Page 78 of Soul of the Chaos

“Thank you,” Sasha said quietly and took a drink of the punch, her eyes darting once again to the empty bathroom door.

“She’s safe,” I offered. “She kicked Carbon out of his own den. Saw him as I came up here. One of the fiercest brothers I know is now sleeping outside his own room in wolf form growling at any sweetbutt who dares to approach. It’s pretty funny shit.”

The room broke out into a much needed laugh.

Sasha smiled weakly but I could feel the pain she was trying to bottle up inside. I grabbed her hand and the bottle of nail polish and got to work.

“Give her time, mate. These things have a way of working out.”

“She hates me. Don’t see that changing, mate.” Sasha smiled shyly using the term in front of others. It had my wolf puffing up in pride, though the smile faded as she touched her bond mark. Pain rolled through me. “Did something I can’t take back. Cut her deep. Then, to make matters worse, I flaunted my happiness in her face.”

“Nothing we did was wrong.” I tipped her face up to look at me. I wasn’t usually the assertive one in a relationship but seeing my mate all twisted up inside, doubting her own worth, caused a fierce certainty to rise up inside me. Fuck Grimm and his jealous wolf. He would just have to get with the program because this—right here—proved that Sasha needed me. “Our mating is not her business. She has no right to make you feel less-than for it.”

“I’m the reason, Silver. I’m the reason Chains took her,” she whispered so low that I doubted anyone else in the room heard her. “He took her—did that to her—because I wouldn’t cower from him like he wanted. She lived through it all. Forced herself to survive. Because she knew it would break me if he killed her. Then I come here and let the first wolf I crush on bite me? Didn’t you see the scars that fuckface left on her body? The way he nearly tore out her throat to force his claim on her?”

Her voice was rising as she went, fury and shame riding her frame. The room fell into somber silence as I rose to my feet to meet my mate’s shimmering gaze.

“Yes, love. I saw it. And my heart bleeds for her. Winter will carry those scars for the rest of her life.” I took her fists in my hands, stroking those knuckles that were curled up tight with self recrimination. “But don’t forget the most important thing. She did survive. So did you.” My eyes took a quick journey to peg each of the humans in the room. “So did all of you. You can’t live Winter’s life for her, you can only live your own.”

My gaze returned to settle on Sasha’s burning stare as she sucked up every word I offered as if it were her own personal lifeline.

“It’s not your job to fix this for her, kitten. I know she’s your friend and you feel responsible. That bastard tried to put what happened to her on you. But Chains is the monster here, not you. And Mongrel already put him in the ground. What Winter is going through is not your fault.” I gave her my best stern glare as she opened her mouth to protest and she clicked it shut. “You have to believe in her. Trust that she will recover in her own time and in her own way. Our pack will take care of her. Carbon will lay down his life for his mate, as would any of my brothers. But right now, what Winter needs most of all is space and solitude. The chance to recover her own sense of self. To trust in her own autonomy. Then, and only then, will she be able to build her world—the one that was razed to the ground by that fucking scum—from scratch.”

I caught my mate’s salty tears with my lips as I kissed them away.

“Now it’s your job to honor Winter’s sacrifice by living the best fucking life you can. Own your happiness with your head held high. Because you—more than anyone I’ve ever met—deserve the blessing of the Blood Moon Goddess.”

Viola nodded firmly in agreement. Addy added a ”Hell yeah” causing Sasha to scoff then roll her eyes. However, when she darted a scowl in the young woman’s direction, she had to press her lips together to prevent herself from grinning back at the irascible girl.

No one could stay mad in the face of Addy’s unbound joy.

“It’s all gonna work out, love. I promise.”

Sasha swished her lips. I chuckled at the stubborn expression before swooping in to steal another breathless kiss. My mate huffed in annoyance then melted into my arms.

29

LOOSEN THOSE TONGUES

Silver

“So, speaking of your boy Carbon,” Viola began, breaking the easy silence that had fallen as the group went back to painting their nails while I held Sasha in the middle of the room and swayed her gently back and forth. “He really gonna teach us to fight with silver?”

“Yup.”

“Good,” Viola sniffed. “‘Cause Winter’s not the only one of us who’s feeling a little stabby toward anyone who gets handsy.”

“I’ll spread the word,” I winked at the woman.

“Once your Enforcer is done with his night on the floor, you send him to me and I’ll have those wanting to learn ready.”

“Come on, mate,” I took Sasha by the hand, leading her to a comfy spot where we could sit against the wall. “I’m dying to paint those cute little toenails.”

“Handy with nail polish, are you?” Sasha teased, brushing away the last of her tears as I helped her get settled.

“Yup.” I leaned forward but pitched my voice loud enough for all to hear. “Not the first time I’ve been deemed an Honorary Pussy for the night.”

“Got that right,” Strawberry smirked, blowing me an air kiss.

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