My heart thunders in my chest as I truly absorb what he’s doing, but what he’s saying doesn’t sit right in my soul. Shaking my head, I struggle to contain my frantic breathing. “The only sacrifice that comes next time will be him,” I promise, not bothering to wait for Walker’s response as I spin on my heels and drag Ocean along with me, happy to follow that single command.
I don’t know where we’re running to, but I don’t stop moving, aimlessly trying to stay safe with Ocean clinging to my arm. When we’re so deep into the line of trees that the light can barely break through the leaves, the audible boom that ricochets off in the distance vibrates through my bones, halting us as we look up at the sky. The acidic, burning cry of fury is echoed with parting words that shake my core, audible even from here.
“Elodie Blackwood, I’m coming for you.”
22
ELODIE
“I’m so sorry, Ocean,” I rasp, all but falling into our room behind her.
Blindly moving to shut the door, I come up short when I can’t find it. Instead, my hand meets the broad chest of my protective wolf. I smile at him and he returns the gesture, but I can sense the anger thrumming through his veins.
He’s mad.
About a lot of things.
Most of them likely because of me, but I can’t bring myself to broach the subject because I won’t apologize for being reckless and desperate to help my friend.
Seconds after Jude’s voice rang through the air, Rion appeared through the tree line, eyes wide and frantic as he ran his gaze over me from head to toe. Thorne and Kael weren’t far behind him. I was happy to give myself some time to process what the hell just happened, but Ocean was eager to catch them up.
The second Walker was mentioned, their anger levels rose to new heights, and I don’t know if I can handle this level of testosterone.
Thankfully, Rion clicks the door shut behind him, knocking down the tension just enough for me to be able to breathe again. He leans back against the door, making his presence known without interrupting our moment, and I’m silently thankful for it.
Taking a single step into the room, Ocean grabs my arms, holding me in place as she looks deep into my eyes. She shakes her shoulders out, elongating her spine as she exhales slowly. “Repeat after me. I do not apologize for buttheads acting like their namesake,” she grumbles, and I shake my head.
She looks a little frazzled, but that’s all it is. If anything, I’m probably worse off than she is. I don’t know how she manages to always look so put together. Maybe it’s a witch thing.
I level her with the same stare back. “But I'm the reason he targeted you. I just can't figure out how he would know to go after you specifically,” I blurt, my emotions still colliding inside of me like a set of fireworks igniting one after the other, fizzling through the air aimlessly with no purchase.
Ocean cocks her brow at me, refusing to back down. “Are we going to discuss the fact that he let us go?” she asks, and Rion grumbles from behind me.
“Nope,” I answer, my heart galloping wildly, but she thankfully lets me off the hook.
“Well, back to the fact of how he knew. The reality is, anyone could be a spy for them,” she says, and I wipe my hand down my face, defeat clinging to my nerve endings.
“That shit too,” I admit, earning a glare from my friend as she releases me and moves toward her bed.
“You better not apologize for that as well,” she smarts, and I grimace, lifting my arms at my sides just to flop them back down against my thighs.
“I just don't know how to make it better.” The words are weak on my tongue, helplessness creeping in.
I don't think I've ever felt such a sense of hopelessness like I do now. I've never had a friend like this, and then for her to be put in danger because of me, I need to rectify it. No matter how much she tells me I don’t.
Ocean must sense that I can’t get past the obstacle I’ve placed in my own way because she plants her hands on her hips and returns her full attention to me.
My breath stutters in my lungs, unprepared for what’s to come as she speaks.
“I would tell you,” she starts, running her tongue over her bottom lip as she glances over my shoulder to Rion before returning her gaze to me. “But you're not going to like it.”
I lift my hands in surrender, just like I did in the forest with Walker. Only this time, it’s not my friend on the line; it feels like it might be my sanity with an opening statement like that.
Despite the uncertainty churning in my gut, I clear my throat. “Whatever it takes for you to know that I'm sorry,” I state calmly, despite my pulse thundering in my ears, and her eyes widen with a gleam I know I'm not equipped for.
“We're going to The Hut tonight,” she states, and I gulp, involuntarily shaking my head as I speak. “That’s not a good idea,” I answer instantly, and she shrugs with the layer of sass I've become familiar with.
“You said, ‘whatever it takes’, and I think we're overdue for some time to let our hair down,” she insists as I lace my fingers together in front of me, trying to grapple with the situation.
