17. Ellis
Ellis
"Quit looking at your phone," Allie chides. "They'll get back when they get back."
I sigh and set my phone on the counter. "Sorry. I'm just not used to not being there when they’re in danger."
She gives me a sympathetic smile, her blue eyes filled with compassion. "Keep busy. It will take your mind off things."
I grumble under my breath, but fill another bucket with hot water. Before I can lift it and trudge up the stairs with it, a large hand reaches over my shoulder and grabs the handle.
"I can carry it," Cole says, lifting the bucket effortlessly.
I watch him carry it upstairs and turn back to Allie. "Now what? He took my job."
She opens her mouth, but a buzz sounds through the house. With a smile she gestures to the laundry room. "You can fold blankets."
We've been hustling all morning to make sure we have everything we could possibly need for Cade's family's arrival. Not knowing what condition they will be in, we are preparing for everything.
My stomach knots thinking of the worst possible scenarios and how they will affect Cade. I know Kai is with him and can comfort him if needed, but it still seems like I should be there too.
Snapping in front of my face draws me out of my head. "Earth to Ellis," Allie coos.
"Sorry." I shake my head and turn to the laundry room.
The blankets are warm and smell like a fresh breeze with a hint of pine. I bury my nose in them, inhaling the scent that somehow still clings to Sterling despite him having not lived here in ages. It soothes the nervous part of me, and my shoulders relax.
Allie and I sit on the couch and fold the blankets and sheets. She keeps one eye on me like she's making sure I don't fall apart or run out of the house and head straight for the city.
"I'm fine, Allie. You don't have to keep staring at me."
"I can't help it," she cracks a smile. "You're just so sexy."
"Watch it," Sterling growls, descending the stairs. "She's taken."
"And so are you, Allie" Connor chimes in behind him.
Despite their stern faces, their eyes are alight with humor. Sterling approaches me and leans down, brushing a kiss against my lips.
"Cade texted me just now," he says. "They’re on their way back with his mom and sister."
I gasp. "Really? Did he say anything else?"
"No. But they should be here in about forty minutes."
I release a breath and sink back into the couch. "I hope they’re okay. At least as okay as they can be." I move a pile of folded blankets to the laundry basket, and Sterling sits on the arm of the couch. "Have you ever met them?" I ask.
He shakes his head. "By the time we met Cade, they had already been held captive for a few years. He didn't start working for Kennedy until his dad died."
Given everything that’s about to happen and not knowing their wellbeing, I can't help but feel a tinge of nerves. Meeting Cade's mom and sister is a big deal, and we'll be meeting under extreme circumstances.
Sterling catches on to my change in mood, and I don't know if it's the bond, his wolf, or just him being able to read me, but he seems to know exactly where my thoughts traveled.
"They'll love you, Ellis. My mom fell in love with you the second she met you. And you managed to worm your way into Cole's heart pretty damn quickly. I have no doubt Cade’s family will be the same."
Sterling tucks a curl behind my ear and kisses me again. He lingers a second longer, despite Allie and Connor talking softly with each other at the opposite end of the couch.
The front door opening draws us apart, and Sterling hops up to help Shari carry grocery bags in.
"They’re on their way back," he tells his mom. "Connor and I moved the beds around upstairs so they will both be in the same room. It’ll be easier for Allie to take care of them if they’re together."
"Good," Shari says. Ever since we came to her with the idea of bringing Cade's family here, she's been in go mode, making sure her house is ready and welcoming. "Cole, help me get some soup started."
The wait for them to arrive almost kills me. Even Sterling attempting to distract me doesn't keep me from pacing the living room. The scent of vegetables, spices, and herbs float through the house, making it even more welcoming. My stomach grumbles, the aroma enticing me, but the thought of eating makes my stomach clench uncomfortably.
Car doors opening and closing have me rushing to the front door. I throw it open and dart onto the porch. Cade helps a woman out of the backseat, and despite her haggard appearance and matted brown hair, the resemblance is clear. His sister.
My heart stops, though, when Kai lifts a blanket wrapped bundle from the back seat. A rattling cough sounds from the fabric, and Cade's pinched expression deepens.
