Page 9 of Fated Exile

I can't follow, can't be there, and she may not survive. I don't even know if the first time we spoke will be the last.

The pain of it is unexpected and overwhelming. This morning, I didn't even know that this woman existed. Now the thought of losing her fills me with panic and grief. So it's a relief when I turn around and find the guys waiting for me—Lance just a footstep away.

Exhausted, I look up into his eyes, which are kind and warm. He holds out two strong arms, and I fall into them, snuggling into his now-familiar pine and mint scent. The other guys gather around us, and soon I have a hand on my back, one laced between my fingers, and a soothing dome of strong, warm, werewolf men all around me.

She has to survive.

She just has to.

* * *

I can't just sit around and do nothing. It's not in my blood or my bones. The only way to get rid of this helpless feeling is to find something to do with myself, so that's exactly what I plan on doing.

"You should sleep," Roarke says, as we pull up to the house in his car. "Tomorrow is going to be a big day. We have no idea what it'll take to summon Elder Vivia and lift the curse."

"Do you think I'll be able to sleep after all...this?"

I arch a brow at him, and he sighs. "It was worth a try."

"It was a cute attempt." Leaning over, I kiss him on the cheek. "But you were doomed from the start."

"C'mere."

Before I can turn my head away, he grabs my chin and brings our mouths together in arealkiss. The depth of his passion is obvious as he draws our mouths together, messy and hard, deep and unyielding. I swallow a whimper as our mouths part, and he studies me with those fierce, summer blue eyes of his.

"I can't wait for the Summit tomorrow," he says, low heat in his voice. "As soon as I become alpha, I'm going to declare my intentions to mate you."

I swallow. "Just like that? So... quickly?"

"After years or yearning, waiting, and fearing the worst? Just like that." He nuzzles my cheek, the scent of him folding around me. "I've wanted you for so long, Delilah. From the moment you stepped back into town, I've held myself back. Not anymore. As soon as the curse is lifted, I'm making my move. I hope you understand why."

I swallow, licking my lips. "As long as you understand that I don't think I can choose."

"I'll allow it." He throws me a smirk as he opens up the driver's side door. "I've gotten used to having Finn around. Even though he annoys me to shit. And yes—the others too."

The Stone Pack is waiting when we walk up to the house. Half of them are congregated loosely around the front porch. Inside, Alpha John deLance and a few of the higher-ranking pack members are arranged around the kitchen, eating Cat's food and drinking her tea and whiskey. The warriors who came with us to the mountains are here, having left the medical center before us.

I don't see any sign of Bastian, who I want to talk to and catch up with. Before I can ask Niall or anyone else where he might be, Cat explodes out of the kitchen and throws her arms around me.

"Those Willy-Wally boys told me all about what happened in the creepy caves," she says, squeezing me tight despite her diminutive frame. I sigh into her arms and lean my cheek against the top of her head, declining to point out that neither Barry nor Wally is a boy. "Are you okay? I mean, fucking obviously you're not, so what do youneed?"

Five fingers of whiskey and the news that my aunt is alive, recuperating, and awake enough to answer all my questions. I'll only be able to get one of those things from Cat, though, and right now probably isn't the time to get shitfaced.

So I tell her, "This hug is all I want."

Pulling back, Cat looks up into my eyes, her gaze clever and knowing. "I'll get you some scotch on the rocks." I frown a little. "Something lighter? Don't tell me you've turned into a hard seltzer girl. I might have to disown you."

Laughing, I concede, "I'll have a spritzer. Don't judge me! I need to be awake and capable of driving at the drop of a hat."

"You can shift," she points out.

"Kerry can't. Someone will have to drive her home from the hospital, and for all we know it could be four AM when she's released. Or tomorrow, or days from now. I don't... I don't want to be out of it when I get the news, one way or another."

"Oh my darling. Of course. Though I do wish you didn't have bad taste in a time of crisis." As she heads towards the bar cart to make my cocktails, I hear her mutter, "I hope the bubbles don't go up your nose. A spritzer? My daughter, aspritzerdrinker?"

I smile a little. Behind me, Finn slides into the kitchen and reaches over to take my hand, tugging on my wrist a little. I turn towards him, and he furrows his brows at me, his warm eyes open and concerned.

"Are youreallyalright? I mean, what we saw in there..."

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