Chapter Twelve
Sherese
I barely sleep that night. Part of it is because I did nothing all day, but the other part is that I was too scared to go to sleep.
I was afraid my nightmares would return.
I’m up and out of the house early for another run.
I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to get back to this.
It feels good, and it’s something to help me not lose my sanity.
It helps me to feel grounded and maybe even a little bit normal.
When I get back to the house, Hunter is in the kitchen again.
He doesn’t say anything, and I don’t stop as I walk past.
After my shower, I sit on my bed for a few minutes.
But it only takes that long for me to realize I will go absolutely crazy if I spend all day in my room again.
I head out to the living room, figuring Hunter will be gone for the day.
But when I open my door, Hunter is standing there with his hand raised like he was going to knock. “Did you need something?” I ask.
“Get packed.” He turns and walks back to his room.
“For what?” I call out after him.
“We’re taking a trip.”
He pushes the door closed behind him, but it doesn’t close all the way.
Annoyed, I walk over to his room and shove the door open.
“What do you mean a—” I pause midsentence.
Hunter stands with his shirt in his hand instead of on his body.
For just a moment, my eyes slide over his chest. His very muscular, very tanned chest. I knew wolves were known for their good looks and muscles, but good night!
“Was there a reason you barged into my room other than to stare at me?”
Hunter's low voice knocks some sense back into me. I jerk my eyes to his. “Yes. Where are we going?”
“Does it matter?”
Whatever I thought about him being good-looking moments ago fades quickly, and annoyance takes its place. “Are we packing for a day trip or an overnight trip? If it’s overnight, how long will we be gone? Is it someplace dressy or casual? Is it warm or cold? Is it dangerous?”
“Overnight. Not sure. Casual. Cold. And why does the last question matter for how you pack?”
I have to think back through my questions to understand his answers. “Okay, the last question doesn’t matter for packing. I’m just curious.”
“In that case, it’s not dangerous.” Relief flickers through my chest for just a moment because I realize we’re not going to the vampires.
I know at some point we will have to do that, but at least not yet.
Hunter’s gaze is on my face, and I get the feeling that he doesn’t miss anything.
I whirl around. “Okay. I’m off to pack.”
“Bring the leather jacket,” he says in that low, sexy voice.
I almost don’t hear it. I don’t slow my stride and am in my own room seconds later.
I close the door and take a deep breath, and will myself not to overthink it.
And yet, it’s the leather jacket that I set out first. It doesn’t take me long to pack.
I really have no idea where we’re going, but I’m used to being flexible and just going with the flow.
I’ve had no say over my life the past seven years, so the fact that I even get to pack to go anywhere is pretty amazing.
I carry my bag to the living room a few minutes later.
Hunter comes out of his room a little while later.
He eyes my bag and then me. “You’re already ready? ”
“Yes.”
He seems like he’s going to say more, but then he doesn’t. “Bryce got a call from the alpha of the Northwoods Pack this morning. He’d like to meet. Bryce decided not to put it off and wants to get there today; that’s why it’s last-minute.”
“Why am I going?” I ask in confusion.
“Their alpha requested you come.”
“Ah. I take it they want to know what I can tell them about the vampires.”
“Yes.”
“Got it. What time do we leave?” I ask.
“Soon.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask who’s all going, but it’s none of my business. “I’ve got to go help load the plane. I’ll come get you when we’re ready.”
“I’ll come with and help,” I tell him instead.
He turns to me. “Okay.”
We load our bags in the back seat of his car, and he drives over to the pack house.
We head inside, and he starts gathering things from a storage room.
I help him load everything onto the plane.
Thankfully, there’s a covered walkway between the building and the plane, so I’m not in the sun.
Hunter introduces me to the pilot, and Leo shows up shortly after to help.
Bryce and Ava get there a little while later.
I try to hide my grin when I see Ava, but she notices and scowls.
She lets out a massive yawn. “Why does it have to be so early?”
Bryce smiles. “You can sleep on the plane, Love.” After everything is loaded, Bryce closes the door. “Everybody good?”
I look around at the five of us plus the pilot. “Is this everybody?”
“Yes.” Bryce doesn’t give me anything more, and I let it go. It’s none of my business. I guess I figured at least Bryce’s team that does security would come with, but there’s no Alicia or Cody. I’m not complaining about Alicia not being here; that’s for sure.
Bryce and Ava settle in the seats closest to the cockpit, and Leo sits across the aisle from them.
Hunter takes the seat behind Ava and Bryce, and I make my way over to the seat across the aisle, on the other side of the plane.
I settle in the aisle seat, so I’m not by the window and the sun.
I’ve only flown one time in my life, and that was a long time ago.
I’m nervous when the plane takes off, but it’s smooth.
It doesn’t take long for the hum of the airplane to make me sleepy.
My sleepless night is catching up with me.
