Page 32

Rachel

T he broadcast cuts to commercial, but the words echo like they’ve been carved into the walls. I collapse onto the couch. My mouth is dry, eyes wide, but I can’t seem to blink. I just keep staring at the screen like I’m waiting for it to change. Bas sits next to me, eyes still trained on the TV like the reporter may pop back in any second to say they’ve found him.

An arrest warrant has been issued for my father. And he’s gone. Missing. On the run.

I’m frozen, it’s not fear. Not exactly. It’s colder than that, sharper. A tight coil deep in my stomach, winding tighter with every breath. I don’t know if I want to scream, cry, or throw something, maybe all three. But I don’t do any of it.

I just sit there, my hands clutching the hem of the shirt I’m wearing, trying to hold onto something, anything that doesn’t feel like it’s slipping through my fingers. Bas is the first to move. He takes my hand without saying anything, threading our fingers together like that simple touch might ground me. And it does, a little.

“He’s running,” Lucas mutters. “He knows it’s all coming down on him.”

Derrick exhales, smoke curling from his nose. “Fucking coward.”

“Maybe,” Liam says, his voice low and tight, “but desperate is dangerous.”

They’re all angry. I can feel it, like lightning through the bond. All heat and protectiveness with a violent undercurrent of something darker.

“I thought I’d feel… relieved. Or something,” my voice doesn’t sound like mine. “But all I feel is… worse. Like this just made it real. Like it’s only going to get harder now that everyone knows the truth.”

Bas squeezes my hand. “Maybe. But you’re not doing it alone.”

I glance around at them and nod. “I know.”

We’re quiet for another moment before Liam shifts forward, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “We should cancel the lunch plan. I don’t want any of us going off campus right now.”

“Agreed,” Derrick says without hesitation.

Lucas lifts his hand like a light bulb just went off. “Okay then, new plan. At-home date. Blankets, snacks, movies, cuddles. No shoes, no rules, just us.”

A soft laugh escapes me. It’s small, but real. “Only if I get to choose what we watch first.”

“Fair enough,” Derrick says, placing a kiss on the top of my head before heading for the kitchen. His fingers trail lightly down my arm as he passes, like he’s reminding me he’s here, even when he walks away. “But first coffee, then breakfast. If you want to go take a shower, you can. I’ll have breakfast ready by the time you’re done.”

I consider his offer for a moment. The idea of standing under the hot spray is tempting, too tempting to ignore.

Twenty minutes later, I step back into the living room, wearing one of Derrick’s shirts and my favorite new pair of soft sleep shorts. The scent of eggs, bacon, and coffee greets me like a warm hug.

Derrick hands me a mug of coffee, made just the way I like. “Perfect timing, Emerald. Come eat.”

We all settle around the island and dig into breakfast. Eating with all of my mates always makes me feel warm and fuzzy. It’s like we’re a real family. And I guess now we sort of are.

After we eat, Bas and Lucas put together a huge bed in the middle of the living room. They push all of the furniture to the edges and drag in the mattresses from their rooms, putting them in the center of the room and piling a ridiculous number of pillows and blankets on top.

Where the hell did they get all these pillows?

Bas moves with that same easy swagger he always has, tossing pillows like he’s casually tossing baseballs. Lucas, meanwhile, gets intensely focused, tongue poking out slightly as he fluffs a comforter like he’s preparing for a magazine shoot. When the floor bed is ready Liam and Lucas take up spots leaving room for me between them.

“I get to choose the movie, remember?” I sass at Lucas as I drop down into the mound of pillows between him and Liam.

Lucas throws his hands up in surrender, tossing me the remote. “All yours, Moonbeam. Just don’t pick the one with those creepy puppets again. I swear I had nightmares for a week after.”

“It wasn’t creepy,” I gasp in mock outrage. “It was art. Besides, you’re the one who said it was a classic and we just had to watch it.”

Bas chuckles from his spot near my feet, his thumb brushing softly over my calves. “Pick whatever you want, Firefly. If it makes you happy I’ll even sit through that one with the dog that makes everyone cry like little bitch babies.”

“You said you weren’t crying,” Derrick teases from the kitchen. “You said it was just eye sweat.”

“They were sweating,” Bas says indignantly, while a smile tugs at the edges of his mouth. “That pup sacrificed everything to find his boy. Don’t try and act like you weren’t tearing up when he laid down on the porch.”

“I did not,” Derrick huffs, but the sparkle in his eye says otherwise.

“You totally did,” I add. “You even did that thing where you try to hide it with a cough. Like we wouldn’t notice our big bad dragon misting up.”

A round of chuckles spreads through the room, some of the tension from earlier fading away. I scroll through our movie options for a few seconds before landing on a ridiculous comedy that’s sure to make everyone laugh.

“How about this one?” I ask, glancing around.

