Chapter 21

21

D inner was a very subdued meal, and hardly anyone spoke. Katy never came back down.

I had offered half-heartedly to come home with Mom after dinner ended, but she told me to stay. She was going over to Zara’s to talk to her best friend and would likely stay there for the night. That was a relief; I wasn’t crazy about Mom going home alone tonight to overthink me going to the Summit.

I wanted to talk to Remy about the Summit, but he and his father needed to get back on a conference call with some of the other Alphas they knew to discuss Linden’s accusations and the new plan involving me going to the Summit.

While Mallory and the twins cleaned up, I carried a plate of food and a drink upstairs to Katy’s room.

I didn’t bother knocking when I came in, kicking the door shut behind me with my foot.

Katy’s room was one of my favorite spaces ever.

The room was on the bigger side. There was a queen bed tucked into one corner that allowed for a small sitting area by a large window that looked out over the backyard. She only had one bookcase that mostly held picture frames and some bins full of currently unopened cosmetics with a handful of actual books on the shelves. She had a gorgeous white vanity against another wall that was a mess of brushes and other makeup items I was clueless about.

But there were little Katy touches everywhere that made this place special. An entire wall was dedicated to pictures of Katy, her family, and friends. I loved seeing the innocent childish faces of Katy, Remy, Rhodes, and Larkin when they were growing up. There was a picture of Katy and Remy holding the newborn twins, Katy and her mom in the kitchen, Katy with her dad by the lake...

I especially loved that now there were pictures of me woven into the story being told on that wall. There was a shot of Katy, Larkin and I hanging out together, another one of Remy and I from this past Christmas, and there was a large photo of me with the entire Holt family at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

I reached up and fingered the necklace Remy had given me that night. The charm of the crescent moon and embedded diamond that looked like a star was a symbol of their family.

Our family.

Katy was curled up on the overstuffed armchair facing the window as I came in.

Setting her food down on the small end table beside the chair, I sat down on the loveseat across from her.

“I keep making a mess of everything, don’t I?” she finally asked, looking up at me with sad brown eyes.

I pulled my legs up under me. “We all know you’re worried about Maren, but you have to know that we want her back as much as you do. If there was even a tiny chance your Dad knew where Maren was, don’t you think he would do everything in his power to get her back?”

She scrubbed a hand over her face. “I can’t stand this, Skye. I feel like everything is so out of control, and there isn’t a damn thing I can do.”

“Tell me about it,” I muttered.

“God, I am the worst friend,” she lamented, her head dropping back. “Seriously, why do you even put up with me?”

I made a face. “Mostly because you’re my boyfriend’s sister, and you’re a good excuse to spend the night with him.”

She hurled an aptly named throw pillow at me with a short laugh. “Jerk.”

I caught the pillow easily and grinned, happy to see her smile even if only for a second.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized. “You have to be sick of hearing me say that.”

“Katy, you’re one of my best friends.” I wrinkled my nose. “You’re one of my only friends,” I amended.

That earned a small smile.

“I can’t imagine what you’re going through,” I went on. “I know you’re struggling, but maybe try letting us in instead of shutting everyone out? You barely talk at school, and Remy has told me your parents are worried. He’s worried, too.”

She sighed deeply. “I know. I just... I feel so damn helpless, Skye. And when I think about what they could be doing to her...”

A sick feeling washed over me. I swallowed down the wave of bile rising in my throat.

“Do you think that my dad is right? That your uncle might have something to do with this?”

My eyes slid shut for a second. “My uncle is a monster. So yeah, he’s probably involved in something as morally wrong and disgusting as kidnapping women. Cassian admitted the pack was involved when we were up on the ridge in the fall.”

“Do you think your uncle has her?” Her breathing hitched. “Do you think they’re doing to Maren what happened to you and your mom?” Her voice was so small I almost didn’t hear it.

All the air left my lungs in a rush as her words sank in.

No wonder she had been so depressed and angry lately. If her thoughts were plagued by visions of her girlfriend being violated and ripped apart on a daily basis, I could easily see why Katy was a wreck.

