“Phoenix Pack,” he says with a smile. “Welcome.” His eyes shoot to me, and I go still. His eyes flash for just a moment, signaling the presence of his wolf, and my adrenaline shoots up as I prepare to run if needed. There’s a presence at my back suddenly, and I don’t miss the way the Beta’s eyes look over my shoulder. I’m not sure what Hunter does or doesn’t do, but the Beta glances at me one more time and then turns back to Ava and Bryce. “We’re so glad you’re here.Allof you.” I don’t missthe emphasis on the word all, but he must mean something else by it. He can’t possibly mean me.
“Load up,” Bryce says, turning to us all. I’m not sure who’s going to sit where, but Ava takes charge.
“Sherese and I will go in the very back, so all you long-legged people can have the front seats.”
“I'm long-legged,” I remind her.
“Do you want to have to make polite conversation the whole way there?” she whispers.Oh. Right.I climb right into the backseat. Bryce takes the passenger seat, and Hunter and Leo take the middle seat.
Liam is the last one in the car. “Everybody good?” He starts the car and pulls out smoothly.
“How far of a drive is it?” I ask Ava softly, forgetting the exceptional hearing of all the wolves in the car.
“It’s about forty minutes to our property,” Liam says from the front seat.
Ava grins at me, and I shake my head, reminding myself to be quiet for the entirety of the ride. Hunter sits right in front of me, and I find it oddly distracting. In fact, the longer we’re in the car, the more it seems to bother me. I don’t know why. It feels like the forty minutes stretch on forever. I get antsy and have a hard time sitting still. I feel Ava’s gaze on me and finally turn to her. “You okay?” she asks softly. I nod, but she doesn’t look convinced.
I take a deep breath, but all I can smell is Hunter. It’s a mix of earthy scent and something so sexy and all him. I crack my neck and try to find my equilibrium. I don’t know what it is about being in this car, but it’s triggering me somehow. I feel like we’re never going to get there. I bounce my legs and try to take in a deep breath, but it feels suffocating. I get a flashback, and my stomach tightens.No.I take another breath, trying to calm my racing heart, but it’s not helping. Another flashbackcomes, and I see my mom’s body on the floor. A small whimper escapes me, and I can’t get enough air. All I can see is her blood all over the floor. I hear somebody say something, but it sounds far away. Suddenly, a warm hand lands on my knee. My entire body jerks at the contact. I panic and try to pull away, but the hold tightens just slightly. I blink and try to rein in my chaotic thoughts.Focus.I take a small breath.The window. The car. My seatbelt. Ava next to me in the seat.The practice I've done so many times in the past works now, and I start to calm down. I look down at the large hand on my knee and take a breath that somehow doesn’t get strangled in my lungs.
It’s Hunter’s hand. I know that for sure. How he managed to reach behind him and put his hand on my knee, I don’t know. All I know is that itishelping. And if he’s okay with keeping it there, I am too, because it’s keeping me grounded and keeping my mind from slipping into that awful dark place. I take another breath, and this time, my lungs fully work. I notice for the first time just how quiet it is in the car. I glance over at Ava, and she stares at me with her big, expressive eyes. But then she turns towards the front of the car. “How’s your family?” she asks, breaking the silence. And I've never been so grateful.
Liam’s voice is soft. “They're good.” He launches into a story about something funny their little one did. I can’t focus on it, but I can focus on breathing now. And that’s a plus in my book.
Hunter doesn’t remove his hand from my knee the rest of the trip, as if he knows how desperately I need the touch to keep me grounded. Only when we stop does he finally remove his hand. I wonder how sore his arm must be from being in that awkward position for so long. He opens his door as soon as Liam puts the car in park. His chair is pulled forward a moment later. I don’t hesitate to climb out of the car. Only when I’m standing next to him do I look up at him. “Thank you.” My words are soft, but he hears them anyway. Those dark eyes find mine, and he nods.
Chapter Thirteen
Sherese
Ava climbs out and stands next to me. “You good?” she asks softly. I nod but don’t say anything. I just want to move past it. “Just remember, you’re not alone.” Bryce comes over to stand next to Ava and puts his hand on her lower back. “I have all sorts of issues; just ask Bryce. He has to deal with me.” He must say something through their link because her eyes go all dreamy, and she leans into him. I turn away from them and wait for Liam to open the trunk. We all grab our bags and follow Liam towards a cute house. “We’re putting most of you in what used to be the healer house. Leo, if it’s okay, we have an open room in the pack house. Is that okay?”
“Sure. Thanks.” Leo’s pretty easy-going.
“And the rest of you. Does that work?” Liam asks, turning to Bryce. I know what he’s asking. If it’s okay that they all stay with me.
“That’s fine with us; thank you,” Bryce says graciously.
He turns to Leo. “Let me get them settled inside, and then I’ll take you to the pack house.”
“Sounds good, thanks.”
We follow Liam up the steps, but the door opens before we get there. I watch as the alpha’s mate steps out. I met her and several of the other members of the Northwoods Pack at Ava and Bryce’s mating ceremony. “Hey, everybody. Welcome.”
Liam turns to the rest of us. “I’ll leave you in Emma’s capable hands and take Leo over to the pack house.”
We follow Emma inside, and when she turns around, I see her belly. Ava does at the exact same time because she turns to Emma. “Um, so that’s new since we saw you last.”
Emma smiles. “I was pregnant when we were together last, but we hadn’t told anyone outside of our pack yet. And apparently, you pop much sooner with the second,” she says with a small shrug.
“Congratulations,” Ava tells her with a huge smile. She gives her a hug, and I stand off to the side, not wanting to interrupt their moment.
Emma turns to Bryce. “Welcome, Bryce. It’s good to see you again.”
“You too, Emma.”
“And Hunter,” Emma says, facing Hunter. He nods at her, and then she turns to me. I feel myself stiffening. “Hi, Sherese. Welcome to the Northwoods Pack.”
I try not to let the surprise show on my face. “Thank you, Emma.”
