Chapter 19
nineteen
Xenia
The next few days pass slowly and comfortably with a bit of a rhythm. My heat hasn’t swallowed me whole yet, but I consistently dream of my first encounter with Luther.
Every night I fall asleep between Luther and Pierce in the nest. My nest. And when I wake, we spend the day talking, eating, relaxing, and enjoying our time together.
We quickly get to know more about each other.
About Pierce’s jaded past with his family.
About the heartbreak and agony of Luther losing his sister.
Especially since she had done it to herself.
Since he had been the one to find her fully clothed in the overflowing bathtub.
About how Wren has always been the anchor holding their chaos together.
About how Charles had been everything to each of them.
About how much they miss Charles.
The only difficulty is Wren’s notable absence. Except every morning I smell his fresh scent just outside of the nest. As if he had slept there.
But I haven’t seen him. He’s been hiding away from me. And I can’t blame him. I imagine he knows that even if I am not who came after Charles, my association to the Rossis makes me a threat.
And as the time progresses and the temperature gradually increases, I suspect he’s correct.
Once more laying on the couch across the alphas’ laps I sit up abruptly as the back door opens.
And in walks Wren, his long blond hair is half tied back, but loose tendrils catch in his arctic eyes as he levels an icy glare my way.
“I let the cows out and wrangled them back into the barn after cleaning it. We need to move Ruth to a spot by herself, but she won’t listen to me. You have the magic touch.” Wren directs his words to Luther.
Ruth?
A memory pierces.
The angry young heifer.
Luther squeezes me before leaning me up onto Pierce, but I reach out grabbing hold of his sleeve.
Looking up at him through my lashes, I ask, “Is it okay if I come?”
He cracks a full smile. “You remember?”
I nod excitedly.
“Yes, you can come. You won’t be able to get too close to her, but the other cows are friendly enough. Just don’t be offended when they’re wary of a newcomer.”
Wren grumbles, “Dress her in something warmer.” He shoulders out of his large fleece jacket, throwing it to Luther. “And one of you needs to carry her out. It’s slippery up the holler, the snow is trying to melt, but then it keeps freezing overnight into ice.”
Luther chuckles. He helps me up from Pierce, wrapping me in the oversized jacket, adding a plush blanket for good measure. “Sure thing, Wren. Why don’t you carry her since you know it the best?” He doesn’t wait for a response before leaving out the back door followed by a smiling Pierce.
Leaving Wren and me in uncomfortable silence. Except his scent is now wrapped all around me and even if the man himself is prickly, his grapefruit and sandalwood essence are a salve to my nerves.
He rubs his temples before stepping towards me.
I half expect him to just leave me there, but then slowly, ever so carefully, he gathers me into his arms. Cradling me to him like he would a baby, even providing support for my head.
He is lean, but his strength is evident by the ease of which he tucks me against his chest.
“Thank you,” I murmur, looking up at him and attempting to get a read on the man.
He glances down at me, and for a single instance, I see an indescribable look cross his face. His mouth parting, his eyes softening, his entire body relaxing into me. But then he tenses.
He doesn’t speak as he shoulders his way back outside. He kicks the door shut behind us. Outside is colder than I expect and even though the sun is out, it isn’t long before my nose turns to ice. The snow is objectively beautiful on the ground, reflecting the sun’s hues, but there’s an edge to it.
It is somewhere it doesn’t belong.
Just like me.
“I’m sorry for being stuck here, I would leave if I could. And I wasn’t sent by the Rossis.” But I am concerned Vinny tracked my phone well-enough to figure out where I am.
Wren doesn’t respond as he continues our path up. He is careful in his steps, and looking out, I can see Luther and Pierce are already disappearing into the barn.
“Pierce owns a garage he works out of. Luther runs the farm. But I am a dad. That was, and always has been, my job. Just because Charles is an adult now, that hasn’t changed anything.
I am worried that he won’t ever be able to return.
And I miss him, Xenia. He is my best friend.
” He pauses as he takes a few more careful steps.
“Pierce’s family’s notoriety has kept the Rossis from coming after us, but it is only a matter of time before that isn’t enough.
” Wren remains focused on our path as he speaks.
“And me being here complicates that.” Clarity strikes as I truly understand where Wren is coming from. That he isn’t exactly angry with me, just concerned about the consequences of me being found here.
“It establishes an excuse for the Rossis to choose violence. Whether you ended up here because of their family or not,” Wren explains. “Luther and Pierce are willing to take that risk. But my job has always been to be the voice of reason. Usually they listen.”
He squeezes me tighter to him as we slip just the tiniest fraction.
“You’re right. Vinny will come looking for me. I will leave as soon as the snow clears. You can drive me away yourself,” I say softly. “But I’m sorry, I can’t stay gone. I can talk to Vinny, though. He might listen to me. He…”
I consider how much I should tell Wren. If it will make him trust me more or less.
But apparently my tone is enough.
Wren freezes, he stares down at me, his eyes widened in horror. “He wants you.”
“He does,” I confirm. It is the first time I have truly admitted out loud what I have known. “After his brother died, I met Vinny and he hasn’t left me alone ever since.”
There is a deep guttural noise that comes from Wren. A long and angry growl. “He can’t have you.”
I don’t think Wren meant to say that, because he immediately shakes his head.
He doesn’t speak again the rest of the trek to the barn, but I can tell that something has changed inside of him. It is in the way he holds me, checks on me, how he cradles me even tighter to his chest. As if he never wants to let me go.
But something has shifted within me too. And I can’t help but to worry about the danger I may soon bring to their door.