Chapter 103
ONE HUNDRED THREE
LAUREL
We had three quiet days before we had to make a decision. Everyone was coming over for brunch and to talk about next steps. Casey had come early, insisting on helping Ocean cook, looking more well-rested than I’d seen him yet.
Jade and Jewel arrived a bit after, with an annoyed-looking Hugo, who immediately went to the fridge, grabbed a beer, and sat down.
“It’s ten a.m.,” Finch told him, eyebrows raised.
Hugo snorted. “Then get me some orange juice and I’ll make a shandy. Trust me, if you’d been listening to those two going at it all morning, you’d need a drink too.”
He waved his hand at Jade and Jewel.
“Going at it?” Jewel said, delight coloring his tone. “I wouldn’t mind—”
“Don’t start,” Jade snipped, sitting down on the couch.
“You love it,” he said, blowing her a kiss. Jade mimed shooting it down with a finger gun.
He pouted and came over to the counter, where I foiled his attempt to steal a strawberry. “Wait your turn,” I said, shooing him away with a spatula.
Casey stepped beside me to help me plate, but I shook my head.
“Casey, we’re good. Go have a seat until we serve up.”
I had to practically shoo him away with a spoon as well, and he took a seat next to Jade, giving her a shy smile.
She started talking with him about breakfast foods, not noticing Jewel coming toward them until he was right behind Casey.
“Casey, can I have your shirt?” Jewel asked, leaning over the couch and wrapping his arms around Casey’s shoulders.
“Um, okay,” Casey said, going red. He went to start pulling up his shirt.
“Keep that on!” Jade snapped. “Stop being ridiculous, Jewel.”
“What? I’m getting nauseous from the smells. I need something nice and comforting.”
“You’re being dramatic.”
“Dramatic? That one literally smells like distilled insanity.” He pointed at Kaos. “Then we have seaweed.” That was Ocean. “And semenfruit. It’s an affront to my nose.”
Finch looked at me, mouthing semenfruit? in horror. Ocean and I shook with silent laughter, and Kaos continued to stack pancakes on a serving tray, unperturbed by Jewel’s scathing review of my pack’s scents.
“Will you two can it?” Hugo said, rubbing his forehead. “Take Jade’s hoodie.”
Jade huffed, but conceded.
Thankfully, we made it through breakfast without any more bickering. Kaos even had a second helping of pancakes, and I noticed Finch and Ocean share a relieved look as he devoured them.
When we were done, Finch pulled out his notebook. “I’ve been thinking. If we want to be completely safe, we can go for out-of-state options. We can go as far as you need to feel comfortable, Laurel.”
Jewel met my eyes from across the table, and we shared a grim look.
“Actually, I need to go back,” I said.
“Back?” Finch’s shock echoed down the bond. Even Ocean seemed surprised, but Kaos was nodding.
“Yes,” I said firmly. “I need to go and fix things. Properly. Shut down the Blood Well. Rehabilitate those alphas. Release people like Casey from those awful contracts.”
Finch’s hand tightened on the pen he was holding, but he took a deep breath. “You’re sure?”
I nodded. “My grandfather has called a family meeting for this afternoon. If I don’t step in now, I’ll lose my chance.”
Ocean took my hand. “We’ll go back, then. But we need a proper plan.”
“Of course,” I said, shooting Finch a smile. “Jade, it seems Jag’s death has left a vacancy…”