Page 29

EMME

A fter being loved by my alphas into a near oblivion, followed by a nice long soak in the bath, which was thankfully large enough for the three of us, I managed to get a near full night of peaceful, uninterrupted sleep. No nightmares. No creeping sensation of dread. Just perfect slumber.

The next morning, Kellan and Finley had training, and Hunter needed to head into the office to deal with a new product release. He also had a council meeting afterwards, and I assured him I’d be totally fine. Today was the day I was going to ask Slade to train me.

Once I was alone and dressed, I searched for my phone, which I hadn’t even looked at since I returned.

I found it plugged in and charging beside my bed.

Scrolling through my contacts, I dialed Slade.

“Snow?” he said, answering on the first ring like he’d been sitting there waiting for my call. Knowing him, he had been.

“Oh hey, good morning,” I said, swallowing hard at his deep, rumbly voice.

“Is everything okay?” he asked quickly. “I didn’t expect you up early this morning.”

Heat infused my cheeks at the realization that we’d been very loud last night, and no shifter would have missed what had been happening in Hunter’s room.

Clearing my throat, I hoped my face wasn’t as red as it felt.

“Yep, everything is great. I just wanted to see if you’d consider starting my training today.

Hunter said you were watching me anyways, since you all agreed not to leave me alone, so I figured what better time than now to start.

I need to get stronger and fitter. I need to be able to fight in whatever war is coming. ”

Last night, when we’d left the containment room, I’d mentioned to Slade that I never wanted to be a victim again, and he’d agreed to start training me again. I wasn’t sure he expected it to be this soon though.

“We can start today,” he finally replied. “My enforcers will be at the training center, so we should be safe there. You’ve got thirty minutes to get ready.”

“Amazing! Thank you!” I called. “I’ll meet you downstairs.”

Slade grunted and the line went dead.

Hurrying into my wardrobe, I tried to find an outfit suitable for training, knowing I’d need layers to counter the inclement weather. I paused at the new array of hoodies, surprised to find a lot more than just Kellan’s hanging in the row.

It was easy to tell which item belonged to which alpha, from Hunter’s huge sweaters, in black or grey colors, to Kellan’s colorful hoodies with his favorite Clawtine branding on the back. For the first time though, there was an array of clothing from Slade and Finley.

Slade’s were mostly leather jackets in brown, black, and charcoal, and when I sniffed them I groaned at the whiff of his scent, proving he’d worn them recently.

Finley had left me hockey jerseys and hoodies, and I was torn about how I felt seeing them.

It was nice to feel his effort, but I wasn’t sure I was ready to wear them yet.

Deciding that today I needed to be strong on my own, I didn’t choose any of the alphas’ clothes, dressing in my own fur-lined gym pants, thermal shirt, and simple white sweater.

When I emerged from the wardrobe, I planned to head into the bathroom, only I got distracted by a new pile of car and bike magazines on the end of the bed. I had no idea how long they’d been there, as I could have easily missed them earlier when I raced in here looking for my phone.

The last time I’d received such a gift, there’d been no indication of who left them, and with everything that happened afterwards, I’d completely forgotten to even ask.

When I leaned down to sift through the pile, I caught no clear scent once again, but there was a new item: an origami animal sitting on top of the glossy cover.

It took me a second to recognize it was a cat made from orange paper, a white triangle under its tiny nose breaking up the color.

It was intricately done, and I couldn’t figure out how it managed to be so perfect and so tiny.

Surely it was hard to fold a minute piece of paper into such precise lines.

Whichever of the alphas left this was excellent at their craft, and I found myself feeling a little enamored by this simple gift. I’d never been given much in my life, and to know one of them had taken the time to make this cat for me felt extra special.

Opening the drawer on my side table, I placed the cat carefully inside, keeping it safe until I got some shelves to display my treasures.

The magazines I left to flick through later.

Hurrying into the bathroom I threw my hair into a ponytail, before rubbing some tallow and honey on my skin to protect from the elements.

On my way out of the room, I closed the blinds, which had recently been replaced after Finley smashed through them, and turned the lights off to enjoy a brief glimpse of the red dragon eyes still on my walls.

It was the only part of Slade’s prank that remained, and I found them comforting.

As if the dragon watched over me and kept me safe.

When my thirty minutes was almost up, I grabbed my phone and left the room, wandering toward the stairs. I absentmindedly swiped through my messages, finding a few from Cora which must have been sent when I was taken.

I’d been in no state of mind to read messages when I returned, but now that I’d crawled my way back into the land of the living, it was time to start checking in with my friends.

Bestie: Emme! What the fuck! War said that you’ve been taken again, and I’m losing my freaking mind.

I don’t even know why I’m messaging when I know you don’t have your phone, but I needed a way to feel a connection.

Even if it’s only this. I’m holding out hope that you’re fine and you’ll be reading these messages soon.

Bestie: Okay, your pack tore through Golden Claw, and now they’re out in the human world tracking you.

They lost it, Em. I mean… don’t-even-fucking-look-at-them-or-they’ll-kill-you sort of lost it.

