Chapter Fifty-One

Micah

I must be asleep for hours. Why else would time be slipping away from me?

Caleb checks in regularly. What I said earlier must've really spooked him. I feel guilty, of course, but not guilty enough to take the words back. Or maybe I just don't have the energy.

The front door startles me out of my half-sleep fugue. I roll over, groggily checking my phone. 1:14.

Jaxon. Must be.

I half-expect him to crawl into Faith's room and join me in her bed, but five minutes go by, then ten, and I don't see him. Faintly, it occurs to me that Pack Wilder has gone back to how we begun: Caleb in the master bedroom, me in the guest, and Jaxon camping out on the couch.

That's when my phone vibrates. Who's texting me at this hour ? Suddenly, a spark of hope. Could it be … Faith ?

When I check the screen, I see a name I don't expect.

MAVERICK

Hey man - sorry I know it's late

If he's about to confess to having Faith at his place, he shouldn't bother. Caleb already passed on the memo.

The bubbles roll as he types.

MAVERICK

I thought you should know

Faith is having a real hard time right now

Something painful claws at my throat—rage, or regret, I'm not sure.

Your head alpha's an idiot

Jax isn't any better

But I figured you might be able to do better

Nervously, I pick up the phone, daring to type back:

What would be the point?

She doesn't want us.

He answers immediately, almost angrily:

MAVERICK

Of course she does

Then, following a begrudging pause, adds:

She's in love with you

My heart falters. She's … what? There's no way Faith would've said that—or certainly not in those words. If Maverick's just trying to play matchmaker, I'm not sure I appreciate it.

He starts typing again.

MAVERICK

Believe me or don't - up to you

But i'm not giving you guys a chance like this again

Faith is hurting

Either you fix it, or I will

It strikes me in that moment—Maverick has nothing to gain by telling me this. Though we were never close, we've always had a solid working relationship built on mutual respect. And it's no secret he's been interested in Faith from the beginning, just like us.

So I believe him when he says this is our last chance.

I type back, resoundingly, Understood.

With that, I leap out of bed, my unsteadiness trickling away as I make a beeline for the master bedroom.

The door flings open exactly as I get there. I guess Caleb hasn't been sleeping much, either.

"Micah," he says, "what is it—you okay?"

Behind me, someone stirs—Jaxon sitting up on the couch.

I look Caleb dead in the eyes, noting the bloodshot veins, scenting his stress. He's as lost as the rest of us , I realize, just doing what he can to keep us together . I was ready to back down and leave things in his hands, assuming I had run out of power.

But it's not that simple. Not anymore.

I take a breath, my heart racing.

"We need to talk."

***

The three of us return to our separate beds that night. It feels like we're too nervous to share each other's space, afraid of what we might give away.

Caleb agreed we can't go on like this. He wants to protect me and Jaxon, not drive our pack apart. He even admits it was wrong of him to blame Faith in the first place. She might've been the catalyst, but we're the ones who fell for her.

" If she wants to see us, even if it's just to talk, we should honor that, " I argued.

" Without Maverick, " Jaxon put in, bluntly. " Smug prick just gets in the way. "

I decided not to remind him that, if not for Maverick, we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

Caleb thought on it for a while before, begrudgingly, suggesting we catch up on neutral ground. At headquarters. Then he looked at me, realizing.

" I can do it, " I told him. " I'll be fine. "

The words came easily when I spoke then, but now that I'm lying awake in Faith's bed, staring up at the ceiling … I'm starting to doubt myself. I haven't stepped foot in HQ since my breakdown. I remember how the walls felt, closing in. I remember how my mouth tasted of copper. I couldn't breathe. Could barely speak, let alone treat my other patients.

I check my phone again, reviewing my final messages from Maverick.

MAVERICK

Just got a text from Caleb. Guess you came through

Gotta admit - I'm a little disappointed.

But we'll be there

That's all the reassurance I need.