“How long…” I direct my question at Rogue.
“Four days.” There’s so much love and agony in his expression that I want to cry again. I look to Gabe and Ace, holding on to each other like they’re keeping each other standing.
“I want to touch you all,” I say softly. “When I thought…”
I break off, unable to finish the words. They all move closer to the bed, climbing on gently. Rogue pulls me into his side whilst Dev lays his head gently on my legs. Ace and Gabe mirror him, and I sigh in relief when I have them all close.
“Stay with me,” I mumble. I’m already drifting away.
* * *
When I wake up again, I finally feel a little more human.
Ezra arrives, his crinkled face wreathed in relief. He shoos the pack out so he can check me over, and he gently offers to do an internal examination.
Fear ripples through me, but I nod. I need to know.
I call Gabe back in, and he holds me closely as Ezra takes some swabs. I can feel the tension in his posture as he watches Ezra work.
“Hey,” I say gently, pulling his face around and ignoring the twinge of pain in my shoulder. I’ve had much worse.
Everything from when Jason injected me with heat hormones is a blur, and although the guys have filled me in on what they know, there’s still a question mark over Jackson. He told the guys nothing happened, but we don’t know for certain.
I could be pregnant.
Ezra finishes and straightens up, meeting my eyes steadily. I brace myself.
“There’s no internal access, Harper,” he says, and my whole body shakes in relief as Gabe folds his arms around me.
“So, they didn’t…” I whisper, and he shakes his head.
“No, sweetheart,” he smiles at me, sadly. “They didn’t.”
I turn to Gabe, tears of relief sliding down my cheeks. He pulls me close, but there’s a touch of something in his expression that twists my stomach. He’s told me how he killed Jason, and I won’t judge him for it. But I worry about what it’s done to his soul.
“I would have done the same thing, you know,” I murmur, and his face snaps up to meet my gaze, a protest forming on his lips. I press my finger to them and he relents, letting me speak.
“If I had the opportunity, I would have ripped Jason apart. A knife, a gun, even a fucking paper clip. You did what you needed to do, and I don’t want you to waste a single more of your thoughts on him, Gabriel Winter.”
He stares into my eyes, not responding as the pack tumble back through the doors. He’ll need more time to come to terms with it, but I won’t let this eat him up.
I’m surrounded by love, affection, warmth on every side and I breathe it in, my eyes closed.
“So… what happens now?” I ask. It’s the question I’ve been avoiding. Jason may be gone, but the compound is still hanging over us.
Rogue smiles crookedly. “Well… my father signed off your pack membership. So you’re officially no longer under the guardianship of the compound.”
My mouth drops open. “Holy shit. Are you serious?”
He entwines our fingers together, his green eyes searching mine.
“How do you feel about being Harper Winter?” he asks me quietly. Ace and Gabe grin behind him. Devlin squeezes my hand on my other side, and I stare at them all, overwhelmed.
Harper Winter.Not 792. Never again.
“I’d like that,” I breathe. Tears prickle at the corners of my eyes.
It means I canstay. No more worrying about the compound knocking on the door.
