Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Riot

She’s been sleeping for a while as we’ve covered the miles. The drive has given me time to think.

And my thoughts are chaotic.

I keep glancing at her, feeling my heart clench at the sight of her as she sleeps.

How has she gotten under my skin so quickly?

I look at her yet again, and something stirs deep inside me – a longing, a need I can’t quite put into words. Maybe it’s because of all we’ve been through together, the battles we’ve faced side by side. Maybe it’s because I spent so many years alone, fighting my way through that bleak existence without a shred of warmth or light to guide me.

But now that she’s here, now that I’ve found her…I can’t imagine going back to that empty, hollow life. The thought of being without her leaves an ache in my chest, an emptiness I never want to feel again. It’s a conviction that’s not just my own; being with her settles the prowling beast within me. My wolf wants her.

Her face is softer as she sleeps, those full lips slightly parted, her chest rising and falling with each gentle breath. The late afternoon sunlight filters through the windshield, casting a warm glow over her creamy skin. A few strands of that silky rose-gold hair have fallen across her cheek. The urge to brush them aside is overwhelming.

I tear my gaze away, trying to focus on the road ahead. But my thoughts keep drifting back to her, no matter how hard I try to concentrate. That soft, angelic face at peace in slumber. Except, that peaceful future can’t be in the cards for me. There’s too much at stake, too many lives hanging in the balance if I don’t play by the rules. My sister’s life, her family’s safety – it all rests on my obedience.

I’m in turmoil, my mind a battlefield as I grapple with trying to figure out what to do.

Willow…

I think of my baby sister, who was just a girl when they took me. The one I’ve fought so hard to protect all these years. Her life hangs in the balance because of my choices.

I fight my emotions, torn between the longing I feel for Raura and the need to protect Willow at all costs. But that’s assuming there’s even a chance for a future with Raura. We’re still near strangers, our bond forged in that godforsaken place and strengthened by a handful of interactions.

But I know what matters.

I’ve glimpsed the essence of who she is – her inner fire, her unwavering courage, her ability to endure even the darkest trials while still radiating a softness and warmth. I know her in a way that transcends a shared history.

“Riot?” Her voice is soft.

I glance over at Raura as she stirs awake, her eyes fluttering open.

“Hey, you,” I say gently.

There’s a shift in her energy, a newfound spark that ignites her features as she straightens in her seat and looks around, taking in our surroundings.

“We’re getting close,” she says, her voice laced with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. “I can feel it.” She turns to me, her eyes alight with an intensity that steals my breath. “I’m going home,” she murmurs, as if tasting the words, savoring their sweetness.

“You are.” I reach out and give her hand a reassuring squeeze. She laces her fingers through mine, holding tight, anchoring me to this moment.

Fuck, she’s so lovely.

“Tell me about it,” I urge her gently. “Tell me about where you live.”

A radiant smile blossoms across her lips. “You’ll love it, Riot!”

I listen, enraptured, as she begins to describe the place she loves so much. “Steel Lakes is amazing,” she says wistfully. “The buildings are old, but they’re full of character. It was a mining town before, so the homes are simple, but we’ve put our own stamp on them. Some people have painted them, put flowerboxes outside their windows. You should see it in summer!”

“It sounds really special.” I can practically see the images unfolding as she paints a vivid picture. The buildings clustered together, an air of warmth and community permeating every nook and cranny.

“Very!” She nods eagerly. “And then there are the gardens!” she continues, her eyes sparkling. “We have these lush vegetable patches where we grow our own food. Everyone pitches in to tend them – it’s a labor of love.”

As she speaks, I find myself eager to see this place with my own eyes. To experience the camaraderie she describes so vividly.

“Tell me more,” I tell her, enjoying the sound of her voice, her enthusiasm. There’s something contagious about it.

The landscape blurs by, growing more austere, the towns less prosperous-looking.

“I think it’s the people who make Steel Lakes truly special,” she says, her affection for them shining through every word. “We’re a pack bound by more than just blood – we’re a family.” She’s put her hand on my thigh and squeezes, her fingers warm there.

“Family,” I echo, thinking of my own.

“Yes. An odd one, I’ll admit.” She grins. “But we’re there for each other. And together, we have everything we need. We even have our own doctor – Dr. Bea. She’s amazing – you’ll love her!”

My ears perk up at the mention of a healer. “Tell me about her,” I urge, my interest in healing sparking again after lying dormant for so long. “What kinds of remedies does she use? What’s her approach to treatment?”

“She takes the ‘mother hen’ approach.” Raura chuckles. “But I guess you could say she kind of mixes and matches her treatments as needed.”

“Mix and match?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Yeah. She uses a lot of the old healing arts, but she’s quite comfortable using modern human medicine.”

