29. Hettie
Chapter 29
Hettie
T he team of alphas hand-selected by Maximus and Grant gather by the packhouse, saying their final goodbyes to their families. This should be a simple trip, one many people wouldn’t think twice about, but the dangers lurking in the woods have everyone on edge.
Rip is consoling an omega by the name of Zora. Her mate will accompany Thorne to Dragon’s Keep, and she’s not taking it well. I’ve heard how attached omegas can get to their alphas, but I have yet to see it in person.
I try to put myself in her shoes. How I would feel if Rip was the one leaving today? Images of last night flood my brain. How he made me come undone on the counter and carried me to bed after. I remember being slightly delirious from lack of good sleep and amazing fucking, and I may or may not have said the “L” word to him. I hope it was a dream. He’s said nothing about it, and neither have I.
But if he were leaving today like Zora’s mate, would I say it again? I don’t know. But I don’t think I’d be handling myself any better than her .
I search through the group of wolves saying goodbye, but I don’t see the one person I’m looking for. “Excuse me—sorry—” I push my way through people to get to Thorne.
Thorne is rarely without a smile or a teasing gleam in his eyes. The man I see before me is one of military caliber, dishing out orders and providing comforting words to family members. His face brightens marginally when he finally notices I’m here and excuses himself from his conversation.
“Luna, it’s good to see you here,” he greets formally. I know it’s for the benefit of others, but I still don’t like it.
“Where’s Tallie?”
Thorne sighs. “Back at home. We said our goodbyes already. We didn’t want to prolong it anymore.”
I nod, feeling partially responsible for this, even though that’s not the truth. I just think if I did more to find wolfsbane, or could magically defeat the rogues and Nephilim, no one would be teary-eyed right now.
It’s irrational, but guilt usually is.
“I have no right to ask you this, but while I’m gone, could you look after?—”
“Of course,” I say before he can finish asking. “I’ll watch over Tallie and keep her company. She has Grass too, and he is the best cuddle bug.”
That earns me a smile, and I reach out to squeeze his arm. “Bring back help. Let’s end these bastards.”
Finally, the silly, wolfish grin I’ve come to associate with Thorne makes its appearance. “I like your spirit, Luna. It’s going to take our pack far.”
I only hope he’s right.
I hang around a little while longer, waiting until Rip needs to go over the final details with Thorne before I leave. It takes me only five minutes to get to Tallie’s, and I let myself in for once.
“Tallie?” I call but get no response, so I push my way inside.
As always, the house is immaculate and cozy. A roaring fire burns in the fireplace, and a woolen blanket is draped over the blue couch. Breakfast still lingers in the air. The doors leading to the backyard from the main room are open, and I see a flash of golden fur.
“Tallie?” I call again, and this time Grass picks his head up. When he notices me, his tail wags in excitement. “Hey, boy.” I smile. “Where’s Tallie, sweet boy?”
“I’m right here,” she calls from the porch. I don’t see her until I exit the cabin. Tallie is curled up on the wooden rocking chair, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She smiles at me, and I’m relieved to see it’s genuine. “Hey.”
“Just came by to check on you.” I take a seat next to her. Grass, who thinks he’s a lap dog, crawls up to situate himself on me.
“Honestly, I just want this all to end. I’m so tired of living in fear. So tired of not knowing if I’ll get the sickness or if someone I love will. I would rather have Thorne with me, but if this means ending this cursed war, then it’s a small sacrifice.” She takes a sip from her mug.
Tallie and the rest of the pack have dealt with the rogues, Nephilim, and sickness longer than I’ve been here. I can only sympathize with a fraction of their pain.
“It needs to end.” Tallie puts her mug down on the table before turning to me. “If we had more able-bodied wolves to fight, we could defend our kingdom better. But the cursed sickness is wiping us out rapidly.”
“I know, we need to help the sick wolves?—”
“We should find the wolfsbane calling for you.”
I blink, uncertain I heard her correctly. When she doesn’t laugh or say she’s kidding, I snort. “Weren’t you the one who told me to wait yesterday?”
“Yeah, well?—”
“And that it would be dangerous for us to go?” I add.
“Yeah, but?—”
“Tallie, if Rip knew I left, especially now, and with you…I think he might actually kill me.” We had somewhat of a breakthrough last night, building trust. Not only within each other, but also as a couple. I don’t want to jeopardize that.
“I know what I said yesterday, but seeing Thorne leave and feeling completely helpless…it’s a horrible feeling, Hettie. I don’t want to feel useless. I want to help in any way I can,” Tallie explains.
I understand her need to help and feeling useless. Rip is shouldering too much and not being able to act on my ability hurts. It feels like he still doesn’t completely trust me. Rationally, I know it’s because he just wants to make sure it’s safe to go exploring. But even now I hear the call. Ever since yesterday. Calling me toward a cure that could help so many of my people. Doing nothing feels wrong, but so does betraying Rip’s trust.
Either choice I make will hurt someone. Rip or the sick people on their deathbed. I didn’t have the chance to save my father while he was dying in the hospital, but maybe now I’ll have the chance to save someone else’s parents.
Maybe Rip would understand. He’d have to.
“I think I should go tonight,” I say at last.
Tallie beams, punching the air in triumph. “Great, I’ll?—”
“Me, Tallie. Not you. I’m not pulling you into this shit.”
“Well, consider me pulled in, because I’m going. You think I would let our pack Luna do this by herself? Absolutely not.”
“Rip is going to be so pissed,” I groan. I should ask him to come, but he’s stretched thin with so many alphas gone. He said we would look for wolfsbane when the alphas returned. But can we realistically wait that long? I know I can do this, and I don’t want to add another thing on his plate, especially when it’s something I could do alone. If we’re lucky, he won’t even notice I’m gone.
I sigh, hoping I don’t come to regret this later. “Fine. Tonight. I need to go home and get a few things, but I’ll meet you back here at nightfall.”
Tallie looks far too excited, seeing as we are about to directly defy her cousin. Still, Rip can’t be mad once he sees the risk is worth the reward at the end.
I just hope he sees it that way when he finds out.