Chapter 38
“It’s your lucky day, inmate,” Cumy announced as soon as he whipped open my cell door. “You’re out on bail.”
My heart jumped. That meant they’d gotten me out, but how? I wasn’t supposed to get bail.
How had they done it?
Only two Packs involved with me had that power. Bourne and Greymont, neither of which were options I wanted to see when I walked through those doors. Nerves turned my stomach over and over. The discomfort in my stomach had settled . . . almost like the bonds were soothed.
I closed my eyes. Fuck, it had to be them.
“Can I deny it?”
“Stand up, inmate,” he barked, rolling his shoulders. I bristled, gritting my teeth. I slowly pushed off the cement. My muscles pinched. My feet were numb, so I had to lean on the wall to brace myself.
How poetic that Cumy was delivering this information after being the one who’d checked me into the jail.
He crouched and unlocked the chains at my ankles. Standing, he checked the cuffs and unwound the chains that had been attached to my ankle, leaving me only in the wrist restraints.
He waved me forward, and I shuffled past, slowing enough for him to take the lead, heading in the opposite direction from before. He walked me toward two large swinging doors and used a key card to open them.
“Is Sergei okay?”
“He’s alive, if that’s what you’re asking, but your Pack beat the kid bloody,” he tsked. “That’s what he gets for sticking his c—” He cleared his throat.
We crossed into the initial cell I’d been left in to wait, and he guided me toward a booth.
The place was a maze, and all the turns and halls left me discombobulated, which, I was sure, was the point.
“Mornin’ Sue,” Cumy said to the woman behind the glass. “Can you get me her things?” My inmate number rolled off his tongue.
A number—that was what I’d been reduced to. Sue returned with a plastic bag and slapped it into the metal container. She pushed a lever, a small ramp lifted, and a package slid out. Cumy finished undoing the cuffs on my wrists and waved at the plastic bag. I hugged the clothes to my chest.
He didn’t need to urge me more than once toward the door to the left. It buzzed, and I shoved past, my heart thundering.
And I came to a halt, my smile wilting. All three of them stood in the waiting area, their expressions varying.
Elias reached for me, and I stepped back, avoiding him.
“This is how it’ll work,” Cumy said from behind me, holding a clipboard. He wasn’t looking at me; his focus was all on Elias, and it grated on me. “She’s being released into Greymont Pack’s custody.”
I stiffened, my mouth pursing.
I might not know much, but it was clear this wasn’t the usual discharge process. It didn’t seem like the place was even open to visitors yet. Another show of what wealth could get you.
“Sign here.” He tapped the bottom of the page and held out the blue pen for me. I took it mechanically and scrawled my signature at the bottom.
“It’s a statement, saying you understand that you will keep within the parameters of bail. Including house arrest and no traveling.”
“What?” I snapped. House arrest?
“Officer Bryant will escort you home in a patrol vehicle.” He jerked his head to the frosted glass doors. “He’s waiting right outside. Questions?”
I shook my head.
He grunted and went back through the doors we’d entered from.
“Let’s go,” Kyan murmured.
I avoided his arm and made for the exit, so none of them would touch me, stepping out into the cold, crisp morning air. I lifted my nose and breathed. Dawn turned the sky into a brilliant orange-red.
I headed for the SUV parked at the curb. A police cruiser sat behind it, the engine humming, but I didn’t focus on that.
I was out, without chains. Another piece of life I’d taken for granted—walking so uninhibitedly.
Kyan opened the passenger door. I didn’t quibble about it, hopped in, and shut the door behind me, not looking at him.
I could feel his gaze on me from outside the window, but I stayed steady, staring ahead.
The doors opened and shut, and the engine started.
Only then did I turn. Elias’ mouth was curved in a frown.
I clasped my hands together, feeling the raised scars on my palm that had formed, four bumps of raised skin.
“Briar,” he said. His voice softer than I’d ever heard. His hand reached for mine resting on my lap. I pulled away before he touched me, and he froze with his hand mid-air.
I stayed as still as possible, and he finally retreated, placing his hand back on the steering wheel.
“Briar,” he started again.
“Not right now,” I bit out, crossing my arms. I couldn’t wait to get out of this jumpsuit.
Silence reigned on the rest of the drive. Thank God, I didn’t want to keep at it. None of what they said mattered. I squeezed my torso even harder. My mind wandered, and the freeway blurred.
First order of business was getting to the house and sleeping on a fucking bed.
I forgot what a proper mattress felt like.
I came to as Elias turned the SUV down the tree-bracketed road leading to their place.
It didn’t take long for him to park in front of the house.
The cruiser pulled up behind us and idled.
I hopped out of the car and wove around Kyan again, ignoring his frustration coming through the bond he’d forced.
A black vehicle, with Parole Officer printed on the side, rolled up and parked. A woman swung her legs out.
She approached, her left hand hooked into her belt. She swept her eyes over the Greymonts hovering behind and returned her focus to me.
“I’ll be your P.O.” A waft of her Alpha scent slapped into my senses.
Sinclair was so close I could feel his breath on my neck.
I whipped around to glare, but his focus was on her.
He looked ready to throw down. I shook my head, even though he still hadn’t looked at me.
She fiddled with a black metal band. She crouched, keys jangling with her movements.
“Tug this up.” She flicked the gray pants, and I did what she asked.
“You can’t go outside a one-yard distance from the house. It’ll take effect as soon as you walk in.” She jerked her head in a nod. “I’ll be checking in with you once a week. Any questions?”
I shook my head. It was pretty clear.
She nodded again and walked over to the cruiser. She leaned in to talk to the officer.
I turned to look up at their home, where I would be locked up for the foreseeable future, and went inside.
“Wait, Briar,” Elias snapped, and his frustration slid over me in a brief flash. I stopped in the middle of the foyer and was mid-turn when he grabbed my hand. A gaping, soul-deep pain wracked my frame. I crumpled on the ground with a gasp.
Elias’ horror-filled gaze didn’t leave mine. I curled in on myself, like it would soothe the remaining sting.
He looked down at his hand and then over at Kyan, who kept shaking his head.
They seemed to have an idea of what was happening. Kyan turned back to me and crouched to get closer.
“I have to confirm something,” he said gently and pressed a fingertip to the top of my hand. As soon as our skin touched, the wave of agony hit me, and I wheezed, dropping onto my side.
“I’m so sorry,” he croaked, flinching back so fast he fell on his ass.
God, that hurt. I gasped, the swell of pain wasn’t acute like when he touched me, but I could taste the remnant pain.
Kyan staggered to his feet and met Elias’ shocked eyes.
“Bond Sickness,” Kyan whispered.