Page 119 of Stolen By the Alpha Hunter
Charlotte’s hand strokes my back in slow circles, steady and sure. No one rushes me. No one pulls away.
I think I’ll be doing a lot of this—crying for no reason, and every reason—over the next few weeks. Maybe months.
But I’m not crying alone.
I look from Maggie to Javi, tears blurring my vision.
“He needs help,” I say.
“They’re coming to get him,” she says. “Don’t worry, Peaches.”
How am I supposed to stop worrying? Javi’s getting worse; I can tell from the fact that he doesn’t snarl at the other alphas this time, letting them lift him limp from the floor. More of my family comes out to carry him into the den—Grant, Elijah, Mateo. There are so many people I need to talk to…people to catch up with, to thank, to apologize to.
It’ll have to wait.
My mate needs me.
I follow the group out of the ship after they load Javi onto an oversized stretcher, Charlotte and Maggie never leaving my side. Cicadas sing in the early spring night, their cadence a welcome change from the drift of ocean waves against the steel girders of the Rig. Stars sparkle overhead, and a gentle wind plays across the grass. It feels surreal to be back here, where I wished so often that I would find my mate and have a sweeping love story.
It was…it is.
I have to tell myself my love story is still happening.
He can’t be gone for good.
We walk as a group into the den, hushed voices coming to me from all around. I catch sight of friends waiting to approach, treating me with reverence and caution. Someone must have told them not to bother me when I came back…Reyes, probably. He’s good at that—taking care of people, making sure that everyone feels safe and welcome.
“You should eat,” Charlotte says, squeezing my arm. “You should try—even if you’re not hungry.”
“I’m not—” I pause, realizing she’s already figured I would say no. “I would love whatever you have. Thank you.”
She nods. “My pleasure.”
She branches off to go down the tunnel to the visitors’ center, where the kitchen crew is probably already busy with breakfast preparations. I feel this strange sense of familiarity at the same time that everything feels wrong, my stomach twisting and my throat tightening. I wander toward the door to see that they’ve moved Javi to one of the cots, his wolf form spilling over the edges, too big to fit. Suyin is ready to treat him, taking out all her diagnostic tools and listening to his pulse, checking his oxygen levels.
I slowly walk in…and for the first time, I truly see what he’s been turned into.
A shell.
Something that’s weak and vulnerable when he’s been protecting me this whole time.
It shakes me up, my world tilting.
“Help him,” I breathe to no one in particular. Suyin seems to hear me, though, lifting her head to meet my eyes.
“I’m going to take good care of him,” she says. “You should go get some food and try to rest?—”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I cut in.
Will looks from me to Suyin, understanding in his gaze.
“They’re mated,” he says. “I think it would be best if we didn’t separate them.”
Her expression softens. “Understood,” she says. “Peaches—I assure you I’m going to treat him just like I would anyone in our pack.”
I bite my lip. “Thanks, Suyin.”
“He’s pack now,” Will says.
