Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Chloe
M y legs tremble as Holden helps me out of the golf cart, and we walk toward the Homestead. I lean most of my weight on his arm, drawing in deep breaths to steady myself.
The sight of the sprawling, two-story log cabin makes me tear up. I had started to believe I would never see this place again.
“Lean on me,” Holden murmurs as we approach the wrap-around front porch.
When I lift my right foot onto the first tread, pain lances through my body as I drag my left foot up to join it. I grit my teeth and take the next step.
Dominic studies the rest of the stairs with a worried frown. “I can carry you.”
“No, I can do it.” I focus on the tall, double front doors, determined to get inside.
“Almost there,” Holden encourages, his voice soft as marshmallows and just as sweet.
I missed listening to his voice so much. My vision blurs, and I sniffle to hold back the tears.
Finally, we stumble through the front door, into the warmth of the Homestead. My breathing comes heavy, my chest heaving with exertion, but I made it.
I drink up the familiar wrought-iron chandeliers suspended from a vaulted ceiling. The rich wood paneling and exposed timber beams. A long, polished wooden table stretches the length of the room to the right of the staircase, with bench seating on one side and chairs on the other, long enough to seat ten people.
A basket covered in a white cloth sits at the center, and drool floods my mouth at the thought of the breakfast pastries it surely contains.
Holden leads me to the left, past the two smaller tables set in front of the stone fireplace.
“Let’s get you settled, and I’ll fix you up some chicken noodle soup.” Holden guides me toward the back hallway. “I’m sorry. We haven’t had time to set up a room for you upstairs. But everything is as you left it in your suite.”
A new room, upstairs? They were…planning for me to stay? To live here with them?
Permanently?
A lump forms in my throat. After everything, after questioning their feelings… They always wanted me here. Shame burns through me. How could I have ever doubted their intentions?
“It’s okay,” I try to joke, blinking back the tears. “Not sure I can handle stairs right now.”
Despite my efforts, a small sob escapes my throat. The tears overflow, trailing hot down my cheeks.
“Chloe? What’s wrong?” Alarmed, Holden reaches out a hand to cup my face. “Are you in pain?”
Unable to form words through the knot of emotion, I shake my head. Their kindness, their care… The intensity of my feelings overwhelms me.
A distressed rumble sounds from Dominic’s chest as I break down, and Holden pulls me into his arms, tucking my head under his chin. I press my face into the soft fabric of his sweater, breathing in the comforting scent of vanilla that clings to him.
“Shh, it’s all right,” he soothes, one hand rubbing gentle circles on my back. “Let it out. We’ve got you now.”
“I didn’t… I didn’t think you would come for me,” I confess between shuddering breaths, the words muffled against his chest. “They said…they told me you left me at the hospital. That you didn’t care.”
Holden’s arms tighten around me. “Never,” he swears, his voice rough with emotion. “Chloe, we never stopped searching for you, not for one second. We would never abandon you. We were ready to storm all of Louie’s penthouses to find you.”
Fresh sobs wrack my body, relief and desperate, aching love swirling inside me. “I was so alone, locked in that room, not knowing if I’d ever see you again.”
A vicious snarl rips from Dominic’s throat, his citrusy scent sharpening with fury.
Holden hushes his bondmate. “Not now.”
Then his attention returns to me, his expression sad. “I’m so sorry for everything you went through. But you’re safe now. We won’t let anyone hurt you ever again.”
My legs tremble, knees folding as the events of the day—the past three weeks—catch up to me.
Dominic reaches out a steadying hand, then in one smooth motion, he scoops me up into his arms, cradling me against his chest.
“Hey!” I protest weakly, smacking him with my cast. “Who gave you permission to pick me up?”
Even as I grumble, I bury my face against the warm skin at the base of his throat. I nuzzle into him, seeking the source of the alluring blend of tangy citrus and clean musk.
Dominic’s rumbling purr vibrates through me as I burrow closer. “Just pretend it’s Holden carrying you.”
The suggestion earns him another thump of my cast. “Shut up.”
Dominic turns to follow Holden down the hall toward my old guest suite, his strong arms supporting me with ease. My eyelids droop with exhaustion, but I force them open, needing to take in every detail.
After everything, I’m back where I belong.
Dominic carries me over the threshold into my suite, and I stare in disbelief. Everything is as I left it, down to the half-full cup of water on the nightstand and the eReader left by the loveseat, waiting for me to return to it.
