Chapter Ten
Ipulled my car directly into my garage and closed it. I barely had a second before the doorbell rang. I sighed, but I went to answer the door. Rick and everyone else was standing there in my doorway. “Hey, come on in.”
“What the hell happened to you?” Ternen seemed surprised.
Alannah sighed. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to worry.” I just smiled as I opened the door wide, and everyone trailed in, but I stopped Rick.
“I’m going to open one of the garage doors, pull in. I don’t want anyone to see your car on the street.” He nodded, then turned back to his car.
Nix. Heal the rest of me. I called out.
Finally, She and Megan got to work, and by the time I hit the garage door open, I was fully healed. Rick pulled in and I shut the door behind him. He slid out, surprised.
“How?” He waved his hands at me, and I just laughed.
“I stopped my wolves from healing me so I could seem weaker around the pack. I wanted them to see me, and think poor Amy.”
He laughed. “Smart.” I winked as I turned. “But what about everyone coming tonight?”
“I’ll use magic to make myself look hurt.” I cracked my neck. But Rick froze.
“Amy…” His voice was worried. “Shush.”
I turned back to him. “What?” He waved a hand around the air.
He slowly mouthed the words. ‘Your house is bugged.’ I laughed.
“It’s okay. A few weeks ago, I made a big show of cleaning the house up and removing Morgan’s and Shannon’s stuff, when Shannon started to spread the rumor about her and Brandon.
I ‘found’ all the bugs and tossed them into their boxes.
Pretending I thought they were just the knickknacks that they had hidden them in. The house is clear now.”
He sighed and nodded. “Why didn’t you use the magic before and just heal yourself?”
“I needed Vince to smell the blood. If it was just magic, he would’ve pretended that it wasn’t that bad and used that as a reason to advocate for me to stay. I couldn’t let that happen.”
Rick shook his head. “Why did you need to transfer? I mean, we are all just running.” We met everyone in the living room. Abby ran over to me and gave me a hug.
“Can we go see Carly?”
I tapped her nose. “Not yet. But tonight we will.” I turned to look at Rick as I backed into the kitchen.
“It’s a little different for Alphas. I needed to transfer so that I can ‘rebuild’ my father’s pack.
I couldn’t start a pack, or claim the land without transferring out of my current pack.
If I hadn’t gone though the proper channels and transfer then Vince could have claimed rights over it.
” I pulled out the steaks I had thrown into the fridge last night.
I started for the back door, but before I stepped out into my backyard, I used some of my magic to make me look hurt again.
I stepped out and started the barbeque. “Rick?”
He came out. “Yeah?”
“Can you and Ternen man the grill?” I heard the doorbell. “I think I am about to have a lot of visitors.” He grinned.
“Sure thing.” He went to stand beside the grill as it heated up. “Do you have tongs and seasonings?”
I nodded. “I’ll send Ternen out with everything.” I walked back inside. “Ternen?”
“Yeah, Amy?” He trotted over.
I nodded for him to follow me to the kitchen. I pulled the steak seasoning my mom made out of the cupboard, a plate, and tongs. I grabbed two beers from the fridge and handed it all to Ternen. “Can you go help Rick with the steaks?”
He brightened. “Of course!” He turned around and headed outside as the doorbell rang out again.
I ran to the door and then turned back to Abby and winked. I hunched over a little as I opened the door. It was Corzone and his mate. He was carrying his son. “Hey.”
“Hey.” I stepped aside. “Come on in.”
He walked in. “I know you’re leaving tonight. But I was hoping…” He trailed off.
His mate stepped up beside him. “Carson, he’s gotten weak again.” She looked down. “Can you do whatever you did last time?”
“Of course I can.” I opened my arms. “Is it okay if I bring him upstairs?”
She nodded. “Of course.”
Corzone stared at me for a minute. “He is my only pup. My life.”
I nodded. “I know, and I would never do anything that would hurt him. I swear it on the Goddess.” He stared at me for a minute longer, then handed me the little boy.
I pretended to struggle to the stairs. I turned back to Alannah and Shelly. “If anyone else comes while I am upstairs, let them in. I’ll try to be fast.” They nodded.
“Of course.” Shelly gave me a knowing look. “Take your time.” Then I went up the stairs and started the first of many healings.
It was late by the time everyone had left. I took my food in small bites, in between children, but everyone was topped up before I sent everyone home to sleep. The children would wake up tomorrow charged with energy, enough to make it to next weekend.