I put my chair back, like I watched Ava do.
It doesn’t take long for me to fall asleep.
When I wake sometime later, there’s a blanket on me.
Again. I glance over at Hunter, but he’s intent on something on his laptop.
My ears start popping, and I know we’re descending.
When we finally stop, I pull open the shades and note that it’s overcast. That will help me.
It takes only a few minutes to grab our stuff, and then I'm following Ava down the steps.
A gust of wind hits me, and I shiver. No wonder Hunter told me to pack my jacket.
“Oh, I forgot how cold it always is here,” Ava says with a shiver.
Bryce pulls her close, wrapping an arm around her.
I cross my arms over my chest, trying to get warm.
I’m not used to the cold either. Bryce leads us towards a waiting black car.
The driver’s door opens, and a tall blond guy steps out.
I recognize him from the Northwoods Pack, and my mind supplies his name. Liam, the Beta.
“Phoenix Pack,” he says with a smile. “Welcome.” His eyes shoot to me, and I go still.
His eyes flash for just a moment, signaling the presence of his wolf, and my adrenaline shoots up as I prepare to run if needed.
There’s a presence at my back suddenly, and I don’t miss the way the Beta’s eyes look over my shoulder.
I’m not sure what Hunter does or doesn’t do, but the Beta glances at me one more time and then turns back to Ava and Bryce.
“We’re so glad you’re here. All of you.” I don’t miss the emphasis on the word all, but he must mean something else by it. He can’t possibly mean me.
“Load up,” Bryce says, turning to us all. I’m not sure who’s going to sit where, but Ava takes charge.
“Sherese and I will go in the very back, so all you long-legged people can have the front seats.”
“I'm long-legged,” I remind her.
“Do you want to have to make polite conversation the whole way there?” she whispers. Oh. Right. I climb right into the backseat. Bryce takes the passenger seat, and Hunter and Leo take the middle seat.
Liam is the last one in the car. “Everybody good?” He starts the car and pulls out smoothly.
“How far of a drive is it?” I ask Ava softly, forgetting the exceptional hearing of all the wolves in the car.
“It’s about forty minutes to our property,” Liam says from the front seat.
Ava grins at me, and I shake my head, reminding myself to be quiet for the entirety of the ride.
Hunter sits right in front of me, and I find it oddly distracting.
In fact, the longer we’re in the car, the more it seems to bother me.
I don’t know why. It feels like the forty minutes stretch on forever.
I get antsy and have a hard time sitting still.
I feel Ava’s gaze on me and finally turn to her.
“You okay?” she asks softly. I nod, but she doesn’t look convinced.
I take a deep breath, but all I can smell is Hunter.
It’s a mix of earthy scent and something so sexy and all him.
I crack my neck and try to find my equilibrium.
I don’t know what it is about being in this car, but it’s triggering me somehow.
I feel like we’re never going to get there.
I bounce my legs and try to take in a deep breath, but it feels suffocating.
I get a flashback, and my stomach tightens.
No. I take another breath, trying to calm my racing heart, but it’s not helping.
Another flashback comes, and I see my mom’s body on the floor.
A small whimper escapes me, and I can’t get enough air.
All I can see is her blood all over the floor.
I hear somebody say something, but it sounds far away.
Suddenly, a warm hand lands on my knee. My entire body jerks at the contact.
I panic and try to pull away, but the hold tightens just slightly.
I blink and try to rein in my chaotic thoughts.
Focus. I take a small breath. The window.
The car. My seatbelt. Ava next to me in the seat.
The practice I've done so many times in the past works now, and I start to calm down. I look down at the large hand on my knee and take a breath that somehow doesn’t get strangled in my lungs.
It’s Hunter’s hand. I know that for sure.
How he managed to reach behind him and put his hand on my knee, I don’t know.
All I know is that it is helping. And if he’s okay with keeping it there, I am too, because it’s keeping me grounded and keeping my mind from slipping into that awful dark place.
I take another breath, and this time, my lungs fully work.
I notice for the first time just how quiet it is in the car.
I glance over at Ava, and she stares at me with her big, expressive eyes.
But then she turns towards the front of the car.
“How’s your family?” she asks, breaking the silence. And I've never been so grateful.
Liam’s voice is soft. “They're good.” He launches into a story about something funny their little one did. I can’t focus on it, but I can focus on breathing now. And that’s a plus in my book.
Hunter doesn’t remove his hand from my knee the rest of the trip, as if he knows how desperately I need the touch to keep me grounded.
Only when we stop does he finally remove his hand.
I wonder how sore his arm must be from being in that awkward position for so long.
He opens his door as soon as Liam puts the car in park.
His chair is pulled forward a moment later.
I don’t hesitate to climb out of the car.
Only when I’m standing next to him do I look up at him.
“Thank you.” My words are soft, but he hears them anyway. Those dark eyes find mine, and he nods.