I squeeze my eyes shut dealing with her love before I wrap her in a hug, nearly strangling her. “I love you so much, Heidi. And I hope I’ve told you before but you really are an inspiration to me. Now go fucking dazzle.”
Gracey rushes me out of Heidi’s office, and I barely stop myself from collapsing into Tyson’s waiting arms. Instead, it’s Simona who hugs me.
“Tris, I’m really sorry.” She’s so softly spoken I have to lean into her to hear. “I was going to suggest we have dinner, but Ineed to go.” Her eyes flick over to her bodyguard who seems to be assessing her, as opposed to guarding her.
She must feel my protectiveness rising, and she brushes my hair off my face, distracting me away from him and back to her, “Guess we both have secrets, eh?” Without waiting for my reply, she leans in and kisses my cheek before leaving as quietly as she spoke.
Alone, in the corridor with no besties to face, my mask slips right off and I’m suddenly exhausted. Being this tired also comes with a reluctance to leave with Maverick and Tyson, one I never expected. Without a doubt King, Tyson, and Maverick are going to want to talk about what happened but I’m not sure I’m ready to deal with it myself. Actually, I know I’m not. I’d rather face Raney right this second than have to look at my pack, and my Alpha, while I tell them what I went through.
“Tris, it’s okay,” Tyson says carefully, his hands out like he’s approaching a wounded animal. But in true Alpha mentality, he’s added a dose of his designation making its words impossible to deny or ignore.
“I’m having a moment,” I admit, staring down the opposite hall from where they are.
“I know,” he says. And he doesn’t stop coming closer until I’m in his arms, holding me so tightly I can finally breathe properly. “You and I are in the main bedroom tonight. Maverick is going to watch over Steel in a different room.”
“And?” Gutless me decides at the last second not to say King just in case.
“He will be watching over all of us. But for all that to happen, we need to go. I promise we’re not talking about anything tonight. There will be a bubble bath waiting for you but no one is going to ask to see you until you are ready. Okay?”
I clench my jaw, stopping all these endless what ifs and maybes from gathering any more strength. And I know it’sbecause I only just escaped and I’m tired, compartmentalising a hundred or so different issues, but it doesn’t make it any less easy. If anything, I feel weaker than I did before.
“How do you know what I am feeling?” I ask, still not looking at him but burying my face into his neck to inhale his lemon scent.
He laughs quietly, “Tris, I have felt your emotions like they were my own from the second I saw you hiding at the hospital. You are the strongest, bravest person I know. But you can’t be that all the time. I mean, what use would we be in your life otherwise? We’re all going to be leaning on each other for a long time, but we won’t break.He’llprobably lose his shit a few times getting overly protective. Maverick will start a few fights to prove to himself and you he has the strength to be there for you. Steel is going to live forever in a cloud of regret until he understands that just because it was an abhorrent way for you both to pack, it was inevitable you both did.”
“And you?” I lift my head and face him, nearly getting lost in the safety I see in his eyes.
“I will be anything you need.” Tyson moves away, holding his hand out for me, that last step needs to be mine and I know it. “Besides, I need someone to protect me from your family, when I tell them I rejected their beautiful, amazing daughter.”
I step to him. We were always inevitable, I know that. Much like I know we will survive and thrive. “Goddamn, Ty, you’re on your own there.”
“What? You’re not going to save me from them?” he laughs, teasing me, pulling me closer for a very sweet, and desperately needed hug from my Alpha.
And the rest of the night happens exactly like he promised it would. All the lights are on in the hotel suite, ensuring there are no shadows for me to get lost in. A scalding hot bubble bath is waiting and no one utters a noise of protest when I close thebathroom door. More surprisingly, no one breaks the door down when I make too much noise, scrubbing my skin raw until I can’t feel Rex’s eyes on me anymore.
Without looking in the mirror, I comb my wet hair out and then focus on my face and body, using almost every cleanser, toner, and cream I can find. But I do feel more myself, and that’s what I need.
Sitting up on the vanity is a pile of clothing options too. New PJ’s, a tracksuit, even a long nanna style nightie but I bypass all those options, choosing one of Tyson’s t-shirts before pulling over the top of it one of King’s long-sleeved tops. Maverick’s training shorts are miles too big, but I roll the band, making them work.
There’s nothing of Steel’s for me to wear, and it stings in a way, but it’s also okay. The bedroom is empty when I come out of the bathroom. I can hear the four of them talking in the sitting area, louder than usual but they’re letting me know they’re close by if I need.
As obvious as they are, I am too.
“Goodnight,” I yell out, without moving to turn any of the lights in the room out.
The bed is huge, and lying in the middle on top of it is a single pillow. Lifting it up, it is saturated in butterscotch and sadness. I take Steel’s pillow with me, throwing the others out before snuggling under blankets.
Tyson walks past without stopping on his way into the bathroom, the shower starts up a second later, and I watch him undress and brush his teeth.
King stands at the door until I stop pretending he’s not there.
“Killer, you good?”
I shake my head no, while I say the opposite, “Yeah, sure.”
“You good if I do that sitting next to you or want me to stay out here?”
“Please, don’t you start pretending I have options about where you sit, King. I will not cope.”
