“The fuck happened here?” Henry barks out. At first, all he gets in response from the man in question is a groan. A twig snaps under my foot, alerting everyone to our presence, and shifting, Henry searches us out in the dark.
Forcing myself to pay attention, I follow Hayze as he rushes forward. “Father.” He hesitates. “You’re back. I—” His jaw snaps shut, and he shakes his head as he takes in the surprise arrival of his old man. In a grit-filled voice, he murmurs, “Are you okay? How did you get here?”
I cock my head to the side, eyeing the remnants of caked blood smeared from Finneas’s hair down the side of his face and neck. Wherever he’s been, it looks like he encountered a whole lot of trouble on his way back.
“I’m fuckin’ fine. That bitch tried to unman me just now,” he growls as his gaze shifts. Mine follows, and it’s only then that I spot two more people I hadn’t realized were nearby. Dragan stands over Delilah’s body. She’s on the ground, unmoving.
Oh, fuck.I glance quickly at Hayze. If I don’t do something now, this could all go bad in the blink of an eye. Dragan’s expression is one of malicious intent. Almost as if he senses us watching, his hand slides to the front of his pants and works to unfasten them. The sick fuck cocks a brow at us as if to sayYou want her? Come and get her.
Rage unlike I’ve ever known simmers as it shoots through my veins, but under my breath, I murmur loudly enough for Hayze to hear, “Don’t.” We can’t afford to let this situation get out of control.
In this moment, from the ready-to-detonate stance of Hayze’s body, I can tell just how badly he wants to go to the fascinating troublemaker in our midst. And I’d be a lying fool if I denied my own wish to lay myclaim. We’re trapped in circumstances that were never ours to choose, restricted by every expectation that’s ever been placed on us.
We share our women… but there’s only one time we’re ever permitted to take possession of one of them for our own. The need to do something—anything—rises swiftly within me. But at what cost? One toe out of line and privileges given could be stripped away in a single heartbeat. Our status within the commune, in question. Losing it would be tantamount to societal suicide, and I have no idea what consequences that might bring.
We’re bound by loyalty to the Collective. Hayze, more specifically, is beholden to his father and what’s expected of him as the firstborn son of the entire compound.Lucky him.
I’ve just barely gotten a hold of myself when Henry’s deep voice rumbles like thunder through the dark. “Cross, I need you to have a look at this wound before we try to head back to the compound.”
“Yes sir.” I give a curt nod, but before I can join them, Finneas surges to his feet, jaw clenched. The blotchy red of his face betrays just how pissed off he is. I’m not stupid. The fact that his injury makes it look like he’s returned to us in a weakened state is making him ridiculously angry.
His cold glare swings from Hayze to each person present before finally landing on his firstborn again. The silence while we wait is deafening. “Follow,”he rasps. “Honor. Nourish.” Then through clenched teeth, he pointedly spits, “Kneel.”
I never had a doubt this was coming. Finneas wouldn’t want to waste time reaffirming his position as our leader. As a unit, Hayze, Rafe, and I drop to our knees before him, bowing our heads. From the corner of my eye, it’s plain that Dragan has done the same. Finneas grunts out his approval of our obedience with a nod.
Getting to his feet, Hayze calmly murmurs, “I’m glad you’ve returned to us and hope you’ll be proud of what I’ve done in your stead.” My friend is handling himself well right now. But then that’s what Hayze does. He was born for this.
Finneas’s jaw works to the side, and I’m uncertain what his response is going to be. The leader of our commune is a difficult man to understand—a difficult man,period—and my opinion on that doesn’t often deviate. His brow arches and lips twist as he studies his son. “I’m certain you’ll have done me proud, because to disappoint me and the Collective wouldn’t be wise.”
“Understood, Father.”
If I were to search way down deep inside, I don’t know if I’d handle being Dark Falls Hollow’s firstborn son as well as Hayze does. But at the very least, I know it’s smart for both of us to keep our fucking mouths shut right now.
Henry runs a thick-fingered hand over his jaw before gesturing vaguely at the trees surrounding us. “I’m going to do a sweep and send anyone still out hereback to the compound.” He beckons me forward. “Is he okay to walk back?”
“I can have a look.” I exhale heavily, stepping close. Finneas is a mess of mud, grime, and sweat. “May I, sir?”
Finneas grits his teeth. “Yes.” The hair on the left side of his head is matted with blood and dirt, and who knows what else. Concentrating, I peer closely at the rusty red of the gash on his skull, then lift a cautious hand. “Go on,” he growls.
Irritated at myself for my hesitation, I angle his head a bit, finding it difficult to see much in the dark. When I probe the edges of the injury, he winces, sucking in a breath. “Sorry.” I pause before continuing, “We’re going to need to clean it up. You might need a few stitches.” I assume it’ll be my father taking care of them since itisFinneas. Eyeing the horrific nature of the injury again… I’d love to know how it happened. He said Twenty-Three tried to unman him, but that doesn’t explain this. By my estimation, this wound is days old. The blood had seeped down the side of his face from a deep, jagged tear in his skin, but it’s mostly dried smears that remain.
A dubious look is exchanged between Finneas and Henry before the latter clears his throat. “Whoever makes it back to the compound first should notify Nolan that he needs to be ready to provide some medical assistance. He’s with Twenty-Two.”
Hayze gestures toward Delilah. “Would you like me to take care ofthat?”
Through clenched teeth, Finneas snaps, “No. You’ll stay with me, Hayze, as will Rafe and Dragan. Cross will be the one to take that insolent thing back to the compound.” When I don’t immediately move, his gaze darts to mine, impatience marring his forehead with lines.
The dirty look Dragan gives me before heading over to join everyone else means that I should definitely watch my back, but I ignore him. Hurrying over to collect my new charge, I wonder all the while if there’s something more Finneas hasn’t said about this encounter with Delilah. She’s so still. My stomach flips upside down as I eye the wolf’s mask on the ground a few feet from Finneas. Confusion jolts through me. When did he retrieve that? He had to have been back to the compound at some point before the Hunting began. And what the fuck happened out here?
My throat goes dry as I stoop down, touching a few fingers to the delicate column of her throat. A rush of relief hits me as blood pulses faintly under her warm flesh. At my touch, she whimpers, lashes fluttering. Then, her eyes spring open.Fuck.There’s terror in them as she takes in the mask covering half my features.
With my back to the group, I squat, gathering her in my arms while she stares at me like she’d like to do me some damage. She must recognize me. I meet her leery gaze, then shake my head. “Not a word,” I mutter, hoping she keeps the fuck quiet.
I even the distribution of her weight in my arms asI ease past everyone. “I’ll see you all back at the compound.”
Henry nods. “We’re going to be moving slowly. If we’re not back in thirty minutes, send whoever you can find.”
“I’ll be fine,” Finneas snaps, then glowers at me. “Just get moving. You know where to put that mongrel, Cross. Make it happen.”
