Chapter 29
LARK
When I emerge from the bathroom wrapped in a soft green towel, I see Hal sitting on the edge of my bed. His elbows are resting on his knees, and he’s cradling his head in his hands.
As soon as he hears me enter the room, he hops up and turns to face me. When he sees me in nothing but a towel, he stares for a long moment before dragging his gaze up to my face. “Feeling any better, wild girl?”
It felt good to get out of the soaking wet suit in the moment. But I’m regretting it as I stand here with only a towel to shield me from his heated gaze.
I shrug. “A little.”
At least I’m not covered in blood and tissue anymore. My head still hurts like a bitch, but that’s probably not going to go away until I sleep for a while.
Rook walks out of the bathroom behind me, wearing only a pair of low-slung jeans. I try not to stare at the enticing V of his hips, but I’m not very successful.
Ripping my gaze away, I force myself to look at Hal instead. He’s smirking at me, having caught me staring at his friend. “It’s up to you what we do next, but my beast is going crazy having you exposed out here instead of safe on our lands. Do you feel up to getting dressed and leaving?”
My eyes widen in surprise. “You’re a shifter? And, yeah, I’m good with leaving here for a while.”
I don’t really want to come back here ever again. It no longer feels like my safe haven or an escape from Oakridge Park. Instead, it feels like a mausoleum that forever enshrines all my sins.
I’ve also been wondering for months what the guys are. It feels weirdly anticlimactic for Hal just to casually drop that they’re shifters. It makes sense, though, if I’m the same as they are. I’m definitely a shifter, even if I’m unsure what type I am.
He huffs a laugh and shoves a hand through his messy brown hair. “Yeah. Didn’t you know that?”
I shake my head. “You guys smell like nothing. I can tell you’re supernatural, but I don’t get anything other than that. I assumed you were shifters, based on how bulky all of you are, but I honestly had no idea.”
Hal shoves his hands into his hoodie pockets. “Huh. We’ll need to tell Az about that. His illusion’s working a little too well.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Illusion?”
Shifters have magic like all supernaturals. Our magic allows us to change into our animal forms, but that’s it. I’ve never heard of a shifter being able to cast an illusion.
“Yeah. Our kind is… hunted,” Rook informs me reluctantly as he pulls on his undershirt and hoodie. “If we went around smelling like what we are, we’d be killed within the day. Az has an illusion on the whole valor to keep us safe when we leave our lands.”
“Am I in danger?” I really don’t have it in me to care right now if I am, though.
Rook tilts his head back and forth. “As you are, no. You smell like purebred cat shifter. But if you decide you want to unlock the other side of your abilities, you will be in danger if you don’t join our valor. If you join, Az’s illusion will cover you too.”
“Okay,” I whisper, feeling suddenly overcome with exhaustion. My still-healing body is protesting me being up and about. When shifters get injured beyond what a shift can repair, we usually sleep it off.
Despite how tired I am, I’m too scared to sleep, knowing I’ll have to relive Wren dying when I do. I’m fighting the rest my body desperately needs, but I know I’m not going to be able to do it much longer.
Both Rook and Hal look at me worriedly, like they think I’m going to drop dead any second.
Rook steps up into my space and peers down at me. “You need help getting dressed and packing a bag, dove?”
Despite being so exhausted, I still have some pride left. And I refuse to let them do basic tasks for me when I’m fully capable of it.
Sighing, I shake my head. “I can do it. Just give me a moment.”
Mustering the last of what little energy I have, I walk to my dresser and grab the first pants, undies, bra, and top I find. Slipping into the bathroom, I dress and quickly run a brush through my damp hair. I don’t bother to look in the mirror, knowing I’m not going to like what I see.
When I’m dressed in a plain black long-sleeve tee and faded jeans, I exit the bathroom and make my way to my closet. Grabbing the backpack I’ve had since high school, I take it over to my dresser and fill it with whatever clothes I come across first.
With dressing and packing done, I flop onto the bed to pull on my socks and boots. I was wearing my favorite pair of boots when I shifted, so they’re little more than leather and rubber scraps now. Luckily, I have a backup pair that I don’t love as much, but at least it’s something to wear.
Once I’m all dressed and packed, I realize I forgot to think about something. “How are we getting to your territory? Do I need to gear up to ride?”
“I’d feel better if you weren’t riding right now. I’m still not sure how injured you are, and the last thing we need is you passing out on a bike.” Before I can protest that I’m fine, Rook continues. “Do you have a car? I can drive you back to our place.”
As much as I want to act like I’m fine, I know staying off my bike is the smartest course of action right now. “Yeah, I have a car. But didn’t you ride here?”
He gives me a wry smile. “Yes, but I don’t care about my bike right now. All I care about is getting you home safe. And I want you to have a way to leave if you feel like you need to, so bringing your car is the best option.”
“I can drive her,” Hal offers.
