Chapter 7
I DON'T THINK I COULD DO THIS WITHOUT YOU ALL.
The heavy door to my private quarters creaked open, a welcome sight after a chaotic day.
I stepped inside, the dim lighting casting shadows on the walls as I kicked off my shoes and dropped face down onto the bed.
It felt exactly how I imagined a military bed would feel.
Somehow soft and yet oh so hard. A groan of exhaustion escaped my lips, muffled by the blankets beneath me.
Damn promotion. With this newfound responsibility came the frustrating realization that I, along with the entire team, would be confined to the headquarters for the supernatural division.
Being half human and half demon was already an overwhelming burden, but now I'd have no escape from the chaos that seemed to follow me everywhere.
I missed my mates' compound I'd first gone to right after they'd taken me from the insanity that was my mother's house.
My skin crawled at the thought of being trapped, even if it meant working with my team.
They had been my rock in this strange new world I found myself in, but even their presence couldn't quell the frustration building within me.
My mind raced, searching for some semblance of control over the situation, but coming up empty. They insisted that I could handle this.
But could I? I had absolutely no control over my demonic powers, and they always seemed to flare up at the worst possible times.
The thought of unleashing them within the confines of the headquarters made my heart race, and not in a good way.
I'd burned down one of their buildings… I didn't want to do it again.
"You can do this. You have to." But even as I repeated the mantra, my frustration only seemed to grow. This wasn't the life I had wanted or expected, but it was the one I found myself in. And as much as I longed for a simpler existence, I knew deep down that there was no turning back now.
Earlier, after Zandia had left, and I'd talked to the group, a clean-up crew had arrived.
They were instructed to deal with the mess left behind at the bar and handle the dirty agents.
All except for poor Mr. Smith, who Trux had decided to drag along with us.
As much as I hated the thought of involving him, I wasn't in the mood to argue with a Hesolga enraged Alpha.
Once all that was settled, we'd traveled through the night before finally arriving somewhere in the Cascade Mountain range.
The scenery was breathtaking, but I could hardly appreciate it when I felt like my entire world had turned upside down.
As soon as we arrived, I'd retreated to my room, desperate for even a moment's respite from everything that had happened.
A soft knock on the door seemed to echo in my quiet room, like a mocking reminder of the chaos outside. I sighed, burying my face further into the blanket on the hard bed. Sleeping here would suck.
"Busy," I called out, my voice muffled. "Come back tomorrow."
"Hey, Parker, it's Grayson. Can we talk?" His gentle voice filtered through the door, apologetic but insistent.
"Fine, come in," I muttered, refusing to move from my spot. The door creaked open, and I expected to see Grayson's grey eyes. Instead, someone crouched next to my bed, and amber eyes peered at me from beneath furrowed brows. Kearan.
His unexpected presence caught me off guard, and for a moment, all I could do was stare at him. I tried to read his expression, but he remained as enigmatic as always. A thousand questions swirled in my mind, but I held them back, not wanting to overwhelm him.
"Hi," I said softly, giving Kearan a soft smile as I tucked my hand under my chin to look at him better.
Kearan nodded in response, his gaze never leaving mine. He seemed hesitant, as if unsure of what to say or do. I wondered why he had come instead of Grayson, but I didn't want to push him away by prying.
"Grayson said you wouldn't mind if I checked on you," Kearan admitted, his amber eyes filled with concern.
Silence filled the space between us, and I noticed Grayson lingering near the door, watching us intently.
"I thought he was coming in, but I'm happy to see you here with me too," I ventured, hoping to break the silence between us. It felt heavy, charged with unspoken words and emotions.
"Ah... yeah," Kearan replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just... wanted to check on you. You've been through a lot lately."
"You're worried about me?" I asked, touched by his concern. It wasn't often that Kearan opened up like this, and I appreciated his vulnerability.
"Of course," he whispered, so low I almost couldn't hear him. "You're important to us. To me."