My hands curled into fists, the surge of nausea almost too much for me to hold back. A cold sweat broke out on my back.

“I don’t know.” The whispered admission hung between us for several silent moments.

“But,” I finally added, trying to find a glimmer of hope, “from what your dad and Remy said, this has been going on for a while. Females started going missing when I was still in Long Mesa, and none of them ever ended up where I did.”

A small spark of light entered her sad eyes as she watched me.

I tried to pick my words carefully. “I don’t think they’re at Long Mesa. It’s not a big enough place to hide a bunch of missing people. I don’t think Maren is there.”

She let out a shuddered breath and swiped at the tears that fell. “Thanks, Skye.”

“I promise I’ll find out as much as I can about her at the Summit,” I swore.

Her head snapped up. “You’re going to the Summit?”

I swallowed and nodded slowly. “Yeah. It makes more sense for me to go than my mom. Remy and I are mates. They won’t make me go back with my uncle.”

Her lips opened into a perfect circle. “But that means you’ll have to tell them... everything. You’ll have to see them again.”

I held her gaze even though I wanted to look away. “I know.”

“Are you ready for that?”

“I don’t know if it’s something I’ll ever be ready for,” I replied honestly, “but it’s something I need to do. Maybe it’ll be cathartic or something.”

Katy unfurled her body from her chair and crossed the carpet to me, squeezing onto the loveseat with me and wrapping her arms around my shoulders. “I wish I could come with you. I could ask Dad. He might let me come along for moral support.”

I leaned into her comfort, resting my head against her. “No offense, honey, but after that stunt down in the kitchen? Odds are that will be a big, fat no.”

She snorted. “I really am a fuck up.”

“But you’re our fuck up,” I replied lightly, smiling. “And we love you.”

She giggled quietly and snuggled into my side. We both looked up as someone knocked on her door, opening it a few inches.

“Is it safe to come in?” Remy asked from the other side.

“Yeah,” Katy said.

Remy entered the room and stopped, smiling and shaking his head in amusement when he saw us curled up together.

“I hate to interrupt, but Dad wants you in his office, Katy.”

She grimaced and looked at me. “Guess that’s my next stop on the apology tour.”

“Guess so,” I murmured, watching her get up.

Katy started across the room and paused in front of Remy before throwing her arms around his shoulders.

With a warm chuckle, he hugged her back, his gaze meeting mine over her shoulder. I smiled at the relief in his eyes.

He and Katy had always been close, and I knew he hated the distance between them.

“I’m sorry I’ve been such a pain in the ass,” she said so quietly I almost missed it. “I know you’re doing your best, and I haven’t made it easy.”

“I promise we’re doing everything we can to get Maren back,” he promised when she pulled away.

Katy wiped at her eyes. “I know. I love you, big brother.”

“Love you, too, Kit-Kat,” he replied.

She sucked in a sharp breath. “How mad is Dad?”

“Mad,” he answered truthfully. “But he knows why you’re upset. We love Maren, too.”

She looked back at me. “Wish me luck.”

“You don’t need it,” I called as she walked out of the room.

Remy pressed his lips into a thin line and walked to me, holding out a hand. “Come with me?”

I didn’t hesitate to put my hand in his, letting him tug me to my feet and lead me out of Katy’s room and across the hall to his. He closed the door behind us.

I took in a deep breath, my senses overwhelmed by the scent of Remy everywhere.

He came up behind me, his chest brushing my back. I waited for him to touch me, reach for me, and he didn’t disappoint.

His hands settled briefly on my hips before sliding around and hugging my middle, pulling my back flush to his front. A second later I felt his lips feather across my neck. With a content sigh, I leaned back into him with my eyes closed.

All the stress and worry slowly trickled away as time stood still.

When it was just us like this, I could forget the rest of the world outside the door that was waiting to tear us apart.

Then again, the world never seemed quite as scary when Remy had my back.

With a reluctant sigh, I turned in his arms and looked up at him. “Are we going to talk about this?”

“This?” he echoed, a small crease forming between his eyes.

