Total pages in book: 202
Estimated words: 193561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 968(@200wpm)___ 774(@250wpm)___ 645(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 193561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 968(@200wpm)___ 774(@250wpm)___ 645(@300wpm)
I run and collide with Addy, and we hug, bursting into tears.
She’s dressed in high heels, a body-hugging red dress with one broken strap, and there’s at least an inch of makeup on her face, covering up her freckles. Her auburn hair falls in ringlets to her shoulders. All the girls are dressed similarly.
And the reason why they’re dressed like this makes my gut churn, but more than anything I’m relieved they’re all here, that Brody found them.
“You’re okay?” I ask.
“You’re okay?” she asks at the exact same time and then we hug and cry some more.
Grey is beside us.
“Addy, this is Greyson Blackwood, he’s my-”
“Fated mate,” she whispers. “Hi,” she says, and her eyes quickly dart away.
“Good to meet you, Addy,” Grey says softly.
“Thanks, um… you, too,” she whispers, staring at her feet.
Misty is bawling so I grab her and hug her hard.
“It’s all gonna be okay,” I tell her.
I’m so, so angry. Misty’s body language tells me things about what she’s been through. She’s sixteen. I’d been protecting her for the past two years, reminding Wyatt how young she is even though she looks older. I feel like I failed her.
I add, “I’m so, so sorry for what you’ve been through.”
She nods, sniffling.
I hug Caroline next, and we don’t exchange words, but we don’t really need to. She’s got anger written all over her face and also trauma. She’s angry that she’s been put through this, she’s angry that the pack is going through this. Caroline has been angry for a long time, and I can relate.
I get hugs from all the other girls, except Jenny, because Jenny doesn’t wait her turn, instead she runs for her mom when Eloise rushes out.
Jenny dissolves into her mother’s arms and I can feel Grey’s ire and see the fury on Jase and Brody’s faces.
I turn to Addy and say, “I have some bad news. Aunt Shea…”
“I know,” she whispers. “I knew she wasn’t long for this world when I left, and I felt it the next day. She came to me in a dream. She’s in a better place.”
But I wish she could be in the better place I live in now. That she could see where that is, how wonderful.
We hug again, both of us hanging on tight to one another.
“Blossom,” Grey whispers. “Been a really long night. These girls all want to get washed up and catch some sleep. Yeah? Tomorrow’s not far off. We’ll all sit down and talk things out. Make some plans. Yeah?”
“All right,” I whisper and let go of Addy.
“Girls,” Grey addresses the group, “If you wanna tell these guys where your beds are, they’ll bring them into the mess hall there. We’re keeping everyone together tonight. Okay?”
I love how gently he’s speaking to them. None of them are looking him in the eye, but he’s being so soft-spoken right now and I know that’s what they need.
Grey adds, “Except you, Addy. You and Brody are in your trailer.”
Addy’s eyes hit my face, and I watch as the pain slashes across her features.
Grey keeps talking, “All of you can go in the mess hall and use the bathroom if you need but don’t wash up in there. We’ve got power to that building only with a generator, but use the water at the washing station, not from the taps. Eloise will show you. If you’ve got loved ones here, they’re likely in there sleeping. Many of the folks asleep are the sick, so quiet as you can be, please. Catch up with your loved ones tomorrow, yeah?”
Nobody answers him. Nobody is looking at him. They’re all in the mode we go into when Wyatt addresses us. Eyes pointed down, heads tilted to the side presenting our necks.
“Yes sir, thank you,” Addy says and moves, without looking up, into the mess hall. The other girls follow.
I look at Brody and he’s standing back, arms crossed over his chest, leaned against the front bumper of his SUV, but he’s not relaxed. It’s a mirage. I can tell he’s coiled tight while he’s watching Addy, tracking her like she’s about to disappear into a puff of smoke. And he’s also got a vibe that lets me know that if she did disappear, he’d probably move heaven and earth to find her again.
“Thank you, Brody,” I call out. “Thanks for rescuing them.”
He gives me a chin jerk before his eyes move straight back to the doorway and Gus walks inside after the girls, which makes Brody move fast, growling as he pushes off the SUV and prowls in behind him with his teeth bared.
I startle at that.
“He needs her away from other alphas,” Grey says. “Don’t worry. He’ll look after her. Let’s get some sleep.” He puts his hand to the back of my neck, giving a gentle squeeze and leading me back to the Airstream.