Page 62 of Petals and Strings
Yet.
The more time I spent with Audrey, the more I was willing to do just about anything to make that happen.
This place wasn’t safe or healing. It was a prison and we were simply there to make them money and to keep us away from ‘polite’ society.
The door beeped again, much sooner than I anticipated. I deflated at the sight of a new meal tray being sat inside the door, only a hand coming into sight before being snatched right back.
It felt like I was a caged animal, everyone too fucking scared of me to get close. Like I’d snap and attack at any moment.
She was the only one who didn’t look at me like that.
Well, outside of my group. They at least let those fears slide away a few months after they put us together. Especially, because I used to keep my distance.
Now, I was never far. I wanted to be near my mate, to make sure she was safe.
That meant keeping my calm.
Easier said than fucking done.
The urge to slam my fist into the walls and door again were strong, but I didn’t move, staying still until sleep blessedly claimed me.
Ledger
This had gone on long enough. Rydell had been in isolation for over a week. Gossip among the nurses was that he wasn’t eating.
I also knew it wasn’t just Rydell being angry and stubborn. It was this strange, undercurrent of a bond being stretched too thin.
Audrey was starting to slip into herself anytime she was alone. She was feeling it, too.
I stalked through the halls, letting determination fill me. It was a risk to admit this to Director Cross, but I had to fucking try.
My knock on his office door echoed loud in the empty lobby. I heard something shift behind the door before he opened it, face a mask of exhaustion.
“Ledger. What can I do for you?” My name was said on a sigh.
“We need to talk. In private, please.”
He didn’t hesitate to step aside and let me in, closing the door behind us. His steps were sluggish as he rounded his desk and sank into his chair, the fabric squeaking under him.
There was stubble on his face and dark circles under his eyes. It was nice to know that this week hadn’t been easy on him, either.
Maybe he shouldn’t have sent in that new therapist and done a bit more research before feeding her to the lions.
“What is it? I don’t have long. As you know, I have to find a new therapist,” he said as he gave me a look that was exasperated.
“I get that, but we need Rydell back. He’s been in isolation for too long now. He’s done his time. Why is he still there? We both know that it was a justified reaction,” I challenged.
If I could avoid letting him in on our secret, I wanted to. Outing our pack was a last resort.
“He broke that man’s legs,” he said as he sat back, his hand running through his hair until it was disheveled. “The only reason we aren’t paying out the ass in liabilities is because I was there to witness his behavior. As it is, the legal team is in a frenzy and Theo is fighting the termination and threatening to press charges.”
With that, I knew I had to say it. Rydell might be transferred out to a real prison if Cross didn’t find a way to talk him out of trouble.
“They’re scent-matches. I think Ansel and I are, too, I can’t say much about Caspian and Kane, but they’re changing as well,” I said as I met his gaze.
He frowned at my words and I had immediate regret. Fuck, he wasn’t going to take this well. There was a hardness creeping in his expression now.
“I don’t think any of you are in the position to truly know that,” he said as if we had no sense of smell or thoughts in our head. “There’s a difference between someone smelling good and having that true compatibility.”
