Page 113 of Dream Girl
“Well, if your bond worked right, you’d know, wouldn’t you,” Brennan sneered.
“Your bond doesn’t work right? Why didn’t I know that?” Katie gave him a hard look.
“It’s theconcussion.You can read papers about it. It’s a medically documented thing that can happen.” Wes bundled me into his arms, pressing my face into his muscular chest. “Hey, I’m right here. What do you need?”
“Things to be right.” Tears flooded my eyes, and I buried my face in his shoulder, trying to get comfort from his scent. Our bond wasn’t even right. I wasn’t from here. I couldn’t stay. But I couldn’t go.
What was I supposed to do? I’d never be enough. In any world.
“Iwillfuck someone up for you,” Riley snarled, hugging my back.
“They’re dead.” My chest shook.
“I hope you killed them.”
“I… I don’t know how my mom died. By that point, I’m not sure I even cared.” I closed my eyes.
“Her mom.” Rami’s voice wavered. “Her mom did that?”
“She had an issue with Grace and Wes being together,” Lexi said. “Like Evan said, it’s a fucked-up story, and that’s just the bits I know.”
“Who takes issue with Wes? He wouldn’t be the alpha I’d worry about,” Katie said.
“I think she just hated alphas in general,” Wes replied, arms wrapped tight around me. “Strangely enough, her mom also hated advanced math. But, hey, she’s gone, Grace. She can’t hurt you, and you’re here with me and Evan–right where you belong.”
He kissed my head, and I felt tiny little flickers of love, as his scent coated me.
Evan wrapped his arms around us, too, adding lemonade. “We’re here, and it’s going to be okay.”
For a moment, I allowed myself to soak this up, to soak up them. It was moments like this where everything felt right. If I could stay on the third floor with them and never venture out, everything would be fine. Like when I was little and would dream of Wes. There in the dreams, with him, life was great.
Then I woke up.
“Let’s get you a shirt and then maybe we should go have cake? I can’t wait to try it. It looks amazing. Do I even want to know why you’re not wearing a shirt?” Wes asked.
Katie turned to her twin. “You need to let this Caroline bullshit go, Bren.”
“I’m just trying to protect my pack.” The anger left Brennan’s voice, but there was no apology in his face or posture.
“You don’t need to protect the pack againstGrace,” Wes said.
“I’m sorry, I won’t play the piano anymore. I don’t want anyone to be mad at each other.” Guilt ate at me for causing a scene on Wes’birthday.
Brennan looked at me with an intense gaze, and I flinched. Wes growled. So did Katie.
Pine, eucalyptus, and clean laundry flooded the room in an intensity that had me frozen, clinging to Evan as the three alphas faced off.
“Fuck me with a pineapple,” Riley breathed.
Rami whined and clung to Lexi.
What was going on? I was a little terrified. Not of anyone specifically, just in general.
“You can play the piano. But clean the fingerprints off it–and learn how to load the dishwasher right.” Brennan stalked to his room, slamming the door.
“Bren,” Katie yelled.
“Let him have a moment,” Evan said.