"Sterling will show you to your room," I say, clutching my stomach. I search his gaze for ... anything. His violet eyes are dim and clouded with worry. "Allie is up there too."
He nods and leads his sister inside, followed by Kai carrying his mom. I stand on the porch, unsure what to do now. I'm no use to them upstairs. I'll only get in the way. But standing on the porch, I feel so useless.
"Have you eaten yet today?" Cole asks, popping his head around the door frame.
His blue eyes study me, taking in everything from the worry pinching my eyes to the way I chew on my cheek. His eyes are so similar to Sterling's. I realize I'm staring and not answering his question, so I shake my head, cheeks heating.
He ushers me inside and to the kitchen table. "The least I can do is make sure you don't starve to death. Sterling will kill me if you do."
A steaming bowl of vegetable soup appears in front of me, the scent forcing itself up my nose. I swallow, my mouth suddenly watering.
"Here." Cole hands me a spoon and sits across from me. "It's strange. After all that hustle and bustle, and here we are. Sitting quietly in the kitchen with nothing to do."
"I feel so useless," I whisper.
He shakes his head. "Nah. Your skills will be needed later."
"And what skills are those?"
"Comforting Cade. When his adrenaline disappears, and he's exhausted from using his magic, it will be your job to care for him. To make sure he does what he needs to stay healthy."
“I guess,” I mumble, between blowing on my soup to cool it. “I just feel like there should be … more … for me to do.”
“Don’t underestimate the power of your presence. Just being here is helping Cade more than you could know.”
I nod, even though I’m still skeptical, and eat a spoonful of the soup. Damn. Shari can cook. This is the best vegetable soup I’ve ever had. It doesn’t take long for me to get half the soup eaten, despite it burning my tongue. Once it hit my stomach, I realized how hungry I really was.
Cole clears his throat and rubs the back of his neck. “Hey, Ellis? While we’re here, I wanted to thank you.”
I choke on the mouthful I’d just taken, a piece of carrot getting stuck in my throat for a moment. “For what?” I finally rasp.
“For being honest with me. For forcing me to see the truth and giving me the encouragement to talk to Sterling.” He shrugs, digging at the table with his nail and refusing to look at me. “I don’t remember a lot from before he left, I was so young. But I remember the feeling of being lost for a long time. I idolized him when I was a pup. And when he left, I didn’t understand why. I just knew that it hurt. And I let that hurt cloud my judgment when I was finally old enough to understand.”
“Well, you're welcome. I just know what it’s like to lose a sibling. And if I could do something to help you guys, I had to do it.”
He nods, and we go back to eating our soup in silence. When I’m finished, I rinse my bowl and place it in the sink, turning around to find Kai descending the stairs. I rush toward him.
“How are … things?” I ask.
Kai appears to deflate as he releases a breath, and he wraps me in his arms, burying his nose in my hair. “Mmm, you smell good,” he mumbles.
“Kai.” I poke him the ribs, attempting to get him back on track.
“Chloe is fine. She’s just malnourished and exhausted. His mom … well, I think it’s like what happened to Sterling.” He links our fingers together and leads me to the couch, sighing again as he sits down. None of us got a lot of sleep last night, and being awake during the day is disorienting. “Their magic was blocked by something that was fed to them. His mom is struggling to fight off an infection caused by a cold. Allie thinks she has pneumonia, and may possibly be septic. Cade and Connor have both tried healing her, but whatever is in her system, it’s blocking their magic too. Allie gave her an IV for fluids and antibiotics, as well as a fever reducer. The hope is when her magic comes back, it will help her heal.”
I bite my bottom lip, dread curling through me. “Oh gosh. What can I do? Can I do anything?”
“Cade is upstairs,” Allie says, overhearing my questions as she comes down the stairs with Shari and Connor. All three of them sit in the living room with heavy sighs. Connor looks drawn and pale, like he used a lot of his magic helping Cade. “He could use you, I think.”
I hop to my feet and dash up the steps before the last word leaves her lips. I find Cade sitting on the floor in the hallway. His knees are drawn to his chest, and his head rests on his folded arms across his knees. I kneel next to him, gently running my hand through his brown hair. He slowly turns his head to look at me. His violet eyes are the saddest I’ve ever seen them. A weight sits on him, heavy and suffocating, and it breaks my heart.
