Chapter 60
SKY
I fidgeted all the way over to Gracie Howell's house. I sat in the back seat and fussed with my safety belt, tugging at threads that had long-since come loose. Twirling them between my fingers, I focused on breathing.
I was nervous. Nervous to face Gracie, sure, but more than anything else?
I was scared to see River. It was my fault he'd been shot.
It was my fault he was there at all. If it hadn't been for my desperate attempt to save my unborn child, he would be unharmed.
The likelihood of Dr. Thompson being able to kidnap him while living in such close quarters with the pack Alpha was slim.
I was just unlucky—and a damn fool. I'd ignored the warning signs my body had been screaming at me, and I'd gone out, anyway. A sitting duck. A very pregnant sitting duck.
"Sky?" Fletcher called out to me, his voice breaking through the static in my head. "Everything okay?"
"Sure," I lied. "Peachy. Just feel like I'm gonna throw up, no big deal."
"Oh, Sky. His voice oozed sympathy, and suddenly I wished he was sitting back here with me. I wanted a hug.
"Almost there," Adam said, which did little to ease the churning in my gut.
"Great."
"It's going to be fine," he assured me. "Deep breaths."
I did my best.
By the time we pulled into the gravel drive of the pack-house, my stomach was doing somersaults…or maybe that was the baby, I wasn't sure anymore.
Adam pulled up next to a red Toyota and killed the engine. They both looked back at me, like they were asking if I was ready, to which the answer was no. I sighed and got out of the car anyway.
Adam led the way up to the front door. We walked up the porch steps, which creaked beneath our combined weight. He nudged me ahead.
I swallowed hard, then knocked on the white hardwood door. A moment or two later, Xan answered. His dark gaze slid over me, then moved past me to my mates, before a smile crossed his face.
"Hey, guys. You here to see River or Gracie?"
"Both," I blurted. "R-River first…if he'll see me, that is." I ducked my head and stuffed my hands into the pockets of my oversized hoodie.
Xan softened. "Of course he wants to see you," he said gently. "C'mon, come inside. Man, in another couple of months you'll be toting around a baby carrier."
I knew it was meant to lighten the mood, but my stomach churned violently at the thought.
Adam coughed softly. "Xan."
"Aw, shit. Sorry. Adam, Fletcher, feel free to take a seat wherever. Sky, you wanna come with me?"
I glanced back at my mates, their faces solemn but hopeful when they nodded me on. Yeah. I needed to do this on my own. I took a steadying breath. I can do this.
"Yeah," I said and followed the other Omega down the hall of the nicely-decorated home.
We paused outside a door. Xan turned to me. "He's still feeling a little rough, but he's okay, I promise. And please, don't look so worried. He's been worried about you."
I blinked, surprised. "Really?"
"Yeah. Go talk to him. I'll be nearby if you need me."
"Thanks." Steeling my nerves, I gently knocked on the door, then let myself in.
River was laying propped up in bed with pillows. He was bare-chested, his torso and shoulder swathed in fabric bandages that covered the gunshot wound. I hesitated in the doorway, just staring at him.
He turned those bi-colored eyes on me, but they weren't sharp, like I'd expected. Just tired.
"Come in," he murmured, the gravel in his voice rougher than usual.
I closed the door behind me and walked over to the bedside, folding my hands in front of me.
At one point this morning, I had it all rehearsed, what I was going to say. All of that flew out the window when I was right beside my brother, my twin, my flesh and blood. The Alpha to my Omega genes.
But instead of that familiar crackling of haywire energy as our auras collided, I just felt…numb.
"I'm sorry," I uttered. "River, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. If I hadn’t—”
"If you hadn't what?" he asked, gruff. "If you hadn't gotten yourself kidnapped? If you hadn't been too pregnant to shift and defend yourself from a psycho dead-set on tormenting us? What, Sky? Because I can’t see how any of this is your fault."
I stood there, unable to form words, but tears pricked hot in my eyes.
River sighed, then grimaced, as if that hurt. "You didn't do anything. Dr. Thompson's the one who did this to me. Not you, so don't apologize, okay?"
