Chapter 23

I scrub at my skin, trying to get the feeling of Terrance's hands off my body. The water of the shower is nearly scalding, and it does nothing to help the pain of my bruised and cut body, but this is something I need to do to feel sane. Tori is waiting on the other side of the bathroom door for me while I shower. When we got back to the compound and the boys walked me to my room, I burst into tears when I saw her sitting on my bed. She gently wrapped her arms around me and shooed the guys away. Killian protested but didn't dare piss off a witch.

My skin is raw and red from standing under hot water for such a long time, and I turn off the shower with a sigh. The room falls silent, and I numbly pat myself dry, trying to avoid the worst of the bruising. A soft knock comes from the door, and I pull on an old pair of Seb's PJ bottoms and a soft T-shirt of Killian's that they left for me to change into. They knew I had clothing here, but all of it was too tight to wear comfortably while I am so bruised. I inhale the scent of the guys, and it makes me feel stronger. The knock comes again.

"Ari, are you okay in there? The guys want to see you." Tori's soft voice reaches me.

I look at myself in the mirror and shake my head. I look broken. When did I become this person? I open the door and smile at Tori, my gut clenching at her gentle smile.

"Let's go face the music," I tell her before striding out of the room—well, as well as someone as hurt as me can stride.

Once I reach the bottom of the stairs—with lots of swearing, mind you—I come to a stop as I see everyone gathered in the medical office. My office. I walk slowly into the room and take stock of who is here. Alpha Mortlock and Lena are here, along with Alex and Isa. Killian looks pissed off in the corner, but my eyes are drawn to Seb, who looks different. He is radiating more power than I have ever felt from him, not as strong as the others in the room, but enough to make me stop in my tracks. He is smiling at me, but I can see he is grieving deeply for the loss of his mother. Guilt hits me, and I wonder what the result of this meeting will be. The attack was my fault, after all. If I wasn't here, then Shadow Pack would have left them alone and Gloria wouldn't have been killed.

"She's blaming herself for the attack," Killian growls out from the corner.

Everyone's eyes flick to him, then back to me, wearing varying looks of shock and anger on their faces. How on earth does he know that? I thought my poker face was pretty good. I can feel the anger and frustration rolling off him, and a part of me wants to go over and comfort him. I push that away. Now is not the time.

"Ari—" Alpha Mortlock begins before Alex strides forward, a look of anger on his face.

"Why the fuck would it be your fault? Don't let those sick fucks make you think that any piece of this is your fault," he shouts.

I raise my eyebrows at his outburst, rarely seeing this much emotion or anger from Alex. What is winding him up so much that he would lose his usual professional cool? I have seen him playful and flirty, but never this angry.

"If anything, it is my fault," he says. "I'm the protector of this pack. As beta, it's my job to anticipate threats like this. You even warned us, and I still let it happen! Because of my failings, they killed Gloria and the others. They took you, and I couldn't find you!" he continues, his voice breaking as he finishes.

Ah. That's why he seems so angry. He's blaming himself. A feeling of belonging and a warm emotion I don't have words for fill me at his words. Alpha Mortlock places a hand on Alex's shoulder in comfort, but Alex's eyes are glued to mine.

"I thought we had lost you. They hid all traces of where they had gone or where you were," he says brokenly.

"He is right, Ari, you are not to blame. Nor are you, Alex. This was the sick minds of the Shadow Pack," Alpha Mortlock tells us, and I hear the truth in his words. He fully believes what he's saying. He doesn't blame me. A weight I didn't realise I'd been carrying lifts from me, and breathing feels a little easier.

"There was magic involved in getting Shadow Pack out of the compound." I spin around at Tori's voice.

I still wonder how she is here. I haven't had the chance to ask her yet. She walks farther into the room and puts her arm around me as she leans against the counter, giving me comfort with her touch.

"When you disappeared, Alex called me to see if I could help." I glance over at Alex in surprise, knowing his feelings around witches. He was civil with Tori when she visited, but I knew he was uncomfortable around them. He must have been desperate to find me to contact Tori. "I went to the place you were taken and tried a tracking spell. I used everything I know, and I couldn't find you. You know me, Ari, tracking spells are my thing!" she states earnestly, and I can tell from her voice she is feeling guilty that she couldn't track me.

