Kenzo shrugged. “Look, we’re going to have to agree to disagree here. About everything to do with Emme. For real though, when it comes to Kellan’s condition, you have got to stop blaming the victim for the actions of others. Emme loves Kellan. I’d bet my life savings that she’d trade positions with him in a heartbeat.”
I actually didn’t disagree with him. “She should change places with him,” I murmured, even as the thought of it burned deep in my chest. My feelings toward her weren’t rational… or fair, but hey, life wasn’t fucking fair. It was time for Emmeline Anders to start adjusting her expectations about how she’d be treated through life. As an omega, she was a weakness and liability to a pack and should act accordingly.
Kenzo’s silence was heavy with his disappointment, which seeped into the well of anger and pain churning inside me. The fact that skating hadn’t given me a reprieve was a good indicator that I’d spiraled to the point of concern.
I needed to see Kellan. I needed his soothing presence for a few minutes, and then hopefully I’d be able to sleep. It had been days. Days of an inability to escape my thoughts, which would drive the sanest shifter to the brink of insanity.
It was quiet in the compound when we entered—a lot of our families had been up to check on Kellan already. His brothershad sat with him yesterday. Unlike most of us, Kellan had decent parents, but they hadn’t told them yet.
I hoped they would before it was too late for goodbyes.
When Kenzo pulled up in front of my house, he turned toward me. “I’ll be back in an hour with teppanyaki for you,” he said. “You will eat a proper meal tonight, even if I have to make choo-choo noises and force the fucking train-sticks into your mouth.”
A ghost of a smile hovered on my lips. “Like I’d ever turn down your cooking, Kenz. I’ll meet you at yours in an hour, though. It’ll be easier.”
Easier for me to be out of the house as well.
He nodded. “Yep, that works as well, but if you don’t show up, I will drag you there. Understand?”
I nodded, understanding all too well. My brother was generally unflappable, a cooling calm to my rage, but when he lost it… well, he didn’t do anything by halves.
He waited until I was inside before he drove off. I dropped my gear near the front door and padded up the stairs. I could hear Hunter and Slade in their offices, but wanted to check on Kel first.
Chocolate and honey encased me as I closed in on his room, and I wasn’t surprised to see the door ajar, the low light of the moon streaming in through his windows, highlighting the pair on the bed. Kellan hadn’t moved, still on his back, eyes closed, chest moving in slow and steady increments. Emmeline was curled up at his side, her left hand clutching his shirt over his heart, and her right gripping her battered phone, even though she appeared to be sound asleep.
The moonlight highlighted the long strands of her hair, which looked paler as it spread out around her face, giving her an angelic look. Feeling uneasy at being near the omega when she was asleep, I crept toward the bed.
Her phone was still lit up, like she’d just fallen asleep using it, and I could see the same group chat I’d been reading. Under her thumb was a message from Kellan, as if she’d brushed across it while she drifted off. My chest grew tighter, all the rage and pain fading under the evidence of our shared sorrow. She suffered with us, and for that I would make more effort to accept her presence here.
Here where Kellan would want her.
As I crossed to the opposite side of the bed to where she slept, I sat in the chair and reached out to touch Kellan’s chest, resting my hand beside hers.
It was reassuring to feel his heart beating strongly.
As I stared into her relaxed features and those freckles visible in the moonlight, I noticed silvery streaks tracing her cheeks. Even in her sleep she cried, and fuck, if that wasn’t enough to push me right over the edge.
CHAPTER 17
EMME
The next few days were a blur of sleep, worry, and pacing Kellan’s room. All of the pack sat with him at times, but I was the only consistent one. Afraid to leave his side.
Almost literally. I slept beside him, monitoring his breathing between my fitful bouts of rest.
A week after we’d returned, I woke to find myself surrounded by the most delicious warmth. It reminded me of waking with Slade’s hand on my stomach, and even though my period was finished now, and I didn’t need the dragon-pain-relief, it was nice to feel the comfort of an alpha.
Prying my eyes open, I was hit with all four alpha scents. I had no idea who was at my back, snuggling me into Kellan—until I glanced down to find the early morning light highlighting a familiar tattooed hand resting against the base of my throat. Hunter’s other arm was draped across my stomach, pulling me back into his big body.
He must have crawled in with me during the night, and I’d been too wiped out to even notice.Where were you on that one?I directed at my wolf, who lazily yawned.
She’d made it clear long ago that we belonged with a pack, and if I chose to ignore the goddess’ design, then I would have to deal with the consequences of it. With zero help from her.
After sleeping alone my entire life, I’d never have expected to enjoy the sensation of being squished between giant shifters, and yet… here we were. Absolutely enjoying it.
Enjoying it so much it was difficult to even consider sleeping alone ever again.
Not wanting to disturb Hunter, whose breathing was deep and even, I moved nothing except my eyes as I checked on Kellan, relieved to hear a steady heartrate and pulse.
