Page 109 of Awakened
Bottles clinked together.
Zach let out a heavy breath. “I’m her second choice.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She only picked me once you made it clear you chose your mate. We started our actual relationship when she came back from Denver, heartbroken. I thought . . . I thought I could make her love me like she loves you, that I would grow to feel about her what I did—do feel about Grace. I’m her second choice.”
The heartbreak I expected finally sunk in. When it was all laid out like that, our relationship looked sad. We loved each other, but not enough. Both of us had a chunk missing, so no matter how much we tried, we would always just be a silver lining to one another. I wasn’t sure if it would be enough to keep us together or keep me happy.
Seth flatly said, “Looks like we’re all living our best lives.”
I’m not sure if it was blood loss or emotional exhaustion, but my mind blanked out, and I drifted into a deep slumber.
“Beta Spencer, you have to wake up. Please, I need you.”
A small weight rested on my chest, and the smell of lavender surrounded me.
“P-Please wake up. Zach is g-gone, and Alpha Stewart will be here any minute.”
Her tears hit my cheek as I struggled to open my eyes, move my hands, or do anything useful. The sobbing girl created a panic in my body that pushed me to wake up and protect her. Slivers of blinding white flooded my vision as I forced my eyelids open.
Blinking, my sight was still blurry, but I could tell it was already night, and that blinding light was actually a small lamp on the other side of the room.
“Hope?” I croaked out.
Hope’s face lit up with, well, hope. My pridepuffed up at the thought of this young woman having that much faith in me. Now, it was only a matter of standing up and proving her right.
“That’s it, Beta Spencer!” Hope pulled my arm roughly around her neck as if she could carry my weight.
If my body hadn’t been screaming in pain, I would have probably laughed. “Ouch. Let go of me.”
She whimpered but complied. “Zach told me to get you out of here, to get you to the pack house.”
My eyes shut tight as I tried to maintain consciousness. The wounds on my shoulder had ripped open with the movement, and my body fought to close them, but they were too deep.
Exhaling, I opened my eyes. “Listen to me carefully.” I waited for her nod to continue. “You need to leave and get to the pack house as soon as possible. Find Seth Collins, tell him I sent you and told him to protect you with his life.”
“What about you? I can’t leave you here for them!”
Her hysterics grated on my already short fuse. I needed to get her safe before I could do anything else. “I’m ready for whatever they’ve got. Don’t worry about me, kid. I’m an Amazon. A fucking beta. I got this.”
Her gaze landed on my shoulder. “You’re bleeding again. I can’t leave you for Alpha Stewart like this. You don’t know what he’s like.” A shiver racked her body.
“I know exactly what he’s like and what they have planned for you.”
All the color drained from her face, and she pointed at her chest. “Me? Wh-what do they w-want from me?” Tears welled in her eyes, but we didn’t have time for that.
“If you don’t get to safety, you’ll end up like Grace.” Her look of fear told me to keep pushing—I almost had her running for the hills. “Who would be there for Chastity if you’re gone?”
That did it. A fire lit in Hope’s eyes, and all the tears dried up. Playing the responsibility card with a big sister worked every time.
“I’ll go to the pack house, but I’m returning with help.” She went to the door but looked back one more time, her eyes shiningbright with determination. “You are one heck of a woman, Beta Spencer. Iwillbe back.”
Then she was gone, leaving me to my injuries and fears.
“Okay, Celeste, time to be brave. Time to be reckless and brave.”
Chanting to myself, I dropped my feet to the floor and rested on the edge of the bed.