"I eventually did a spell that proved magic had been used, but I couldn't break through it, which means that a strong witch or warlock is involved," she concludes, and the others nod in agreement.

"What we need to work out is why a witch or warlock would help Shadow Pack. And where have they gone now?" Alpha Mortlock asks, looking to me for inspiration.

"As far as I know, they never had any contact with any magic users while I was held captive with the pack." My guys flinch at the mention of my abduction. "But I wasn't exactly privy to that kind of information," I state, running my hand though my damp hair in frustration.

I bite down on my lip and look up to meet Alpha Mortlock's eyes, dreading this question. "Did we lose anyone else? What happened?" Out of the corner of my eye, I see Seb flinch at the unmentioned fact that his mother had been killed.

The alpha sighs and nods, pulling Lena closer into his side, her arm wrapping around him. Her eyes are red and puffy, like she'd been crying.

"We lost a couple of our wolves during the attack, along with Gloria. We also lost a wolf when we managed to track you down. Although their deaths are a tragedy, it could have been much worse. Thanks to your warning, we were more prepared," he tells me, his voice soft as he talks of the dead.

"We killed all of the shifters in the building you were in except for the beta—Terrance, is it?" Growls filled the room at his name, surprisingly not just coming from me. The loudest one comes from Seb, who looks like his wolf is going to burst out of his skin.

Alpha Mortlock nods in agreement at the frustration in the room and keeps a wary eye on Seb as he continues.

"Unfortunately, he escaped. We're not sure how. We suspect magic was involved. We also couldn't find the alpha."

I curse at his words. They won't give up trying to get me. The best thing I can do is to leave so these guys don't get hurt any more. I know they don't blame me for what happened, but that doesn't stop the fact that as long as I'm here, Shadow Pack will keep attacking.

"No." Killian's deep voice reaches me as he slowly walks towards me. His body is tense, and as he approaches me, he keeps his movements slow, like he's worried he might startle me.

He places a hand on my waist and looks deeply into my eyes. I should feel crowded and want my space, but it feels right, him comforting me.

"You can't leave. You belong here with us. Do you want to leave?" he inquires, his tone demanding, like he needs to hear the answer.

I pause before I reply, admitting to myself what I have been trying to ignore for the last month—I have felt more at home here with the pack than I have ever felt before, even living with Tori. The acceptance from the pack has made me care for them, and I can't imagine not seeing them all again.

"No. I don't want to leave." My declaration rings around the silent room.

The sounds of relieved breaths fill the room, and I see several smiles, including one from Alpha Mortlock, who is being hugged by a beaming Lena.

"There is always a place for you here, Ariana," he tells me warmly. I wince slightly at his continued use of my full name. Only Shadow Pack calls me Ariana, all my friends call me Ari. I will have to have a word with him about it, but now is not the time. I hate to break the somewhat happy mood, but it's important.

"But how can I stay? Shadow Pack will keep coming for me. I can't put those I care about in danger over and over again," I admit as I look around at those faces who have earned a place in my heart. I pause and frown. Someone is missing.

"Where is Garett?" I ask. I would have thought someone would have called him to tell him what had happened, even if they hadn't called him to help find me. I know the pack's relationship isn't the smoothest with him, but they accepted he was important to me and should have informed him of something like this.

The mood in the room changes, and the grim looks on their faces have me straightening and pulling away from Killian and Tori.

"What are you not telling me?" I question, my tone harsh with my worry.

"We tried to get in touch with him after you were taken, and we couldn't find him. We contacted his pack, and they haven't heard from him since yesterday. They're looking for him," Tori replies, and I'm glad it is her who breaks the news to me.

Worry fills me, and I try to calm my thoughts. We don't know for sure that he has been taken. He is strong and would put up one hell of a fight. Sometimes, Garett goes off the grid for a day or two—something about being one with nature. It's a bear thing.

"Okay, so what happens next?" I ask, clamping down on my fear for Garett. As soon as Tori and I are alone, I will get her to track him.

"Now we grieve our dead. Then we plan. Moon River does not just take an attack lying down. We demand justice." Mortlock's voice is firm as he says this, and I can feel his alpha strength fill the room. There is nodding from the others in consensus.