Lucas nods immediately. “Oh, yes. We need stupid humor right now.”

“Definitely,” Liam agrees. “This is one of my favorites, when they find that baby… hilarious.”

The opening credits roll, and we all settle in. Derrick claims his usual spot at my back and I lean against his chest. Bas shifts and lays so his head is resting on my lap.

“This okay?” he asks, peering up at me, his eyes more green than brown today. His lashes are unfairly long, fanned out against the soft flush of his cheeks.

“Perfect,” I say, brushing my fingers through his dark hair.

I let my nails scrap lightly against his head and his eyes flutter. The pleased rumble that he lets out sends a wave of warmth through the bond. As the first ridiculous gag plays out on the screen, laughter erupts around the room. I feel the quiet rise and fall of Bas’s chest and it centers me. The way his hand wraps lightly around my ankle, like he just needs to be touching me, makes me feel cherished and needed.

The warmth of my pack surrounds me and I love it.

This is peace. This is love.

The movie continues on, laughter bubbling up every few minutes. I find myself relaxing into it, surrounded by my guys, surrounded by safety.

When Derrick’s phone buzzes, he pulls it out of his pocket, his brows pinch together when he checks the screen.

“My dad,” he says, already rising to his feet. “I’ll take it in my room.”

The tension that pulses through our bond is subtle, but there. He presses a quick kiss to the top of my head before disappearing into his room.

“Time for snacks,” Lucas says, smacking the pause button and springing up from his place.

Bas gives me a lazy smile before stretching and following after him. “Be right back, Firefly.”

I smile at both of them, watching them work as a single unit to put together a snack board and drinks until Liam’s hand brushes against mine drawing my attention.

“Hey,” he says, his voice softer than usual, a little unsure. “Can I steal you for a sec?”

I blink, surprised but curious, and nod. “Yeah, of course.”

He stands and helps me off the mattress before leading me to his room. He doesn’t speak, just holds his door open, ushering me inside.

His room is tidy in a way that is so Liam. His bed is neatly made, the camera gear on his desk arranged with precision, not a speck of dust in sight. There’s something comfortingly predictable about the clean lines and muted colors. Everything is functional, minimal, everything has its place.

He crosses to his desk and picks up his camera before grabbing my hand and pulling us both over to sit on the edge of his bed. I can’t help but notice the camera strap I got him for his birthday is attached to the body of the camera.

“I, uh… I never really said thank you for this.” His fingers toy with the strap, tracing the embroidery like it’s something precious. “I love it, Rachel. Like, really love it. It’s not just cool, it feels like me. And you saw that, saw me, when I didn’t even know you were looking. And I want you to know I saw you too.”

He thrusts his camera into my hands and shows me how to scroll through the photos. I start clicking through and every single one is amazing. Bas was right, he really has an eye for photography.

I scroll through a few nature photos, sunlight through trees, the beach where Lucas and I had our first big moment, the fountain in the quad surrounded by students hurrying on their way to class. Then I see me.

Smiling with Aubree in the quad.

Laughing at Lucas, Derrick standing protectively behind my back.

Sitting alone under a tree reading a book.

The photos continue and before I know it I’m all the way back to the first week of class. Before I bonded with Lucas. Before I knew any of them were mine. And still, he saw me.

My breath catches a little. “Liam…”

“I didn’t mean to be creepy,” he rushes out. “I just… when I see you sometimes it’s like I have to make the moment stay. You look peaceful, or powerful, or like you're about to say something sassy and put one of us in our place. And I wanted to hold onto that.”

I glance at him, my chest tight, eyes stinging with unshed tears. “You don’t make me feel watched, or stalked. You make me feel… noticed. Like I matter even when I’m doing nothing at all.”

His shoulders drop, the tension leaving him. “You always matter. That’s why I call you my Shadow Girl. At first, it felt like I couldn’t escape you, but then I realized it was more than that. You’re connected to everything. You’re why my photos have soul. You bring a depth to the world I didn’t know was possible.”

My throat feels too tight to speak, so I just lean in and press a soft kiss to his lip. It’s a gentle kiss, grounding me in the moment.

“I’m really glad you see me,” I whisper.

“Always,” he says, leaning his forehead against mine.

A knock at the door interrupts the moment, followed by Lucas’s voice. “Snacks are ready! If you don't get back out here and claim your spot I’m gonna snatch it up, Moonbeam.”

I laugh, wiping at the corner of my eye.

“Guess we’d better get back out there.”

Together, we head back to our pack.

We get back to the living room and find everyone ready and waiting to finish the movie. Derrick's jaw is tense and he’s gripping his phone like a live grenade. I cross the room and sit in his lap wrapping my arms around his neck and looking deep into his gold flecked eyes.

“What did Demi say?”

