5. Thane
Thane
Nobody's said a word since the county line.
I check the mirror again.
Wraith's head is turned to the window, eyes vacant. Ivy's asleep against his chest, her skirt shifted slightly to reveal the bandage on her thigh I'm pretending I didn't see.
There's a heavy fog over our city today. Fitting. Our pack house materializes out of it in the distance as I take a left down the ramp that leads into the parking garage.
I cut the engine and the sudden silence feels loud.
Ivy stirs in the back, stretching with a sleepy little squeak. Wraith blinks blearily down at her over the wet scarf clinging to his lower face, still out of it.
"You want a minute?" I mumble to Wraith.
He shakes his head.
Knowing my brother, he wants a million fucking minutes, and to disappear, probably, and that still wouldn't be enough.
So I guess he isn't taking any at all.
We get our bags out of the SUV and head for the fire escape. I watch him lift Ivy to the fire escape by her waist, hovering in case she slips on the wet rungs. She climbs ahead of him, sure-footed despite the dampness from the rain and fog.
Wraith shadows her, constantly adjusting the scarf, and I watch, unsure if he wants me to follow.
Halfway up, Ivy pauses and looks back at me.
"Can he come?" she asks Wraith quietly. "Or do you need it to just be us?"
Wraith's gaze flicks between us. Between Ivy's hopeful expression, and my careful neutrality I'm managing to keep on my face even though I'm praying he says yes.
He exhales slowly and nods.
I start climbing before he changes his mind.
"Thanks, brother."
He responds with a subdued growl.
The three of us make it to Wraith's loft's window without falling off the slippery fucking fire escape to our deaths, somehow. Wraith pushes the window open, then hangs back, waiting while Ivy climbs through first. He ducks in after her.
One of the bags catches on the frame when I go in after them. "Shit," I mutter, tugging it free. It tears a little.
Fuck. That was my favorite bag.
"I'm gonna shower," Ivy announces, yawning, already heading for the bathroom. "Join me when you're ready?"
I watch her go, not sure if she meant just Wraith, or both of us, or what. But I don't get a chance to ask before the door closes.
Wraith's eyes flick to mine and he adjusts his scarf again, trying to smooth it into place so it doesn't sag, but it does anyway. I try not to look too long at the scars and the exposed sharp teeth he's so careful to hide.
He crosses the room to his dresser and rummages around in it for a face gaiter. He keeps his back to me as he unwinds the scarf, tosses it in the hamper, and replaces it with his usual mask, rolling his shoulders as he slowly straightens back up.
I wait until he risks another glance at me to sign to him, soundlessly, so he doesn't worry Ivy can hear me.
How are you really doing, brother?
He watches me, blue eyes wary above the mask.
Don't know, he admits finally, sinking onto the edge of his bed. The mattress dips under his weight, springs creaking.
I sit beside him, close but not touching. Giving him space while making it clear I'm there for him.
She saw, he signs with jerky movements. Everything.
I know.
And she's still here. His hands shake slightly as he forms the signs. Why?
I hesitate. I'm not sure how to answer in a way he'll believe when he's in a dark place like this.
Because she loves you, I sign, deciding to just go with the truth. I can tell.
He shakes his head immediately. She's in shock. When it wears off—
It's not shock, I interrupt, pushing my signs into his space to stop him. Brother, look at me.
He forces himself to meet my gaze.
She knew your face was… different, I sign carefully. And she chose you anyway.
She didn't know everything.
She knew enough, brother.
He lets out a pained growl, burying his face in his hands and leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.
I hesitate.
I'm not gonna try to lie to him and tell him he looks fine. And I won't lie and say Ivy isn't bothered at all, because I don't know if that's true, and it probably isn't.
Omega instincts are as strong as alpha instincts. Only theirs are built completely on self-preservation and survival. And Wraith is the most visibly feral alpha alive, maybe.
His face is shocking. He knows it is. Bullshitting won't make him feel any better. He'll just think the rest of what I'm saying is bullshit, too.
I tap his shoulder.
He lifts his eyes to shoot me a look. What?
My signs are firm.
She definitely does know now, and you can't pretend she doesn't. Yes, she seemed nervous.
I won't deny that. But she was afraid for you above everything else.
She's still choosing you because she loves you.
She just invited you to follow her into the shower.
Does that seem like she's done with you because you have a scary face?
He watches me, his tired eyes narrowed slightly as he follows my signs as they spill out of my hands. Because even though I'm being almost brutally honest with him, he still doesn't believe me.
The bathroom door opens.
Steam billows out, carrying Ivy’s honeysuckle scent intensified by the humidity. She pokes her head around the doorframe, hair wet and clinging to her shoulders, skin flushed pink from the hot water.
All I can see is her bare collarbone and even that's enough to make my ears flush hot.
"Hey," she says, smiling softly. "You guys coming?"
Oh. She did mean both of us.
I glance at Wraith, who's gazing at her with a lost expression, already rising from the bed like he isn't sure if he's going to go to her or go out the fucking window.
I stand, too, clearing my throat.
"Actually, I'm gonna run down to the car real quick. Forgot something." I shoot Wraith my best trust me grin as he stares up at me in surprise. "I'll be right back."
There's nothing in the car.
But Wraith and Ivy need a minute alone, even if it kills me.