I sighed as I shut the door. Then turned back to everyone sprawled around the house. “Are we ready?” I yawned as I turned to Alannah. “Did you get all of your laundry done?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I just threw it back into the bags.” She nodded to the pile by the stairs.
Rick pushed up from the couch. “I’ll grab our stuff.” I nodded.
Shelly pushed up and grabbed a sleeping Abby. “It’s time baby.” I shook off my magic and opened my arms.
“Give her to me. I’m going to feed her some power as we cross, so when I remove the curse, she will be strong enough to fight it with me.” She swallowed past the lump in her throat and nodded.
“Okay.” She slid Abby into my arms and I started to feed her energy. “Are you going to be okay to do this?”
I nodded. “Yeah.” A yawn broke through. “I’m tired, but once we are out of here, I won’t have to worry about work or anything tomorrow. So it’s fine.”
Shelly laughed. “No work, but a war.” I lifted my shoulder.
“Meh.” I smirked when she laughed harder.
She shook her head. “I’ll help Rick with everything.
” I nodded and walked around, sealing the house.
No one was going to get in here while I was gone.
Once that was done, I went upstairs to the bedroom and sat on the bed, closing my eyes, and focusing fully on Abby.
I heard everyone come in and out of the room, dropping off bags, but that turned into background noise.
“Amy.” Someone grabbed my shoulder and I jolted. I looked up to find everyone standing around me. “Are you okay?” Rick sounded a little concerned.
“Yeah. Just tired.” I stood up. “Are you ready?” Everyone nodded.
“The first night will be a little cramped. But I hope you guys don’t mind.
I figured Carly and Abby can share her room tonight.
I already talked to Toya and Wendy, and they decided to share a room, so one of you can take Toya’s room.
But one couple will be in the living room.
” I looked between them. “I’ll let you guys decide.
But tomorrow Toya and Lynn will be leaving with me, leaving Wendy in her room, and my mom in mine.
The couple that takes Toya’s room can stay there, and the other will take Lynn’s. ”
They all nodded. Abby sighed. “I get to stay with Carly?”
I chuckled. “You do. Well until everything is safe again and you can come live at your new home.”
Her eyes cracked open. “Will it have a backyard? Our home here doesn’t have one, and I want to plant a garden.”
I nodded. “Of course you can have a garden.” I looked up at everyone else. “Are we ready and decided?”
Shelly nodded. “I know Abby will be safe upstairs, so we will take the living room. I don’t want Alannah sleeping on the couch pregnant.” Alannah looked like she could cry.
“Thank you, but we are the Omegas, we are just happy to be safe.” She waved her hands. “It’s enough to be safe with our pup.”
Shelly shook her head. “We already decided. Plus, Amy already said that Omegas aren’t treated like lesser beings in her father’s pack.” She grabbed her hand. “We want you two to realize that. Starting tonight.” Shelly grabbed two bags. “Let’s go.”
I nodded. I locked the bedroom door and sealed it before opening up the closet. Toya, Wendy and my mom were already waiting as soon as the door opened. They walked past me and started grabbing the bags. Within a few minutes, everyone was settled in their rooms, and we were all downstairs.
“I have everything you told me to grab at the kitchen table.” My mom nodded to the dining room, and I followed her in.
I looked down at Abby. “Are you ready?” She nodded. “Do you feel strong enough to fight?” I slid her onto the table, while Toya grabbed a small pillow for the couch for her head.
“Fight?”
“Yeah, sweetheart. This is a battle, just like any other you might face in life. Do you know what a battle is for?” She shook her head. “We go to war for a few reasons. Our freedom, our families. But every battle we have is for one thing. Our lives.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
I shook my head. “Wars are made up of many battles, and like I said, it could be for a million reasons. But my dad always said a battle is for your life. You’re right to live, to survive, to thrive.” I laid her back. “Are you ready?”
She took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”
I turned to the kitchen and grabbed everything I needed. “Did you find everything?” I looked at Toya.
She nodded. “Once again, Carl knew exactly what would be needed. It was the cupboard above the fridge.” Toya chuckled. “He actually left a note taped to the bottom of a shelf with Abby’s name on it.” She grabbed an envelope off the counter and handed it to me.
Abby’s name was bold but Toya’s name was also on it. I slipped the letter from the envelope and skimmed it.
Toya,
I know you are looking for everything Amy will need to save Abby. I put everything up above the fridge so you guys wouldn’t actually use it to season dinner.