Chapter 42

42

I had never hyperventilated before, but I was pretty sure that was what was currently happening to me.

My lungs struggled to pull in any sort of oxygen as I stared at the face of the boy who made my life a living hell for all but a couple months. The hallway was tilting, the whole world’s axis tipping precariously. Fear clawed at my throat, rendering me silent.

“Skye.” Larkin’s hand gently touched the small of my back as she and Katy closed ranks around me.

That only made Cassian smile even bigger, an amused chuckle coming from his mouth. “Skye, Skye, Skye. Did you get my message?”

“Cassian said to tell you he’ll see you soon.”

Bella’s words swam up in my muddled thoughts, giving me something to focus on. Something to anchor to.

Cassian’s bright blue eyes swept down my body, his grin deepening. “You look amazing.”

An all-too familiar rage started to swell in me as I remembered Bella’s broken spirit, her used and discarded body. I could feel ice settling into my veins as I watched this boy who tried to break me.

Tried and failed .

I took a step forward, refusing to cower to him again.

This wasn’t Long Mesa. This wasn’t his home. And I definitely wasn’t the girl who was just trying to survive day by day now.

I was the girl who was living .

I had friends and family. I had a mate .

Calm settled on me as I took a cleansing breath before letting my lips twist into a smile I directed at Cassian.

“Cassian,” I said coolly, ignoring the gasps of my friends behind me.

“How’s Preston?” I continued, my tone conversational like I was asking about the weather.

The sound of my voice startled him, making him blink in surprise. He had probably expected me to run away, tail tucked between my legs and crying.

I made a soft clicking sound, flicking my tongue against my teeth as I shook my head. “Sorry I missed his brother’s funeral. But I guess it would have been kind of mean to show up at the funeral of the guy I killed, right?”

His teeth ground together so hard I was sure they would shatter, his hands balling into fists. “You stupid bitch,” he spat, taking a step forward only to be retrained by his cousin.

“Careful, man,” Caleb warned, looking around.

I wasn’t sure why Caleb was calling him off until I heard footsteps behind me. I didn’t bother looking away from Cassian, my eyes locked onto his in a battle of wills that had me shaking, but not from fear.

“What’s going on?”

I was flanked on either side by a McAllister twin. I wasn’t sure if it was Kyle or Konnor that asked the question, but both looked lethal, and they weren’t alone. At least seven other pack members were with them.

My pack.

The other twin glared at Trace. “You know the rules. You’re supposed to stay away from us, especially the girls.”

Trace held up his hands innocently. “I was simply waiting for our friend to come out of the office so we could go to dinner. Your bitches were the ones who came up to us.”

Several low growls started behind me. As touched as I was by their anger on our behalf, I needed to diffuse this situation fast so I could get out of here and figure out what the hell to do next.

I needed Remy.

“We’re good,” I said, my voice clear and even. I lifted my chin, still not breaking eye contact with Cassian. “We were just leaving.” I took a step back, slowly retreating.

“So soon?” Cassian hissed, his hands curling and unfurling as he struggled to contain his hate.

As soon as I stepped back, a wall of McAllister muscle blocked me from Cassian’s view. Several other pack members stepped forward until Katy, Larkin, and I were at the back of the Blackwater pack.

“We’ll walk you back to the cabin,” one of the twins announced. “Is Remy there?”

I saw the spark of interest flare in Cassian’s eyes at the mention of Remy. My wolf roared inside of me, and it was all I could do not to hurl myself at him as I sensed the unspoken threat to my mate. My teeth clicked as I clenched my jaw.

“Yeah,” Katy lied easily. “He and Rhodes are waiting for us, so we better get back.”

As a unit, like we were in some kind of shifter militia, we backed around the corner of the hallway and headed back the way we came. I held my breath the entire time, only breathing once we made it outside.

“What the hell was that?” one of the twins demanded, touching Larkin’s arm with concern.

I didn’t stop for her answer, instead lengthening my strides to stalk down the path. The crunching behind me let me know that the others were behind me.

I jerked when I felt a hand touch my arm.

“Sorry,” Katy apologized before reaching down to hold my hand. “Are you okay?”

