Page 282 of Rage

When we walk into Ewan’s room, he begins rustling around the edges of his mattress, pulling and tugging at straps and loops, adjusting and moving to the next corner.

“Why can’t you shift and kill him? Is he that much stronger than you?”

Ewan glances up at me, and rage fills his eyes. “He’s not stronger than me at all. And he’s absolutely not stronger than Florian. Flor was clearly the alpha of our trio before Olly was killed.”

“Then why haven’t you killed him already?” I question, anxiety getting the better of me as I begin to pace his room, watching as he lays out a restraint system on the bed.

I don’t want to do this again. I don’t even know if I can.

Ewan moves to the closet, removing a floor board before pulling out a variety of different blades. He places one under the pillow, another under the mattress at each corner, and one squeezed between two books on the shelf behind his bed, then keeps moving.

“In the beginning, I was too out of it. Drake had me committed when I broke down at work after finding Olly. I told them all Drake did it, but no one believed me. And when he showed up at my job to collect me—dressed like my mate, acting like my mate—they all believed him and not me. I was committed for a few weeks, fed a slew of medications to get meto calm down, and Drake visited me. Let me know I needed to get it together and get on board or he would keep me there.”

“Gods, Ewan,” I reply quietly. “I’m so sorry.”

He waves it off. “I’m past it now, but it’s been a long journey to get here. Florian wasn’t so easy to subdue, but I just knew if I waited it out, if I played the long game, it would pay off eventually. And it has.”

I understand his not wanting to discuss it too much right now, it’s not as if we have a ton of time to get into our histories. And I’m hiding enough with mine.

“The restraints?” I question, chewing on my bottom lip, hating the idea of being held down in any way.

Ewan cringes and shakes his head. “There’s no way around it. He’s going to want you under control in case you shift.”

“I—I can’t shift,” I reply.

Ewan shrugs. “That makes two of us.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, incredulous. “Are you a mutt? You’re not a full wolf either?”

His face falls a little. “No, I’m a full wolf. I’ve shifted plenty in the past, but Florian and I have implants to keep us from shifting. Mine was set when I was in the hospital, and I’m not sure how or when he got to Flor, but we both have them. If we even try to shift, Drake can hit us with a shock that will knock us out.” I go to open my mouth, but Ewan shakes his head. “Whatever you’re going to say, I guarantee we’ve tried it. He always seems to know what we are doing or planning. Each time we’ve attempted any sort of coup against him, he’s knocked us out for hours.”

My stomach sinks.

“Ewan?” I ask as he finishes hiding all of his blades.

He pauses and looks up at me before letting out a massive sigh. “I know. It’s a lot.”

“Can we really do this? You can’t shift, and neither can I. And you’re strapping me down. How are we supposed to make this work?” The more I speak, the more flustered I become, and Ewan stands from his place on the floor, coming to wrap his arms around me.

“Are you afraid of hurting someone?” he asks, and I nod, terrified to tell him the truth. “You grew up with old-world wolves, you haven’t been in a pack fight or anything before?”

I chew on my lip.

“I know you’ve just met me, and I know you have no reason to trust me, but close your eyes for me for a moment, Ivy. Just breathe with me.”

I do as he says, letting him hold me close and laying my head on his chest.

“I had never loved someone as much as I loved Olly, but then I met Florian, and things got so much better. I never thought I could love again after Olly died, but then I met you. I can’t explain it, but I know, deep down, that this is how things are meant to be. The three of us are mates, and we are destined to go on and live our lives beyond this mess Drake has made.”

I breathe in and out, tears welling in my eyes.

“I know it’s a lot to ask of you, but please, Ivy. Please do this for us. Please do this for Olly. You never got a chance to meet him, but he would have loved you so damn much, just like I already do. You’re a piece of me, part of my soul, and we need you now just as much as you need us.”

Pulling back from his chest, I wipe a tear away and nod, staring at my mate. “Alright, Ewan. I’ll do it.”

Chapter Nine

Ivy

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