Page 39 of Claiming Xan
So why was he standing on Donovan's doorstep...and how did he know I was here? "What areyoudoing here?"
Chance offered a kind smile in return. "Sorry for interrupting your nap."
"It's fine." I waved a hand. "What's up? Are you here because of my mom? Because?—”
He held up a hand, silencing me completely when he said, "It's River." Everything inside of me went cold. River. He'd been gone for over two weeks. Just gone. God, was he dead? Had theyfound his body? Tears were already welling before Chance could say another word, and then the fox was squeezing my hand.
"Hey, relax. It's okay. It's good news, I promise!"
"S-Sorry... I just..." I shook my head.
"It's perfectly okay," Chance assured me. "Huxley and I found River on our land last night. He isn't in very good shape. He's half-starved and wounded, but we patched him up and fed him a couple of warm meals and let him stay the night." He hesitated, and my heart skipped a beat. But? There was a giantbutthere. I waited. "Then, yes, we called your mom."
"WHY?" I wailed. "She's the reason he's gone. She?—”
"She paid for a hotel suite for the two of you," he continued, talking over me. "She's giving you both privacy, so that you can catch up and work things out, as I'm sure there are...things you have to work out."
Chance's gaze dropped to my stomach and my gut clenched. Fuck... I was pregnant and River didn't know. What would he even say? Would he push me aside because of that? Because of his past? Would he cast me away?
"Xan?" Chance asked softly when I didn't reply. "Do you want to see River again?"
"Yes, but…”
"Then here." He handed me a slip of notebook paper. I recognized the address to a hotel here in Greymercy, along with a room number. River was really there? Chance nodded, as if he could read my thoughts. "Go to him. He's waiting for you."
My bottom lip wobbled. "Thank you…”
"You're very welcome," Chance said. "Take care, Xan. I wish you all the best." Then, with a smile, he turned around and walked down the drive, to where Huxley's truck was idling at the end of it.
Chance waved and got in the passenger seat, then the vehicle drove away with a rumble and puff of exhaust. I just stood in theopen doorway, staring down at the room number written neatly on the piece of paper.
I went back inside, shellshocked. I closed the door and leaned back against it, letting my head thunk against the wood. I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing, but even that seemed choppy and erratic. River was alive. River was here. River wanted to see me—but would he, when I told him the truth?
"Xan? Hey." Donovan came up beside me. He must've abandoned his video games when I didn't immediately come back inside. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost," he murmured, concern written all over his handsome face. "Do I need to call Shay?"
"No," I mumbled. "I'll call him. It's okay."
"Xan?" He was at my side, and I was thankful, because suddenly, I felt a little dizzy. "C'mon. Let's go sit down." He guided me back to the living room and eased me down on the couch, then fetched me a small glass of OJ. "Drink this. Tell me what's going on."
"River's back. He's apparently waiting for me in a hotel room that my mother paid for...and suddenly I'm terrified to face him," I admitted, and speaking the words out loud made my soul shrivel even more.
Donovan rubbed his big hand over my back in a soothing motion. "Aww, c'mon. You weren't scared of him when he was vicious and threatening, but you're scared of him now that you're mates? Don't be silly, Xan. Think of it this way—River would't be there waiting for you if he didn't want to see you, right?"
"Yeah." I paused. "You're right." And knowing River, he probably hated the fact that Mom was the one who paid for it. If River had hated her before, he probably loathed her after whatshe'd said and done. Not that I could blame him. Right now? I kind of hated her too.
"Okay," I said finally, feeling a bit more stable. "I'm gonna take a shower then drive over. Good thing I did my laundry last night, huh?"
Donovan chuckled. "Divine intervention."
"Whatever." I huffed, flapping a hand at him. "Go play your game. I desperately need a little freshening up."
"Wondered when you were ever gonna shower. Stank ass," he joked.
"Fuck off," I replied, flipping him the bird before heading for the bathroom.
The sad thing was? He wasn't wrong. I'd never been one to neglect self-care before, but then again, I'd never been depressed before, either.
These past few weeks had felt like my entire world was caving in on me, that I was trapped with no way out, and facing the future alone felt so damn daunting that even the thought of taking a shower seemed like too much.
