and nobody will find us. Then, after a while, we can build a boat and sail to the South. I've got everything planned."
"Darren, you know it's impossible for me to leave Lucas," I said. "He has your imprint. He's my mate."
"So accept his rejection and go away with me. I've found a way to lift the imprint," Darren said.
"He's got my father in his possession. He's got your uncle, Darren."
"He's not my uncle! And he's not your father!" Darren suddenly looked up at me and said.
I recognized the angry light in his eyes. It was as vicious as the day he was trying to rip Mr. Weasel into two halves.
"What do you mean?" I frowned.
"We can't stay here anymore, Louisa. They're coming and it will be too late for us to run away. They'll take you away from me. No... I will not let anyone do things like that... Let's just pack everything and go..." He looked completely freaked out. His hands were holding my arms so tightly that it made me feel pain.
"Darren, I'm here with you. No one will take me away from you." I placed my hands over his hands and said.
But he still didn't want to let go of me, as if he loosened his hands a bit and I would fly away.
"Louisa, we aren't one of them. I know you feel that Master is powerful and he will protect you, but he can't protect you from them! And if we keep staying here, Master will get into trouble as well!"