Page 13 of Fennick’s Fortune (Sentinels of Apollo #2)

It was all I could do to concentrate on checking with the others in Asa’s group.

I was assigned to check on Bruce at Nico’s house and Adir and his family at Keir’s.

Banner was doing the others. As expected, Adir had many questions about what work might be available in the area and if there were places to rent.

I took him and his family into town so they could familiarize themselves with it and see what Needles had to offer.

We swung by and picked up Bruce to join them.

In town, we ran into Banner. He was doing the same with Orion and his cousins, Thea, Trevor, and Asa. It seemed that Hadar refused to come with them. Banner told me privately that he didn’t trust Hadar and hated leaving him alone.

After a few hours of sightseeing, we returned them to their temporary homes, and I answered more questions with my group.

I knew Banner did the same when I asked him later.

My mind wasn’t far from Akiva throughout the day.

I wished someone else could do this part, then I could stay with Akiva.

However, my friends had responsibilities and couldn’t call off anytime they wanted.

The citizens and visitors who came to Needles and our nearby area deserved to be protected and helped.

I kept checking in with Cerys to see how Akiva was. Each time, I got the same answer. She was still asleep. Cerys asked if I wanted her to go in and check on her, but I said no. Who knows how long it had been since she had been able to sleep in a comfortable bed in a safe place?

I eventually was free of Asa’s group. Most were settled and working on what to have for dinner.

Since they’d been offered free run of each home, Leah planned to cook for her family, including Asa and Hadar, and ensure that their hosts, Keir and Banner, were well-fed.

When asked, Thea, Camila, and Juliette planned to prepare a meal for their members at Gunnar’s house, and Royal was invited there.

I’d been asked to join both, but I told them I already had plans.

As I headed to Brax’s, I touched base to see how soon the others could be there.

It seemed that those working had found ways to leave a little early, and Banner told me he’d be there whenever we wanted him to be.

I was relieved. I’d waited as long as I could to get to the bottom of Akiva’s memories.

My gut had been in knots all day and kept growing worse.

When I arrived at Cerys and Brax’s home, I was greeted by a smiling Cerys. As I hugged her, she spoke before I did.

“Before you ask, she’s still in her room.

I’ve knocked several times, but she hasn’t answered.

I stayed out like you said, but I wanted to talk to her.

I thought she might feel better about discussing it with another woman.

The thought of anyone doing that to a child and those women makes me sick.

” She rubbed her stomach, which was showing a barely there, tiny pooch.

I squeezed her to me to comfort her. “I know. I’ve been sick to my stomach all day, too.”

I heard a truck I knew well pulling up. It was Brax. He didn’t waste time getting into the house to greet his wife and kiss her. When he was done doing that, he greeted me.

“I see you beat me here. Good to see you back.”

“It’s good to be back, and you know I can’t resist seeing Cerys,” I teased as I winked at her.

“I swear. I’d hate to do in a friend, but if you make me, it’s your fault,” Brax joked.

Cerys told us to stop and behave, making us grin. Then I sobered up and got back to business.

“The others are on their way. They should be here anytime,” I informed them.

“And Akiva?” Brax asked.

“She’s been up in her room all day. I think between sleeping and feeling embarrassed, she’s hidden there,” Cerys whispered as low as she could.

“If she thinks we hold what she was forced to do as a child against her, she’ll find out we’re not like that. Wait. Here they come,” Brax said telepathically.

“Yes, here we come,” Nico piped in.

A chorus of others confirmed they were almost here and said hello.

A minute or more later, footsteps were heard on the porch, and then the door opened, and the other Sentinels walked in. They were still pulling on their shirts as they entered. They’d traveled in their animal forms. Brax scowled.

“Why do you come in here half-dressed all the time?” Brax asked our friends. They all grinned, but Nico answered him.

“Because we want Cerys to see what she’s missing and dump your ass for a better model,” Nico smirked. We loved to joke and torment Brax, but especially Nico.

“One of these days, Nico, One of these days…” Brax growled, only half-seriously.

Cerys came up and rubbed her hand over her man’s chest as she smiled. “ Agápi mou , my love, they can never compare to you, though I admit they give a cheap thrill. It’s like my very own strippers.”

