Chapter 27
Kayla
“And why do I feel really good?”
It’s Raechel once again that answers my question. “Sage and Paul are here from our pack. He’s a doctor, and she’s a healer. They worked on you together. I’m sure he’ll give you a report, but I think you’re good to go.”
I take stock of my body. “I feel good to go, that’s for sure.” I frown. “How far away do you all live?”
“Northern Wisconsin,” she fills me in.
“Then why did they come so far?”
She waves off my concern. “They’re like that. Oh, and Garrett and Emma are here as well.”
“Who are they?” I ask.
“Garrett’s the pack alpha, and Emma is his mate. Gonna warn you right now. He's super intense, powerful, scary, makes you want to confess anything you ever did.”
I blink. “And I want to meet him, why?”
She laughs. “Oh you sweet, naive thing.” I frown at that. “You’re cute that you think you get any choice when it comes to Garrett.”
“Angel,” Max says warningly just as a knock sounds.
She waves off his warning. “I’m just preparing her to meet him.”
“Pretty sure I don’t want to meet him,” I mutter.
“Pretty sure you don’t get a choice,” she mutters right back just as Max opens the door. I watch as a couple enters the room. The woman enters first and seeks me out, giving me a warm smile that I return instantly.
“Kayla,” the woman says warmly. “It’s so good to meet you.
I’m Emma.” She gives me another warm smile as she walks towards me.
“Can I hug you?” Her words take me by surprise, and I barely get a chance to nod before she wraps her arms around me.
“It’s so good to meet you.” I don’t know why, but emotion clogs my throat.
I force it away and look up. When I do, my eyes meet the dark eyes of the male behind her.
The breath gets stuck in my lungs, and I feel my body lock up.
I stumble back a step, immediately looking for Noah.
I grab his hand and push him behind me, never looking away from the dangerous male in front of us.
I take another step back, right into a hard chest.
“Dial it back.” There’s no missing the threat in Jackson’s voice, and the already tense room gets even more tense.
Those dark eyes meet mine again, and fear floods me. My heart starts racing, and my breathing speeds up. The room seems to go still. Then he speaks. “Kayla, I’m Garrett, Emma’s mate.” His voice is low and has an edge to it that I can almost feel.
“Garrett, tone it back a little,” Emma says quietly.
“Just waiting for the rogue to stop challenging me,” he says in a very dangerous voice.
I realize suddenly that his eyes aren’t on me; they’re on Jackson, behind me.
I finally turn slightly and look up at him.
I see his eyes are that brilliant blue that they sometimes seem to be.
“Jackson?” He doesn’t look at me; he continues to stare down the newcomer.
I turn back around to face Garrett. “He’s not going to do anything to you.
He comes across all gruff, but he’s actually really nice. ”
Raechel snorts. “Really nice,” she repeats with a laugh. “Oh, Chica.”
“He is,” I say, defending him.
“To you,” Raechel points out.
“Garrett,” Emma says again. I watch in fascination as he wraps an arm around her and pulls her close.
Then he addresses me without taking his eyes off Jackson. “Kayla, would you mind telling Jackson that you’re not scared anymore?”
My eyes widen. “Not scared? I’m terrified.”
Emma grimaces. “That’s not helping.”
I watch as Garrett’s eyes narrow, and the room seems to suddenly get smaller. “Pull your wolf back, or we’re going to have a problem.” His voice is lower now and rougher. Jackson laughs behind me; it’s low and just as dangerous sounding. “Something funny?” Garrett asks.
“The fact that you think you have any authority over me, Alpha.” He doesn’t say the word in a show of authority. He says it with menace.
I’m suddenly behind Jackson. It happens so fast. When I peek over his shoulder, I see that Raechel is behind Max now; and I can no longer see Emma. I get a really bad feeling. “Jackson?” My voice is soft, but I know he hears me because he squeezes my arm gently once.
“If you shift, I will rip your throat out.” Garrett’s words shock me into complete silence.
“Not gonna happen,” Jackson says, moving slightly, so that he’s in front of me again.
“Kayla, you need to end this right now.” The panic in Raechel’s voice is my undoing.
“What do I do?” I call out, fear filling me.
“You need to talk Jackson down, or they’re going to shift and fight,” she says. Multiple growls fill the room, and I can’t stop shaking.
“What do I do?” I call out. Jackson growls again, and I can feel it through his back.
“Get his attention now.” Raechel is practically yelling over the growling in the room.
“Jackson.” I meet Noah’s wide, terrified eyes, and decide enough is enough.
I won’t let anything happen to Noah on my watch.
I step in front of him. “Jackson!” I put my hands on his chest, intending to push him; but he snags my hands in his.
He looks down at me, and I suck in a breath.
His eyes are brighter than I’ve ever seen.
“Stop, please.” He stares down at me, and then then brightness in his eyes seems to fade.
I don’t move, and neither does he. After several long moments, the tension in the room starts to ease.
“We’re going to go to our room,” Garrett says in a low voice.
“The reason we’re here is because my pack members are here.
Remember that they are under my protection.
