Page 69 of The Lands Defying
It’s the same direction as the smoke.
Josh comes up to my side, linking his fingers with mine. Hesitance rests within his light-gray eyes as he squeezes my hand, knowing that this could mean our pack is there.
“It has to be them,” Colten says, sliding up next to me with Hudson and Taylor.
“It must be,” I tell Darius, who’s scowling down at my hand in Josh’s. But then his eyes move to mine, and soften, before looking at his men.
“Rhea,” he says gently, moving a step closer. “They might not—”
“I know,” I grind out. “Fuck Iknow, okay?But if they are there, they are strong, they have been through so much already.” All members of my pack have been through their own torment. Torture. They will be okay. I just know they will.
I feel Josh’s hand squeeze mine again as I babble that they will be fine, that they have to be there, and we can be together again. Bring them to Belldame where they will be safe behind her barrier. They can rest and heal.
They can go back to how things used to be.
All the while, the others look at me with concern, their eyes filled with pity that I loathe, but deep down, I know that my pack is there, and they are alive. Edward wouldn’t have sent Illium to me otherwise. I know it.
They have to be alive.
They have to be.
We sit on the floor of a rock-made home around a small campfire. The warmth of it caresses our cold skin as the smoke flows out of an opening in the ceiling. The crackles and cracks are a balm to calm my racing heart over hearing the news about other wolves.
Elteru, one of Kruten’s mates, places some very strange looking food down on a thin, stone slab in front of us all and fills our wooden cups with a sweet smelling liquid.
My cheeks heated when Kruten introduced us, knowing he had his cock out to pursue me to come into his home to join said mate, and others. Apparently with more females than males in this tribe, the females all agreed to share the males, if the males can seduce them with their dance.
The dance Kruten had given me.
I shiver and shuffle closer to Darius. Josh smirks at me, and I scowl, flipping him off knowingheknows I’m uncomfortable.
When Darius wraps an arm around my back, I stick my tongue out at him, knowing Darius is glaring at Josh over my head. I huff out a laugh when Josh rolls his eyes.
Ha, take that you shit, babysitter to the rescue!
Zaide clears his throat from across us, looking down and fiddling with his knife. Kruten looks at him, his frown clear to see as his nostrils flare.
“We meet again, wolf.”
“We do.” Zaide’s voice is low, almost sounding bored, but his jaw ticks as Kruten makes sure the cloth he has wrapped around his waist is hiding the monster he pointed at me earlier.
I guess they do have clothes.
We thank Elteru when she finishes setting everything down and she moves over to Kruten, kissing one of his tusks and leaves the room.
I go to pick up a deep, pink strip of... something when Darius’s fingers grab my wrist. My eyes connect with his, and he takes the meat from my hand, bringing it to his nose before taking a bite. I watch him chew slowly, eyes still on mine before he makes a small sound of approval and places the meat to my lips.
They part automatically for him, letting him feed me the meat and his eyes light in satisfaction of my easy acceptance.
I roll my eyes and he grins, feeding me more meat and paying no mind to the others that I feel are watching us closely.
His Elites and Josh have seen Darius do this on a few occasions since things have changed between us, but it still must be strange seeing us like this.
They don’t know if we are enemies one moment or lovers the next.
“Good girl,” he rumbles quietly. My cheeks heat at his words, knowing the others can hear him, but Darius doesn’t seem to care about showing his affection, even in front of strangers.
“What do you know of the people coming into The Drylands,” Leo asks as Darius continues to feed me after testing every piece, not trusting the troll in our presence.
