Page 152 of Ensnared by the Pack: The Complete Series (Destined Realms #3)

AUDREY

Bishop and I separated and went into the appropriate bathrooms — Bishop having to point out which door said woman. Inside the women’s bathroom was a long counter with three sinks and a wide mirror reflecting just how bad I looked.

My hair was a mess, my skin too pale from barely getting any sleep and overexerting myself, and my face was a swollen, bruised mess.

Thankfully, it didn’t look like my nose was completely out of shape, so at least when it healed, I’d look more or less normal, but both of my eyes had blackened.

I couldn’t believe Bishop had made love to me while I looked like a raccoon or called me beautiful. But I guess that was what it meant to be in love. I’d make love to Bishop no matter what he looked like because he was mine and we were meant to be together.

Across from the counter were three toilet stalls and tucked around a corner was an area with a bench, another counter, and three wide shower stalls. At the far end of the counter was a rack with fluffy towels and a half-full bin with used towels.

I quickly cleaned up, got dressed — ignoring my reflection in the mirror — and returned to the hall where Bishop was waiting for me. We took the stairs down one flight to the first floor and stepped into a cafeteria.

The room wasn’t big with half a dozen long tables and benches, but it looked warm and inviting. The whole left side was filled with tall, wide windows letting in streams of sunlight and looking out onto a square with grass and flowerbeds and benches.

A cluster of tall trees shaded half the square and with the rocky ground rising up in front and to the right, it gave the square a feeling of peaceful seclusion. A couple sat on one of the benches chatting while another woman was weeding one of the flower beds.

Inside, opposite the windows was an open kitchen where a stout, older man stood at the stove cooking something that smelled amazing, and at the far end sat the three men who’d been watching us.

“Morning, alpha,” the cook said. “I’m just cooking up some extra sausage for you because I know how much meat you wolves like to eat.” He winked at us and rolled half a dozen large sausages onto a platter then set it on the counter behind me. “There’s also fruit and pancakes.”

“Thank you,” Bishop replied with a huge smile. “Everything smells incredible.”

I took half a sausage, a couple of pancakes, and an orange — something I hadn’t seen a lot of in Stonehaven — and we sat at one of the tables and ate. A few minutes later, Cyrus, Deacon, and Whil joined us.

“Sisters,” Deacon breathed, looking at my face. “It didn’t look that bad last night.”

“It can take a while for bruises to form,” Whil replied. “Here.” She handed me a large cup filled with water. “Drink this.”

Blue light flickered in its depths reminding me of the healing pool last night, and I raised my eyes in question. She’d pulled the poison out of Bishop and released it in the pool, not to mention none of us had cleaned up before we’d hopped in and Bishop and I— Well, I was pretty sure we defiled it by completing our mating bond.

“The pool purifies itself and it was clean when we woke this morning. All trace of poison and anything else was gone,” she said. “This isn’t as refined as an elixir, which is why you have to drink so much, but it should help with your nose.”

“Hopefully, you won’t look like you lost a fight by the time we get back to Stonehaven,” Cyrus said, his voice gruff.

“Hopefully,” I repeated. I hadn’t thought about what returning to Stonehaven would be like, especially if it looked like I’d been beaten up.

I was now mated to two of the pack’s alphas, and while it was obvious I was weak, I didn’t want it to be painted on my face. Who knew what I’d be up against when we returned. Velora and anyone else who had their heart set on being Bishop’s mate would be furious with me, not to mention I’d been with Bishop when he’d been poisoned. Those who didn’t like me before were probably spreading rumors that I was somehow responsible.

Except, wasn’t I?

That man had been trying to poison me, not Bishop, and had only run away because Bishop would have killed him before he could touch me.

And there wasn’t anything I could do about that. I couldn’t convince people to like me. I’d never been able to convince anyone of anything. I just had to be careful, stick with the people I could trust, and live my life.

I drank Whil’s not-elixir and finished my breakfast while the others talked about our return trip. When we were done, we returned our dishes to the cook and thanked him again then headed out of the building — which was built flush against a tall rock wall — into the outside square, and around to a set of wide steps.

The steps were carved into the rock wall beside the building and led up to the courtyard I’d seen last night with the statue of the woman pouring water and the entrance to the sacred pool. Knox, in his wolf form, lay by the statue watching the stairs.

He bounded over to me the second he saw me, and I wrapped my arms around his neck and nuzzled my face in his soft fur, breathing in his rich, wood smoke scent. Relief and love rushed through our bond and I sent relief and love back to him.

Bishop joined us in the hug and warmth billowed around my heart, our shifter connection aligning our souls, comforting and assuring us: this was who we were supposed to be with.

I wanted to be with you, Knox said, his emotions indicating he’d wanted to be close not necessarily have sex. But Bishop needed you more and you deserved to sleep on a bed.

“Thank you,” I told him. “I love you and I promise, I’ll work on getting us that greenhouse bedroom.”

“A greenhouse bedroom?” Bishop asked.

“Knox and I spent the entire night together in Whil’s greenhouse, which means he can be inside, it just has to be a glass room,” I replied.

She wants to build it on the Residence’s roof, Knox replied with a chuckle.

“So no one can see us naked!”

“What’s this about naked?” Deacon asked, laughing as my face turned red. He’d seen everything last night and I had a foggy memory of maybe flashing Cyrus my privates… but I wasn’t a hundred percent sure on that. The need to complete my bond with Bishop was all that I really remembered after saving him.

“She wants to build a greenhouse bedroom for Knox so they can spend the night together,” Bishop said.

Deacon’s eyes flashed bright, but it wasn’t with amusement. It was with surprise and happiness. “That’s a brilliant idea.”

“And something we’ll deal with once we get back to Stonehaven,” Cyrus growled. “Let’s get moving. I’m setting an easier pace but that doesn’t mean we should waste time.”

“Yes, alpha,” Deacon chuckled, making Cyrus frown. “What? You are the alpha.”

“But you only call me that when you’re being a pain in my ass,” he grumbled. “You and Nova.”

Deacon’s smile grew bigger. “It’s our job. But you are right. Whil, can I carry your pack?”

“Absolutely,” she replied, handing it over.