Page 6 of Sasha's Wounded Wolf

I didn’t have to finish. My brother knew what I was asking.

“I think someone survived that fire. I think a lot of wolves left the Rigton Pack when it was most vulnerable, and I can only think of one reason they’d do that. Only one person who would make Easton and Lincoln leave when they’d just lost their alpha.”

“Rowan.” His name was a whisper of hope.

“I think someone survived that fiery wreckage, Sasha. I think we need to go to Rigton County and the James Pack to get those answers.”

“When do we leave?”

“Tonight,” Nico told me. “Raine will sleep through a big part of the drive. We’ll be there by tomorrow night, and I’ll see what I can find out before Easton meets with James and the rest of the pack.”

“When you reach out, it’s only you, Nico. No one can know I’m there or about my son. Not until I’m ready. Promise me.”

“You know I’d give my life to protect you and my nephew,” Nico growled.

“I know. Do this for me, Nico? Promise me that no one will know I’m there until I decide. Please.”

“No one will know,” he swore. “I promise.”

Chapter Three

~Rowan~

It was odd being back in Rigton County without being back. I should say, without anyone knowing I was back. My heart hurt. Everything rushed in all at once. Raina’s laugh. Watching her and Ivy run around, getting into mischief. Chatting with Ivy when we were both missing Raina once my sister had gone off to college. I thought of little Rebel, who was mated to one of Bastion James’ inner circle. My pack was safe. They were happy and thriving, and as much as that soothed me, it also left a hole in my heart. I should be with them. Celebrating. Living. But I hadn’t really lived since I’d woken from the coma. I’d gone through the motions while I’d searched for my heart. There would be no life until I had her in my arms again, but she wasn’t the only one missing.

We were staying in Lincoln’s house. I’d spent plenty of time here in the past. We all had. I easily heard the echo of Patrick’s howl. The one he gave for every little thing that was said. The sound of him and Josh bantering back and forth, picking at one another as only the best of friends could. I pictured Patrick on the sofa, sprawled out while Josh and Lincoln sat before the television playing war games. E and I were usually in the recliners, talking pack politics.

Now, Lincoln and Easton sat on the couch while I paced. All of us felt how empty it was without Patrick and Josh’s large personalities. It was like losing them all over again. In my case, it was like waking up with a huge part of my soul missing.

“Fuck,” I muttered, and Lincoln growled.

“Yeah,” Easton agreed.

We’d always been able to read one another. From the time we were little boys. We’d never lost the connection. It had only grown stronger. Especially in the last few years. Our circle was smaller, but the fire had forged it even stronger.

“I didn’t realize how hard this would be,” I told them.

“You should view it from our eyes.” Easton leaned his head back, squeezing his temples between his thumb and ring finger. “Last time we were here, we were pulling the three of you from the burnt hull of a truck cab.”

Lincoln shoved to his feet.

“I need some air,” he mumbled, making a beeline for the kitchen and the back door.

“He was the first one there,” Easton reminded me. “We put out the fire as quickly as we could, but it’d been too long.”

My arm tingled as if to remind me what the flames had done.

“A few of the pack got your father away. Took him to the clinic. The six of us that remained worked on getting out you, Patrick, and Josh.”

He’d told me before, but I knew he needed to purge it again. Being back here was fucking us all up.

“Patrick was…” He shook his head, leaning his head back on his shoulders and blowing out a breath before shoving to his feet. “Then we had to pull Josh off the top of you. That’s when you moaned. Christ! You moaned, and I about lost my mind when I realized you were still with us. Still breathing.”

He was shaking. I walked over and pulled him in. This was my brother, though we shared no parents. I knew how the events of that day had wrecked him. Had wrecked Lincoln.

“I’m here, E. I’m right here. I swear.”

E gave me a hard squeeze then stepped back.

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