“But the Alliance got him in the end. He was booked into Tansy Prison about thirty minutes ago along with Jericho, Richard, Dr. Bishop, Marshall Whiteburn, and all the guards from the facilities,” Theo said, reaching out to grab my hand and rubbing my bond mark with his thumb.
He held up another article, which had all of their mug shots. I forced myself to look at the faces of the men who haunted my dreams.
They can’t hurt you anymore.
It’s over.
My vision blurred and I looked away. I thought I would feel this huge relief, but telling myself it was over and really feeling it were two different things. What if they haunted me forever? What if I could never heal from what they’d done to me?
“Why do I still feel like this?” I asked, shifting uncomfortably on the counter. My skin felt too sensitive, too exposed.
Cam gripped my face in both hands, forcing me to meet his gaze. His eyes were dark, and I knew he understood what I was asking.
“Just because they’re gone doesn’t mean it all goes away instantly. But it will get easier.”
“Promise?” I asked, lip trembling.
“Promise, sweetheart.”
I tried to believe him, but my chest still felt tight and the device itched. Glen’s sadistic smile flashed in front of me and I whimpered, reaching up to scratch at the device. Theo caught my hand and refused to let it go, even when I tried to break free of his grip. All of my guys pressed against me and purred.
The vibrations in their chest loosened something in mine. I was here with them.
Held.
Protected.
Safe.
“We can get that removed now, angel,” Theo whispered as he kissed my arm.
“Right now?” I asked.
Cam stiffened. “Let’s wait until Angie can do it. With anesthesia this time.”
I opened my mouth to argue, driven by the need to get the device out, to feel less tainted. But then I took a deep breath and closed my mouth. There was no way I would convince them to cut it out of me. And maybe, just maybe, my body didn’t deserve any more trauma.
I closed my eyes, allowing myself to feel their hands on my body, the way they crowded against me and pressed sweet kisses to any skin they could get to.
“Can we stay here for a while?” I asked, breaking the silence. The cabin was small and cozy, and it smelled like my alphas.
“I already contacted our realtor to put the house on the market,” Theo said, causing all of us to turn and look at him.
He ran his hand through his hair. “I mean, it’s not on the marketyet,” he said sheepishly. “Just wanted to be prepared if we wanted to sell and buy something new.”
The words he wasn’t saying hung in the air.
None of us wanted to return to the house.
Cam clapped Theo on the shoulder. “Sounds good to me. We’ll find a new house that works for all of us, yeah?”
Ben nodded, squeezing my hand.
I bit my lip. “What about the nest?”
“We’ll pack up anything you want to keep, love,” Theo said.
I gave him a small smile. I didn’t want to leave the things in my nest for anyone else to touch, but the idea of starting somewhere new felt right.