I gave a stiff nod, but I wasn’t. My adrenaline rush was crashing, and the stark reality that Cassian was here was sinking in. It didn’t matter that I had a pack of wolves around me for protection. Granite Peak was supposed to be safe. Blackwater was supposed to be safe.

Nothing felt safe now.

Ainsley’s warning had come too late.

I broke into a run, my stomach cramping as the cabin came into view. I thundered up the stairs, throwing open the door, barely registering Rhodes and Remy were standing in the kitchen unpacking groceries. Both of them looked shocked to see us bursting through the door.

Remy stepped forward. “Skye—”

I ran across the room to the bathroom, barely making it to the powder room and hitting my knees before I started throwing up in the toilet. All the anxiety and fear, along with my rapidly dropping adrenaline levels was a recipe for vomit soup.

“What the fuck happened?” Remy demanded, his tone dangerous even as his hand gently stroked my back.

“She ran into Trace and Caleb in the hallway,” I could hear one of the twins start to explain. I really needed to learn how to tell them apart.

I blindly reached up, flushing the toilet and swallowing back another gag. I braced my forearm across the back of the seat, resting my forehead on them.

“They had a new guy with them—”

“Cassian,” I muttered. I grabbed a handful of toilet paper, wiping my mouth and throwing it in the toilet, flushing again.

“What?”

I lifted my head enough to see Remy’s eyes. “Cassian is here .”

Remy went still. It looked like he was frozen in time, but I could see the tick of a muscle in his jaw and felt the way his hand shook against my back. It was a small tremor, but I felt it.

A dark look passed between Remy and Rhodes, and I glanced back to see Katy, Larkin, and the twins crowding in the doorway. The rest of the pack that escorted us was talking in the main room, their voices pitching higher and higher as their agitation grew.

“Everyone out!” The sudden booming voice from Rhodes made me jump. He pulled the bathroom door shut, closing us off from everyone else. I could still hear him herding everyone away from the bathroom.

Bracing my hands on the toilet, I pushed myself up, closing the lid. Remy’s hand was still on my back as if he couldn’t stand to not touch me in some way.

Silently I washed my hands and rinsed my mouth, not caring how unladylike it may be when I spit into the sink basin.

Remy opened a drawer next to me and pulled out a travel size bottle of mouthwash.

I grabbed it from him, twisting the cap to break the seal before I poured a mouthful past my lips. The alcohol in it burned as I swished it in my mouth. I rinsed the sink out when I was done and turned around, my eyes on the wall behind Remy.

“Skye,” he started softly.

“I’m sorry,” I said abruptly. “I’m so sorry.”

A frown pulled at his mouth as a wrinkle formed between his brows. “You don’t have to apologize, baby.”

His words barely registered in my brain. I was already thinking ahead, trying to plan this whole mess out. “If I leave, he’ll probably follow me.”

His entire back went ramrod stiff, his dark eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

“If I leave, Cassian will follow me. I never wanted any of this to blow back on the pack—”

With a growl, Remy’s hands found my waist and lifted me up until I was sitting on the counter. He stepped between my legs before I could think to close them and braced his hands on the counter on either side of my legs. The move put him at eye level with me.

“You’re not going anywhere ,” he said emphatically. “Not now, not ever.”

“Remy—”

“No, Skye!” he snapped, eyes flashing. “I don’t give a shit if your entire old pack shows up here. No way would I ever let you go. Would any of us let you go. You’re part of our pack now.” He reached over, grabbing my hand and pressing it to his chest. “You’re part of me now.”

“I can’t ask you to put yourselves in danger because of me,” I whispered back, feeling the steady thump of his heart under my fingers.

“You didn’t ask,” he countered, lifting a brow.

“If something happens to you...” I trailed off, my heart seizing in my chest at the thought of something happening to him.

“Exactly,” he retorted, nearly brushing my nose with his. “If I left you to protect you, how would that feel?”

It felt like a physical punch to the stomach. The air rushed out of me leaving me dizzy.

Remy gave me a knowing look, his expression softening. “We’re in this together, babe.”

I nodded slowly, accepting that I had dragged him into this mess and now we were all stuck. But at least we were stuck together.

