Page 121 of Awakened
“I know, I know, and I love you, but when Seth kissed me? All my old feelings for him came rushing back, and the world disappeared. We don’t have that. I’m not saying this to hurt you—just the opposite. I want you to have that same depth of love as you did with Grace. I know you can. I’ve felt it without a mate.”
His eyes shimmered with tears. “You think so? You really think I’ll find that kind of love again?”
A combination laugh-sob burst from my mouth as I flung my arms around his neck, tears and a little snot flying onto his shirt. I whispered, “I do. I really do. And you deserve it.”
We sat on the couch laughing, hugging, and crying until Sarah and Michael walked in the door.
“Oh, my Goddess. What’s wrong?” Sarah rushed over and knelt in front of us.
With a huge grin, Zach wiped away a tear from my face. “We broke up.”
I nodded, never looking away from Zach’s bright hazel eyes.
Sarah fell back on her butt. “Then why are you guys laughing and hugging?”
Shrugging in unison, we fell into another fit of laughter. Michael collected his perplexed fiancée from the floor and left us alone.
When we settled down, I rested my head on Zach’s shoulder, and he kissed my hair. “I love you, Sunshine.”
“I love you too. Still friends?”
“Still best friends.”
“Good.”
I spent the following days attached to Marie’s hip, wading through Regional Power bullshit. The Gathering had been a total disaster, but the Regional Powers were hesitant to make any kind of decision about who was at fault. When the hosting pack refused to make any claims, there was only “he says, she says,” so it was easy for them to wash their hands of the issue.
Most bought the Cornerstone Packs' propaganda, which claimed a radical third party created false friction between the packs in order to bring down The Gathering. They went as far as to implicate the Amazons.
Marie only laughed and said, “We’ve been the center of worse rumors. I’ll take it.”
The only Regional Power members not a part of the Old Church were too chickenshit to really investigate what happened. I lodged a formal complaint against Matthew Stewart via email. It only took six hours for them to give me their ruling. As I had issued the challenge, no fault was found on his part. I was actually scolded for issuing such a “barbaric, unladylike challenge, and should learn proper decorum.” Marie threatened to hunt the pipsqueak down to show him how a real lady behaves.
Two weeks after The Gathering, the Old Church Packs came for their members we rescued.
Because all the women were twenty-one and older, there was nothing the Cornerstone Packs could do, but that didn’t stop them from trying intimidation.
They stalked the women morning and night while the Amazons did everything we could to keep them safe. This went on for a week, and then, out of nowhere, the men were gone. I kept my eyes peeled, waiting for one of them to pounce, but nothing happened. After stressing for days, I turned to the only people who might have answers.
I lay in my dark bedroom, staring at the tiny glowing screen, working up the courage to hit send.
I need some answers.
SECRET DOUCHEBAGS (CUTE, LES)
Hello to you too, Les.
1) Why did they let us free those women?
2) Why did they let us leave the property so easily?
3) Why did they vanish after demanding their members back?
So, no pleasantries. Okay. Why do you think they let you? Think big picture.
Typical. I wanted answers, not to be helped into finding them.
Are you suggesting this is all a PR move? That’s fucking absurd.