Rook rolls his eyes. “I care about my bike a hell of a lot less than you care about yours, Hal. I’ll drive her, and you guys can ride home.”
Hal looks like he wants to argue before his shoulders droop. “Fine. I’ll make sure everyone else is ready to leave, unless you need anything, wild girl?”
“You can go.” He turns around to leave when I blurt, “And thanks, Hal. For coming tonight. I didn’t know if you’d even answer, and you’ve gone so far above and beyond for me.”
He darts over and wraps me up in a tight hug that makes it hard to breathe. “You never have to thank me for that, baby. I’ll always be here for you, as long as you want me.”
I can’t imagine a world in which I don’t want Hal or any of the guys, really. Other than Azrael, of course. Even then, part of me craves him, despite knowing that caring about Azrael is only going to get me hurt.
But I can imagine many worlds in which they don’t want to be bothered with my drama anymore. I wouldn’t blame them for cutting their losses, but I’m not sure my heart can take them walking away right now.
When he reluctantly releases me, Hal whirls around and stalks out of the room without another word.
Rook sits down on the bed next to me. He silently watches me for a long moment before he holds an arm out to me, giving me the choice of whether to lean in or not. I collapse against his side without a second thought, soaking up the comfort he’s offering.
“It’s going to be okay, dove. I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but it will be. I promise.”
When Hal said we should go back to their territory, I expected to spend the night at Colt and Remy’s dads’ house.
Instead of heading there, Rook makes a turn down a different road and leads us past a bunch of houses, shops, and public spaces. Azrael peels off from our pack as we reach what I assume is the town center, but the rest of the guys stay with us.
A part of me hoped he cared enough to stay with me, but I’m not really that surprised he’s noping out. Azrael’s made it abundantly clear where I stand with him, and I’d do well to remember it.
As we drive, the buildings get farther and farther apart until there’s nothing around us but trees and grassy plains.
After a few minutes, a historic-looking house comes into view. Whitewashed brick and gray slate roofing tiles tower over the surrounding oaks. Ivy climbs up the front of the house and the wrought-iron gates. A paver driveway winds in front of the sizable structure before circling around back.
“This is your house?” I ask, surprise coloring my voice.
I expected their house to be modern or industrial style, not an old Georgian home in the middle of a forest.
Rook rolls down his window and punches a code into the gate. “Yeah. It used to be one of the guard outposts. Az took it over when the valor stopped using it. It’s been our home here for a while.”
I stare at the fountain with a stone dragon roaring on top of it as we drive around the house. “Why’d they stop using it?”
He pulls into the massive ten-car garage and shuts off the vehicle. “There weren’t enough guards to fill the outposts anymore.”
I don’t get the chance to ask anything else as Rook hops out of my car. He grabs the backpack from the back seat before making his way around to my door, just as I’m climbing out. He holds out his hands to steady me, as if he’s afraid I’m one wrong move away from collapsing.
Honestly, he’s not far from the truth.
The rest of the guys pull in behind us, taking any available spot in the surprisingly sparse garage. For how many bikes they own, they really don’t keep many at this house.
Our boots click against the shiny walnut floors as we walk through a chef’s kitchen, open-concept living and dining room with a massive TV, plush navy sectional, and plain light wood table, and over to the understated carpeted stairs to the second floor.
Thanks to all the windows everywhere, I bet the house would feel light and airy during the day, despite all the dark wood. Right now, the moon streams in, providing more than enough light for our silent procession to navigate by.
Rook doesn’t stop until he pushes through a set of walnut double doors into a huge bedroom. A massive white four-poster bed dominates the space. It’s as large as at least two kings and is definitely the biggest bed I’ve ever seen.
Soft white carpet, ivory furniture, gauzy pale blue drapes, and a fluffy silver duvet give the space an almost feminine feel. Jealousy knifes through me at the thought of another woman staying here. I smother it because I have no claim to the guys. None at all.
Rook gently sets my backpack on the cream-upholstered bench at the foot of the bed before turning to face me. “You can spend the night here. You can sleep alone. Or… we can stay here with you. It’s whatever you want.”
“Stay. Please,” I whisper.
I don’t want to be alone tonight.
Remy steps up to me and captures my chin in his hand. “You don’t ever have to beg us for anything, love. Do you want all or just one or some of us?”
“All,” I answer without hesitation.
The four of them nod and disperse to get ready to sleep. After throwing on a tank and shorts as pajamas, I climb into the incredibly comfortable bed. It’s somehow firm and soft at the same time, and I know my crappy mattress will feel even more like cardboard after this.
Settling into the middle of the bed, I lie there, lost in my thoughts, as the four of them slowly filter back in. Colt and Remy are the first ones back and happily claim their places right next to me.
Hal and Rook grumble about having to sleep so far away from me before someone flicks off the lights. After everyone says goodnight, I try my best to stay awake. Sleep claims me, despite my best efforts, and I fall into an uneasy slumber.