Page 61 of Rescue Me

Zana chuckles, patting the empty spot on the couch beside her. “Come here, Reid.”

He hesitates for a moment but eventually moves, sinking into the couch with a low sigh. I watch as Zana turns to him, her full attention on him now. She doesn’t push, doesn’t prod. She just waits, letting the silence stretch between them until Reid finally speaks.

“It’s stupid,” he mutters, his voice low. “I don’t even know why I feel like this.”

“Try me, baby. Whatever it is, I can handle it.”

I stay quiet, settling on the other side of her, my head finding its place in her lap. She doesn’t look at me, but her hand slides into my hair as she listens to Reid.

Chapter thirty-six

REID

“I don’t know where to start.” The words tumble out as Zana’s full attention is on me, Ethan curled up on her other side.

I’ve been free for almost a week.

The word feels alien, like trying on a jacket that doesn’t quite fit yet.Free.It rattles around in my head, bouncing off memories of months where I was anything but. Hailey’s shrill voice, Jackson’s fists, Lyle’s cold sneer—they’re all still there, taking up space in my chest. Even though Zana’s right here, Ethan’s scent on my skin, and the faint ache in my shoulder where the bond mark used to be should be enough to drown them out.

The nullified contract arrived a few days ago like a final nail sealing the Wilhelms out of my life forever. I should be celebrating. Iamcelebrating. In pieces, anyway. Every time Ethan drapes himself over my lap, babbling about some new freelance project or dragging me into the nest for “cuddle hour,” I can breathe a little easier.

And when Zana presses her lips to my forehead, her hand firm on my back like she’s holding me together, I believe for a second that this new life is real.

But there’s something else sitting under the surface. A pit I can’t name.

“Hey,” Zana’s voice pulls me out of my head, my Alpha still looking at me, her eyes warm with concern. “You’ve been quiet for a while. What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” I say automatically, which is the biggest lie I’ve told since I told Hailey her tea was perfect.

Zana raises an eyebrow and Ethan tilts his head, his curiosity practically humming in the air. Goddess, they’re both so perfect.

“Reid,” Zana says, gently pushing for me to open up. It’s a strange feeling but a welcomed one, being able to talk to someone without feeling judged. “Talk to me.”

I sigh, sitting up straighter. Ethan shifts, watching me carefully and I hate how transparent I must look right now. “I don’t know,” I start, rubbing the back of my neck. “It’s stupid.”

“Try us,” Zana says, her lips quirking up at the corner. “We’re good at stupid.”

Ethan snorts, shaking his head furiously. “Speak for yourself. I’m a genius.”

I can’t help but laugh, but it’s short-lived. The weight in my chest hasn’t budged. I glance between the two of them, their faces open, waiting, and I take a deep breath. “I just... I feel lost,” I admit finally. “Like I don’t know where I fit. When I was with the Wilhelms,” I continue, the words tumbling out now, “I hated it, but at least I knew what I was supposed to do. I had a job, a purpose. Even if it was hell, it was something. But here...” I trail off, gesturing vaguely to the room. “I don’t know where I belong.”

Zana leans back, her eyes softening as she takes me in. “Reid, you belong with us. That’s not a question.”

“I know,” I say quickly. “And I love being here. I love you both. But I don’t want to just...existhere. I don’t want to be another thing you take care of. I need to be more than that.”

Ethan looks like he wants to argue, but Zana holds up a hand, stopping him. “Okay,” she says, nodding slowly. “So, what do you want to do? What did you want to do before all of this?”

I blink at her, surprised by the question. “Before...?” I trail off, my mind spinning back to a time I’ve tried not to think about. “I don’t know. I had plans once. Dreams, I guess. But they feel so far away now.”

“What kind of dreams?” she presses, her tone gentle but insistent.

I shrug, running a hand through my hair. “You know I majored in biology,” I say, the words tasting strange after all this time. “I thought maybe... healthcare? Something where I could help people. But that was a long time ago. I don’t even know if I could do it now.”

Zana smiles, her hand brushing against mine. “You can do anything, baby.” Such a simple statement but it feels right when she says it, feels like it could become my reality. “If that’s what you want, we’ll figure it out. But take your time. There’s no rush.”

“You’re going to doamazing,” Ethan bursts out, practically vibrating with excitement. He leans forward, his brown eyes bright. “Oh! We can set up the guest bedroom as a study or a workspace or something. You’re going to need a place to focus, right? With, like, a big desk and shelves and all those nerdy things that doctors need. It’ll be perfect!”

I laugh, shaking my head as Ethan’s words tumble out like an avalanche. Nowhere in there did I mention wanting to be a doctor. “Weren’t you supposed to be in heat or something?” I tease, raising an eyebrow at him.

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