Page 57 of Same Thing

Nate returned with a first aid kit and had to wipe dust off the lid. “We don’t use these much,” he explained. “Don’t need to.”

“Is it bad?” she repeated. Maybe Nate would tell her.

“You’ll be rocking some scars, but you’ll be fine.” He cast Liam a glance before he went to work doctoring her.

Delta came in a minute later, stark naked, and went directly to the bedroom, and returned a few moments later pulling on an oversized T-shirt. “Let me,” she growled out, and replaced Nate on first aid duty.

Liam returned with a bowl of warm water, but he’d shut down. She could tell.

His eyes didn’t meet hers anymore, and his words were clipped, but only for the others—his Pack.

Bridger burst in, and Dodger and Tabian were behind him. “I know what she is.”

“She’s human,” Liam said immediately.

“I didn’t know humans could be—”

“She’s just a human!” Liam barked, glaring at Bridger.

Bridger took a step back, frowning at his Alpha. “Aro gave that wolf an order to kill her. I heard him. He gave him an order, and the wolf couldn’t do it.” He gestured to her ankle. “That’s all he could do. He was dragging her away from the fights.”

“Stop,” Liam said, warning in his voice.

“What’s going on?” Nory whispered.

But no one answered. The Pack was all looking at some kind of warning in Liam’s eyes.

Bridger huffed a breath and shook his head. He looked disgusted and turned to leave.

“Where are you going?” Liam asked.

“To pack my house up.”

“I want to call a meeting first—”

“You aren’t our Alpha anymore,” Dodger said, his facial expression emotionless. “You can call meetings all you want to. We don’t have to go to them though.”

Liam got quiet and looked at the ground as the others filed out one by one, until it was only him and Nate and Delta left with her.

Liam turned and Delta moved out of the way as he knelt down in front of Nory. He pulled her by the backs of the knees to the edge of the couch cushion and rested his forehead against her stomach. Arms around her back, he hugged her close.

She was shocked at the movement and sudden affection, but when she slipped her hands to his shoulders, his body was humming strangely. He was hurting.

It gutted her. He’d lost everything. He’d lost his home, and then the apartment, and now his Pack, and his territory.

This was her fault.

“Everything I touch turns to rot,” she whispered raggedly.

“No.” His voice was more growl than anything.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

He looked up at her, and the look in his eyes was so raw, so vulnerable. So agonized. “Are you okay?”

She was a little banged up, but she would heal. He seemed to need to hear that she was okay, and she understood. Nory nodded. She wasn’t really okay, and she’d learned all about lying and werewolves, so she didn’t say it aloud. A nod would have to be enough.

“I have to Change,” he gritted out, and stood. “I’m sorry. I’m the one who is sorry. You should’ve never been here.”