Alpha Two: “Do you need someone to walk you?”
Alpha One: “Have you ever been to a pack feast?”
Random wolf: “Ask her if she can make that megaphone shriek again.”
I clear my throat. They stop mid-step.
“Release him,” I say simply.
The air shifts.
One of the alphas snaps his fingers. The chains rattle. Someone moves behind me. Jason’s breath changes softer, relieved, but still terrified for me.
They continue leading me forward. Another throat clears, high-pitched, female.
Alpha One groans. “What now?”
“Well, since my dowry has technically been paid…”
Alpha One’s groan becomes an outright howl of misery. “We’ll talk about it later,” he mutters, but he sounds pretty defeated.
The alphas resume walking me toward camp.
A piercing whistle fills the air. Both alphas freeze.
“Meemaw,” I whisper.
Someone states. “Damn, she just stepped out of the car with all the menace of a mafia matriarch. She didn’t even have to say a word.”
“And who’s the cutie with her?” They must be talking about Hattie.
“I have a name and it’s Hattie.”
“Apologies, no offense meant.”
I hear footsteps move in their direction.
“Ma’am.”
“Apologies.”
“Please allow us.”
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing,” another voice says. “She’s just looped her arms through the alpha’s. The alpha’s.”
“C’mon, boys. Let’s party,” Meemaw declares.
“I could use a drink after that,” Hattie says in agreement.
The wolves howl.
The forest shakes.
I turn and hold my arms open. Jason rushes into them and hugs me so hard it hurts, but I don’t care.
And for the first time since the accident, since the darkness, since my life broke in two, I feel unstoppable.
Chapter 25
