Get a hold of yourself, Ava.
Swallowing, I force myself to stay where I am. Ace Winter flicks his eyes to mine and gives me an acknowledging nod before moving over to shake Max’s hand.
“Max,” he says, nodding. “Lucien. Hello, Ava.”
His words are gentle, a small smile tugging at his lips that I return. “Hi,” I whisper, leaning into Bastien again. Nobody else has gotten out of the car yet, and I tilt my head a little to look past Ace. Following my gaze, he laughs.
“They’re having a bit of a moment,” he confides, leaning forward a little. “Our pack leader is a little twitchy when it comes to Harper.”
Confused, I look back at the car as an undoubtedly female shout of frustration reaches us.
“Let me out of this damned car, Rogue!”
“Harper?” I whisper, taking a step forward. Luc and Bastien move with me as I take a few hesitant steps forward.
The back doors fly open, and an unfamiliar, taller alpha emerges. His hawkish face is twisted in a frown, but it’s more worried than unpleasant. Dark green eyes scan over us and he grimaces. “Sorry,” he says, nodding his head at us in greeting. “I’m Rogue Winter.”
My pack introduces themselves around me, but my vision narrows down to the slim figure sliding out of the door on Rogue’s other side. Two other alphas exit after her, their gazes scanning the clearing, but my eyes are glued to the omega they keep between them. Vibrant red hair dangles across her face, and as she pushes it away with an annoyed huff, amber eyes turn to me and freeze.
“Harper,” I breathe. Her face crumples as she stares back at me.
Then she’s running, and I’m running, tearing free of Bastien and Luc as we collide in a mess of tears and cries. Her arms wrap around me as much as she can, given the bump in the way.
“Ava,” she says my name disbelievingly. “Ava, it’s really you!” Her words crack. I’m already gone, crying hard as I pull her to me.
“He told me you were dead,” I sob, breathing in her cinnamon scent. She shakes her head against me. “Not dead,” she hiccups, and I cough out a watery laugh. “So I can see!”
Our alphas linger around us, keeping a respectful distance. Her hands brush my stomach and she jumps back, glancing down and looking back at me with her eyes wide.
“Are you—,”
My hands drop to cover my bump. “I think we have a lot to talk about,” I say with a wince.
Harper nods, pulling her eyes from my midsection to glance around as she wipes at her eyes. Her alphas immediately move to her side as Bastien and Luc do the same, Luc retaking my hand in his and squeezing my fingers.
“Shall we go to the kitchen?” I ask, and Luc smiles at Harper in greeting before he turns to me with a nod.
We start walking up to the house as Harper’s other alphas introduce themselves to me, keeping their distance. Devlin sounds familiar, and I think he may have been driving the ambulance that brought me here. Gabe is a handsome, smaller alpha, and I note the affectionate look between him and Ace as they walk together, their hands brushing.
Max walks on ahead of us, pulling open the stained-glass doors and gesturing us toward the kitchen. Everyone takes up a chair around the large table, Harper and I facing each other with Gabe and Luc next to us. Max keeps back as he leans against the doorframe. I can feel his gaze on the back of my head as Harper and I stare at each other across the dark wood.
She shakes her head ruefully. “I don’t know where to begin,” she admits. I let out a watery laugh. “Me neither. Whathappenedto you, Harper? Where did you go?”
Gabe takes her hand as Harper starts explaining the events that took her away from the compound. She hesitates at some points, and I know she’s skirting over details she doesn’t want me or my pack to hear, but tears still drip down my face as she talks about her time with Jason.
My breathing speeds up as I stare down at the wooden table, the dark grains blurring as tears build up behind my eyes. Harper pauses as Luc pulls me into him, looking at my face.
“Rogue,” she says quietly, not moving her piercing eyes from mine. “Everyone. Could we have a minute, please?”
Rogue stirs, a grumble slipping out. I can understand why he’s not happy to leave her in a strange place. Leaning down, he whispers into her ear as he brushes her hair back. I glance at Luc and Bastien, ignoring Max. They give me a questioning glance, and I nod.
There are things we need to say that aren’t for our alphas to hear.
“Do you want to go into the nest?” Bastien asks me, but I shake my head in refusal. The nest is just for us.
“Here is fine.” My voice is soft. “We’ll call you when we’re ready?”
Luc presses a kiss to my shoulder as he gets up, Bastien touching my arm as he follows. Max takes a step forward, his fist clenching before he spins and leaves, the Winter alphas following.
