Page 41 of The Hidden Falling
“I will,” I say, smiling softly, ignoring what he said about Darius. Then I let loose a bigger smile when I ask, “So, how’s Sarah doing?” He shifts uncomfortably. Well, well, well.
“She’s doing good, really good actually. Anna says her healing is coming along great, and I’m keeping her up to date with everything that’s happening like you asked me to. She’s okay, scared obviously, but not scared enough to retreat into herself fully.”
“That great news, Josh.” And it is, Sarah has come so far with her recovery, especially with letting Josh near her. “When the Elites leave, hopefully she has enough courage to venture outside. I’m sure you will be there to help her.” I nudge my shoulder with his.
His cheeks redden, and he pushes me away from him as he stands. I hold back a laugh. “Go shower, you stink. I’ll meet you at the gathering.” He turns to leave, but stops at my words.
“Will you keep an eye on Maize? I saw her lurking through the forest on the way back here. I haven’t seen her around much, and I don’t know what she was doing there. But I just thought it was strange.”
“Yeah, I’ll let the others know about it. Now go, hurry before you miss dinner.” He shoos me away, and I stand and head for the stairs. Time to scrub the Darius off of me.
Yet as I stand in the shower, about to rid myself of his scent, I hesitate more than I should have.
Twenty Two
Rhea
Afteraquickshowerand a change of clothes, I make my way down to the gathering. My steps are slow, and I crack my knuckles as I follow the dirt path. The Elites haven’t once been to the gathering at dinnertime since they arrived. They eat in their cabin, and Darius and his closest men eat in my home. Which I make sure to avoid. Breakfast is enough, especially after the nightmares of my past have come back to haunt me in my sleep.
I’m not comfortable leaving them alone in my home, but they can’t get into my office without knowing the spell to open the door, and my office is where they might find anything useful. With that in mind, I avoid them in my home as much as I can.
Nervous about going to dinner, I pinch my lip between my fingers. It’s not like anyone will know what I did, but shame still fills me. The Elites are a threat to us, and I just grinded on one until I came. Even after a long shower, after I scrubbed Darius’ scent off of me, I still don’t know what came over me. It doesn’t help that Runa just let it happen either, basking in his attention when he caught us. She fucking hates people, yet she practically rolls over for a belly scratch from Darius. The traitor.
I shake my hands out when I reach the first trees that scarcely surround the gathering and straighten my spine. My face gives nothing away as I approach my pack, smiling at those who call out to me in greeting, acting like everything is absolutely fine. Which it’s fucking not, not in the slightest.
Taking a seat on my usual bench, I nudge Kade’s shoulder gently, mindful of his injuries. He turns and looks at me, a sad smile on his face before turning back to the sunken fire pit in the middle, the glow of the flame caressing his face. I bring my hand up and rub the back of his neck, reassuring him and letting him know I’m there. I know he feels he let me and the pack down, but he needs to move on and learn from it. It just may take a little time with the way he stews over things.
I ripped the entire pack a new set of assholes, especially Josie, for voting for Kade to go to The Deadlands and completely disregarding my orders. I told them all that nothing can be done now and that they were safe, regardless of the Elite now being here. They’re still extremely wary of them wandering around our home, but they’re not outright crying and running away anymore. That’s something at least.
Josie walks over to me, a smile on her face as she presses her cheek to mine in greeting. She hands me a plate with strips of meat and vegetables, and the smell makes my mouth water. I see extra meat, and I know it’s her way of apologizing to me again for pressuring Kade. “Thanks,” I tell her as she walks back over to Danny and sits down.
I may still be more upset with her because of how close we are, but as she and Danny hold each other’s eyes for a moment, jealousy rises in me. I don’t want a mate, and I know I’m not capable of what they have, but it still doesn’t stop me from wishing for it deep down sometimes.
A family to call my own. Someone who is solely mine, and I’m theirs. Just like Josie and Danny are to each other. Their love is strong and true, with a pureness that cannot be replicated.
Shaking my head at myself, I watch the pack continue to hand out food for everyone, the smaller plates being handed out for the pups first after me. I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately. Everything just feels off, and I’m desiring things I haven’t wanted before, at least not as strong as it is now.
I spot Katy and Oscar across from me, huddled together, but otherwise looking okay. Taylor stands with Sebastian, plates in hand and Seb lifts his plate in greeting, giving me a wink. I roll my eyes at his usual flirty self. Hudson and Colten sit close together on the bench further to my left. Hudson looks annoyed while Colten looks bored, resting his head on the back of the bench with his hands behind his head. They’re always bickering about something, but it seems more often lately.
A blur of motion has my head turning as Sam runs over to us, her smile shy as she looks at Kade. “Hey,” she whispers, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
Kade ruffles her light brown hair, and she scowls up at him as he grins at her. “Hey, winglet.”
“Kade,” she whines. “Stop calling me that.”
He laughs, and my heart warms at the sound I don’t hear often anymore. “Never. Go on to your mom and eat.” He spins her by her shoulder and nudges her toward her mom, Sybill. She scowls at him over her shoulder as she goes, and I chuckle at the pout that forms.
She’s shy around most people, but Kade is an exception. “She likes you,” I say to him, and he just shrugs at me, watching as Sam takes her seat on the ground at her mom’s legs and starts to eat.
Josh appears at my side and sits to my right with a plate of his own piled high with food, giving my shoulder a little squeeze. “Damn, have you not eaten today?” I ask him, looking at the amount of food on his plate. He moves the plate in front of me and passes it to Kade and my mouth drops open at him. “Where in all of Vrohkaria are you putting all that?”
Kade smirks and goes to dive in when I slap his hand away. “What?”
“I want to bless the food tonight. We haven’t done it in a while,” I inform him, and he sits back and waits for me to continue. I clear my throat, about to start the blessing, when movement catches my eye over the fire in front of me.
I suck in a breath as Darius, Leo, Damian, Zaide, Maize and Jerrod, walk into the gathering. My pack is silent and shuffle in their places at their arrival. But no one panics or screams thankfully. My pack looks toward me, and I pass Josh my plate of food, standing awkwardly as I address my pack. “They are our guests,” I tell my pack, loud enough for all of them to hear. “There are plates on the table near the pot, grab whatever food you would like,” I say to the Elites swiftly and take my seat again, plate back in hand.
They walk to the center, some of my pack getting up and moving to sit away from them. Their wary eyes tracking their movements. The Elites know what is going on around them, but they don’t appear bothered by it. It’s like they don’t care that my pack is scared of them at all. I watch Darius under my lashes as he picks up a plate and takes a selection of meats and vegetables from the low wooden tables in front of the fire pit. He looks at the recently vacated benches and takes a seat, the rest of the Elites joining him. Maize is the last to grab her food, her light eyes looking toward Kade every now and again in a way that sets me on edge. I wait until everyone has gotten their food and just before they start eating, I start the blessing.
