Page 48

"The smoke looks like it's coming from one of the villages.

" Sol takes a step toward her but doesn't get too close or attempt to touch her, clearly having learned from what Garrett just dealt with.

He's always been cautious, especially when it comes to Serena, but I know she wouldn't mind his touch right now; I can see it written on her face.

"We have to help them," she says, turning to look around the room, daring any of us to say otherwise.

It's on the tip of my tongue to tell her we can handle it and for her to wait here for us to come back for her. I want to keep her safe and protected, have Garrett fly her back to the castle while we handle whatever this fresh new hell is, but I know that won't happen.

We left Serena last time, and it didn't do a lick of good. We almost lost Sol, and Lyle put himself in the way of Draven's attack to save Garrett.

Serena is stronger than any of us. I always knew she was, with everything she'd been through, but this, this is different.

She's not just resilient; she's physically stronger than us, maybe all combined.

I've seen her shadows, the way they respond when she really needs them, and I have no doubt she could handle Draven on her own if given the chance.

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure he knows that as well, which is why he was so quick to disappear last time he pissed her off.

We're the weak links here, not Serena.

"And we will, but let's not be rash. Last time we went in fast and hard, and we underestimated them. The consequences weren't worth it. I won't make that mistake again," Garrett says, his hands fisted at his side, his jaw clenched.

"I'm com—"

Serena snaps her mouth closed, cutting herself off when Garrett meets her gaze. His eyes blaze full of anger and other emotions I can't place, his usual calm and collected attitude missing in the face of losing more people.

"If you're coming with us, we have to be smarter than that."

Serena's eyes go wide, and she's not the only one. That was damn near the last thing I expected to come out of his mouth, but I can't say I disagree. I just thought it would take a lot of convincing to get us on the same page.

Though that doesn't mean we're all in agreement.

"Are you out of your mind?" Storm shouts, looking first at Garrett and then at me as if I'm going to be on his side. He should know better.

When he doesn't get the response he hoped for, he turns to Sol and then Pike.

"Did you all forget what happened last time?" Storm seethes, looking around at each of us before he stops on his brother. "You almost died."

The fight seems to leave him, replaced with worry as he turns to look at Serena. "We've almost lost both of you now, and we did lose Lyle." Serena looks down at her feet, but I see the sadness in her eyes before she can bury it.

"I can't keep losing people I love," Storm says, his voice shaking as he almost pleads, for what I'm not sure.

We can't give up on the people we love, and we can't guarantee nothing else bad will happen.

All we can do is keep trying, not giving up on each other.

Serena takes a tentative step forward before she seems to think better of it and stops, a frown pulling at her lips.

Her eyes find mine, and I see the war she's waging with herself.

Serena and Storm have been at odds for a little while, only just recently getting back to normal, but things are still a bit strained.

She doesn't want to overstep, but I think that's exactly what Storm needs right now. We all need each other.

I nod her in his direction, and that's all the encouragement she needs. The next second, she's across the room and in Storm's arms. The force of her flying at him has him staggering back a step, but he doesn't hesitate to wrap her up in his arms the way he always has.

Storm's never liked physical touch, but Serena was always the exception. With her, he craves it just like the rest of us.

"I can't either, Storm. Please don't ask me to stay here alone wondering who won't come back this time. Don't ask me to do what you couldn't." Serena begs him, her voice quiet, but we all hear it. Hear the heartbreak and pain in each word. "Please, don't leave me alone again."

Storm's arms hold her tighter, damn near squeezing the oxygen from her lungs, and I know she's hit a soft spot.

Serena was always alone before us. We made a promise to protect her, that she wouldn't be alone anymore, and I know we all intend to honor that.

It's quiet for a long time; not even the forest around the cabin makes noise, no birds chirping or animals scurrying around.

I guess that isn't that crazy, though, considering we're in the Forgotten Forest. I know the wildlife out here isn't the same.

I'm not sure I'd want to see what runs around in these woods.

"Damn it, Hops." Storm presses a kiss to the top of her head before he reluctantly lets her go, taking a step back to look at her, his eyes hard but still full of love for this girl who changed our whole world, who is the center of our everything.

"Nobody gets hurt, you hear me?"

It's an impossible ask; he knows it the same as the rest of us.

Even knowing it, Serena nods and makes the promise she can't possibly keep before pressing up on her tiptoes.

He knows what she wants even without words and quickly bends to meet her.

It's the first time I've seen them be anywhere close to the way they were before.

It's refreshing. We've all been at odds for too long; the only way I think we can get through this is together.

Serena needs us.

No… Serena wants us.

She doesn't need any of us, not really.

Pike shifts, his tail wagging, tongue hanging out of his mouth as he bounces around before he wedges his way between them, damn near knocking them to the ground in the process.

"I think he wants you to ride him," Storm says, shaking his head at Pike's antics, but he doesn't sound upset. There was a time when he used to try and hide away, always upset, but not so much anymore.

"I'm sure you know all about that, huh?" Serena says with a smirk before she climbs up on Pike’s back, leaving Storm wide-eyed, watching them trot out the door. Leaving the rest of us to follow suit.

“Did she just make a joke about me fucking Pike?” Storm asks nobody in particular, staring at the spot they just disappeared from. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Storm so dumbfounded before. Usually he’s pretty quick with comebacks, but this time it would seem she stumped him.

Unfortunately for us, our beasts being alpha’s makes it so that even though she’s not right here in the same room with us anymore, we all still catch the unmistakable scent of her arousal as it travels through the air back to us.

Garrett sucks in a sharp breath, and I watch scales pop on his arms, my own beast stirring with the delicious scent of our mate. “I’d say she isn’t opposed to it, that’s for sure.”

None of us need to be told to move as we head out of the house, shifting as we go. All but Garrett, that is. He waits until we're far enough away from Ryker’s house that he won’t destroy it, and if that isn’t progress, I’m not sure what is.