Everyone in the room breaks off into small groups, chatting quietly amongst themselves. People start to leave, and Alpha Mortlock comes over and looks like he wants to place his hand on my arm but changes his mind.

"Are you okay?" he asks me, his eyes scanning me, taking in my bruised appearance.

"No," I answer honestly. "But I will be," I say with a small smile.

"You know where I am if you need anything," he offers with a small nod before leaving the room.

Tori leaves with a small wave, gesturing that she is going back up to my room, leaving me alone with my guys. Well, all of them except Garett. My heart clenches at the thought of him missing. Killian notices and comes over to me, placing his hand on my cheek gently .

"He will be okay. And if he isn't, we will find him," he vows.

This is a different side of Killian I've never seen before, softer, kinder. I look into his eyes and can't stop myself as I lean forward and place a tender kiss against his lips. He freezes in shock before kissing me back, a slight groan leaving him as he presses against me.

The sound of feet moving towards me has me pulling away as I see Alex standing next to us. He places his hand on my shoulder, rubbing it gently with his thumb.

"Killian's right. If anything has happened to him, we'll help you find him," he tells me, and from the sincerity in his tone, I know he means it.

I look between the two men giving me comfort and raise my eyebrows.

"We came to an agreement," Killian informs me, answering my unspoken question, his voice gruff as his eyes run over me again.

"What kind of agreement?" I ask warily, confused.

"When you were taken," Alex explains, "we realised you were important to us and that we couldn't lose you. We then realised you care for each of us, Garett included, and that any of us fighting over you is going to hurt you. We agreed that's not what we want and we would no longer fight over who you care for."

I am gobsmacked, and I look between the three of them before my gaze lands on Killian.

"Wait, you agreed to this?" I ask, shocked that my alpha wolf would fight against his instinct and the bond to agree to this.

He nods slowly, reluctantly, as he looks from Alex to me.

"I don't like it, and it won't be easy, but I never want you to be hurt again, especially when it is my behaviour that is hurting you," he answers, and I feel my eyes well up.

I look across at Seb. My funny, caring Seb. He is standing by himself on the other side of the room, and I realise the guys included him in the group of those I cared about. Seb and I hadn't explored that part of our relationship, trying to keep things strictly as friends, even though our feelings may have wished otherwise. I walk over towards him, unsure how I feel about all this, especially as Alex has apparently shared he has feelings for me.

"You agreed to this too?" I ask Seb softly, wincing slightly at the pain in his eyes.

"I'm not assuming anything. None of us are. If you don't want a relationship with any of us, that's fine. We are not trying to push anything on you. But we also want you to know we won't fight it. I don't know what might happen between us, but I know I feel more for you than I ever have with anyone else, and I am sick of fighting it," Seb tells me, his voice stronger and more confident than I have ever heard it. "Mom wouldn't have wanted us to pussyfoot around our feelings," he adds, his voice heavy with grief.

"Seb," I start, my heart heavy. "I am so sorry about your mum." I break off, my voice tight, and I see his eyes fill. "If you blame me for not being able to save her, I understand. I feel the same," I tell him quietly, feeling as though my heart is breaking as he turns away from me.

His eyes shoot back up to me at my comment, his brows pulled into a frown. He turns so he is facing me again and walks towards me, backing me into my desk. Placing his hands on either side of me, he traps me so I have nowhere to look but into his gorgeous eyes.

"You are not to blame. Never think that again. Do you hear me?" he demands, and I silently nod at my suddenly dominant Seb.

At my agreement, he leans forward, placing his hand on my jaw, and firmly pulls me towards him like he is going to kiss me. My emotions are a mess and I know there is a chance I might regret this later, but right now, all I want is Seb's lips on mine, even though I know the other guys are watching.

"Ari!" Tori's panicked voice has me jerking away from Seb as she thunders down the stairs, my phone grasped in her hand.

The guys around me are instantly on alert and surround me as if to protect me. I push past them to get to my best friend.

"What is it? What's wrong?" I demand as I hurry towards her, my stomach dropping as I see the picture that has flashed up on the screen.

I turn away from her and lean against the wall for support as panic threatens to overwhelm me. Seb hurries to my side, placing a hand on my shoulder as Alex takes my phone from Tori, his face paling as he sees the graphic picture that has been sent to me before passing it to Killian, who snarls in response.

"They have Garett."