Page 95 of Awakened
Voyeurism is the name of the game. Keep your eyes peeled and this phone on you.
Aye, Aye, Captain Mysterious.
That’s General Mysterious to you, Private Spencer.
I slid the phone back into my pocket, wishing I could slap thesmug, text bastard across the face. His smart-ass responses were not welcome here.
Zach bounded down the path, and hand in hand, we walked further down the road. A group of four young women in long prairie dresses and basic wool coats passed us, and Zach stopped moving.
In a barely audible whisper, he breathed out, “Grace.” Dropping my hand, he rushed toward the tiny one with black hair and bright blue eyes.
His sudden presence startled all the young women, and they linked arms in an impressive show of solidarity.
When Zach was face to face with the girl, his expression twisted into sadness. “I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else. Grace.”
She took a deep breath and gently shook her arms free. “Girls, go on. I’ll be right there.”
One sour puss companion stepped forward. “Are you sure, Hope? Alpha wouldn’t like you talking to strange men.”
“It’s fine, Pru. I’ll only be a minute.”
With a huff, Pru led the other three girls up the path. From their curious glances over their shoulders, there was no way their alpha wasn’t getting a play-by-play of this.
Hope’s gaze followed them up the hill. “How did you know my sister?”
So much for easing into the week, huh?
I stood to the side while two strangers discovered a very precious link.
“This is going to sound unbelievable, but she was my mate. I’m?—”
Her head snapped toward him. “Zach. You’re Zach.” She threw her thin arms around him. “She told me all about you. I told her to leave, to forget about us, but she wouldn’t go. Then it was too late.” Her slight frame shook with sobs as Zach cradled her, rocking side to side.
I was suddenly the voyeur I accused the Howlers of being.
Zach’s eyes met mine, and he flinched. He’d obviously forgotten I was even there. Tucking Hope under his arm, he turned toward me. “Hope Perkins, this is Beta Celeste Spencer. She knows all about your sister. Her dad was Beta Spencer.”
Before I could blink, she wrapped her tiny body around my torso, burying her face in my chest so her words were muffled. “I’msosorryaboutyourdad.”
I rubbed her back, looking hopelessly at Zach, who stood frozen a few feet away.
“It’s going to be okay, Hope. We’re here.”
She pulled away. “I need to go, but please, can I speak with you this evening?”
“Absolutely.” I gently wiped away the tears on her cheeks.
She gave me a shaky smile, glanced at Zach, and then sprinted after her friends.
I watched her run at an impressive speed up the hill. “Wow. That’s Grace’s sister. Fuck.” Shaking my head, I turned to Zach, and he was still staring at the spot she had been standing in.
“Are you okay, Zach?” He didn’t respond, so I gave his shoulder a shake. “Zach?”
“Huh? What? That was Hope. I can’t—I mean, I figured there was a chance, but damn. She is like a mini Grace. I think I need to sit down.”
We quickly made it to my cabin, and Zach collapsed on the bed. I didn’t want to push him, but I was worried that he was having a breakdown. He lay there without saying a word for a full hour while I rubbed his back and kissed the top of his head.
“Zach, do you need anything?”