"Thank you, Kearan," I said, my heart aching with gratitude. "That means more than you know."
"Anytime, Parker. Anytime." Kearan's lips curved into a gentle smile, and for a fleeting moment, he seemed about to reach for me.
But then he hesitated and pulled back, the vulnerability in his eyes quickly replaced by a guarded expression.
As he walked past Grayson on his way out, he paused briefly to pat Grayson's shoulder.
"Take care of her," Kearan whispered, and Grayson nodded solemnly before stepping further into the room and closing the door behind him.
The intimate touch between Kearan and Grayson didn't go unnoticed, hinting at their relationship. I loved that Kearan felt comfortable with Grayson. Someday he would feel safe enough with me to be vulnerable.
I felt a mixture of curiosity and warmth as Grayson took Kearan's place next to the bed, his pale grey eyes filled with tender concern.
"Here," he murmured, pushing the rogue strand of hair out of my face that Kearan had originally reached for. "Kearan wanted to do that but couldn't."
"Thank you." I sighed. "One day, I'll figure out how to get past his defenses."
"Maybe," Grayson agreed. I wondered if his psychic powers lent a knowing edge to his words. "But you're making good progress. He has a lot going on, so the fact that you've gotten this close with him is a good sign."
I furrowed my brow, considering Kearan's conflicted demeanor earlier. "I know it's a good thing that he's concerned about me, but I really wish he would come to me for something other than an injury."
His expression turned serious. "You've been through so much recently, and Kearan is worried that you might get exhausted. More so that you'll keep it to yourself instead of reaching out for support."
"Exhausted or not, I have to keep going," I said, determination igniting within me. "For all of us."
"Remember, though, we're here to help," Grayson reminded me, his voice gentle and reassuring. "You don't have to bear everything alone."
"Even if it feels like I do sometimes?" My voice was small and vulnerable.
"Especially then," Grayson insisted, his hand finding mine and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We're in this together, Parker. All of us."
"Thank you, Grayson," I whispered, feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude and love for these two men who had come into my life in such an unexpected way. And the rest of the team. "I don't know what I'd do without you… all of you."
"Neither do we," Grayson admitted with a soft smile. "But we're not going anywhere."
"Promise?" I asked, needing the reassurance more than I cared to admit.
"Promise," he confirmed, his eyes never leaving mine.
Rolling onto my back, I sighed, feeling the weight of reality pressing down on me.
"Except that I am exhausted, Grayson," I admitted, running a hand through my tangled, greasy hair.
I couldn't even remember the last time I showered.
The hits had been coming so fast lately.
"There's just so much to worry about. The timeline for the mating ritual, the constant new threats that seem to pop up every time we deal with one…
Less than a month ago, I was just a regular human. "
"Who didn't know about supernaturals?" he finished for me, his eyes filled with understanding. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he peered down at me, his expression both tender and resolute.
"Exactly. And now they're all over the place. Everywhere I…," I trailed off, unable to put into words the emotional turmoil that swirled within me. Letting my eyes drift shut, I wondered aloud. "Would my life have been better off without all the craziness that had happened recently?"
"Maybe," Grayson conceded. "But remember, you've been part demon ever since you were conceived.
It was only a matter of time before everything caught up to you.
" He leaned down, placing his hands on the bed on either side of my head, his face hovering mere inches above mine.
His grey eyes bore into me, serious and intense.
"It's all or nothing, Parker. Your mates are part of the supernatural world, but it's okay.
We're here to bear the burden with you."
I stared up at him, my heart swelling with gratitude and love for this man who had become such an integral part of my life. As Grayson's unwavering gaze held mine, I felt a powerful surge of determination rise up within me. No matter what challenges lay ahead, we were in this together.
"Thank you," I whispered, reaching up to trace the curve of his jaw with trembling fingers. "I don't think I could do this without you all."
"Good thing you don't have to," he murmured, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.