Page 93 of Outnumbered

“It’s a little different in a situation like this. If you got every single person you know the same thing, that might be seen as a cop out, but if you get your pack the same thing, they’ll view it as a way to increase your bond.”

That did make sense.

“What if I can’t do it?”

He shrugged. “Then keep a backup list of things to order. Buy one and give it a try and then decide. You can get that first kit with one-day shipping, try out the kit, and then if you do well, order more. Or if you can’t do it, or feel like it’s not good enough to your standards, hop back on to order other items.”

“Okay,” I agreed with a nod and rubbed at my chest, which was aching slightly.

“How are you doing while they’re gone?” he asked.

“Uh, fine,” I said and realized he was glancing at the way I was rubbing my chest. “It aches,” I admitted.

“That makes sense. Caleb said the same when he was helping Nico the day you went to the City Hall.”

“Does it get better or worse when you’re mated?” I asked curiously. I had never had the chance to talk to a mated person and hadn’t asked Leona or Jolie yet.

“Both.” He laughed at my frown. “The first week after you are mated is one that requires you all to stay together or the pain is worse. After that, it starts to ebb and it is easier to be apart. I think because the bond settles fully and then you’re able to feel each other better, so you don’t have to be as worried about your mate being in danger without you knowing.”

“I feel like a failure of an adult for not knowing so many things and being so sheltered,” I admitted and sighed. “I could have gone out and experienced anything I wanted after I graduated, but ended up doing this to myself.”

“Emotional trauma is a bitch,” he said and shrugged. “We all deal with it in our own way and you dealt with it by hiding. I have to say, you’ve come a long way in the past year, Ember. The amount of personal growth we’ve seen in you is amazing. We know we may treat you like children, but it’s clear how mature you are. Especially, when it comes to protecting those you care about. Speaking of that, how are your healing practices doing?”

“I have a long way to go, but I was able to heal a dozen cuts on Fox simultaneously and a single, deep cut on Rhys.”

“That’s great,” Deryn praised. “Caleb is constantly getting hurt just enough that his advanced healing takes longer to treat the types of wounds he gets, so having you there to speed up the healing will make me feel better.”

“Can I ask you something personal?”

He nodded. “Shoot.”

“Did you guys ever doubt that Jolie was the one?”

“No,” he said with a shake of his head. “We always knew she was the one for us. There was a time we were hesitant to admit it, to ourselves and each other, but deep down all of us knew.” His brows furrowed. “Did one of them say something to you?”

I shook my head. “Branson was asking Ezio about disagreeing with Dan as alpha over things so it made me wonder.”

“That’s your emotional trauma talking, but I see how you went there. Branson likely asked that because Dad was testing him the other day to see how Branson would respond in a situation where he didn’t agree with what he was being ordered to do.”

“Why would he do that?” I asked, confused.

“Dad has been trying to teach Branson what it’s like to be an alpha beneath a king. There are times when your king gives you an order you don’t agree with and you have to decide how to handle it.”

“Still doesn’t mean it wasn’t about me,” I pointed out.

“True, I don’t know with one hundred percent certainty what any of them feels, but Branson looks at you like you are the light in the darkness, the same way my brothers look at Jolie.”

Hearing him say that did make me feel better.

“Thanks, Deryn.”

He patted my knee and stood. “Anytime, Ember.”

Back to my phone, I ordered four of the leather bracelet kit. I would make them and do my best. That was all I could hope for after all.

That, and that the four of them would end up loving the gift as much as Deryn assured me they would.

Chapter

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