I’ve never seen any of them like this, and I’m eternally grateful that they’re on the hunt.

Whoever stole you is going to have big regrets.

AND THAT’S JUST WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON THEM.

Bestie: War has been keeping in touch with Hunter.

They have a lead on your whereabouts in Texas.

I’m fucking praying to the goddess you’re alright.

Please let me know the moment you can that you’re alive and well.

Whatever happened, we will fix it. I promise you.

Whatever happened. You’re still our Emme.

My throat grew tight at the evidence of her love and worry over me. It felt weird to have shifters who cared so deeply in my life. It was hard to break the habit of acting like I was alone in the world, but the truth was, I loved my new life, and never wanted to return to my old.

Never .

Hitting the button to reply, I spent a few minutes trying to fit everything I felt in a message, and when I reached the garage, I was still composing.

“You’re getting better using the dyslexia font,” Slade said, reading over my shoulder.

I jumped a mile in the air, almost hitting send. “Fuck, you need a bell. Don’t be so creepy.”

His lips twitched, but I didn’t get a proper smile out of him.

“Do you see any errors?” I asked, holding out the phone.

He read it in like three seconds and I was both jealous and turned on by his skills. Sure, it didn’t take much to turn me on around Slade, and reading wasn’t an advanced or difficult skill, but for me he was the most capable shifter I knew—right behind Hunter.

“It looks perfect, Snow.” He tilted his head and nodded. “And that reminds me that we should get started on reading lessons as well. I’ve been gathering resources to help.”

Of course he had. “Yeah, I’m managing easier with the new font and background, but there’s a lot of room for improvement. Though stamina and fight training are my highest priority, since I have no skills there at all.”

Rudely, Slade didn’t argue that point with me. Shaking my head, I hit send on my message to Cora.

Emme: I’m so sorry, Cores. I’ve been a shitty friend.

I’m sorry I worried you, but it means everything that you care.

I hate that I’ve been slow to sort myself out since returning, but I promise I’m okay.

Or I will be okay. I do have a lot to tell you, though.

SO fucking much. Can we catch up soon? I love you, and I’m eternally grateful to have you in my life.

Slade waited until I slid my phone into my pocket to say, “The boys have a game today, but we all decided it would be safer for you to avoid major events. Until we have a greater handle on how widespread Fletcher’s reach and control is.”

As annoyed as I was that they’d decided for me, not to mention the disappointment at missing their game, I couldn’t really disagree with their assessment.

I didn’t want to create a dangerous situation for me or my pack.

“You four better not get used to making decisions for me, but in this case, I don’t disagree.

I just really fucking hate letting that asshole take away the things I love. ”

Slade was grim as he gestured for me to head for the G-class. “Yeah, here’s hoping we can remove him from existence long before he ever gets near you again. I just need Talon to start cooperating.”

“Did he tell you anything new?”

He opened my door for me, his expression shuttering. “Not much. He admitted that he’s visited the volcano where our egg rested a few times, and agreed that was why I’d felt the pull to return. It wasn’t the first or only time, but I ignored the rest after my initial search didn’t pan out.”

With a shake of my head, I pulled myself into the passenger seat. “I can’t believe he was just out there all along, one half of your soul. Fletcher’s scum, and a fucking liar. Blaine probably isn’t even his son.”

Slade grumbled. “It looks like that part might be the truth. Talon believes Blaine’s mother was an omega… one that Fletcher kept until she died .”

I nodded. “As I said, a fucking liar. I knew that bastard was part of the reason there are so few of us in the world.”

My stomach twisted at the very thought of what he’d done to ensure he had a son. The thought of Fletcher imprisoning and raping an omega for breeding was enough to have me near vomiting in the car.

“Why is he doing this?” I choked out, feeling unstable as I tried to deal with this revelation. “Surely, he already has enough power and money. Hunter said he was rich and well-connected, but clearly it’s never enough.”

Slade’s expression was shrouded in shadows. “He’s not stable,” he finally said. “He’s spent too many years trying to break down our designations in the hopes of controlling us all. His power and money have corrupted his beast. They’re no longer able to tell right from wrong.”

He shut my door before I could respond, and I pondered this information while he crossed to get in the driver’s side.

Once he was inside, I asked, “And you’ve still had no luck in tracking him or anyone else down?”

Slade shook his head. “I’ve spent days attempting to unravel the web he wove around himself and his actions, but when there’s magic involved, it’s almost impossible to figure this out digitally.

Our best bet would be to release Talon and follow him back to his master, but I have one major issue with that. ”

I already knew exactly what that issue would be. “I’d have to go too, or my wolf might retreat again.”

The engine roared to life, and Slade backed out in one skilled swing of the wheel. “Yes. Your bond is brand new, like with Hunter and Kellan. It takes weeks before the beast is okay with distance, so we can’t let him go until yours settles.”

There was also that unanswered question of what happened if we never completed the bond properly and cemented those frayed tethers between us.

Was there a chance Talon and I could never be apart?