” Jackson starts to lift his head, but I wrap my hands around the back of his neck and pull, keeping his gaze on me.
Those intense eyes search mine, and it takes everything in my power to focus on what Garrett is saying.
“Bye, Kayla, it was nice to meet you,” Emma calls out quickly. The door closes a moment later, and they leave the room.
“Well, that went well,” Raechel says flatly. She sighs, sounding tired; and I force myself to turn around. She glares at Jackson. “You couldn’t just tone it back?” He doesn’t say a word, and Raechel shakes her head. “I’m tired; I’m going to bed. I think we’re heading back in the morning.”
I’m surprised I feel sad at her words. “Really?”
She smiles. “Yeah, but we’ll see you again. Don’t worry. Besides, your sisters will all want to unite with you.”
“My sisters?” I question.
“The other healers. You all are your own kind of crazy.” She puts up a hand. “Not saying that I’m not crazy too. I’m sure Sage and Sam will work something out to get all of you to meet up.” I don’t know either of those names, but I nod anyway.
“Can I give you a hug, or will he growl at me?” I nod at Max.
She smiles. “He’s a big softy.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Yeah, I’m not buying what you’re selling.”
She grins. “I mean he can rip a head off a vampire, so yeah.”
I swallow. “I think I’ll just wave from here.”
She laughs and walks over to me and hugs me tightly. “You’re one of us now; prepare to be smothered.”
“You know, everything you say feels threatening,” I tell her as I pull back.
She just smiles, but then she puts a hand on her belly. “Oh. I’m going to throw up.” She turns and opens the door to the room. “See you guys.” She’s gone a moment later with Max on her heels.
“Remind me never to get pregnant,” I say out loud to no one in particular. But when I turn around, Jackson is eyeing me with a look I’m not sure how to read. I’m pretty sure I don’t want to read this particular look. I take a breath and blow it out. “Are you taking us back to our place tonight or—”
“You’re staying with me tonight.” His voice hasn’t lost its gruffness. “Noah, this couch has a bed. Want to help me pull it out?” Noah nods seriously and walks over to the couch. Jackson turns to me and catches my arm. “If you want to take a shower before bed, it’s all yours.”
I hadn’t thought about it, but now the thought sounds amazing.
“A shower with hot water that doesn’t run out?
I’m in.” I walk into the bathroom to see if they have anything I can use.
Thankfully, it’s one of those nice hotels that has shampoo, conditioner, and body soap already in the shower.
I walk back out into the room and grab my bag.
For a moment, I look over at Jackson and Noah as they make the sofa bed.
Neither of them say a word, but they work well together.
My throat feels like it closes up a little as I watch.
I know Noah hasn’t known any good men in his life, and I worry about that for him.
Being around Jackson and Ransom is going to be so good for him.
Jackson looks over and catches me watching them.
He finishes making the bed and then walks over to me.
“Everything okay?” he asks, his voice quiet.
I look up at him. “I was just thinking that Noah hasn’t known any good men in his life until now. Until Butch, I guess, and now you and Ransom.”
Jackson frowns. “I’m not a good man.”
I think at first he’s teasing, but he doesn’t smile. “Yes, you are.”
“I’m a rogue wolf, Kayla. I know that doesn’t mean a lot to you, but it’s the reason the alpha looked like he wanted to kill me. It’s the reason they all give me a wide berth.”
I take that all in and want to know more, but Noah looks like he’s about to fall asleep standing up.
Jackson looks over his shoulder to see what I’m looking at and must see the same thing because he walks over to Noah.
“Go ahead and get ready for bed, Noah.” He glances over at me and holds my gaze a moment.
I don’t look away, and neither does he. Something passes between us; I don’t even know what it is.
“You’re a good man, Jackson.” I don’t leave him time to refute my comment.
I turn around and head to the shower. A minute later, I step under the hot water and sigh.
I can’t remember the last time I didn’t have to rush through my shower before it got cold.
I use the shampoo and conditioner and the body wash that smells amazing.
Just because I can, I wash a second time with the body soap.
I tell myself it’s because I can, not because I’m trying to get rid of the memories of today.
When my mind keeps trying to return to that room, I turn off the water and step out and dry off.
I slip into a tank top and shorts and put my hair up in a towel before brushing my teeth.
I open the door to the bathroom and watch as the steam billows out.
It’s darker in the room now, and I see Noah on his bed.
Even though he’s already tucked in, I pull his blanket off him and wrap him up in it a moment later.
It’s kind of our thing. I sit next to him on the bed. “Are you okay?” I ask softly.
He nods. “Are you?”
I smile at him. “I feel great. No bruising, no aches and pains.” I run my fingers through the hair on top of his head, the hair that still needs to be cut.
“And we no longer have to worry about Uncle Ben. I think we’re both going to sleep better tonight.
” His solemn eyes meet mine, and I wonder if I’m a terrible person.
Who tells their younger sibling to be happy that their family member is dead?
Just as I start beating me up, he takes my hand.
“We’re safe now, Kayla.”
And just like that, any shame or regret I felt is gone. I smile at him. “Yes, we are.” And I know we have Jackson to thank for that.