“Cade,” I whisper. I sit on the floor next to him and wrap my arms around him. He buries his face in my chest and lets me hold him. I keep running my fingers through his hair, gently scraping my nails against his scalp.
It takes me a moment for me to realize he’s crying. His body shakes with small, silent sobs. I hold him tighter, gently rocking back and forth, hoping I can be enough to calm him. He clings to me, wrapping his arms around my waist and crying into my middle. A song comes to me, one my mom used to sing when Gracie and I were upset or sick. The lyrics are just mist in my mind, but the melody is clear.
Softly, I hum the song while I hold my soul-bonded in my arms, giving him the only thing I can. Support. Love. A safe place to just let it all go. When his tears stop, I pull him to his feet and head toward Cole’s bedroom. I saw him put clean sheets on his bed, and I’ve decided to commandeer it.
Cole’s room is starkly bare. The white walls and cream carpet are clear of anything. His queen sized bed is covered in a simple navy blanket. It’s more than enough for Cade to rest and recharge.
“Let’s get you tucked into bed.” I let go of his hand and he stumbles, until I grab his waist to steady him. “How much magic did you use?” I ask quietly, peering at his drawn face.
“Too much,” he rasps. “But it wasn't enough.” Red rimmed violet eyes look straight through me. Dark circles bloom under them, and his mouth is pulled into a deep frown.
“Oh, Cade.” I clasp his cheeks, wiping away the tears still clinging to his skin. Lifting onto my toes, I press a soft kiss to his forehead. “Arms up.” I drag his shirt over his head before pushing him onto the bed when he stumbles again. Kneeling on the floor, I tug off his shoes and help him swing his legs onto the mattress. “Come here,” I say, patting the spot next to me after I climb on the bed.
Cade scootches over until his head rests on my lap and he wraps his arms around my thighs, using me like a body pillow. I lean against the headboard and run my fingers through his hair again.
“Get some sleep, Cade. I’ll be here.” My heart flutters as he sighs and his body relaxes, sleep already claiming him. Being able to offer him this safe spot means more to him than I ever realized.
I don’t stop running my fingers through his hair. The memory of my mom doing the same for me, and the comfort it provided, drives me to keep going. I want to give him that comfort. The door opens and Kai and Sterling step into the room, quietly closing it behind them.
“Is he asleep?” Kai asks, almost whispering.
I nod, watching Kai take off his shirt and shoes before climbing into bed next to Cade, pressing a kiss to his temple. He gets as close as he can to me, pressing Cade tight between us, and I use my other hand to run my fingers through Kai’s silken hair. He sighs and closes his eyes, a content smile on his lips.
“Allie just left,” Sterling says. “She said she’ll be back first thing tomorrow morning.” He sits on my other side, still wearing his shirt and shoes. His hand grasps the back of my neck and pulls me toward him for a quick kiss. “Have you eaten?” he asks when he pulls away.
“Yes. Cole made sure I did.”
A soft, rumbling chuckle echoes in his chest. “Good. I guess he can be trained after all.”
My head falls to the side and I stare at my mate. “Why are you still wearing your shoes?”
“I’m going to meet some of the pack about a few wolves who’ve been causing some trouble.”
I pout, hoping I can convince him to stay with us. I never really feel complete unless all of us are together. It’s like some part of me is missing, and it leaves me just slightly off balance.
The smile he gives me tells me he sees my attempt, but has chosen to ignore it. “Get some sleep, kitten. This is technically our nighttime.” He kisses me again, lingering a moment longer. Before I can try to deepen it, he pulls away. “I love you, Ellis.”
“I love you too, Sterling,” I whisper.
He disappears and I sigh, scooting down in the bed to lay my head on the pillow, doing my best to keep from jostling Cade. Still, he mumbles something and re-adjusts, snuggling against me even more. So much has happened today. I faced Thomas again. I threatened to release the footage of me with Sam. Cade rescued his family. My thoughts are so jumbled and overwhelming. There is still so much we have to do. I’m surprised to find my eyelids growing heavy, so I let them close and fall asleep with two of my three guys.