“Me going to the Summit to testify,” I clarified, waiting for the argument.

His mouth flattened. “Is there anything I can say that will get you to change your mind and stay here?”

“Not really,” I admitted.

He lowered his forehead to mine and sighed. “Skye, I know I can’t change your mind. And as much as I want to protect you, I also know that you need to do this for yourself and your mom.”

Hope fluttered in my chest.

“If it were up to me, you would never see your uncle or anyone from that pack ever again,” he continued. “I never want you to have to think about that shit again. But you and my dad are right—you’re the most logical choice to testify. Even if I absolutely hate the idea.”

I tipped my head back, shaking my hair out of my eyes so I could see him. “The idea of seeing my uncle again makes me sick.”

Anger flashed in his eyes for a second before he reigned in his emotions.

“The idea of telling a roomful of strangers about all the depraved things that happened in that pack on a daily basis makes me want to literally throw up.” I took a deep breath, shaking off the wave of nausea that surged inside my stomach.

“When I left Long Mesa six months ago, I was scared and broken. And then I came here and I found you. ” I reached between us, tracing his jaw as he smiled softly. “You gave me the strength I needed to heal. The only reason I’m strong enough to go to the Summit and testify is because of you, Remy.”

He shook his head slowly. “You really don’t get it, do you, babe?” He whispered the question softly as he grazed his knuckles against my cheek.

“Get what?”

He flattened his hand against my chest above my heart. “Skye, you’re the strongest person I’ve ever met. If you need my support, you have it. Always. I love you, and I’ll be with you every step of the way, but your strength is your own,” he told me as his lips curved into a wicked grin, “and God help your uncle.”

I pulled his mouth down to mine, gasping as his lips claimed mine in a kiss that curled my toes.

He pulled away with a groan after a minute. “Katy will be back up here any minute.”

My wolf whined, and I almost did, too. “So, lock the door,” I suggested with a smile.

His head fell back with a laugh. “I learned years ago that something like a locked door doesn’t keep Katy out for long. If anything she sees it as a challenge.”

“Maybe I can sneak in here after she goes to bed.”

He smirked at me. “You’re welcome in my bed anytime you want, babe.”

I couldn’t stop the blush that heated my cheeks, even as my body tingled with awareness. “I miss sleeping with you.”

He groaned again, kissing my temple and letting me go to put distance between us. “I feel the same way.”

I rolled my neck, trying to get my hormones and my wolf under control. “I’m guessing you’ll be busy during most of the Summit, so we won’t see each other much.”

Remy paused and gave me an odd look.

“What?”

“We’re mates,” he told me slowly.

“Is that what this is?” I teased, gesturing to the space between us with a laugh. “I’m fully aware that we’re mates. I thought you knew that, too.”

“I know that,” he said with a huff, “but you’re testifying at the Summit on the basis that we’re bonded mates. That means...” He trailed off, his jaw clenching in thought as he looked away.

“That means what?” I asked after a long pause, tilting my head to the side.

He was still quiet as he watched me with an unreadable expression. “The Council will be watching everything we do.”

I shrugged. “We have nothing to hide.”

He blinked, the odd look from his face clearing. “You’re right. It’s just...”

“Just what?” I asked when he didn’t elaborate.

He smiled, but it looked forced. “I guess I never imagined our first vacation being a Summit for you to testify against your uncle.”

Hope sparked in my heart. “Maybe this summer we can take a trip. Just us.”

He nodded with a small smile that warmed every cell in me. “Yeah. Once we get through this.”

“We will get through this,” I told him firmly.

We had to.

“I know,” he replied, shaking off the last of his visible worries with a grin. “Besides, it’ll be nice having my roommate back.”

“Roommate, huh?” I asked, arching a brow as I folded my arms under my chest. “Is that all I am?”

He crossed the room to me in two steps, his long legs easily eating up the distance between us. His hand snaked out and came around my back, pulling me flush against him.

“Skye,” he started slowly, using his other hand to cradle the back of my head as he looked into my eyes, “you are everything.”