“Really?” I’m curious. “Does that work on our kind?”

“Yep. Mostly. It’s how she helped the wolves who we rescued.” She nods.

“What wolves?” I frown.

“The ones who escaped after they were taken.”

“You’ve found others like me?”

“Yes. It started with one – Sierra. She got away from one of the other packs that’s been working with Parker.” She strokes my thigh idly, and I love how naturally she touches me.

“There are packs working with Parker?” That surprises me.

“Just the one that we know of. They have their base at Leadmills. It’s another abandoned mill not far from us. We’ve kind of been at war with them for a while now.”

“Sounds exciting.” My tone is dry.

“Hardly. They’re disgusting – not worthy of the wolf blood in their veins.” Her features have darkened, two small grooves forming between her eyebrows.

“You said there were others? Other wolves who were rescued?” I guide her away from the path that seems to be leading her to anger.

“Yes. Savannah was next. She’s Sierra’s twin. She was abducted at the same time as her sister. They took the entire pack. Can you believe that?” Raura’s eyes are wide.

I think back to the dark moments when I’d lost my freedom. “Yes. I can believe it.”

“Anyway, we rescued Sierra from Leadmills – there’s actually a funny story attached to that.” She grins. “Gage, one of our alphas, thought she was Sierra, who’d already mated with Jagger, our pack Alpha by then, and—”

“Wait. You have more than one alpha?”

“Of course. We have lots. Half of our pack is made up of alpha wolves. We even have a few alpha females.”

Alpha females? I’ve heard of them but never met one.

I blink in astonishment. “But how do you do that? How do you avoid friction?”

She shrugs, stretching her feet into the footwell and flexing her legs. “Dunno. It just works, somehow. Maybe it’s because most of them have nowhere else to go. We’ve become a bit of a sanctuary for outcasts.”

“A sanctuary for outcasts,” I repeat softly. “A family for those who don’t have one. That’s pretty amazing.”

“I know, right?” Her voice has brightened. “What was your pack like?”

I pause for a while. “Normal.”

“Just…normal?” She chuckles. “I’m sure there must have been more to it. Come on, tell me what it was like to be you as a pup.”

I feel my jaw work as I think back. “It was…good. Aside from the lessons. My father took his role seriously and wanted me to be the same way.”

“A hard taskmaster, huh?” She turns in her seat slightly to face me, the seatbelt tightening across her shoulder. “And your mom?”

“She was wonderful. Gentle. Kind. And she smelled good. I don’t know why I remember that.” I smile wistfully.

“I bet she still does. She’s going to be so happy to see you’re okay.”

I shake my head, remaining silent.

“She won’t?”

I’m still silent.

“Is she…gone?”

“Yes. She’s gone. They’re all gone.” My throat feels dry when I try to swallow.

“All of them?” She’s incredulous. “Your whole pack?”

“Except for Willow.” My voice catches, so I clear my throat.

“Parker,” she whispers, and I nod, my eyes still fixed on the road ahead. The sun has begun to set, and oncoming cars have switched on their headlights, the twin beams cutting the dusk light.

“Oh, my God.” Her hand moves from my thigh to rest on my shoulder. She squeezes gently. “I’m so sorry, Riot.”

I shrug. “It was a long time ago.”

And yet, it still hurts like a fresh wound. I don’t say so. Talking about it doesn’t help. I’ve learned to think of these as the cold facts of my life. Keeping emotion out of it makes it easier to tolerate. Except now, when I look at Raura, her eyes are welling with tears. It occurs to me that she wears her heart on her sleeve. I like that about her. I like a lot about her. All of it, if I think about it.

“We’re going to get her back,” she says fiercely. “And then you’re coming back to Steel Lakes. Both of you!” Her grip tightens on my shoulder.

“Sure,” I say, watching the headlights flash by, the sun sinking below the horizon.

“I’m serious, Riot!” She turns to face me more, the seatbelt straining. “You’re not going to be alone anymore.”

Her words fill me with a glimmer of hope, a spark of possibility that perhaps there could be more for me. As if sensing my thoughts, Raura turns to me, her eyes shining with a promise.

“We’ll keep you safe, too,” she vows. “You’ll see. Steel Lakes will be your home now.”

I nod silently, letting her conviction buoy my spirits as we draw ever closer to her sanctuary and an unknown future.

Suddenly, she stiffens and then lets out a deep breath, raising her hand and pointing. “There it is. Once we go down that road, we’ll be there.”

I swivel my head to look in the direction she’s indicating. In the distance, lights shimmer from a structure that looks like it could appear in any Mad Max movie.

“That’s home,” she breathes out. “They’re going to love you.”