Page 71 of Eclipsed Heart

I’m so sorry it took me so long to get to you,Bodey said, his eyes almost black.They kept attacking me when I tried.

You have nothing to apologize for,I reassured him.We were in a battle.

Miles’s voice popped into my head.We need to reassure these people.

Yeah?Lucas responded.And exactly how do we do that?

That was an excellent question. It wasn’t like I could vow that this wouldn’t happen again. With the queen involved, they might very well attack at any time.

I examined the area, noting that several of the wolves here had injuries. We’d lost five more even after we’d arrived to help. My eyes went back to the first wolf I’d tried to save and failed. One of them was directly my fault.

Hell,allof them were my fault.Maybe I should’ve just submitted to the queen.

No, you shouldn’t have,Bodey linked, his determination flowing through me.She’s no better than Zeke.

I’d had the same thought earlier, but it was nice to hear that Bodey felt the same way.

We have to get my memories back.I wasn’t sure if that would give us answers about the queen, but it might guide us in the right direction. My parents’ death had benefited Queen Kel, and I wanted to learn why she’d had Zeke wipe my memory instead of killing me. Maybe, as the others were discussing, she’d wanted to wait until I could submit to her…but then, why not make me right then and there instead of leaving me for Zeke?

We will,Bodey vowed.We’ll figure it out together.

Ten wolves trotted toward us, and I focused on their links. They were my pack members. A russet-brown wolf trotted directly up to me while the other nine spread out to tend to the injured.

I take it you’re the queen,the wolf I assumed to be Heather said as she stopped before me. Her topaz irises were dark and stared at me with distrust.

I swallowed. This was the first time I’d met someone outside of the people I already knew as queen, and it was most definitely under less-than-stellar circumstances.I am. And this is my mate, Bodey.I nodded toward him as Samuel trotted up and sat on my other side.And my brother, Samuel.I quickly introduced the other men as Lucas, Miles, and Jack split off to watch the perimeter and the dads went to shift to help bury the dead. Only Bodey and I could link directly with this pack.

Heather and I stayed in wolf form. I noticed she had a deep scratch in her stomach, which probably prevented her from shifting.

Do you know why she attacked us?Heather asked, her eyes staying on mine.I just lost my father—our alpha—and my brother, who was meant to be the next alpha of our pack, in one night.

Queen Kel wants to take over the territory,I answered simply. I didn’t want to lie to her, but at the same time, I didn’t want to tell her everything. I noticed that about fifteen of her remaining pack members weren’t with us.Where is everyone else?

Watching the borders.She huffed, shaking her head.You aren’t the only one to consider that they might circle back.Her words dripped with contempt.

My head jerked back.I never said—

You didn’t have to.

Bodey stiffened beside me and linked,Don’t talk to her that way. She’s your queen, and I won’t tolerate the disrespect.

I stepped closer to him, ignoring the way my left back foot and chest ached.She just lost a ton of pack members and family.

Doesn’t matter.Bodey snarled.She can’t treat you that way.

How were you so close by when you live over eight hours away?Heather’s nostrils flared.That seems a little convenient.

My lungs seized. That was a valid question.Pack business.I didn’t have to tell her everything.

She nodded.I guess we were lucky.

And we’ll help to bury the dead,I added, not wanting her to think we were going to rush away and leave them to pick up the pieces alone.We won’t leave you like this.

Some of her anger ebbed, and she nodded.I’m sorry. It’s just—

You lost people you love.I remembered my fear when I thought I’d lost Stevie. Sometimes, empathy wasn’t appreciated enough.Let’s get to work and bury the dead and tend to the injured.Standing out here with the stark reminders of the hell that had come wasn’t good for anyone.We all need time to grieve and rest.

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