Shawn hurries over and greets his friends. I see Father and his men join them, as well as others from the pack loyal to him. I hang back, hoping I won’t have to get involved, but all the women immediately turn to me.
“Sara!” Scarlett says, waving as she hurries over. “It’s so nice to see you again.”
“And you,” I answer automatically, returning her hug.
Grace and Alisha approach, and the bright auras I’ve been seeing seem to shimmer around them both. My head swims, and the air around me feels thick and hot.
“Whoa, are you okay?” Scarlett asks, holding my arm.
“Yes, I’m okay,” I say. “It’s just the heat, I think.”
“We should get you home to rest. We’ll leave our supplies at the hall and go on up to the house.”
“Okay,” I agree, letting her lead me back up the street. My head clears a little, but I still feel like holding myself up is an extreme effort, and it’s a relief when we get to the house and go through to the covered garden.
“Oh, it’s beautiful in here,” Alisha says, sitting on a low stone bench. “It’s just completely wild. Is it your garden?”
“It belonged to the previous luna,” I reply. “I haven’t tended it much since she died, but Jess liked it chaotic, anyway.”
“I do, too,” Grace says, sitting next to Alisha. Immediately, a couple of hens appear, pecking around for food. Alisha smiles and pets one gently, and the hens don’t run from her.
She’s the one who killed some of our warriors…but she seems like such a gentle soul. I don’t understand.
“Hope you don’t mind,” Scarlett says from behind me. “But I took liberties with your kitchen. Iced tea, anyone?”
All of us voice an affirmative as Scarlett comes in with a tray of drinks. We sit in silence for a moment, and I press my eyes closed, trying to blink away the strange lights in my vision.
“Are you really okay?” Scarlett asks, sitting down next to me. “You look exhausted. You can tell us anything, you know. We’re here to help.”
Even though I barely know these girls, I’m desperate for company, and Scarlett’s kind tone cracks through my defenses.
“I’ve just been having a rough time sleeping,” I say, trying to stop my tears from spilling down my cheeks.
“Oh, honey,” Scarlett says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Please, tell me what’s wrong. I’m sure we can help.”
Fuck it. They know Shawn. Maybe they can help me untangle this fucking web of lies!
“It’s Shawn,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “We were just taking it slow, you know. But he was so nice…I let myself get close to him. We slept together. Then, the next morning, he treated me like trash and said terrible things to me.”
“Oh, hun,” Scarlett says, patting my back. “There’s got to be more to it. Shawn’s one of the good ones.”
“Yeah,” Grace agrees. “He’s been working at the gardens for the last few months, and he’s a real gentleman. I can’t even imagine him disrespecting a woman—or anyone at all, really.”
“The guys do have secrets,” Alisha says thoughtfully. “I mean, maybe he doesn’t know you well enough to explain it all?”
I look steadily at Alisha, trying not to glare at her. “Canyouexplain it?”
Her violet eyes widen, and she shakes her head a little. “We’re here to form stronger bonds with your pack,” she says gently. “That isn’t going to happen overnight. There is a lot going on, and I’m no stranger to getting shocks from my new husband, believe me. But with time, it all comes together.”
“Could you be more cryptic?” Scarlett mutters. “I don’t think that’s helping.”
“Can you tell us anything else?” Grace asks. “More context? Was there any reason at all for him to disrespect you?”
I open my mouth to tell them that it was in front of my father, but slowly close it again, thinking furiously.
Careful…
“All I know is he talked me into sleeping with him, then the next morning, he acted like it was a chore. He treated me like a queen, but the moment he had me, I was expected to be a slave.”
