From the moment he started speaking, every word pushed me closer to the edge, and by the time he snarls his final demand, I’m coming apart. A split second later Kaige is following me over the ledge, and when the last wave finishes rocking through me, I’m so boneless that I can’t even manage to climb off of his lap.
A savage cracking of a fist hitting flesh from the main room has Hunter releasing me in an instant. He, Damian, and Slade storm off to see what’s going on with Boden while Kaige and the twins stay with me. Heated whispered arguments are followed by the scent of smoke, but slightly off from the ash and cinders one that clings to my guys. When I attempt to get to my feet, Kaige bands an arm around me, rising in a fluid motion.
Between him and the twins, they make quick work finding our discarded clothing. And though I know they’d all prefer to keep me hidden away from the world, they don’t stop me when I head for the doorway this time. Instead, Kaige takes the lead until we know what’s going on, ensuring if anyone’s out there about to take a shot at us, he’ll be a human shield. Cinjin and Reid flank me, protecting my sides and ready to pull me back out of the way if necessary. It’s a little annoying, sure, but at least they’re workingtogetherto keep me safe instead of tearing me apart in a game of tug-o-war.
Peering around Kaige, I find only a single man in the broken doorway. While a bit taller and broader than most of my guys, Bo still has him beat on stature. It’s the eyes, though, that give him away immediately. They’re the same swirling, smoky gray as Carina’s, and the closer I look at his face, the more I can see the family resemblance.
That, and my other half perks up as she studies him intently before a low growl reverberates throughout my skull. While there’s something about Raiden that catches my attention, it’s the wrong sort; more of one predator acknowledging another. There’s an undercurrent of respect, but it’s layered with wariness and distrust that puts me on edge.
Assessing me with equal scrutiny, whatever he finds is just as off-putting to him as it is to me. “Get out of my city.”
Chapter 13
Sabrina
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Leaning over Damian’slap for a better view out his window, I stare at everything with rapt attention and a critical eye as we make our way up the winding dirt road through a mountain forest that’s right out of Smokey the Bear’s worst nightmare. “I know you said this place was depressing, but I think I was anticipating something a little less...”
“Sad?” Hunter suggests from the driver’s seat.
“Boring?” Cinjin adds.
From my other side, Reid stares out the window with distaste. “The worst camping experience ever?”
“That about sums it up, yeah. If Cinjin doesn't blow something up before the end of the week, it'll be far more of a miracle than anything you're hoping for from me.”
In complete agreement, Cin asks, “What do you guys evendoout here?”
As we hit a hard bump, Damian darts a hand out just in time to cushion the impact as I pitch forward, my forehead nearly smacking into the window. With a sigh of exasperation, he tugs me back into my seat between him and Reid, tightening my seatbelt. “Work. Not only are there a million things that need to be done to keep everything running for this many people, but since the farmland we have nearby isn’t nearly enough to feed everyone all year, we pick up odd jobs in the neighboring towns to make enough money to keep us afloat.”
Feeling guilty, I ask, “And since I kept you guys out in Shadow Ridge for so long, are you going to be okay?”
Threading his fingers with mine, Damian lifts our hands to kiss the back of mine. “We’ll be fine. We train everyone in the pack on the basics of everything so that if anything happens to someone, nothing collapses. Sure, they all drift into wherever position they fit in best, but seeing as there’s always a looming threat over our necks, it’d be foolish to put all of our eggs in one basket, so to speak. Besides, my fathers stepped in to keep everything running in my absence; we’re fine.”
“The two of us have very different definitions of fine,” Reid declares, and no one argues with him.
