Page 30

KINGSTON

I paced my office as Locke laid out the new additions to our security. Motion sensors. An electric border fence that would fry anyone with human or supernatural code in their DNA unless they were wearing a special token that deactivated the invisible barrier. More cameras.

There was always paid security personnel, but that introduced the risk of someone turning on us. And the only people I truly trusted were those in the house.

“I think that’s enough to start,” Puck said, fatigue thick in his voice.

I knew why. It was two in the morning, and we were all running on empty. Our pack had been hit by one thing after another, and we needed to recover. The only silver lining was that Wren was currently passed out in bed.

Locke had given her a headache tonic while Puck made her dinner. After eating and drinking, she’d gone straight to sleep. We’d all watched over her for longer than we should’ve before leaving her in Brix’s care and moving on to plan.

Ender let out a low growl. “I’m not sure it’s enough.”

I turned to him. “It’ll never be enough. But it’s a start. Though if we don’t get some rest, none of us will be of any use in protecting her.”

I knew I’d gotten through to him when Ender’s shoulders slumped, but he lifted his head in assent. “I’ll see you all in the morning.” He stalked out of the room before we could say a word.

“I ordered the tech. It should be here tomorrow or the next day,” Locke said, rolling up his plans.

It felt like a million and one things could change between now and then—an infinite number of horrible things. But I shoved every last one from my mind. “Thank you,” I said, easing into the chair behind my desk.

As Locke headed for the door, Puck didn’t move to leave. I could feel his eyes on me. He might be the jokester of the group, but that facade hid his astute nature. He saw far more than those around him would believe.

Finally, I met Puck’s green gaze but didn’t speak; I simply waited.

“You gonna be able to hold it together?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” I answered honestly.

Surprise flitted across Puck’s expression. “I didn’t think you’d give me the truth.”

“What good would a lie do any of us? We’re all a wreck and know it because we can feel it through the pack bonds.”

The link allowed us to snatch echoes of each other’s emotions. It was nothing like what Wren could do, but it meant it was useless to lie about how you were feeling.

Puck stared at me for a long moment. “What do you need?”

It was a kindness, that question. But he couldn’t give me what I really needed: Wren’s safety and forgiveness.

“You’re doing it.” That wasn’t a lie. Puck was doing everything he could to help me. To help us.

His mouth flattened into a thin line, but he nodded. “Don’t stay in here torturing yourself for too long.”

Puck knew me too well.

“Good night,” I said, fatigue swirling around the two words.

“Night,” Puck echoed, heading for the door.

I stared through the open doorway for a long time before leaning back in my chair.

My head tipped back until all I saw was the ceiling.

My office had intricate designs in the plaster work up there: a geometric design I could trace for hours.

And that was good because I had a feeling sleep wouldn’t be finding me anytime soon.

The faint sound of footsteps caught my attention. They were light. Bare feet. A slight figure. By the time the mystery individual reached my office, I’d straightened. Just in time to see Wren reach my doorway.

Her hair hung around her in a tangle of waves matted from sleep.

She wore an oversized shirt I was pretty sure belonged to Puck, her bare legs peeking out from beneath it.

She was fucking gorgeous. Had the kind of beauty that froze a man to the spot, punched through his chest, grabbed his heart in a vicious fist, and clung to it tightly.

“Are you okay?” I croaked.

It was a stupid question. Of course, she wasn’t. But I had to ask.

She nodded. “Headache’s gone.”

“Good.”

Wren didn’t move. Not to leave. Not to come closer. And wasn’t that a metaphor for where we stood? Hovering on the threshold of what we both wanted.

“Do you need something?” I rasped.

She bit her bottom lip, making my jeans suddenly feel two sizes tighter. She released that hold and let out a breath, stepping inside. “I wanted to see how you were doing.”

I stared at the beautiful woman in front of me—so raw and real and everything I’d ever wanted. Holding our cards close to our chests had done nothing but hurt us. So, I decided to give her my brutal truth. No self-protection, no shielding, just me.

“Not good,” I croaked. “I miss you. I’m fucking terrified that something’s going to happen to you, and it’ll all be my fault.

I’m scared you’ll never forgive me for not having your back when you needed me the most. I’m worried I can’t be the leader my pack needs me to be.

That I’ll make the wrong decision or not give my brothers what they need. ”

I sucked in a sharp breath. “And having Bastian in Crescent Creek has all these memories of my sister flooding me. It’s killing me. And knowing that he hurt you, too? I want to rip him limb from limb. I’m a wreck, Wren. A shattered mess. And I don’t want anyone to know.”