Page 50 of Those That Are Lost

“To be honest it’s probably a good time for us to move on.” Ty surprises me by saying.

“Are we in danger here? Has there been a sighting of your old pack?” I jump to the thing that I’ve been dreading.

“No,” Ty quickly reassures me. “But if we stay anywhere for too long they’re bound to track us down.”

He’s right, I know he’s right but I can’t help the way my breathing has shortened or how I’ve started sweating.

“Red.” Ty stands to reach for me, and I quickly move so that I’m beside him. “You’re safe. You will remain safe. I know we’ve been living without fear here but you moved around a lot to avoid detection before. We still need to do that. And this time you won’t be alone.”

I know it, truly I do. In the last couple of weeks, however, I have finally felt settled. For months I had been living in constant fear, always looking over my shoulder. Here I have started to feel like myself again and the thought of that feeling being taken away shoots burning fear down my spine.

Going back on the run, indefinitely, is not something I think I’m strong enough for anymore. But I have been worried about what would happen if the wolves had to get involved in our fight. It wouldn’t be fair to them. They’ve been more than welcoming. Once the winter snow starts melting, it’s more likely Adicious’s pack will start searching this far north, especially as they’ll have scoured the continent pretty thoroughly by now.

“You two really don’t have to come with me,” Henry reiterates.

“Ty’s right,” I force out, then take a deep breath before continuing. “We can’t stay here forever.”

“I’m assuming you’ll put up with us tagging along with you as well.” Ty looks at Henry, but his thumb starts tracing small circles on my palm where he’s holding my hand.

“Of course, you’re welcome to stay at my place,” Henry says. But he winces. “Although… to warn you, I might have a bit of a pest problem.”

I forget my anxiety for a moment. Henry does not seem like the person who would live in a place where there’d be rats.

“What kind of pests?” Ty’s eyes narrow.

“One that I said could crash in my flat a few nights ago when he messaged me, and I know won’t leave until I kick him out.”

“A vampire?”

“Yeah. He’s harmless really, but I can’t guarantee he won’t be there when we arrive.”

“Who?” Ty’s voice has dropped a little and laces our fingers to pull me closer to him. Henry’s eyes say he notices it also.

“He’s a rogue I helped a few years back. He has a flair for trouble and comes to me like a stray when he needs feeding or patching up. I could message him to make sure he’s not there when we return but I know that’ll just make him curious.”

“He’s not in a pack?”

“No.” Henry’s hands shoot up, placatingly. “God’s no. I’m not sure any pack would have him.”

“He won’t sell us out?”

“No, I wouldn’t risk that. I hope you know that.” Henry’s face draws tight and he puts a hand to his chest like even the insinuation physically hurt him.

“We know you wouldn’t.” I step around Ty to reassureHenry. Ty’s grip on my hand tightens. I shoot him a look before placing my hand on Henry’s arm and giving it a squeeze.

“You’ve done nothing but help. It’s us that’s the burden on your life.”

I wholeheartedly mean it. He didn’t need to come with Ty in the first place and now he’s offering to shelter us in his home.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way.” Ty backtracks although still holds my hand in a vice like grip and the tension rolls off him in waves.

Henry gives Ty an assessing look that I can’t quite read, and it’s over in a second before he’s stepping into our space and wrapping his arms around us both. I’m momentarily squished between the two male vampires who tower over me.

“It’s okay, I get it.” I hear Henry say to Ty over me. He whispers it so I’m not sure he intended for me to hear but I can’t not.

As we all step back, I glance between them, confused as to what just occurred.

“So… are we all going back to West Scotia then, after the Solstice?” I ask.