Page 37 of Sigma
“Okay.”
“Yeah? Okay?” Linc checks.
“Go on,” I gesture toward the others, “Get outta here. I’m gonna take a few minutes for myself while you guys go decode the mystery. Get a proper shower now that I’ve got water here.”
“Now who’s bossy?” he quips.
I growl with frustration.
“Be back soon,” he says with humor, tugging my ponytail. “Text me if you need anything.”
“Don’t come back unless there’s a reason. I’m fine here. I’ve got food, water, and shelter.” And my mate close by. “Got all I need.”
“I’ll avoid the urge to tell you to be smart and safe.”
“Good. Because you don’t need to tell me that.”
“Got it. Wanna hug you, Sis, but know that’s a bad idea.”
“I feel it,” I tell him, pressing my fist to my chest.
He puts his lips to my forehead in a quick peck.
“Lincoln?” I call out.
Our eyes meet.
“She’s gonna be a very lucky girl. Whoever she is.”
He smiles and we hold gazes for a moment and it’s an acknowledgement of our history, an assertion that we still mean a lot to one another, just now in a different way.
“Thanks, babe,” he says, “Means a lot. Jared’s a lucky guy. Between us, I was hopin’ it’d be you.”
“Me, too,” I whisper. “Just between us. But this feels right. It’s meant to be.”
We stare at one another for a moment and I feel nothing but affection for Lincoln Fowler. He is such a good guy.
He kisses my forehead again.
“Later,” he whispers and then he leaves.
They’re all pulling out or gone already. And I’m relieved for the peace, for time to just process.
I sit on a camping chair and stare at the sky for a while.
I felt pretty sad and hopeless when Jared’s wolf showed I mean nothing to him. I cried myself to sleep in his bed alone while he was chained out here. But seeing Jared today, feeling what I feel from him, I’m not taking his rejection or threats of a bond severance seriously. I’m also not going to stand around feelingsorry for myself. I’m going to fight for the future Fate promised me with him.
Grey, Ronnie, and the other witches might find answers. Maybe Cat Savage will find something medical that can help. Undoubtedly, Linc and Joel will be investigating. And maybe I can get Bailey to do some of her digging. Because Joel and Linc might not tell me everything, but Bailey is pretty good at information retrieval, too. She might be able to find out if there are others like him on record. And she has some off-record connections. Could that information lead to answers on how to move forward safely? Does he have any family left?
Shit. Bailey! My belly dips and I feel guilty. Because what’s going on with Bailey? I haven’t had the headspace to ask.
I grab my phone and there are two texts from Amie. The most recent one stated that Bailey came back today with the Young witches, but no sign of Jase yet and she’s not sure what the heck is going on.
I send a heart emoji to Amie and send Bailey a text.
I don’t know where you are, if you’re back or still in Italy chasing Jase. I have no idea if up is up and down is really down but things are beyond wonky for me if you haven’t heard.
Since it’s five o’clock somewhere, I go into the camper to grab a bottle of beer, crack it open, and go back out to stare at the sky some more.
