Page 167 of Cursed Bonds: An Alpha's Destiny

Rather than shifting with them, I got in the back of the truck with Kirsten and Tinsley. The whole drive home, I stared out the window, wondering if we’d be as successful the next time.

Chapter 17

Kirsten

My stomach lurched and rumbled loud enough to wake me up. I was starving. That was the first thought in my mind when I woke up. Opening my eyes, I found Jace smiling down at me.

“I was wondering when Sleeping Beauty would wake up.”

Sitting up, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I was in Jace’s bed. Light streamed through the window, but it was much too bright to be dawn. It looked more like late afternoon.

“How long was I out?”

Jace smirked. “About sixteen hours.”

I gaped at him, my mouth opening and closing like a goldfish. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah. Tinsley checked on you a few times, but she said you depleted a ton of your magic to save Stephanie. She would have died without you, you know.”

If I closed my eyes, I could still see Stephanie’s blood coating my hands. “How is she doing?”

No one could say I was Stephanie’s biggest fan after what she’d done, but I wasn’t petty enough to not care whether someone lived or died. She’d also been instrumental in getting the kids out safely. Anyone who would sacrifice themselves for children deserved a second chance.

“She’s fine. Tired. She’s been sleeping a lot. Her body is still recovering, but Reese says her injuries have all healed up nicely.” He squeezed my hand. “Good job, babe.”

I couldn’t help but smile. There was something both exhilarating and heartwarming about saving people. Was this the high doctors got when they successfully cured someone? Performed a successful surgery? Probably.

“I’ve got more news,” Jace said, and the look on his face told me it was serious.

“What’s wrong? What did I miss while I was playing the role of Rip Van Winkle?”

“Eren sent word through one of his betas. He’s accepting the challenge. It’s set for two months from now in a clearing on Ivy’s pack lands.”

“Two months? Why so long?”

“These things are always scheduled pretty far out. It gives each alpha time to get their affairs in order, since at least one of them isn’t making it back.”

“Is he really going to go through with it? He has to know he doesn’t stand a chance against you in a one-on-one fight.”

Jace grimaced. “Eren’s a rat. I have zero faith he’ll respect the date or location. If I had to guess, he’ll try to subvert that with an attack of some sort before the challenge. Either that, or he’ll have an ambush in place when we get there.”

That didn’t surprise me. If Eren had proven anything, it was that he couldn’t give two shits about laws, rules, or honor.

“Did everyone make it out okay?” I asked, my thoughts turning to Carter and his mother.

Jace brushed his fingers over my face and tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “All good. Everyone is settled in. Ivy and Dustin found housing for everyone they took in. From what I hear, they’re all super stressed out, but happy to be safe.”

The muscles in his face were so taut with anger. I reached out to place a hand on his chest. “What’s wrong?”

“I just keep thinking about it,” he said. “He was right there. I should have killed him. Should have taken the chance. Then all of this would be done.”

“You have no idea who or what he might have had on the way for backup. Hell, he could have had his entire army of thugs waiting in the shadows. Honestly, Jace, I think the only thing that was holding him back was the presence of the other alphas.”

Jace snorted. “You sound like Waylan. He’s been telling me the same thing. He thought it was all over as soon as Eren showed up. He’s just grateful we got away.”

“You should be, too,” I said. “Live to fight another day, right?”

“I suppose so. Maybe you’re right.” But the twist of his mouth told me he didn’t believe it.

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