“Seems like your pack has nothing better to do than spread rumors.”
Sadie Lynn holds out her palms. “I’m not judging, just saying what I’ve heard. The rumor mill’s rather fast around here, and you don’t need to deny or confirm. It’s none of my business. Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?” I ask with an edge to my voice, which I truly hate, but my wolf’s hackles are rising and suddenly I’m imagining bars around me. Invisible, non-existent bars forming some unknown cage that makes me want to run as fast as I can to escape.
“I don’t know what’s going on between you and Garrett, but I like him. A lot...”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
GARRETT
Ihang back so Angel doesn’t see me. If the wind shifts, I’ll have to leave before she catches my scent.
“Spying?” Damien asks from behind.
“Practicing my skills.” I turn to see his expression, to know what mood he’s in considering I’ve been avoiding him for the past week.
That amused expression puts me at ease, more than I realize. “You’d be surprised how I got to be as good as I am, Damien.”
“As long as you’re not watching the females shower or peeping through any windows, we’re good.”
“I haven’t done that since we were teenagers.”
He cuffs the back of my head.
“What the fuck was that for?”
“Just a reminder of what I’ll do if you tell Tess about my early years.”
I return my attention to Angel. I can barely hear her from this distance, but hearing her voice, seeing her smiling, soothes me. “I fucked up with her.”
“You slept with her?”
“No.” I don’t say more. I’m still trying to figure out why the hell I can’t forget about her. Or have a good night’s sleep without her lying down beside me.
“You pushed her away, didn’t you? Marla’s dead, Garrett. You need to let go of the past and move on.” Damien scrubs his face. “I shouldn’t have said that. Not sure why, only that Tess said not to.”
“I didn’t love her,” I blurt out. “I mean, to some extent, I did. As a friend, sure, but there wasn’t anything beyond that.” I haven’t even thought about Marla much since returning. Angel’s all I can think about. Knowing her, being with her, has put so much of my life into perspective. Marla never accepted my offer to blood-bond because she knew what has taken me so long to figure out. We didn’t belong together.
“And Angel?” he asks, cutting right to the heart of why I’m so messed up.
“She needs to belong, to be a part of this pack.”
“I’m not sure that’s in her future.”
I turn on him. “You can’t kick her out.”
His lips thin, as they do when I challenge his authority in any way, but Damien exhibits more patience around me than most. Not sure if that’s because we’re family or because he knows I’d never truly challenge him.
“She’s avoiding people, Garrett.”
“From what I’m seeing here, she’s getting along with Sadie Lynn and the kids.”
“Yes, but kids are easy enough. Angel’s avoiding everyone else as if she’s hiding something.”
“I don’t recall Tess jumping right into the pack when you brought her here.”
“Tess struggled with trauma in a way Angelina isn’t.” He sighs. “I’m sure she’ll adjust in time.” His hand clamps down on my shoulder. “Let’s go. The others are waiting back at my house. Wehave to figure out what our next move is. Blade just returned from scouting the facility where Angelina was held. It’s empty.”
