Chapter 43

43

I woke inRemy’s bed, warm but glaringly alone. I knew Remy had come to bed at some point. I had woken up to him sliding into bed beside me, tucking me against his chest. My sleep was shockingly dreamless in his arms.

I reached for the spot where he slept, the bed was still slightly warm, but it was obvious he was up.

Glancing at the clock, I was shocked to see it was past eight o’clock in the morning. Classes started at nine.

I threw back the covers, grateful when I spotted a duffel bag on the armchair in the corner. Rifling through it, I pulled out a set of clothes and toiletries. I rushed through a shower, brushing my teeth and again opting to braid my hair. It was freezing outside, but I didn’t have time to dry it.

I was hurrying down the stairs when I saw Remy and Rhodes leaning on the counter in the kitchen drinking from mugs of coffee. They both looked at me wordlessly as I slid into the kitchen on socked feet.

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” I demanded, trying to remember where the hell my shoes were. “We’re going to be late.”

Both of them were dressed in jeans and Henley’s, dark boots already on their feet.

Rhodes gave Remy a strange look before clearing his throat and taking a step back.

“What?” I asked, my attention swinging from one to the other. “What aren’t you saying?”

Remy cleared his throat, taking a sip of his coffee. “Skye, I talked to my dad.”

“And?” I found my shoes by the door and started to pull them on.

“We think it would be best if you go back to Blackwater,” Remy said quietly. “There’s a flight leaving in five hours. I’ll drive you to the airport.”

I blinked slowly, trying to process what he was saying. All I could manage was a strangled, “ What ?”

He set his cup down, his expression pained. “Babe, it’s the best way to protect you. You’ll go back to Blackwater for now where you’ll be safe.”

“For how long?” I demanded, folding my arms under my chest as I tried not to freak out.

He sighed, not meeting my gaze. “I don’t know. A few weeks at least.”

“A few weeks?” My heart thumped painfully in my chest. “What if I don’t want to?”

His eyes hardened a bit, his jaw going tight. “It’s what the Alpha thinks is best for you and the pack right now.”

My eyes narrowed. “And what do you think?”

Remy kept his gaze steady on me. “I agree with him.”

I couldn’t help but feel sucker punched. “You want me to... leave?”

He growled, raking a hand through his dark hair. “It’s not what I want, but it’s what needs to happen.”

“You said we were in this together,” I snapped, stepping back when he moved to reach for me. “You said we were stronger together. How is me being hundreds of miles away from you equal to us being together ?”

Something flashed in his eyes a second before his expression went carefully neutral. His Alpha expression. The one he used when he was trying to separate emotion from logic.

“We’re still together. This just keeps you safe.” Remy ground the words out.

Anger burned in my chest. I clenched my hands into fists. “Cassian shows up, and I’m the one who gets sent away? How the hell is that fair or right?”

“I didn’t say it was fair—”

I threw up my hands. “Can you stop being so damn neutral?”

“Neutral?” he echoed, eyes narrowed. “What does that mean?”

“It means maybe I expected you to fight for me instead of doing whatever your father wants,” I retorted coldly.

His jaw dropped open. “Are you serious right now? All I’ve been doing is trying to keep you safe. I’ve been fighting for you since day one, Skye. I want you to go because I know Blackwater is the safest place for you.”

“ You are the safest place for me!” I finally yelled.

His chest heaved as he took a step away. “Not now I’m not.”

“What does that mean?”

“Larkin got hurt on my watch. Katy got hurt on my watch.” Pain and regret filled his dark eyes. “I’ll be damned if I let you get hurt again, too.”

“Skye,” Rhodes started gently, holding up his hands, “Trace brought Cassian here to mess with Remy as much as you. He’s been trying to provoke him all year. You know that. Hell, you figured it out. Removing you from the equation is the easiest way to stop him right now.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but he beat me to it.

“I’m not saying it’s fair or right,” Rhodes continued sadly, “but it’s where we’re at.”

I knew what he was saying made sense, but I still felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. I had come so far, and now I was back to square one.

I glanced down at the floor, gathering my thoughts. “I understand what you’re saying, but I’m sick of running away.”

“Skye—”

“No, Remy,” I interrupted, my head snapping up. “I have been running from Cassian my entire life. I’m done running from him. I’m done hiding and being afraid of everything. You taught me I was strong, that I could handle anything . And now you’re telling me I’m... not strong enough?”

