Chapter 17

Chapter 17

REED

As I closethe front door behind Cree and Enzo, the agitated energy in the room dramatically decreases, and I breathe easier. I’m trying to put on a brave face and straight spine for the others. As the strongest alpha in the group, they’re looking to me for leadership—even Cree, though at times he fights it—and that weight sits heavily on my shoulders.

I walk down the hall towards Riley, peeking into the spare room as I pass. Wild and Axel are asleep on the bed, back-to-back, though not very peacefully, evident in the twitching of their limbs and the low, nearly inaudible groans. Their wolves are restless, feeling Riley’s distress trickling down the faint bonds we’ve created.

The farther down the hall I get the more the helplessness floods my soul, while thoughts of failure and guilt invade my mind. Not that I should own any of these feelings, none of what we’re going through is on me. But the overwhelming need to protect my pack is ingrained in every fiber of my being, making it impossible not to let negative thoughts and emotions in.

Two days into Riley’s withdrawal, and everyone is finding it harder to leave at the end of the day. With Riley in so much pain and her wolf in distress, now more than ever, she needs her mates close. And if I’m being honest, my wolf needs them close, too. He views them all as his pack, and as such, he feels protective over them. Over their safety and well-being—even the bear.

After wrestling with the decision, I’ve decided that it would be wiser for everyone to stay in one place while Riley is healing. While out earlier in the day, I had keys made for each of the guys and told them they could stay for as long as it takes. My wolf’s contentment with this decision tells me it’s the right one.

Walking back into Riley’s room, a wave of excruciating pain hits me square in the chest like a truck, and I double over. My knees hit the floor, and the pain increases tenfold. Riley’s wolf howls in my head, drowning out any other sounds, her panic and agony radiating through me. I crawl to the side of the bed and reach up to lay my hand on her abdomen. Her wolf immediately settles with our connection.

I keep my hand on her as I stand to sit on the edge of her bed. “It’s going to be okay. You’re strong, and so is Riley,” I whisper, sliding her hair off her forehead. Leaning forward, the words drip from my lips before I realize just how terrified I am of losing her. “I need you to keep fighting, Riley. Fight to live. Fight to love. Fight for me and the others. Fight for yourself and your wolf. Please, I don’t know how much longer I can do this, be strong for everyone else when I’m breaking without you.” My voice cracks with my plea. I had finally found my mate after being alone for so long, and I’m scared of losing her. I’m not strong anymore; I don’t know how to be.

WILDER

Footfalls traveling down the hall jar me from my restless sleep. Soft murmurs of a heartfelt confession reach my ears from Reed, who’s on guard tonight, watching over Riley. The stress of the bonds not yet fully formed, and uncertainty of Riley’s health, has everyone on edge. I grab a burner phone I have stashed in my jacket and walk out to the balcony and hit dial on the only programed number in the directory.

Waiting for the call to connect feels like eternity as my hand clenches at my side. I don’t like lying to the others, and this secret weighs heavily on my shoulders. Maybe after today things can finally be brought into the light.

“Hello,” a feminine voice on the other end says as the call connects.

“It’s me,” I reply, “It’s time, or at least it should be. Emotions are running high here. And the unformed bonds are straining. If we’re going to do anything, it needs to be soon.”

“Not yet, we’re not ready.”

“Do you hear what I’m saying? If you’re gonna act, it needs to be sooner rather than later. Preferably before the bonds are fully set.”

A bang echoes from inside, and I spin around in time to watch as a very unsettled Cree rushes through the swinging front door and down the hall in the direction of Riley. My brows furrow as I strain to listen, wondering if there’s something wrong, completely ignoring the litany of excuses from the other end.

Abruptly, I cut her off. “Listen, I’ve gotta go, just think about what I said.” I quickly hang up the phone and stuff it in my back pocket.

“Is she okay?” Cree’s growl echoes off the walls as I slide the balcony door open and step through.

“She’s better, more settled. Her pain has lessened greatly, and her wolf is getting stronger. She’s … resting,” Reed’s sleep-filled voice replies, laced with a sense of calm that only an alpha of his strength can project.

Peeking down the hall, I watch as Reed’s words and stillness penetrate Cree’s worry. His stance visibly relaxes, his shoulders dropping in relief. I nod to myself; the worst of the withdrawals are past her. It’s up to her to decide where she goes now, but at least she can make that decision with a clear mind.