I was quiet for a moment, and then spoke, a little quieter. "I am sorry though."
"Sky—”
"Hear me out? Please? Let me do this?" I gripped at the dangling hoodie strings, pulling on them as if I might be able to hide from the world if I pulled hard enough.
"I'm sorry for what I did to you and Xan last year.
I'm sorry for being a psychopath whose broken brain put his brother in the place where an Alpha should be…
I'm sorry that I… I didn't see it sooner, and I—”
My voice cracked. I wiped the tears away.
"I'm just sorry, okay? I was really messed up.
Maybe I still am, but it's better. I have Fletcher and Adam now and I'm gonna be a dad…
for real this time." The tears found their way down my cheeks anyway.
"Thompson was going to cut her out of me.
Promising to help capture you was the only bargaining chip I had. I'm sorry.”
He shook his head. "Sky. You're my brother. My twin. We went through literal hell together.”
I sniffed and nodded.
"I was scared of going back, but when I heard the fear in your voice, when you begged me to come get you, my Alpha instincts snapped to attention so fast, I wasn't thinking clearly. I didn't even realize it was a trap. I just knew I needed to get to you. To save you, because you needed me."
"You don't hate me?" I whispered, and River shook his head.
"I was angry. I saw the blood on Xan and it terrified me that I could lose him and our son because of your misguided jealousy. I said things I shouldn't have. I regret them, but they can't be unsaid. All I can do is move forward."
"Right. Forward." I touched my tummy, where the little one was kicking joyfully. "I'm glad you're okay."
"Me too," he agreed. "Kind of want to stick around and be the cool uncle for your little girl, you know?"
I grinned. "The cool uncle? More like the only uncle."
"Means I'll be extra cool." With a soft groan, River lay back in bed. "Tired. Sorry."
"It's okay. I just…wanted to clear the air between us, I guess." I took a few steps toward the door. "I'll see you around?"
"Yeah," my brother agreed. I'd just reached the doorway when he called, Sky?" I turned back to him to see the boyish, lopsided smile he used to wear when we were teens, the one he always saved just for me. “I love you, bro.”
My chest tightened, then flooded with warmth. I swallowed emotion and choked out, "Love you too, River," and then fled the room before he could see me break down.
I slipped into the bathroom to compose myself, then returned to the living room, where my mates were talking with Gracie. I hesitated in the doorway, but she ushered me in.
"Ah, Sky. I take it things went well with your brother?"
"Yes," I murmured.
"Good. I have an apology of my own, if you'll have it.” She looked a little rueful. “I’m sorry for how I've acted towards you and River both, since the very first day. I was distrustful and worried for my family and my pack’s safety. But I shouldn’t have ostracized you, and that's my cross to bear.
Harming Xan and Canyon? I had a right to be upset, but again, I went too far.
No one deserves to be taken to the middle of nowhere and dumped on the side of the road like a stray, and I'm sorry. "
I nodded slowly. "I deserved it."
"No, you didn't," she said. "You were struggling with your mental health, and I should've been more accepting.”
She sighed and ran a hand through her hair.
"I'm determined to atone for my sins, however.
As of next month, Rubydawn will welcome four new members into the pack—two different pairs of Alpha-Omega twins rescued from the facility.
I want to give them a safe harbor, since finding mates has settled both your and River's chaotic energies.
I'm hoping the same will happen for them, but time will tell. "
"Damn,"Adam murmured. "I'm impressed."
"Are you sure?" Fletcher asked, but Gracie nodded firmly.
"Kace was the one who suggested it, actually, and since he wasn't wrong about River and Sky…” She smiled. "Nothing will undo the trauma that that man has caused, but perhaps, in time, the pain will lessen and their lives will become brighter."
I touched my stomach, then walked over to where Adam and Fletcher sat. Reaching out to them, I took their hands in each of mine. "It was a long journey, but I think my future is gonna be a bright one."
"I'm glad to hear that, Sky," Gracie said.
"Me too," I agreed, and I'd never meant something more in my entire life.