He flinched, my words hitting their intended mark. “You’re the strongest person I know.”

“Then why are we arguing about this?” I asked, my tone pleading.

He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. “We aren’t arguing about this.”

I exhaled loudly, relief coursing through me.

“I’m telling you how it is,” he said, his tone firm and final. “You’re leaving. I’ll take you to grab whatever you need from the dorms before I drive you to the airport.”

I couldn’t have been more stunned than if he’d slapped me. Even Rhodes sucked in a sharp breath.

“Remy,” he warned softly, only for Remy to shake his head.

“Go pack, Skye,” Remy ordered quietly.

I glared at him. “You want me gone so bad, you can pack my damn bags.” I stormed past him to head to the front porch.

Remy reached out for me, his hand barely closing on my bicep before I wrenched away.

“Do not touch me,” I hissed, not sure how I could love him so much and want to beat the crap out of him at the same time.

“You can’t go out there alone,” Remy reminded me coolly, folding his arms over his chest.

“So now I’m a prisoner?” I demanded, laughing bitterly. “Wow. It’s like I never left Long Mesa.”

Remy recoiled, finally his seemingly unbreakable calm composure cracking. Hurt flashed in his eyes, and I instantly regretted what I said.

Using his confusion as my out, I stormed outside, slamming the door violently behind me. My feet thundered down the steps. I considered going to the dorms or going to class, but I could feel my wolf stirring, her anxiety ramping up my own.

I needed to shift and run.

I turned to go around the house, hearing the door slam a second time.

I whirled at the footsteps hurrying up behind me, but the retort on my lips died when I saw it was Rhodes who decided to chase after me—not Remy.

Rhodes stopped in front of me, holding out my jacket as a peace offering.

I took it slowly, shrugging into it, grateful for the warmth. My rage fire wasn’t going to keep me warm for long out here.

“Thanks,” I told him, zipping it closed. I gave him a wary look. “I take it you’re my babysitter?”

Rhodes grinned, dimples flashing. “Nah. You’re my babysitter.”

I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped me. “Right. I’ll protect you .”

He clutched a hand to his chest. “I promised Remy my virtue would be safe with you. Don’t make me a liar.”

I laughed again, shaking my head. Typical Rhodes breaking the tension.

“Walk with me?” He asked, starting off towards the lake without waiting for an answer.

I fell into step with him. “Is this the part where you tell me Remy’s only doing what’s best for the pack? It’s his job?”

“He is doing what’s best for the pack,” Rhodes replied.

I stopped suddenly. “How is—”

“He’s scared, Skye,” Rhodes said softly, pressing his lips together.

“Scared?” I scoffed. Remy was... Remy . He was solid and strong and confident. Definitely not scared.

“The idea that something could happen to you scares the shit out of him,” Rhodes explained gently, touching my arm. “He’s so focused on you that he’s worried he can’t protect the pack the way he should. He’s fucked either way, Skye. He’s either going to let you down or the pack. At least this way he knows you’ll be safe.”

That sucked some of the anger out of me.

“This mate bond is no joke,” Rhodes said with a forced smile. “I’ve seen Remy with other girls—”

I couldn’t help the low growl that rumbled in my chest.

Rhodes smirked. “You’re not like any of the others. Even before you two bonded, he looked at you different. Treated you different.”

I shifted on my feet, spurring us into walking again. “He knew I came from a shitty pack. He felt sorry for me.”

He shook his head. “No, never. He never felt sorry for you. Pissed off for you, yes. But he never pitied you. He respects you.” He nudged my shoulder. “So do I, for what it’s worth. Remy told me what happened with you and your pack and that walking bag of dicks. The fact that you’re still standing is incredible. Most people would have folded. A lot of people have for a lot less.”

I snorted, brushing a low branch away. A dusting of snow fell around us and the branch trembled. “I survived. Barely. Most people can do that.”

“Did Remy or Larkin tell you about my parents?” Rhodes asked, glancing at me.

I shook my head. “No.”

“I don’t really remember my mom,” he admitted, shoving his hands into the pockets of his coat. “She left when I was little. It messed up my dad. He still loves her even though she hasn’t spoken to us in a decade. So my dad drinks. A lot.”

