My eyes—or rather eye—dampenedagain.
“I suggested Boulder Bitch, which would’ve been species-accurate, but this one”—Lucas pointed to Sarah—“vetoed myproposal.”
Sarah gave him the stink-eye, which made laughter burst out of me. I never thought I’d laugh about anything containing the word bitch, but hey, I hadn’t thought I’d die and come back to tell thetale.
“Do you love it?” Sarah asked, her wild curls glinting in thesunlight.
“I loveit.”
“Good.”
The sound of someone knocking had all of us turning toward the opendoor.
Why was Ingrid Burley standing on the threshold of my hospital room? When August walked in behind her, I realized they must’ve bumped into each other in the cafeteria, because they were holding matching takeaway coffeecups.
“Hey,” she said, watching him bring me one of the coffees. “I’m sorry for bargin’ in here, but I heard you were finallyawake.”
I wrapped my fingers around the warmed paper cup, unsure as to why she was in Boulder in the firstplace.
“Ingrid’s the reason I managed to unite the packs,” Liam said, as though he’d heard my thoughts. When I frowned, he added, “She brought us theSillin.”
Ingrid shrugged. “That’s what allies are for.” She drew her fingers through her long, glossy strands, working out a tangle. “I’m just glad we made it intime.”
Perhaps I should’ve been thankful the Rivers had aided us, but it nagged me that she’d used it as an excuse to fly out here with Nelson. More importantly, though, why was she still in Boulder a week after the duel? Was she still holding out hope for August to change hismind?
“Congratulations,” shesaid.
“Thank you.” I offered her a stiffsmile.
“Are you heading back to Tennessee today, Ingrid?” Sarahasked.
“Not sure yet.” She took a sip of her coffee, glancing over the rim at Liam. “Might stick around a few moredays.”
I squeezed my lips shut to prevent myself from askingwhy.
“Liam, can you and I talk a sec?” sheasked.
Liam nodded, then cupped the nape of my neck and rested his cheek on my forehead.I wish I had been the one to deserveyou.
My heart jounced at the sound of his voice in my mind. Unlike the link connecting me to August, the one connecting me to Liam hadn’tshattered.
I ducked my head out from underneath his. “I heard you,” I whispered, remembering another time when I’d spoken the same words to him with the same amount ofwonder.
He frowned. “Why wouldn’t you have heard me? You’re mywolf.”
“I just thought . . .” I glanced up at August who stood so rigidly he looked carved out of wood. “I just thought that link might’ve been gonetoo.”
There’s nothing more powerful than a bond to anAlpha.
I craned my neck to look atLiam.
Nothing,he repeated, gaze leveled onAugust.
I felt like a fly caught in a web belonging to two equally big and possessive spiders. But it wasn’t my life or my heart I feared for; it was theirs. I couldn’t split myself in half, and even though I loved them both, I loved themdifferently.
I set my untouched coffee down on my bedside table and wrapped my hand around the one August had fisted at his side, prying his fingers open until they relaxed and twined withmine.
“See you later, Liam.” I smiled at him, but all I got in return was a sharpnod.
