Page 116 of Pack Me Up

“I’m free now,” I whisper. My voice doesn’t shake.

When I stand, everything is different. My posture straightens, and my shoulders roll back. I turn to face my mates, and the numbness that’s been gnawing at me all day burns away like fog in sunlight.

“I’m leaving it all behind,” I say, voice louder than I meant. “The pain and the fear are buried with them.” I pause, surprised at the words, but they feel right. “I’m done being scared of ghosts.”

The pack answers as one.

Cody steps forward first, takes my hand in both of his, squeezing until the blood pulses in my fingertips. His eyes are bright, a storm of emotions I can’t pick apart, but the pride in them is impossible to miss. “You’re fucking incredible.”

Colton grins, the fierce, feral kind that used to make me nervous, but now just feels like home. He nods, slowly, then brushes the back of his hand over my cheek. “You’re so strong,” he says, voice soft enough that only I can hear.

Hunter beams at me, not even pretending to hide the shimmer in his eyes. “Badass,” he says, and when I laugh, it’s real, echoing out across the empty stones.

Fox slips his arm around my waist with no hesitation. “I’m proud of you,” he says, quiet, but the words vibrate down into my bones. He presses his lips to my temple, a gentle, grounding touch.

Saint lets out a breath, and the tension in his shoulders drops. His hand drifts from my shoulder to the nape of my neck, thumb stroking the bond mark there. “You did it,” he says, simple and sure.

We stand there, all six of us, in the drizzle and the mud, letting the old world rot behind us. The air is heavy, saturated with the scent of rain. The hurt is still there, but it’s not everything anymore.

I look at the graves one last time, and for the first time ever, I don’t feel owned by the past. I feel the future, sharp and clear and exciting.

I squeeze Cody’s hand, feel the pack close in tight, and smile.

We walk away together, every step further from the ghosts.

We’re halfway to the car when Saint goes rigid, hand snapping out to halt me mid-step. The others catch the shift in a blink. Cody and Colton fan left and right, Fox moves up to my shoulder, and Hunter’s whole body vibrates. I don’t hearanything at first, just the rain on dead leaves, but then there’s the crunch of gravel under a heavy step.

Instinct makes my heart slam against my ribs. All five of my mates close in, and they’re not subtle about it.

The man rounds the bend slowly, hands out and empty, steps dragging like he’s not sure if he’s allowed to be here. I don’t realize who he is until he gets closer.

My uncle.

He stops dead ten feet away, keeping his hands visible. The pack bristles. Saint doesn’t move, but the growl under his breath vibrates through the whole group.

The man clears his throat. “Brittney?” His voice is careful, almost timid. “It’s good to see you again.”

Nobody answers. I don’t trust my voice to work.

He glances at the pack, reading the message in their stares. He raises his hands higher, showing he means no harm.

“I didn’t want to interrupt. I just—” He fumbles. “I wasn’t sure you’d even come.”

I see the raw, almost childlike uncertainty in his posture. He’s used to being strong, but right now, he’s nothing but nervous.

Saint doesn’t step aside, but I edge forward, enough to see past his arm. Robert’s gaze flicks to me and stays.

“I know we don’t know each other,” he continues. “But I’d like to. You’re my niece, and you deserve at least…a chance at something different.”

He looks at the grave, then back at me. “I was a shit uncle,” he says. “I won’t pretend otherwise. But if you wanted, we could have lunch tomorrow. Just to talk. Or not. Up to you.”

Silence. I hear every raindrop, the tick of my own pulse. I look at my pack—Cody’s jaw is set, Fox is trembling, Colton’s hands twitch at his sides. Hunter raises his eyebrows, half-impressed by the man’s balls.

Saint’s voice comes out monotone. “Why should we trust you?”

Robert shrugs. “You shouldn’t. But you can watch the whole time, if it helps.”

I feel the tug of the bond, the pack’s worry, their readiness to fight for me. But under it is something new: pride, and a kind of hope.