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“Now, we will have a drink and wait for the others.”

“She is a vampire now. I don’t know what she is capable of.” Something Tiffany said dawns on me. “She was the one that was sending the notes.”

“That makes sense,” Laken says as he hands us a drink. “There wasn’t a scent on them.”

“We assumed it was Grant.” I take a sip and close my eyes when the alcohol hits my tongue. I try to center myself.

“That is where the evidence pointed,” Bishop says when he walks back into the room.

“Are they coming?”

“Yes, all of them.”

“Okay, good.” I look at Penny. “I’m sorry, you were in bed.” I notice she is wearing a long t-shirt.

“Don’t worry,” she hushes me.

“Shit, I’m getting dried blood on your couch.” I jump up.

“Saylor,” she says, tenderly. Her hands clasp mine. “How about I take you in the bathroom to clean up. Not because I care about the blood, but I think it will make you feel better.”

“Sure.” I follow her through a bedroom into a spacious bathroom.

“This is the guest room. It is yours as long as you need.” She grabs a towel and puts it on the counter.

“I’m a mess.” My eyes fill again.

“You are allowed to be a mess when your mate is in danger.”

“I don’t do this. I don’t get emotional,” I say again.

“Hon, we all have our ways we cope with trauma. You can be however you need to here. In our house, you are safe from judgment. You are safe. If you need to break down, do it.” She hugs me close. “Let it out if you need to.”

“Thank you.” I hold her for a minute, breathing deep. “I hate that I left him.”

“She would have killed you. That would have been Elijah’s last memory of you. He would have lived in misery if he couldn’t protect you. He knew you would come to us.” She pushes back. “He knew we would look after you.”

“Logically, I know that.” I sigh. “It’s the stupid emotions that are fucking with me.”

“I get it. You are not alone. We got this. This group is good at being there for each other and finding a way to solve the problem.”

“Thank you,” I say, smiling at her.

“Why don’t you take a shower? By the time you’re done, everyone will be here.” She waits for my nod. “I’ll put some clothes in the bedroom for you.”

She leaves, shutting the door quietly.

So I can cry without an audience in the shower.

Penny put sweatpants and a long-sleeved soft shirt on the bed for me. I am grateful for her kindness but I still pause with my hand on the doorknob. Embarrassment over my panic is flushing my cheeks. I have trained myself to shove all theemotions I feel down inside, and I never show them in front of people.

Elijah and these people have changed me. Or they have given me the permission to let it out.

I step lightly into the living room and all eyes turn to me. Ryker, Bash, and Marie are here. Kerian and River are standing by the door. River has lost his carefree expression that normally embodies him. The panthers look fierce, Harmony is surrounded by her mates.

My throat closes, and I have to fight the tears that want to fall. I want this. All these people would drop whatever they were doing to come to Elijah’s aid—it’s heartwarming.

“Tell me exactly what happened,” Ryker says. He steps forward, but the powerful anger that emanates from him doesn’t scare me. Instead, I am grateful that he gets right to the point—his anger is directed at the bitch that has my mate.