Page 56 of Scorned

A liability. That’s all I am right now.

“Whatever.” I stomped toward the door and flung it open. Despite being highly pissed, I chose not to slam it because I didn’t want to startle the baby.

Once outside, I angrily paced the parking lot, waiting for Winnie and Erik to return. The longer I waited, the more I realized Marcus was right. I wasn’t ready to go on a mission. My body had become weak because of my own actions and I was now dealing with the consequences from it.

Disappointment in myself had to be one of the worst feelings.

The night air had gotten chilly, so I went inside my cabin and waited for them to return. When a car door slammed, then another, I knew they were finally back.

I headed outside and ran straight for the black van Heston, Drag, and Demi stood next to.

“Where are they?” I asked Drag, but before he answered, another van pulled into the gravel lot.

“We’re going to do a perimeter check,” Drag said before he and the other wolven began to shed their clothes.

I had seen enough of their naked bodies, so I turned and glared at the other van as Winnie parked it.

Drag and his pack darted past me, heading toward the woods and my focus went to Erik getting out of the van first.

“You could have been killed. What’s wrong with you?” I asked, and he shook his head, saying nothing.

Winnie killed the engine and stepped out with an apologetic expression. “I asked him to go, Sage Stick. Don’t be mad at him.”

“You be quiet, Asshole. I’m mad at you too. You could have gotten—” He held up a USB drive so close to my face my eyes practically crossed as I focused on it. “What is that?”

“I may be able to find the location of VRC now. Are you still mad?”

Disbelief or shock, I wasn’t sure which, hit me, and my heart skipped a beat. I took the tiny drive from his hand and stared at it like it was some magical key to another world. If the location to VRC was really on this USB, the chances of us saving Luka doubled . . . tripled in size.

“How mad is Lyric?” Winnie asked, bringing me back to reality.

“I don’t know if you know what she does when she’s highly pissed off, but she’s quiet.”

“Fuck.” He yanked the USB from my fingers and headed toward their cabin.

I immediately turned toward Erik. “Is it true? Can he find VRC now?”

He shrugged, leaning onto the side of the van. “Winnie said it’s a huge possibility.”

“I’m glad you’re alive. Even if you are an idiot.” I pulled him in for a hug and when I let go, his face seemed confused. “What?”

“I know you, Sage. And I know how you really are when you’re mad and this ain’t it. Why aren’t you yelling at me?”

“I was pissed at you both for a hot minute, then Marcus called me a liability.”

Erik made a hissing sound through his teeth. “Ouch.”

“Even though it hurt to hear him say I wasn’t ready for missions, I knew he was right. I’m going to have to bust my ass to get my strength back.”

Erik gave me a smile containing the pity he felt for me. “You’re still fast and you have great instincts, so you’ll get there pretty quickly.”

I took in a cleansing breath, letting it out on an unconfident huff.

Will I?

Chapter 17

Winnie

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