It’s as if I never left. As if the past three weeks, the terror and pain inflicted by Louie, the despair of believing myself abandoned, was nothing more than a horrible nightmare.
The nearly healed broken arm and the ache in my body from my stomach being pumped make it all too real. I shudder in Dominic’s arms, and they tighten around me.
When he strides toward the bed, intending to lay me down, I squirm in protest. “Wait! Don’t put me in bed like this. I need a shower first.”
Dominic’s brow furrows. “Not sure that’s a good idea. You’re dead on your feet. What if you fall over? You could hit your head and give yourself a concussion, or worse.”
I open my mouth to argue that I’ll be fine, but Holden chimes in. “What about a bubble bath instead? I can run it for you, get it nice and warm so you can soak while I whip up some soup.”
The mental image is tempting, sinking into a steamy, fragrant tub, letting the heat soak into my aching muscles and wash away the lingering traces of Louie from my skin.
I start to nod, but stop when my head throbs in protest. “Yes, please. A bath sounds perfect.”
Holden flashes me a tender smile, the sight of it filling me with warmth before he heads into the en suite to start the water running.
Dominic boosts me a little higher in his arms, as if he plans to hold me until the bath fills.
“I’m okay to stand now,” I tell him.
He peers down at my shoes and shakes his head. “Those filthy shoes will ruin the carpet.”
“I barely wore them outside.” I glare at him. “Dominic Sterling, if you don’t set me on my own two feet this instant, I swear I will whack you with this cast again!”
Dominic arches one eyebrow. “Those little love taps? A kitten hits harder than you.”
With a squawk of annoyance, I raise my plastered arm in threat.
Dominic regards me for a long moment, weighing my sincerity before he huffs out a breath. “Fine. But don’t blame me if you fall over again.”
With exaggerated care, he lowers me until my toes touch the hardwood floor. My legs wobble like jello, but I refuse to cling to him for support.
Childish perhaps, but I’m tired of being treated like a doll. I had enough of that from Louie. While this is different, now safe within the walls of the Homestead, memories of my past with Dominic resurface, reminding me why I shouldn’t rush to trust him again.
Sadness tightens his features. “Please don’t look at me like that.”
I focus on the carpet beneath the bed. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize, either,” he says gruffly. “I own what I did and accept that it’s going to take time. Thank you for giving me a chance.”
Before I can respond, Holden calls out from the bathroom. “Bath’s ready! I added some coconut oil, so I hope you like the scent.”
“I do.” Natural oils don’t interfere with pheromones the way synthetic ones do, and the Homestead only stocks Alpha and Omega-friendly products, as far as I could tell.
I turn and shuffle toward the en suite, and Holden meets me at the door, a tender look on his handsome face. My heart flips at the sight.
Then his expression shifts to concern as he examines my matted hair. “Oh, Chloe… It’s going to be tricky to bathe with your arm in a cast. You need to make sure you don’t get it wet.”
Behind me, Dominic says, “How about I figure out the chicken noodle soup while you help Chloe clean up, Holden?”
Offended by the idea of anyone but him in the kitchen, he starts to protest before his expression softens as he stares at me. “That’s a great idea, Dom. Thank you.”
Holden extends his hand. “What do you say, sugar? Will you let me help you bathe? I promise to be a perfect gentleman.”
The intimate offer brings a flush to my cheeks, despite my exhaustion, and nerves twist in my stomach.
The thought of Holden’s gentle hands on my bare skin, washing me with tender care, quickens my pulse, and I take his hand. “Okay. Yes, I’d like that.”
Holden beams, pleased by my acceptance. He guides me toward the bathtub, steam swirling around us.
True to his word, Holden turns his back while I undress. My cheeks blaze red as I drop the sweats to the ground, leaving myself nude. All it would take is a peek in the vanity mirror for Holden to see me, but he keeps his head turned away.
With my uninjured hand, I grip the edge of the tub for balance and step over the rim, lowering myself inside. A sigh of pure relief escapes as I sink into the fragrant water, soothing heat enveloping my sore body.
The water rises high enough to cover my breasts, the bubbles concealing me from view. My good arm sinks below the surface, leaving my casted arm resting outside the tub to ensure my cast stays dry.
I clear my throat. “I’m in.”
He turns, his face as red as mine. From the shower, he collects shampoo, conditioner, and a comb before kneeling beside me.
He sets the items on the tiles beside me. “Is it all right if I touch you?”
