When I moved through the doorway, Cora’s head popped up. “Emme,” she breathed, pushing to her feet.
Warrick stood as well, his eyes very dark and shiny as he lookedme over. “I’m glad to see you’re okay,” he said, and there was genuine relief in his voice.
I had to press my bottom lip between my teeth to keep it from trembling, as the very sight of them triggered feelings of panic and fear. “Why are you here?” I asked, relieved that Slade remained solidly at my side, his hand wrapped around mine.
Cora swallowed roughly, looking briefly at Warrick before returning to me. “We’re here to apologize. We don’t expect you to forgive us, but we owe you a very large apology and explanation.”
Like Warrick, there was nothing but sincerity in her tone, and a part of me appreciated that even not expecting forgiveness, they’d still come to deliver the apology.
“Okay, it is time that we talked,” I said, stumbling over to the couch where the rest of my pack waited.
Slade released me so I could sit between Hunter and Kellan, who both reached out to touch me, offering their support. Slade joined Talon against the wall, fulfilling the role of dragon sentinels once again.
Cora and Warrick sat as well, turning to face me. “We never wanted to betray you,” Warrick said first, the deeper rasp reminding me of the first day I’d met him.
It felt like a million years ago with everything that had happened between now and then.
“When I came to your street during the battle to save Cora, I had no idea that Jewels had returned to our house. It wasn’t until all the enforcers left, and they took Marcus’ body away, that she revealed herself and her plan.”
“She wanted to hide away right under your noses,” Cora said, sounding tired. “She wanted to create a nest at our house, where you’d never think to look. We tried to fight it at first.”
Warrick nodded. “Yeah, I spent days in my wolf form attacking as she wove her shield. I fought as hard as I could, and tried to tear it all to pieces, but her magic was too strong. We ended up under her spell and under her control so fast it was terrifying.”
Cora pressed a hand to her chest, which heaved as if the memories were choking the breath from her. “We couldn’t even kill ourselves to stop her from moving forward with her plan… and trust me, Warrick tried.”
As they described the true depravity of what they’d been through,a ragged sound escaped my constricted throat. To reach the point where taking your own life was the only option to escape…
“She hurt Richard and Sierra badly,” Warrick continued. “They’re still with the healers, but apparently there’s a shortage of spells, and we’re not sure how orifthey’ll fully recover.”
Cora leaned forward until the tears streaking down her cheeks splattered on the floor. “We’re so sorry that we almost cost you your life and pack. We’re so sorry for the part we played, and as soon as we felt the wavering of her magic, we did what we could to save you. We would never have betrayed you of our own free will.”
Warrick grasped his mate’s hand, holding it so tightly that his knuckles were white. “I’m sorry I showed up at the hockey. She controlled our actions. I tried to drive my car into a building, but I couldn’t even manage that.”
Hunter’s hand flexed in mine. “It sounds as if there was no way for you to warn us about what she was doing.”
They both shook their heads. “No way,” Warrick said. “She controlled our actions and words outside of the house. Basically, when we were with you, it was Jewels speaking.”
Cora batted at her tears, clearing her throat. “With all of that being said, we’re still really fucking sorry. We should have found a way to help you.”
“You did help me in the end,” I said, remembering their wolves leaping through the doorway. They’d had no idea that I was all powered up and about to take the bitch down.
I stood, my alpha’s hands slipping off me. “You risked your life to save me, even when you’d been suffering under her hold for weeks.”
Cora stood as well and took two steps toward me before halting, as if she’d suddenly remembered that we weren’t back to hugging. Only, it felt like a hug was exactly what we needed.
I closed the final distance and wrapped my arms around her, my chest aching as she froze in my hold for a beat, before her arms gripped me like I was the last anchor in her world.
As we stood there, Cora wasn’t the only one sobbing. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Emme,” she whispered over and over.
“I forgive you,” I finally managed to say. “Though there’s really nothing to forgive. You were victims too, and for much longer than me. I have really missed you both, and I’m sorry about Richard andSierra. We will do everything in our power to make sure they’re okay.”
I didn’t know shit about healing, but I’d learn if it saved them.
Warrick leapt to his feet and threw his arms around us both, and even with five alphas growling, none of them tore him away. At least not for the first ten seconds.
When we pulled apart, I was surprised by how quickly the healing had started between us. “Be at the racetrack tomorrow,” I said on a whim. “Bring your best car and driving skills. It’s Kellan’s birthday and he’s out for blood.”
Golden whooped as he fist-pumped. “I’m going to kick all your asses tomorrow,” he hollered. “I can already taste the birthday victory.”