Sliding off the countertop, I held his hand in mine, waiting until he opened the bathroom door and we walked out.

Rhodes had cleared the pack away from the bathroom, but they all still lingered. I flinched as almost a dozen sets of eyes landed on me, trying to figure out exactly what was going on. They had to know this was about more than Trace.

“Are you okay?” Larkin asked softly, her doe brown eyes huge and somber. She stepped around Rhodes but stopped short of touching me.

I gave her a short nod, not trusting my voice to say anything quite yet. I leaned against Remy, needing his strength. My body felt like an overcooked noodle, weak and limp, now that my adrenaline rush had fully crashed.

“I’m going to keep this short,” Remy started, giving my hand a squeeze as he addressed the pack. “Stay away from the Norwood pack. The... guest they brought here is someone from Skye’s former pack. He is not to be trusted. None of them are. From here on out, no one is to be alone. Until all this is sorted out, stay alert. Everyone moves in pairs, even to the damn bathroom.”

Several nods and murmured agreements met his mandate.

Remy’s hand went tight around mine again, a small tremor rippling down his arm. “Thank you for protecting my mate tonight. For protecting your pack.”

My head drooped, resting on his shoulder as I watched the male chests in the room puff up a bit at his praise. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Katy roll her eyes to the ceiling, clearly not happy to need any male protection or the testosterone wave currently invading the room.

One of the twins cleared his throat and stepped forward, his somber gaze going to Larkin where she stood by Rhodes. “We can walk you back to the dorms, Larkin.” His gaze moved to Katy. “Both of you.”

Rhodes bristled, his lips pressed into a thin line and his nostrils flared.

“We’re going to stay here for now,” Larkin said softly, giving him a kind smile. “Thanks, Kyle.”

Her answer seemed to make Rhodes relax. That, or the hand I noticed she placed against the small of his back.

Kyle gave her a nod in return, and I mentally tried to find a way to tell him apart from Konnor. Konnor had a small scar on his chin. That was something.

“Thank you,” I echoed, my voice raspy. I cleared my throat. “You guys—”

“We’re your pack,” Will cut me off, catching my attention. “Whatever you need, we’re here for you.”

I was stunned silent as something warm crept into my chest. The pack all cleared out until I was left with Remy, Katy, Rhodes, and Larkin.

Remy blew out a long breath, wrapping an arm around me. He glanced at the others. “Why don’t the three of you head to the dorms and get a change of clothes? I’d feel better if you guys were here tonight.”

Larkin and Katy both nodded, not fighting him, which made me feel relieved. I needed to know they were both safe tonight, too. The idea of me going back to the dorms tonight never even crossed my mind. No surprise that Remy was on the same page.

“Want me to bring the other girls back here?” Rhodes offered, shrugging on his jacket.

Remy shook his head. “They all room together. Just make sure they know to stay together. If they want to come back, they’re welcome to.”

Katy had her own room, and with me here, Larkin would be on her own. They could technically room together, but I wanted them close by. Larkin and Katy had both already been hurt by Trace. Now with Cassian wandering around…

A deep shudder tripped down my spine, my fingers fisting in Remy’s shirt.

Rhodes nodded at us and escorted Larkin and Katy back out into the night. Glancing at the clock in the kitchen, I saw it was barely past six.

“Are you hungry?” Remy asked, my cheek feeling the vibrations from his rumbling timbre.

I shook my head. “I’m just tired. And really cold. Why am I so cold?”

He wrapped both arms around me, his heat a comforting blanket. “It’s the adrenaline rush. You’re crashing.”

Lifting my head, I slowly blinked up at him. I hated seeing the tension around his mouth and eyes as he studied me. I could feel the way his muscles were locked, braced for whatever came at us next.

“Can I just please go to sleep?” I asked softly, wanting nothing more than to crawl into a soft bed—preferably with Remy—and forgot the world for a few hours.

He gave me a reluctant nod. “Why don’t you go on up? I’ll make you some hot chocolate. The heat and sugar should help.”

I slowly disentangled myself from him, cold air rushing between us like a physical thing I instantly resented. Slowly I climbed the stairs, completely ignoring the spare room I had previously been offered and heading for Remy’s.