This remark had Brax frowning more. I interrupted what would no doubt become a sparring session between all of us. Usually, I enjoyed those immensely, but I didn’t tonight. We had more important stuff to do.

“Now that we’re all here, it’s time to get Akiva down here. She’s rested and hidden away all day. It’s time for her to talk to us about this,” I stated.

“I think it’ll be better if I go get her. You guys stay here,” Cerys said, then lowered her voice to a whisper to say, “And wipe the frowns off your face. You’ll scare her looking like that.”

We did what she asked as she left, shaking her head. Cerys and Twyla often did that around us, and we seemed to confound them.

The guys and I were talking when Brax’s head snapped around, and he stood. He was moving toward the stairs, so we got up to follow. Cerys met us coming down. She appeared panicked. I knew what she was about to say.

“She’s gone. She left this,” she said.

Cerys held out a piece of paper. I snagged it and read through it.

I handed it to Brax as I let the words sink in.

They said absolutely nothing, yet told me everything.

Akiva was running, and I wasn’t sure if it was because of the conversation she knew we would have regarding her childhood or something else.

Why did she have to travel alone? Would she go to Arkansas or Tennessee?

Where had she been coming from? She never told us where she was from, unlike the others.

My stomach churned. I’d known something was wrong all day, but I ignored it, thinking it was merely upset over the memory and her reaction.

I should’ve had Cerys wake her the first time I called or checked on her throughout the day. How long has Akiva been gone?

It didn’t register that I was moving until my arm was snagged. I glanced up to find it was Royal who held me. The rest of the guys were staring at me.

“We need to discuss what to do,” Royal said, and we moved as one to the living room.

“What do you mean we have to discuss what to do. Isn’t it obvious?” I asked incredulously.

“We could go after her, that’s one course of action. Or we can respect that she’s an adult and can make her own choices. Akiva has been apprised of the dangers and recommendations. If she chooses to go it alone, that’s her right,” Royal said.

Disbelief quickly gave way to anger. My fists clenched.

“Are you fucking kidding me? We pushed her out. You must not have seen her face when she went to her room. She was ashamed. You should’ve seen her in that memory.

She’s embarrassed, ashamed, and God knows what else.

It’s something painful and possibly dangerous she’s trying to forget,” I snapped.

“That may be, but Royal is right. We can’t make her stay,” Banner said.

“Our job is to protect shifters. Akiva is in danger. We know that Hadar has his sights set on her. He’ll go after her when he finds she’s gone.

And what is she leaving behind? She didn’t answer where she came from.

What if her dad is still a threat, and she’s running from him?

We can’t leave her out there alone to fight this! ” I snarled.

“I know you said yesterday she was yours. And I know you haven’t seen an unattached female bear in ages. However, that’s no reason to claim the first one you see,” Brax stated kindly.

“I’m not you, Brax. I won’t deny what my bear tells me and what I feel for months before claiming my mate. For your information, it’s not just because she’s the only unmated bear I’ve seen in forever.” I glared at him.

Brax stiffened. He hated to be reminded of the months he wasted refusing to approach Cerys because she was human. It was a low blow, but I meant it.

“Whoa, now, there’s no need to get personal. I think both sides have a point. Let’s sit and talk this through,” Cerys suggested.

I was reluctantly pulled to the furniture and sat. It was due to the way Cerys was looking at us. Damn it, she made it hard to say no to her. As soon as we were all seated, she launched into her speech.

“While it is true she’s an adult and allowed to leave if she chooses, I believe we should attempt to speak to her again.

It would be wonderful if she would open up about her past, but I doubt she’ll do that.

Or if she does, it’ll be with one of us, not the entire group.

And while Hadar is a nuisance and might follow her, I don’t think he’s the greatest threat.

We need to offer her a place of safety.” Cerys paused before finishing, and she did it while staring at me.

“Even if that place is far from us and with another group of shifters. We know of several forming.”

My first instinct was to deny Akiva going to another group adamantly, but I held it in.

“Okay, let’s say we go after her and ask her to return and talk this through. If she says no, we can’t force her,” Brax stated, eyeing me.