Page 28 of Branches of the Willow

“Some of them didn’t have access to bathrooms. There were a few who were being segregated for whatever reason. The ones who had been separated from the others were the reason for the putrid stench. They didn’t have proper facilities in their cells. Two of them were already gone when we got to them, and there were a couple more on the brink of death. They were not able to come back with us, because their health was too poor. They were taken to the local healer, but not expected to make it. You know how it is with the weaker wolves. If they give up, that’s it. There’s no bringing them back.”

“So, you brought back seventeen women, and there had been more that weren’t expected to live, and even more that had already perished?” I asked Asi, but honestly, I wasn’t sure I could comprehend that.

“Yes, we lost a few.”

“Suddenly, I feel guilty for every stolen moment of happiness I’ve had over the past year. While I was laughing and having a good time, what was happening to those girls?” My inner thoughts turned a little darker. I knew exactly what had been happening to them. I knew because it almost happened to me. If it weren’t for Sophia’s need for revenge, Zach would have had me drugged and used long before he attempted it.

Evan’s voice finally made it through the cacophony of emotions and thoughts that were plaguing me. “Hey, Jess.” I tipped my head a little, acknowledging that I heard him. “Don’t do that to yourself. You are not the one who put them there. Too many people in the world face different atrocities every day. You can’t make yourself responsible for those things simply because you were happy living your life while they were miserable. Thinking like that will sink your spirit. Those girls had it rough, but what they aren’t going to want to see from you is pity for what they’ve been through. They’re going to want to see someone who can show them the light at the end of it all. I don’t think you should even try going over there until you’re ready to be that for them.”

Mikael looked as though he both agreed with and wanted to deck Evan at the same time. His low growl made it seem likely that option two was the one he would go with. “I don’t think you need to worry about the women anyway. Your mom is taking care of that situation and doing a good job of getting them sorted.”

I smiled up at Mikael. He was worn around the edges these days, and I didn’t want to fight with him. “I’m not pushing myself into anything right now. I just wanted to know what I’ll be dealing with when I’m up to getting back to work.” Mikael finally smiled back at me.

“My brother was definitely the better choice for you.” Evan lamented under his breath.

“What?” I wasn’t sure why I asked, but a part of me wanted to know what he meant by that.

“He’s unhappy that we’re telling you about more bad stuff, but he’s sitting here letting it happen. I’m not so sure I would have let you out of the room yet.” The growl that came from Mikael then was beyond ominous. “I don’t mean it like that, asshole. I just mean, I don’t think I’d be okay with you being out here talking to people, let alone talking about going back to work as the white wolf. Not yet, and maybe not ever, after all you’ve been through.” Evan shrugged his shoulders sheepishly then and looked away. “I would have held you back.”

“Well, Serena did warn me that one of you would be a good partner while the other would destroy me, so maybe that’s what she meant.” I moved over to where Mikael still stood, and I leaned my head against his chest. “I hope the food gets here soon. I’m starved.” Just like that, the doorbell rang, and Evan was on his feet, heading for the door.

“Come on, let’s go get you settled in the kitchen.” Mikael pulled me into his arms and walked all the way to the kitchen with me tucked into his side. “I love you too much to stifle who you are.”

“Hmm?”

“The only reason I didn’t do exactly what my brother just said he would…” Mikael kissed the top of my head. “It’s because I love you too much to take away who you are.”

“And who am I?”

“The woman who cares more about what’s going on with those women my brother brought back than what’s happening with her.” Mikael sat me down in my chair. “I’m willing to make you a deal though.”

“Oh? What kind of deal?”

“We work through your issues, and you talk about what happened. When you do that, I will put one hundred percent of my time and effort into helping you accomplish whatever you need to do with the others.” I had to smile at him then. Mikael was making sure I was taking care of me first before I moved on to making sure everyone else was dealt with. He certainly was my balance.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

I laughed at his turning my answer into a question. “You’re right, and so was Evan. I need to get my head on straight before I add other people’s problems in the mix. I love you for finding a balance between standing beside me and making sure I take a step back to do what needs done for me too. I would never be able to do this without you. I hope you know how much I appreciate that.”

“You are all that matters in my eyes, but part of you mattering is knowing that everyone else does too. I get it, love.” He leaned in and brought his lips to mine, sliding them across mine in a sweet, tender kiss that ended far too quickly before the others joined us.

12

Captives

Overthenextcoupledays, everyone filled me in on the things that had been happening during the time I was held captive by Sophia and Zach. I took my time telling Mikael what happened, but eventually I told him everything I remembered. Mikael took it better than I thought he would. He chose to focus on the fact that I killed Zach, rather than on what almost happened. It helped me to be able to do the same thing.

It also helped me motivate to get my butt up out of the house, and back to the pack lands so that people could see I was okay, and I could lose myself in some work for a while. That’s where I was, getting caught up by my father, when Andy Wallace came strolling into his office. “Andy, long time no see.”

“I know. I was planning on coming back to talk to you sooner, but with everything that happened…”

“It’s okay. What’s going on, and why have you been hanging out over at Avery’s so long? He wanted to talk to me about you before everything happened, but obviously he didn’t get a chance to finish.”

“That’s a long story.” The grin that spread across Andy’s face told me he was reliving some of those memories. “I do have some important news from Avery to pass along before I get into that though.”

“Okay, shoot.”

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