The repulsive words hang in the air, all of us disgusted and yet also a little grateful that they saw her that way. She’d either be dead or would’ve endured all sorts of abuse if they thought she was worthless.
"The apartment’s gone, so you're coming home with me." Zara's voice leaves no room for argument. "Ben and I haveplenty of space, and you're staying as long as you need. Nobody knows you’re back. All of your work is cancelled, so you’ll have peace and quiet and lots of time to rest."
Amber's eyes flick to Ben, who's respectfully kept his distance, knowing that his size might be off-putting. She's spent months in the company of strange men she couldn't trust. It’s not surprising she’d be nervous.
Ben reads it on her face before anyone else. "I’ll stay with one of my brothers and give you and Zara the place to yourselves. Whatever makes you comfortable."
Zara turns to face him and looks like she’s about to burst into tears all over again. “Ben, you don’t…”
He holds up a hand to stop her protests before leaning in and pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. “I won’t be far away, and Amber needs some time alone with you.” Then to Amber. “It’s okay.”
Amber looks at him for a long moment, dragging her wary gaze over his bulging muscles, bushy dark beard and serious expression, then at me, to Tripp and Van, who are leaning against the side of the truck, all watching in silence. Her gaze comes back to me and settles.
"You all came for me. And you got shot trying to find me, and we’ve never even met." She laughs darkly, her voice hoarse and barely above a whisper. "I can never thank you enough."
She looks at Zara, who's gripping her hand, then back at Ben.
"If you’re anything like these people, I'd like to get to know you." She swallows hard. "I've had enough time being alone."
Ben's composure holds, but his eyes go glassy for a second before he blinks it away and nods, reaching for her bag.
“Well, you’re not going to be alone anymore. There’s about a hundred of them, and for guys that like to call themselves loners, they're all in each other’s business.” Tripp’s attempt to lighten the mood elicits a tiny smile from Amber, the first I’ve seen.
It suits her, lighting up her face completely, a glimpse of the woman she was before all of this.
Zara bundles Amber up on the porch steps with an arm around her shoulders, already talking about hot baths and soup, while Amber runs a hand over Zara’s rounded belly and bombards her with questions about becoming an aunt.
Ben follows but pauses at the door to look back at me, head bowed. "Thank you." He sucks in a deep breath. “I can’t believe it’s over.”
I nod. "Don’t thank me too soon, I don’t think itisover yet."
The trees around us feel like they’re closing in. I can’t scent them or hear them yet, but I know they’re out there somewhere, watching and waiting.
"Wolves?" He says it like he already knows, can probably sense them, too.
"They’re desperate." I stare into the shadows and shrug. “I don’t blame them for wanting her, but it’s going to be a lot for her to take. She just got free. She’s not going to volunteer to be taken hostage again.”
Ben rumbles, his bear displeased with the idea of Amber being put through anything else. "And if they don't want to wait?"
"We’ve put a team on the cabin. Discreet. Amber won't even know they're here." Mason and Maddox will watch the place around the clock to make sure nobody gets close.
Ben stares at the closed door and leans against the wall, huge arms crossed, muscles straining the sleeves of his T-shirt.
"Zara will talk to her when she's ready and explain what we are, how the bond works, all of it." He rubs the back of his neck. "Hopefully, she'll take it better coming from her sister than from us. But there’s a good chance she won’t want anything to do with him, that she won’t want to leave Zara’s side. Frankly, I’m not going to make her, either, no matter how bad I feel for Rowan."
I nod. "Agreed."
Ben looks me over once more, resting one hand on the doorknob. With a small salute to Lisa, he dips his head to go inside. "Go home, Beau. Both of you. You look like shit."
Lisa looks at me, open-mouthed. “You told me I was glowing.”
With a shrug, I kiss her on the top of her head. “You always look amazing to me.”
She does not like that.
"Come on." Putting my arm around her shoulders to distract her, I steer her back toward the truck.
"I can’t wait to get home." She leans into me as we walk, her body heavy with exhaustion, and my bear rumbles at the contact. “A bath, clean clothes, and a bed,” she's smiling to herself, eyes falling closed, half asleep before I've even started the engine.