“Nothing new really,” Derrick replies, softening under my touch. “Just that Ranger is a wanted man and considered dangerous. He says we should be safe on campus but to stay aware just in case.”

“He wouldn’t be dumb enough to come back on campus,” Lucas asserts, ever the positive thinker.

“Let’s hope not,” Derrick mutters, hugging me closer.

Monday afternoon rolls in warmer than expected, harsh, hot sunlight spills over the courtyard like mother nature forgot it’s still spring. I step into the quad and scan for my girls. A breeze lifts my black waves and with it a breath of freedom. Ever since shit went down with my father the guys have been hesitant to be very far from me. While being wrapped up in my mates has been safe and good, I missed hanging out with my girls.

“There she is!” Dallas calls from across the courtyard. “Our elusive fourth roommate, returned from the great testosterone wilderness.”

I laugh, and cross the lawn to join them where they are sprawled out on a picnic blanket. Dallas sips a pink smoothie while Maya and Aubree engage in a very serious debate over whether barbecue or cheddar and sour cream is the superior chip flavor.

“Sorry I’ve been MIA lately,” I say, settling in beside them.

“Girl, you’ve been M.I-mated,” Aubree says with a smirk. “We get it, just don’t forget about us little people when you’re all shacked up with the next Tribunal Leader, a tiger snack, and a set of sexy wolf twins.”

Maya nudges her. “Be nice. You know she’s been going through it.”

“Speaking of going through it,” Dallas adds. “Did I see correctly yesterday? Your father is on the lam and wanted for a whole slew of crazy shit?”

“Yup. That happened,” I say, blowing out a heavy breath. “Super dramatic. Arrest warrant, Council investigation, full-blown fugitive vibes. But honestly, I’m trying not to think about it. I just want to hang with my girls, soak up some sun, and pretend I’m not the poster child for shifter trauma.”

“We got you,” Dallas says, passing me a sandwich and a bottle of water. “We were just thinking. It’s time for a girls night. This Friday. Us, cozy PJ’s, junk food and eye masks.”

“Yes!” I answer before she’s even finished. “Absolutely. I miss you guys. I’ll be back to the dorm by six-thirty.”

“Hell yes.” Aubree grins.

With that settled we fall into a rhythm, trading stories, laughing about Aubree’s latest frog. I’m just starting to relax when a shadow falls over the blanket sending a chill up my spine.

“St. James.”

Trent.

All the warmth bleeds out of the air around me. I look up, and there he is. Shoulders squared, jaw tight, wild eyes. His cheeks are hollow, the circles under his eyes stark against his flushed skin. His shirt is wrinkled, like he’s been wearing it for days.

He looks like shit.

“Hopper,” I say flatly, not moving from my spot.

“You think you’re so special?” His voice is sharp and bitter. “You think you’ve won?”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I ask.

“You and your damn mates.” The last word leaves his mouth like a curse word. “You’re the reason I’ve been expelled. You’ve ruined my life, my baseball career. And yet here you sit as if you’ve won? As if you’re safe?”

Dallas stands, smoothie still in hand. “You should turn around and walk away before this gets embarrassing.”

Trent doesn’t even look at her. His eyes are locked on me, like I'm the reason his world is falling apart. Which to be fair, I kind of am.

“You’re a manipulative little whore just like he said,” he growls. “You played victim and dragged my name through the mud just so your precious little wolf could have his hero moment.”

“I didn’t drag anything,” I say coolly, pushing to my feet. “You did that all by yourself.”

Aubree snorts. “Seriously? You’ve got a lot of nerve to show your face right now. Out here looking like a pissed-off thumb with legs.”

Maya rises too, calm and solid. “You should go, Trent. Now.”

But he’s not listening. He takes a step forward, shoulders coiled like he’s barely restraining himself. “You’re not even denying it. You think just because you ride the dick of the Tribunal Leader's son you’re untouchable?”

I don’t flinch, I won’t give him the satisfaction.

“You fucking bitch,” he spits, and that’s it.

Dallas pulls out her phone, holding it up and hitting record. “Cool. That’s enough. Threatening a female on campus, after you’ve already been found guilty of sexual harassment. Hope you like explaining this one when you’re brought before The Eternal Council.”

His hands flex, like he wants to hit someone. But he stops himself, barely.

“You haven’t won anything, bitch,” he snarls at me. “Whores like you always get what’s coming to them.”

I don’t bother responding to his words, I simply stare him down, and this time I win.

He scoffs, mutters something under his breath, and finally turns storming off across the quad and back toward the guys dorm building.

If he’s been expelled, what’s he even still doing on campus?

Oh well, he’s not my problem anymore. Now that he’s leaving, I can enjoy being out and about without having to look over my shoulder just waiting for him to fuck with me again. And I’m going to start now, spending time with my girls.