I started taking off my clothes, almost on autopilot. My mind was numb as I opened a dresser drawer, remembering Remy stashed his t-shirts there. I grabbed the first one off the top of the pile, pulling it over my head quickly. The soft material brushed the middle of my thighs as I robotically moved to my next task.

Opening the door to the en suite bathroom, I quickly used the bathroom before washing my hands. I opened the tube of Remy’s toothpaste, brushing my teeth with my finger quickly. Hopefully Larkin or Katy would remember a toothbrush.

I glanced at my reflection in the mirror and frowned.

And hopefully they would remember a hairbrush, too.

I quickly finger combed my hair, scraping it into a simple braid and securing it with the elastic around my wrist. I was nearly finished washing my face when I sensed Remy behind me.

Drying my face on the hand towel beside the sink, I met his eyes in the mirror.

He extended the mug to me as I approached, and I smiled seeing he used mini marshmallows and whipped cream. I brushed by him, parts of me I thought were numb suddenly firing to life.

I focused on the heat of the mug seeping into my fingers and I moved to what I considered my side of the bed and sat down, folding my legs up.

Remy stood on the opposite side of the bed, still watching me. Like he was waiting for me to crack.

“I’m okay,” I finally said, taking a sip of the sinfully decadent drink. The steam wafted across my face, as I hummed in appreciation.

According to Larkin, most people used some powder concoction with hot water to make hot chocolate. Remy melted thick bars of chocolate and stirred in heavy cream slowly. The result was something like liquid heaven.

“It’s okay if you’re not,” he told me quietly.

Sighing, I shifted on the bed. “I think I’m... numb right now. I’m angry and frustrated and... sad,” I finally admitted, ducking my head until my chin touched my chest. I set the mug on the nightstand as my hands started to shake. “I just wanted this to all be over, and it feels like it never will be.”

I heard Remy move across the floor and then he was climbing into the bed behind me, arranging me between his legs and wrapping his arms around me much like he had the night I spilled everything a week earlier.

“This will get better, Skye. You’re not alone anymore. I’ve got you. We’ve all got you.” He rested his chin on my shoulder, his arms strong bands around my waist and chest. “We’re going to get through this, and Cassian is going to pay for what he’s done.”

I nodded, believing him but not sure how any of this was going to be okay. How any of this would be right.

“Ainsley tried to warn me,” I mumbled.

I felt his surprise. “Ainsley?”

I jerked my head. “Yeah. She overheard Sierra talking to Trace. She didn’t know much, but said it was about us.”

Remy sighed deeply.

“Trace said Cassian is here to check out the school because Long Mesa might start sending students here,” I said suddenly, a sick pit forming in my stomach. “Does that mean he’ll be sitting in on classes? Wandering around campus?”

“I don’t know,” Remy answered honestly. “I’m going to call my dad and see if he knows what’s going on. Regardless, Cassian is here as an extension of Norwood, and after what happened on the run, Norwood and Blackwater are being kept separate. While he’s here, you won’t have to see him, and if you do, I’ll be with you.”

That made me feel slightly better.

Remy cocked his head, listening. “Rhodes and the girls are back. I need to fill him in on... a few things,” he said hesitantly.

“Everything,” I said firmly. “Tell Rhodes everything. I trust him. And he needs to know exactly what Cassian is.”

Remy pressed his lips to my jaw, moving to kiss the corner of my mouth when I turned, pressing my mouth to his. Sighing, I opened to him, taking comfort in the taste and smell of him. The kiss was as charged as every other one we had, but there was a softness in the way his mouth coaxed mine into a slow dance with his. This wasn’t just about love or passion, it was about comfort and reassurance.

My hand came up to cradle his jaw as he started to pull away. His dark eyes glittered as he looked at me.

“I love you,” I whispered, needing to say the words.

A slow smile curved across his lips. “I love you, too.” He kissed me once again and then climbed off the bed. “Want me to send Katy and Larkin up?”

I nodded, reaching for the mug to take a sip, watching as he walked out of the door, leaving it open. I took another drink before setting the cup down and sliding under the covers, still craving warmth.

I was asleep before Katy and Larkin ever made it upstairs.