Page 22 of Lost
“The house is set to blow,” Kane says, turning my body and walking me toward Caleb’s vehicle. “There’s gas everywhere. Hollis is fine, Nova. I promise. Whatever you see…remember that.”
“Why is everyone babying me?” I grumble, my head twisting around to catch a glimpse of Hollis. “I swear, if people begin treating me differently, I’m going to be pissed.”
“Like what?” Kane asks. Unhinged doesn’t mean dumb in any sense of the word, and I can see that Morris is hustling Adira to the car as well. “Cherished, important, someone who should have been protected from the start? I don’t know what happened when you were a kid, Nova, but know those people greatly suffered and can never hurt you again. Stay here, I see Lars and Caleb are heading over.”
Kane jogs over to his pack, the baby doll protected in its carrier. My lips twitch in amusement before I continue to panthe expanse of the front lawn. The house is already beginning to burn as Caleb walks out with a woman in his arms, and Pack Ledger lunges toward him.
My feet are already moving before I can stop them, and I race over to them.
Hollis’ face is mercifully clear of most bruises, and it’s like looking into a mirror. Unfortunately, there are thick streaks of blood still over her face and neck, and her body is protectively curled up as if to keep anyone from hurting her.
My eyes well up because I know this position very well, and I take a cleansing breath with the cold air as I tell myself to get my shit together.
“Fuck me,” Remy whispers, stepping forward to lift her from Caleb’s arms. “While there’s less bruising than last time, we really need to stop meeting like this, Baby Girl.”
Lars’ lips twitch as his gaze takes her in before he glances at Caleb.
“We need to head to the hospital, don’t we?” he asks.
“Yeah,” Caleb says. “She has broken toes too. Turbis was a real piece of work. There’s something wrong with her hip too. She keeps limping. I’ll call Dr. Royal so he can get us in discreetly. We don’t all need to go?—”
“I’m going,” I say in a choked tone. “You’ll have to alpha bark me to not go.”
“What the fuck?” Brice asks, staring at Lars and Caleb with contempt. “She’s your fucking scent match. Start acting like it or Hollis will have your goddamned heads while I laugh. Nova is her fucking twin. If you’re using your alpha bark on her, no one will be able to save you.”
“It was an accident,” Lars groans. “I used it on her at the hospital when I first saw her and she immediately broke through it.”
“Think about why Nova is so good at breaking through alpha barks and get your lives together,” Malcolm growls. “It’ll be a tight fit, but you’re welcome to drive to the hospital with us, Nova.”
I only feel torn for a moment before I nod. “I’ve had worse,” I mutter, shuddering as I remember my punishments as a child. Louisa really liked to lock me in tight spaces when she was pissed at me. She used to say that hiding me away was better than Turbis finding me.
While she wasn’t wrong, I am very particular about where I go.
Brice nods and I follow them to their car, moving to the trunk to get in.
“Absolutely not,” Malcolm says, guiding me to the back seat. “We’ll all fit.”
“But…”
Remy glares at me and I sigh as I nod. As I turn, I look up to see Caleb and Lars hustling to their vehicle. As if they can feel my gaze, they both glance over at me. There’s fire in their eyes as they walk, and I shake my head as I get in the middle next to Felix.
“What is with them?” he asks as Remy sits next to me.
“They don’t know what to do with Nova,” Remy grunts as Malcolm closes his door. “They’re floundering the way we did, but it’s painful as fuck to watch.”
“Well, they better figure it the fuck out,” Brice says as he pulls his seatbelt into place in the front seat.
Malcolm starts the vehicle and guns it as he pulls out, and I jump as the house explodes behind us. There are huge chunks of wood that fall around us, and some fall on the roof as we drive off. I wince as he pulls onto the road and pushes down hard on the pedal.
Everyone is gunning it ahead of him so at least I know we won’t be in danger of hitting anyone. Looking over my shoulder, I watch as the house burns.
“I wonder if Kane will burn down Louisa and Turbis’ home for me,” I muse.
“I think he’d be honored,” Remy says. “He’s the one wearing the baby carrier right?”
“Yes. He has a thing for fire,” I admit. “It’s just up in Michigan.”
“I still think they’d make the trip for you,” Malcolm says. “You make an impression on people.”
