Page 52

Stacy

The mood in this village right now is surreal. I see smiles, I’ve even heard some laughter, and there’s an energy I can’t ever remember feeling here.

Eyes are on Brody Savage with curiosity, for certain. I think his speech was received more than well, by most. People are watching him and I’m sure many are hoping he’s the answer for the pack. Improving it. Saving it. He fed the kids first and I wanted to shout out a hallelujah for that. He let the women serve themselves next, insisting that those who prepared the meal also put our own plates aside before the men were allowed to come up to eat. And I could tell that wasn’t because some of them are under suspicion. It’s because a real alpha takes care of those who can’t care for themselves as a priority.

Addy sat near me for the meal and though she’s been quiet, didn’t eat much, I’ve caught her watching Brody several times. Each time he looks at her, she looks away.

Misty asked her if they’d mated yet and Addy shot her a dirty look, not answering and her face going red. The way Misty and Caroline as well as a few of the other girls keep looking at Grey, Jase, Lincoln, Joel, and Gus I suspect several Silver Hills women are wishing they were me or Addy – and are hoping one of the alphas from Arcana Falls takes notice of them. Caroline has been whispering to me, asking about Grey, asking about Arcana Falls, telling me I’m lucky while fanning herself.

Patsy sits down beside me and leans in.

“I heard years ago that an alpha’s knot can be quite… effective during mating.”

My face burns scarlet and immediately, Caroline and Misty are asking questions. What does Patsy mean? Patsy explains what she knows of it, that it vibrates and pulses against the most sensitive part of a female, that it results in pleasure the likes most women never get to experience, pleasure the likes many women would go out of their way to have and would fight to the death to keep for themselves once they got it.

“Would you fight to keep it, Stace?” Misty asks.

And I can’t hide it. I nod slowly with my teeth embedded in my bottom lip.

“Brody’s an alpha,” Caroline sings out, eyebrows wiggling at Addy.

Addy looks away. Her cheeks are pink.

“What if Brody doesn’t become our new alpha? Does that mean you’ll move away like Stacy?” Misty asks and right now she looks lost.

“I’ll visit,” I promise, not for the first time. “And maybe you can take turns visiting me. Grey’s house has lots of room for guests.”

Misty moved in with us when she was seven after her mom died. We’re the only family she has, even though we’re not blood related.

“Well?” Misty presses Addy.

Addy shrugs and not making eye contact, mutters, “We’ll see what happens, I guess.”

I do my best to make everyone comfortable, encourage them what with the fact that we’ve come a long way from where things were just a day ago. I want them to be hopeful, to believe that things will only get better from here.

“I’ll feel better when your brother is dealt with,” Jennifer mutters and I can tell by the expressions in the group that everyone feels this way. I know I do.

I slump and get reprimanded by Caroline. “Nobody associates you with Wyatt so don’t take anything on that is his responsibility. You’re the one we can thank for change here, not the one we blame. So… thank you, Stacy.” She grabs my hand and squeezes.

“Yes, thank you Stacy,” Jennifer echoes.

Misty nods. “Definitely.”

The meal this evening has felt like a party and I can’t remember the last time the mood around here felt like this. Well before Father died, for sure.

Most of the pack is here, just a few elderly folks still recuperating. Everyone else seems to be feeling much better. Some of the men are staying off to the side by themselves. The few couples in the pack have reunited. Though the return of the men of the pack made for some tension, Brody’s speech broke it, as did the hearty meal. There’s more than enough food to eat and many have gone for seconds, some even thirds.

I’ve seen a few suspicious male faces and some seem like they’re merely observing the mood in the mess hall overall, but some of the others are talking amongst themselves with excitement. Any remaining loyalty to Wyatt is, I suspect, diminishing.

While me and a handful of other women are cleaning up, Grey tugs my hand to get me outside.

“Thank you for this. For all of this,” I say, swinging his arm with our fingers woven together as we walk toward the fence. “It’s been a really good night. I can’t get over the overall mood around here right now. It’s so hopeful. This is what I dreamed for them.”

He kisses my fingers with light in his eyes, but that switches to seriousness, which makes my expression fall.

“I’m goin’ with Jase and Jared to see if your brother turns up to collect more money.”

“Oh.” I deflate.

“Sorry he’s a cloud on what’s otherwise been a good night for you, and I hate the idea of leaving you here, but I can’t sit here while they go deal with that, Blossom. I need to be dealing with him myself.”

“I understand.”

“I’m leaving you under Linc’s care. Linc, Brody, and Gus along with the betas will look after things here. You stay in Linc’s line of sight at all times. Yeah?”

I bite my lip as fear thrums inside my veins.

But Grey’s fingers dive into my hair and as he lowers to get us nose to nose, he says, “It’s gonna be okay, wife. Have you got faith in me?”

My breath hitches and I can’t help the flood of emotion or the tears that flow. I manage to say, with conviction, “I have all the faith in you, husband. All of it.”

He gifts me with a wide smile.

“Real glad to hear that, Stacy Blackwood.” He presses his lips to my mate mark, pulling a shiver from me.

Though my nipples are now tingling, I manage to continue, “Everything is going so well. Everyone is on the mend. That’s because of you. There’s hope for the pack. I have you and also, I know the rest of the people I care about are going to be okay. That’s everything to me.”

“But?” he asks, seeing the weight of all this still on me.

“But Wyatt… he’s still out there and I can’t help but still be afraid that he’s going to rip it all away. After living my life seeing how he just burns everything to ash… I can’t help but feel fear, still.”

“He doesn’t have the power, sweetheart,” Grey says with conviction. “He’s a weak, foolish, greedy asshole and he’s no match for what he’s up against. Believe that.”

“I’ll feel so much better when he’s no longer out there making his hideous plans. But you’re right,” I whisper, feeling confidence swell inside me. We’ve been through so much on this road. Seeing is believing and seeing the determined look in my mate’s eyes, I should believe. I do believe. All he’s shown me, how dramatically my life has changed in the short time since Wyatt ordered I shoot Tyson…

It will be okay. No, better than okay. All I really dreamed of was okay . And what I’ll have with this wonderful mate I’ve been gifted with blows everything I could’ve hoped for out of the water.

“You’re right. You’ve got this, baby,” I say. “Do what you need to do so you can hurry back, okay? I want a run in the woods with you tonight. Like… a lot.”

His eyes change as he pulls me tighter to him and I feel his erection as he growls into my ear, making my panties become saturated. “Mm, if only I had the time to take you now…”

I kiss him and repeat, “Hurry back, then.”

He caresses my face. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”