“Yes, of course.” A showerhead hangs on the wall beside me, and I pass it to him. “How do you want me?”
His blush deepens as he turns on the water, adjusting the temperature until he’s satisfied with the spray. “Lean forward and shut your eyes. Let me do all the work.”
I do as instructed, taking deep breaths as the hot water caresses my scalp. The sound of the shampoo bottle opening fills the air, and he starts at the nape of my neck, working his way upward with firm, deft fingers, massaging away the knots built by weeks of tension.
My toes curling against the bathtub, I bite back a moan.
As he works his way up to my scalp, his touch becomes feather-light, tracing the contours of my skull. The light spray of water returns, washing away the shampoo. The water stings my eyes a little, but I don’t care.
This is exactly what I needed.
Light fingers touch my arm. “Are these bruises from the fall at the construction site?”
I hear the question under the question and reach up to cover his hand with mine. “Yes, they’re from the fall. Louie never hit me.”
He breathes a sigh of relief and picks up the bottle of conditioner.
With the same level of tenderness as before, he gently works the comb through the tangles. “Are you doing okay?”
“Mmhm,” I hum, unable to form words.
“Good, I’m glad.” He rinses away the conditioner. “You can lean back now.”
When I do, a damp cloth cleans my face.
I blink away the last of the droplets and open my eyes.
Holden grins down at me. “There you are.”
I smile back. “Here I am.”
He moves to my injured arm, lifting it. With a damp washcloth, he wipes down my fingers, washing them as best he can. Then he uses a soft brush to clean under my nails, his brow furrowed in concentration.
“Chloe…” His thumb grazes over my knuckles. “What happened that put you back at the hospital? It wasn’t for a checkup.”
A lump forms in my throat. “I stole my mother’s suppressants, and when my Heat came, I…I overdosed on them.”
Holden stills, his hand tightening around mine. “Did Louie…” He grits his teeth. “Did he try to force himself on you?”
A violent shudder runs through me at the memories. Louie’s hungry possessiveness, the way he pushed his touches on me, the smug assurance that I’d be his. “He never forced himself on me. He claimed to want me willing and would wait for my Heat to come. But…he came close a few days before I overdosed.”
All over again, I can feel his mouth on mine, his body climbing on top of me. “I was so upset about Grady, and he—” A sob escapes me. “He tried to take advantage…”
With a wounded noise, Holden pulls me against his chest, uncaring of the water. He holds me as I cry, rubbing soothing circles on my back.
“I’ve got you now, sugar. You’re safe.” His lips brush my temple. “No one will ever touch you again without your permission. I swear it.”
Turning my face into his neck, I breathe in his comforting vanilla cake scent and pray he’s right. That here, on Misty Pines, the monsters of my past can’t reach me anymore.
“I’m so sorry about Grady.” His fingers card through my wet hair, brushing the strands back from my tear-streaked face. “The doctors are still hopeful, though. I’ve been to visit him several times to check on how he’s doing. They say he could wake up any day now.”
Confusion breaks through my anguish, and I lift my head, blinking up at him. “What do you mean?” My voice wobbles. “Louie said Grady died .”
Holden’s brow furrows as he searches my face. “No, sugar, that’s not true at all. Grady’s still in a coma, but his vitals are strong. There’s no reason he shouldn’t recover.”
“He’s…alive?” I hardly dare to believe it. “Grady’s alive?”
“Yes, he is,” Holden assures me. “Grady’s a fighter. He’s hanging on.”
A strangled laugh bubbles up from my chest, mingling with the tears still streaming down my cheeks. Relief crashes over me in dizzying waves. My best friend, my rock, the one person who’s always stood by me, didn’t die thinking I’d abandoned him.
He’s still here.
As my reality shifts, I tremble within Holden’s embrace.
He holds me, whispering soothing words against my hair. “He’s going to be okay, Chloe. You both are. We’ll make sure of it.”
I believe him. Here, enveloped in his strong arms and comforting scent, I feel safe for the first time in so long. Maybe the broken pieces of my life can be put back together again, as long as these Alphas stand by my side.
Turning my face into the crook of Holden’s neck, I breathe him in, letting his scent and his strength seep into my bones. “Thank you for being here. For not giving up on me.”
“Never.” His arms tighten around me. “I’ll never give up on you, Chloe. Not ever.”
I believe him. With every fiber of my bruised and battered heart, I believe him.
But can I trust the other Alphas in his pack not to dash this fragile hope?