I looped my arm through his, leaning against him to offer silent support.

“My dad loved her since they were little. I don’t know the whole story, but I don’t think my mom was ever happy. She settled for my dad. And one day she decided not to settle anymore.”

He blew out a long breath. “Sometimes when he’s drunk, I can hear him crying in his room, talking to this framed picture he has of her by his bed.” Rhodes’s cheeks tinged pink, and I didn’t think it was entirely from the cold. “He tells her that they were supposed to be mates forever.”

My heart ached for Rhodes and his father. As shitty as my childhood was, at least I had my mom. It sounded like Rhodes lost both his parents when his mom left.

“I think he really believes that if she had stayed, they would have eventually bonded,” Rhodes mused.

“What do you think?” I asked slowly.

“I think it scares the shit out of me to love someone so much that I would completely break if they left,” he murmured, running a hand through his long hair.

I was still trying to figure out what to say when he rendered me speechless.

“I love her, you know?” he said softly, coming to a slow stop in front of the lake. “Larkin, I mean. I’ve always loved her. First like a little sister when we were growing up, but the last couple of years...”

I gaped at him. “Why haven’t you told her?”

Rhodes gave me a slow shrug. “Because I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to completely give her every part of me. Losing my mom wrecked my dad. Who knows what would have happened to me if Remy’s parents and Larkin’s parents didn’t step in when I was younger. I can’t imagine losing her and... God, leaving our kid to fend for himself? I think that would hang over me every day.”

“It’s not the same thing. You’re not your dad anymore than I’m my uncle, Rhodes.”

“I know,” he replied. “But right now, that’s all I can see, and Larkin deserves someone who won’t shut her out. She deserves someone who can love her without any extra baggage.”

“We all have baggage, Rhodes,” I replied, shaking my head. “I don’t think you give Larkin enough credit.”

“Maybe not,” he agreed. “But if it means she’ll have a happy life with someone who loves her, someone who can share everything with her, then I think I’m okay with that.”

“You think?” I repeated, not convinced at all.

He smiled ruefully. “Larkin deserves everything. I don’t want to be the guy who only gives her pieces of his heart.”

I shook my head sadly, frustrated that Rhodes couldn’t see what was right there. “You’ll never know if you don’t try. Do you think it was easy letting Remy in? He told you what happened to me. I don’t just have baggage—I have an entire cargo plane of shit.”

He chuckled, licking his bottom lip. “Fair enough.”

“If I can let someone in,” I said, poking his chest, “then so can you.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Think fast,” I said, arching a brow. “The twins asked her out, and she said yes.”

The smile slid off his face, taken over by shock and then jealous anger. “What?”

“Larkin’s done waiting for you to wake up. If you don’t want to make a move, there’s a line of guys who happily will,” I told him. “Time for you to go get your girl.”

He started to smile when several cracking branches made us spin around. I barely blinked before Rhodes had me behind him, putting himself between us and whatever was crashing through the brush a few feet away.

A tiny figure tumbled out, blond hair tangled with twigs and leaves. Her huge blue eyes looked up at us. Blood was smeared across a swollen, bruised cheek.

“Help me,” Sierra begged, dropping to her knees with a shudder. “Please—he’s coming.”

“Jesus,” Rhodes hissed, running to her side.

We both dropped down, to our knees on either side of her.

“Sierra, what happened?” I asked, checking for injuries. I resisted touching the side of her face. “Did someone hit you?”

Rhodes gently started to lift her up, turning her over. I was still searching for where she was hurt when I heard Rhodes give a soft grunt.

I moved her hair from the side of her face. “Where are you hurt?” I asked.

Rhodes let Sierra go and fell backwards with a groan, sprawling out on the snow.

“Rhodes, what—” The words died on my throat when I saw the needle sticking out of his leg.

Sierra pulled away from me, slowly standing and moving back. I dropped forward, reaching for Rhodes as his eyes rolled back in his head.

“What the hell did you do?” I demanded, glaring up at her as I felt for a pulse.

She didn’t speak, but her eyes lifted to something or someone behind me. She smiled.

“I told you I could help,” she chirped happily.

I started to turn, but I felt the sharp prick of a needle piercing my skin. The drug was something thick and viscous, burning as the plunger was pressed down.

Everything shifted and blurred, tilting disturbingly.

And then it was dark.