Chapter 41

Ido my best to comfort Laken, but that omega wants less than nothing to do with me.

It makes sense.

If I were her, I'd probably hold a grudge too.

Maverick and Gunner's dogs circle her as she sits on the ground, wrapped up in a blanket. She probably thinks we're all crazy. It seems like she trusts the canines. They're the only things, besides Ranger, that she'll let within five feet of her.

I promised Lyra I would look after her sister…

And I've tried, but I've also asked Laken to leave with us so many times, I think it might be inappropriate to push the issue any further.

Ranger strides our way with three large steps. He's also covered in blood, so I'm baffled why the woman seems more comfortable with him than me. Okay, I don't know why it's bothering me so much, but I think it's the overwhelming guilt I feel any time I look at her.

"We've got this handled," Ranger says, frowning at me. "I think it's best if you and your pack head back to the hotel."

"What about Laken? I can't just leave her here with you guys." I cross my arms over my chest. "She's probably scared half to death."

My eyes fly to Laken, and both dogs are now rubbing their entire bodies against hers. It seems like they can sense her distress and are trying to comfort her. My jaw falls, and I take a quick step back when I catch the look on her face.

"I'm pretty sure she's daydreaming about stabbing me right now," I whisper.

"Yeah." Tanner laughs. "She really doesn't like you."

Ranger twists to look at her, and his brown curls fall over his forehead as he gives a little wave.

Laken raises a hand, but the blanket covers most of her arm. She waves back, and my head tilts.

Did I slip into an alternate universe or something?

"Uh, yeah." Grady laughs, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "He's got this. Let's get the brain matter out of your hair."

My entire body shivers in revulsion. The metallic scent of blood is so strong that I think I got immune to it.

At least, until he mentioned it.

"I will look after Laken." Ranger nods. "We'll meet you back at the hotel. Feel free to take Tanner with you."

"Nah, man." Tanner chuckles. "They've got a date for a celebratory bang after taking out their final enemy. I'll stick with you."

"I will not be held responsible if I stab him," Ranger says seriously.

Grady snorts. "A celebratory fuck sounds heavenly. Let's bounce."

The ride back to the hotel is subdued, but not depressing. There's the same numbness in my chest that always comes after a stressful situation.

Kane almost always drives, but on the trip back to the hotel, he allows Ward to handle it so he can hold me in the back seat. He doesn't even complain when I get Lucien's blood all over his clothes.

"Does it feel good knowing the Andrettis are no longer a threat?" he asks, running his hand up my thigh.

I smile, even though I'm exhausted. "It does. I just wish so many people hadn't gotten caught in the crossfire as a result of my actions."

Kane nods. "I get it. But Kate found a new life. She seems happy with her pack. At least one good thing came out of everything. Lyra is also getting medical attention and counseling in Florida."

"Yeah, but God, Laken looked traumatized." My whole body gives an involuntary shiver.

"She also looked surprisingly at home with your brother." Grady turns around from the middle row. "If nothing else, she found two furry companions that didn't want to leave her side."

I snort, but the level of guilt is still extreme.

"Bad shit happens all the time," Kane says softly. "Terrible people do terrible things, but tonight, the world is a little less filled with evil than it started."

"True enough," Grady says. "Our line of work can get pretty bleak. Oh, did you hear? Ranger offered me a job."

"What?" I scoff.

"Yup, he even said Kane and I can work on his team." Grady laughs. "Apparently, I need to learn how to redirect my homicidal tendencies."

"And that way, I can keep an eye on him, too," Kane says, nuzzling his cheek to the top of my head.

"What about you, Granddad? Princess Cas? What are your plans for the future?" Grady asks.

"I intend to continue running my businesses from Virginia," Cas says from the front passenger seat.

"I'm retired. I'll be security for the pack," Ward says, coming to a stop at a light.

"So, we'll be sticking around the house in Virginia once we make it back?" I ask, trying to keep my happiness from spilling into the bond.

I don't want to influence their decisions, but I like Vale. It's also really nice having Ranger just down the road.

"Yup," Grady agrees. "We just have to sweet-talk Ranger into adding the rest of us to that fake marriage certificate."

"Unless you'd like to have Merrick delete that and do a real one?" Kane offers.

I laugh, shaking my head. "Nah, it feels strangely fitting. We're already a pack, anyway."

"That we are," Cas agrees. "I'll definitely be speaking to Ranger and my father to figure out what the hell Lucien was talking about."

"Yeah, and little Miss Queen of Spades back there owes your father a rather unforgiving beating when it comes to cards." Ward chuckles.

Cas turns around in his seat with a wide smile on his face. "That would be so fucking hot."

I laugh.

It took a whole lot of windy roads to get here, but it was absolutely worth the journey.