Page 90 of The Weakest Wolf

“And Melody?”

“I did what I told myself I would do. I went back to tell her I’d formed a pack and she would be happier there than she ever would be in Idaho.” I scrub a hand over my face. “If I hadn’t gone so far, maybe I would’ve known she was in trouble. Maybe I would’ve felt it. But staying close… hurt. It hurt to know she was pulling further and further away from me. That she didn’t want me.”

“But she was dead.”

“I learned my father had mated Eden to the alpha of the Stone pack, and Melody had gone with her. Apparently, someone from the Stones had sent a message saying it was some accident when her parents asked why she wasn’t calling or writing anymore.”

Sierra’s expression is unreadable. “So what did you do?”

I bark out a laugh. “What do you think? I ran again.”

“Back to your pack?”

“I knew it was my fault. If I hadn’t left her there, she wouldn’t have followed Eden, and she wouldn’t have died. She said we should leave together, form our own pack, because my father wouldn’t agree to our mating.” I smile. “See, she was the one with the brains, not me.”

“But you’re here now.”

“I spent nearly two years telling myself it was over, that Melody was dead, and that dad was dead, so what could I do? A new alpha beat him in a challenge and forced Mom out of her position, so she lost everything she’d worked so hard to build. The pack was suffering already, so what would be the point of destroying them? But eventually, the grief faded, and do you know what took its place?”

“Anger.”

“Rage. I knew it couldn’t have just been an accident. And I needed to make things right with Eden, to apologize, to make her understand that I hadn’t betrayed Melody.”

Her eyes are sober. “So what happens now?”

“Now?” I rise from the edge of the bed. “Now you rest, and I’ll kill the next men that burst through the front door.”

“And then?”

Even though I know she hates me, I kiss her hair. “It will be tomorrow. Sleep.”

The stubborn line on her jaw makes it clear she wants to argue, but before she can, a yawn stretches her face. Not three seconds after her eyes drift closed, her breathing changes.

For several seconds I study her face, relaxed in sleep.

She’s suffered so much. All her life, probably, and she’s still so strong.

After a moment, I rise from the bed and move to the wall opposite the door, standing guard, watching over Sierra. It’s the least I can do after the hell I’ve put her through.

Sleep can come later or never.

21

SIERRA

Someone shakes me awake.

I blink bleary eyes half-open at the same time the person moves away.

It’s still dark out, and the light overhead is far too bright so I close my eyes again. I don’t know how long I’ve slept, but it doesn’t feel nearly long enough.

Someone shakes me again, harder than before.

I force my eyes open, and this time Galen stands over me. Blood covers his face and chest. More than before. But that isn’t what chases my sleep away. It’s the tension around his mouth.

“I’m sorry to wake you, but we’ve run out of time. He’s sending them now. We have to get you out of here.”

Before I can respond, he peels the covers off me and a second later, eases sweatpants up my legs. With an urgency that makes me even more nervous, he sits me up and pulls a far too big sweatshirt over my head.

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