"I'm sorry." The words tumbled out. "I'm sorry." Zain let his arms go, and he tumbled down onto the floor. His head swam around with dizziness.
"And I think you also might have taken yourself out of any fight." Brayden knelt down beside him and inspected his bleeding wound. "This is going to need stitches." Scott looked at the hole in his side. "Brace yourself." He did, and Brayden pulled the shard of wood out. "Mum, Katia, can you clean him up please? I’m going to contact Kas and Jessica and get some news. I think we are all sick of waiting.” Brayden left the room with heavy footsteps pounding on the floor. His beta was sad; his beta was suffering. Scott had allowed himself to be blinded by the rage he felt. Emma, as much as he lo… no, he wasn't going to say that word, liked her, she was part of a family here. They all needed her.
Katia and Jane hesitantly came near him. He held his hands up.
“I won’t attack. You have my word.”
“I may have only been staying here a few weeks, Scott.” Jane handed him a comb from her pocket. “But I’ve watched a lot. I know why you did what you did. You’re hurting. We are going to help her. None of us will rest, until she is back here.” He listened to her speak while combing his hair.
“She will hate it.”
"I know. But she is stronger than anyone of us gives her credit for. She will need you to be there for her." Jane next placed an antiseptic wipe over the wound while Katia threaded a needle. He hissed at the tenderness of the ripped flesh. “You will need to be her strength to help her recover. Kas will get her out one way or another. He will never leave any of you behind. He couldn’t.”
“I know.” His heart softened at the mother of the pack’s words. “I’m worried for her.”
“Trust her. It’s all you can do.”
Selene was at his side now,
“And as soon as we know what is happening, I’ll take you to see her. I’ll take everyone to see her.”
"I'm not sure about that Selene." Brayden was back in the room, and he was not looking impressed. In fact, the grey flecks in his hair were already looking a little lighter from his mate’s exuberant attitude to life. It had been such a short one so far that she wanted to live it to the fullest and make sure he played his very full part in that wish.
“Oh stop being such a worry wart.” Selene rolled her eyes at her mate. “You know that I can shift my way out of most problems. Remember the ant when we were escaping from that pack of mangy wolves? You had to run for ages. I just vanished into thin air and then waited for you to return while munching on a leaf. So much healthier than the half a deer you devoured after you came back.” Selene placed her hands on her hips and swayed her curvy backside to emphasise her point. Scott couldn’t help the chuckle that left his lips. It was a complete contrast to his mood earlier.
“We will discuss that later, and if you disobey me, I’ll tie you to the bed.”
Selene whistled. “I can even escape that; a snake is good for getting out of bindings.”
“Damn woman.” Brayden brought his mate into his arms again. “I spoke to Kas.”
"What did he say?" Zain looked up from his pot of honey. Scott had almost forgotten that he was there. But then the bear never actually got involved in the group fights unless it involved food, especially honey or fish. Tyler came and sat at his side and took the needle. The wolf normally did most of their surgery. They nodded at each other, the fight now forgotten for a higher cause. Scott winced again, when the needle entered his tender flesh.
“Emma has been officially charged with murder. She apparently killed her father five years ago." A collective hush of shock went around the room. "Jessica is collecting a copy of all the evidence against her and bringing it back here. We all know it is fabricated, so we will work together to clear her name. Ethern is looking after her as much as he can. He's provided her with facilities most people in that place do not get, and she has a private room." The last part was said with much emphasis on the private. Selene's invitation to take them to visit would come to fruition. Brayden held out his hand and placed it in between them all. Selene put hers on top. Katia, Jane and Tyler followed suit. Zain placed down his honey pot and lumbered over to join them. They all looked at Scott, their hands all on top of each other. He got to his feet with a sharp shot of pain through his side. The wound would heal in a day thanks to his genes, but for now, it hurt like a bugger. Hobbling over to his friends, he placed his hand on top of theirs.
“For Emma.”
They all replied.
“For Emma.”