I want to believe him.
Ialmostdid.
Until I couldn’t. Until never being hurt again turned out to be a lie.
But beneath the relief of being safe is a different ache—something deeper, older. The memory of surviving. Of everything I’ve had to become just to be here. Every time I think I’m finally free of whatever curse that’s been placed on me, something else happens to remind me happiness isn’t in my future.
Storm rubs slow circles on my back, grounding me.
I gaze to the left and see Torin. My best friend. He looks so broken. He saved me. I draw in a shaky breath and whisper, “Thank you for saving me.”
Torin sobs. “I wish I could’ve stopped it before it happened.”
“Let’s get you back in bed so we can talk,” Storm whispers, letting go of me so I can get back in bed.
I hold out my hand to Torin, and he hesitates but takes it, and I pull him into bed beside me. It’s then I get the first look at his head. The wound. “You’re hurt.” I reach out, gently running the tips of my fingers along the scar.
“I don’t care. It’s my penance for being caught off guard.”
He thinks this is his fault. But if I had told them about the messages, then maybe this would’ve never happened.
“This is my fault.” I whisper, suddenly very aware of all the aches in my body.
“How?” Both Storm and Torin ask in unison. Storm sits down on the edge of my bed, taking my hand in his.
“Don’t say that,” Storm adds on.
“No. It is. Torin, you know that case I’m working on about the omega abducted from my college.”
“Yeah.”
“It was them. Marcus and John. He told me before…” I clear my throat, closing my eyes as I take a deep breath. “He took her and killed her. He thought she was me. He said he saw me and Storm together and then he realized who I was.”
Storm groans, remembering the one time I went there to see him. It was after they found their omega. We thought we were careful with the precautions we took, but apparently we weren’t.
“I was getting messages about how it wasn't going to be long. They were watching me. Stuff like that. It was coming from the same number that messaged her.” “Why didn’t you tell us, River?” Torin asks softly.
“I just wanted to get this heat over with. I figured if I told you, then you’d cancel it and I’d have to go through the process again. I just wanted it over with.” I lower my eyes, gazing down at my lap.
The room is quiet as they process my confession. This whole thing is my fault. My poor judgement in not letting my family know about the danger that was lurking out there.
“Did they…umm…bond me?” I need to know if I bear another Arcane bond mark.
“No, they didn’t get to. But we do need to do another pregnancy test when it’s time,” Torin tells me.
I nod in understanding. All I can pray for is that I’m not pregnant.
“Did they both?” Storm asks, choking on his words, and I shake my head. Thank goodness for small miracles.
“I’m so sorry I failed you, River.” Torin's voice is low and full of pain.
“You didn’t. You saved me. And I’ll never be able to thank you. When I need you, you’re always there. I love you, Torin.”
He hugs me tightly, crying into my shoulder before regaining his composure.
“So we have something we need to tell you,” Storm interjects, nervously biting on his lip.
“What?” I can’t take it if they tell me there’s another member to the fucking Hartman Pack.
