“I do trust you,” I reply without breaking eye contact with Maverick. “All of you. But this whole thing is bigger than me. There’s too much at stake.”
Cade whistles low. “For someone screaming half an hour ago, you’re being way too serious.”
“Mug.”
He grins. “Inmyhands.”
“I’m very quick,” I warn.
Maverick grips my chin. “Nyx,” he sternly growls, pulling my attention back to him. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do for my pack. I’m sure Lex and Cade are the same too. But I won’t promise anything… except that I’ll keep you safe. I already made that mistake once,” he pauses, shooting Cade a dirty glare. “I won’t make it again. You don’t need to worry about the witch’s ridiculous comment.”
“I’m inclined to agree,” Cade says, standing from my seat. He heads in our direction, purposefully leaving the mug behind. “Between the four packs, Orson doesn’t stand a chance. But we’re obligated to step in here, to end this situation before it gets further out of control. Historically, we know the consequences. But that means we also understand everything better than anyone else.”
That’s true. I’m sure Lex and Maverick won’t want to admit it, but having Cade in our little circle now is an advantage we desperately needed.
“Do you think it would be possible to read some of Ophelia’s journals?” I ask Cade.
He nods. “I’ll bring some back when I return.”
Swallowing, I gather my strength and force a smile. “Thank you. I suppose we should get you to Alpha Daxton’s office. Life might be strange right now, but if we’re late, he might murder me before Orson gets the chance.”
Beside me, Lena is tense, her whole body rigid with clear anxiety. I think it’s because of that that somehow I manage to keep myself composed—at least on the outside.
A group of us are standing on the field near the training facility to see off the alphas and the other pack members.
Even though Alpha Daxton is staying behind for once, I can still see the worry on Luna Grace’s features too. I love how much she cares about others. That’s what makes her perfect to run the day care. In her eyes, beyond the pack hierarchy, there’s no reason for animosity and hatred toward other wolves. We’re all the same. And now, our packs are entwined with one another.
An extended family.
Apparently, Lena and I aren’t the only ones who have found our mates in the visiting packs. My eyes scan the small crowd, recognizing so many people I grew up with, bonding with them on a level I wish didn’t exist right now.
So many new mates and now they are already forced to be separated. I can only imagine the utter agony it must be forthem, not even factoring in the possibility that some might be in heat. But this needs to be done. Just hopefully we can return to normalcy soon.
I already said my detailed goodbyes in Maverick’s kitchen, so our public farewell was more brief. We tried to set an example of strength, to show it would be okay. But now, watching the retreating backs of my mates as they disappear into the woods, I wonder if people can tell it was all a lie.
“We should have gone with them,”Mira says, voice quivering.
“You know we can’t,”I tell her with a sigh.“It would slow everything down. And we can’t pick. I don’t want to.”
Mira howls in agreement, probably feeling the growing distance too. She’s grown exceptionally close with Titus since Lex’s arrival and now, she’s barely had time to bond with Colt and Odin.
Cade assured us both that Odin would take Mira for a run when they returned, much to the glares of Lex and Maverick. Clearly, Cade isn’t up to date on my history with runs in the woods. Well, except of course for the small incident where Ezra smashed my head with a rock and kidnapped me…
“Will they be okay?” Lena asks in a small whisper.
I nod without hesitation, breaking out of my trance to smile at her. “Of course they will be. They will be back before we know it.”
Lena’s brows furrow, lips tilting down. “This fucking sucks. I understand why Beau needs to go alone, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less.”
“I know,” I murmur. “Once this is all done, we’ll never have to do this again.”
The words leave my lips before I’ve had time to truly contemplate them. I frown, Lena’s shoulder dropping forward.
“I’m sorry,” she says. “I’m sure you’ll work it out.”
All I can do is nod because I want to reassure both of us that perhaps we can make this work. But at some stage, I will have to do this again. And again. And again.
Maybe it will get easier with time. Maybe when we don’t have to worry about wolves lingering in the dark waiting to attack, I won’t drown in the suffocating pain of being separated from my mates.
