Page 16 of Mortals and Mayhem

Gods, these eyes are intense. So much emotion is flashing through them. Concern, understanding, determination, and I think that last one is fear.

“Good girl, stay with me. There are three shades of blue in them. Can you find them?”

I try to focus on the colors of his eyes, picking through each shade to separate them in my mind. Slowly, I nod my head when I can see the shades of blue.

“That’s it, now take a deep breath with me, and then we’re going to let it out.” He takes one of my hands, places it on his chest. Taking an exaggerated breath in, he holds it, and I follow his lead, taking a deep breath of my own. As he exhales, I follow suit. We do this a few more times. Deep breath in and slowly letting it out. In … Out … In … Out.

Reed stops, but I continue until the alley fades, and I find myself in a dark, modern-style bedroom with a king-size bed at my back. Modern abstract art decorates the walls, and a concerned giant stares at me. Reed sits on his knees, one hand on my cheek and the other holding my hand on his chest over his heart.His hair is in a state of distress, which is almost comical considering he’s usually so well put together, slick hair and a tailored business suit that shows off his broad shoulders and muscular frame. He thought I never noticed him in the bar—watching me, studying my every move—but I did. I just didn’t want the attention I knew his wolf was trying to give me.

“Reed?” My voice comes out as a breathy, harsh whisper, as though someone rubbed sandpaper along my vocal cords. “What happened?”

Blood trickles from Reed’s nose, and there are four angry red scratches along his right cheek. “Let’s just say you’ve got a mean right hook, trouble, and claws for nails.” There’s no anger or pity in his voice, only understanding and acceptance, mixed with a bit of humor and pride.

His acceptance of the weakness in my most vulnerable state ignites my nerves, and I look away, unable to maintain his eye contact.

“Do not do that.” He grips my chin and lifts my face. My eyes stay closed, still unable to look at him. “Do not hide from me.” The sternness in his voice has my eyes shooting open, and my wolf wanting to challenge him for dominance. If the grin on his face is any indication, that’s exactly what he wanted.

“Point taken,” I state matter-of-factly, and he releases my chin. “How did you do that? I’ve never been able to come out of a panic attack like that.”

Reed falls the rest of the way to sit fully on the floor with me. Gently wiping the blood from under his nose on a handkerchief, causing me to wince. He shrugs a shoulder at my reaction as if to say, no big deal, before continuing on. “PTSD is nothing new to me, Riley. After years spent serving in the military, I’ve seen many soldiers come back so messed up they can’t function on the most basic levels. I’ve learned how to help them in dealing with their emotional baggage, not to mention my own struggles.” That catches my attention.

My face must show my shock because Reed shimmies around to sit beside me. He bumps my shoulder with his and says, “PTSD is nothing to be ashamed of, Riley. We all have our breaking points. From the scars on your wrists, the bottle of pills that were in your bag,and the diet of alcohol, I’m not surprised you’ve hit yours. I’m just grateful I’m here in time to maybe help you get through it. That is, if you’ll let me.”

“And what’s your price, Reed? Because nothing comes free, there is always a price to be paid.” With that, I stand up. It’s a struggle, but I manage to find the balance and smooth down the borrowed shirt I’m dressed in, which falls to knee length and smells of Reed.

“Riley, look?—”

“Where’s Enzo?” I cut him off, not wanting to talk about me and my shit-show of a past.He lets me drop the subject, but I know we’re nowhere close to being done talking about this. Reed is a dog with a bone, and he’s still gnawing on this one.

“In the living room with the rest of the guys, I think,” he replies, getting to his feet.

I head towards what I hope is the door to get out of this room and not the bathroom or closet. Just as I’m about to open the door, there’s a chuckle from behind me. Fuck me, wrong door. I glare over my shoulder at Reed, promises of pain radiating from my eyes. He covers his mouth with his hand and nods towards the door on his right.

I storm out the door, and I’m halfway down the hall when I collide with a rock wall. Okay, well, not a rock wall per se, but fuck, it feels like it to my nose. I stumble back a step, holding my nose as tears pool in my eyes.

“Oh, fuck, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

Chapter 12

WILDER

So not the way I wanted to meet the woman of my dreams, my mate. Literally running her over and almost breaking her fucking nose. Shit. Shit. Shit. “Gods, Riley, I am so sorry.”

She takes a step back from me, holding her nose as tears well up in her eyes. One glides down her cheek, and I cringe from the impact of sorrow and pain I feel from her.Emotions kindled from more than just a beat-up nose. These are almost as strong as the ones I felt from dream-walking with her during her recovery after her attack.

She was in so much pain and distress that her wolf tore me from my dream and pulled me into hers to help ease Riley. The connection I felt to her then is gone now. My wolf still feels his with her wolf, but Riley doesn’t seem to recognize who I am.

My eyes open to a void of complete blackness, utter nothingness. The smallest of sparks flicker in the distance, and I follow it like a guiding star. Trembling in the darkness is a slim figure curled in a ball, a wolf. A glimmer of light, faint and small, shines from under white fur.

Kneeling down by her side, I reach out slowly, palm up. If she wants to, she can easily take off my fingers. She shifts ever so slightly, and I catch a glimpse of her eye, shinning silver in the darkness.

“Riley?” That’s when it all clicks. The darkness is her fear and terror manifesting in her subconscious. “Ahh, I understand now. You’re a dream-walker. It’s okay, darling, you’re not alone here. I’ve got you.” Riley places her snout in my palm. Gently, I glide my hand up the side of her head, slowly running my fingers through her fur as I inch closer.

With a whimper, she scoots in closer, resting her head on my thigh. “It’s going to be okay, Riley. I know what you went through was horrible, and something you never should have had to endure, but know you’re safe with us. No one will ever hurt you like that again.”

I continue to soothe her with my words of comfort and encouragement as I comb my fingers through her fur. That spark of light shining from within her grows stronger—brighter—until all at once, I’m blinded by her light, and I’m forced to look away.

A wave of light illuminates the space and knocks me back. Like a wave returning to the ocean, the light snaps back, hitting me in the center of my chest and capturing the air in my lungs.

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