The two of them walked towards the dumpster in a trance. I clenched my jaw, hating this. No one deserved to have their decisions taken away, but as Lilah had reminded me last night, sometimes war required us to fight dirty. Plus, we had all agreed we wouldn’t harm the guards. The two of them opened the dumpster and obediently climbed in.
Terrance and Sam had slightly glazed looks on their faces, and neither was moving.
“Lock the dumpster,” I told them, biting my lip. Terrance pulled out the padlock and did what I said.
“Thanks for your help,” I whispered. “Now go drive home and stay safe.”
Sam shook his head, trying to shake the effects of the tab. He pulled me into a quick hug, wishing me luck, before walking in an even, measured pace towards the car with Terrance.
I slipped into the van. The whole exchange probably took three minutes, but I was terrified someone had seen us. I turned the van on and pulled out of the lot, my hands clenching the steering wheel during the drive. The only thing that grounded me was Lil O’s newest pop song. I almost pulled over multiple times to reunite with my alphas, but Sam’s instructions had rung in my head: get to the safe house first. Once I got to the wooded trail, I relaxed a tiny bit. The van bounced underneath me, almost lifting me from the seat, and I hoped my alphas weren’t being knocked around too badly.
I hadn’t let myself imagine our reunion during the drive, still half convinced something would go wrong. But as I pulled up to the end of the path and saw the purple marker on the tree that Amirah told me marked the trail to hike to the safe house, I finally let myself feel the excitement I’d been keeping at bay.
I threw the van in park and rounded to the back, unlocking the door with shaking hands.
ChapterForty-Six
Josie
“Theo! It’s Josie!” Ben called out as he held me tight, as if trying to make sure I was real. I was doing the same, gripping his shoulders and burying my face in his neck.
“How are you here?” he asked, choking on a sob.
I clung to him, unable to speak. His spiced apple pie scent swirled around me, richer and more mouthwatering than I remembered, and his body was firm against mine.
Not a ghost.Real.
“Josie?” Theo ran his hands down my back.
I tried to press myself up to a seated position to get to Theo but was stopped by Ben’s arms.
“Here,” Ben grunted, awkwardly maneuvering his arms until I could sit up. They were both handcuffed, and it filled me with rage. How dare anyone treat my alphas like this?
Theo’s face was white with shock as I threw myself at him.
“Fuck, angel. Fuck. How are you here? Are you okay?” Theo rested his forehead against mine as he clung to me, and I could feel his tears mixing with my own.
“I’m fine,” I choked out.
I cataloged the dark circles under their eyes, their unshaven faces, and tattered prison uniforms. The bruises I’d seen the first day of the trial had faded, but I was terrified they had more injuries I couldn’t see.
I looked around, my heart thundering when I didn’t see Cam. He would never keep me waiting, never hold himself back. “Where is he?”
“Unconscious,” Theo said with a grimace. “They drugged him, but he should be okay.”
Ben grasped my hands the best he could with his bound ones. “Shh, precious. We’ve got you. He’ll be alright.”
I realized I was whining. I cut off the noise and took a shuddering breath. My vision spun with the intensity of it all, and I was still terrified that this was somehow not real or that they would be taken from me again.
“I have the handcuff keys,” I said with a sniffle, pulling them out of my jacket pocket. I fumbled with them but finally managed to unlock Ben’s handcuffs, whimpering when I saw the deep red marks they’d left on his wrists. He sat up, keeping me on his lap, and cupped my cheek.
“Just breathe, angel,” Theo murmured, pressing little kisses to the side of my face.
My hands shook as I unlocked Theo’s handcuffs. He immediately wrapped his arms around me, a purr rising in his chest. I pressed my face into his neck, ignoring the layers of offensive smells on his skin and clothes and focusing instead on his warm coffee scent. It reminded me of quiet mornings spent in the kitchen, of days spent browsing in a bookstore.
It reminded me that there was goodness in the world and more to life than just trying to survive.
“God, Josie, I’m so sorry I let them take you,” Ben choked out, resting his face on my shoulder.
