Page 24 of Mates & Mercenaries

“Come on,” Clay whispers to me as he touches my arm. “We need to get packed up,”

I head to the bathroom alone and get in the shower. It takes me a moment to realize that I’m crying under the stream of water. I’m not ready to leave this prairie. Once we get back home, I might lose touch with everyone. I try to console myself by reminding myself that I will be back with my friend, but even Maeve isn’t enough of a comfort.

This was just supposed to be a few days of fun, but it’s accidently turned into something so much more. On my end anyway. I’m such a fool, aren’t I? I can’t believe what an idiot I am. The tears become more intense and I’m practically sobbing now. I hope the guys can’t hear me as I sink down to the floor of the shower. One minute I was having the time of my life, and now I’m about to lose it all.

I don’t know how long I sit there for, but I get up and wash my hair and then myself. It can’t hurt to go home looking my best, especially if I’m going to have to face my father. I can’t even imagine what he’s going to say.

As I’m drying off, I hear the front door bang. Does this mean Creed is back already? Holy hell, that was quick! He didn’t give us anywhere enough time to get all organized.

I grab my silk kimono and wrap it around my body. I race out of the bathroom, half scared of what I might find out there and half excited at the hope that I will get to see Creed.

“Oh my God!” It really is him. I know it hasn’t been long since we were last together, but it feels like it’s been a lifetime. “Creed, you’re here.”

Without even thinking about what I’m doing, I tear across the room and throw myself into his arms. I leap up and wrap myself around him, crashing my lips to his. He kisses me deeply and passionately, before suddenly remembering where we are what’s going on.

“Wait, we can’t…” He looks towards Sam and Creed, making me giggle.

“Oh, you don’t need to worry. Sam and Clay already know everything.”

Should I tell Creed everything? I feel like he deserves to know what’s been happening. From kissing Rex, to hooking up with Sam. Twice. And making out with Clay. My heart pounds, urging me to do so, but something is holding me back. The fear that Creed will hate what I’ve done. I should wait until the moment is right.

Decided, I kiss him again, because, my God, I have missed him. Creed pulls back after a few moments, looking a little awkward because his friends are watching.

“So, I need to tell you what’s happened,” Creed says as he sets me back on my feet. “We found the wolves from New York. We have a way in.”

“Were they involved with what happened at Evan Santorini’s house?” Clay asks.

How the hell did Creed figure all of this out? And why would some guys from New York be interested in me? Dad has never mentioned having dealings in the city or knowing anyone from there. I thought it was either Mason Thorne or Griffin Hanwell. They were the ones in Dad’s house that night, and they seemed to be the people that he was worried about.

“Rex has stayed behind because he’s the one having the meeting. I wanted to go too, but he was the one who won the card game, so he was the one allowed in.”

“Card game?” Sam asks. I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s more than a little confused by all of this.

“That was the only way we could arrange a meeting.” Creed shrugs. “Anyway, Rex is taking care of that, and we’re going to meet him in Chicago once he’s done with everything so we can plan our next move.”

“So does that mean I’m going home?” I ask quietly, feeling sick. “Like, right now?”

“No, not yet. I mean, soon, I promise,” Creed replies, as if I’m eager to get back to that life. “But first we need to go to our warehouse. That’s where we’re meeting with Rex.”

I swallow hard. One step at a time, that’s what Rex always tells me, isn’t it? That we have to take things one step at a time. I can do that. My next step is just to get dressed so we can leave. I back away from Creed and pass the other guys as I head to my room for the final time. I feel like my heart is being ripped out of my chest.

It’s only because I don’t want to be late in meeting up with Rex that I find the strength to get dressed and packed up.

“Okay, I’m done,” I announce, standing at the front door. Everyone turns to look at me and now it really does feel like the guys can see my conflicting emotions. “Let’s get on the road.”

I walk outside before I can cry again. They can suspect it, but I don’t want them to see it. I don’t want them to know that I’m falling apart. The moment they see me weeping, they won’t stop trying to make me feel better, while actively making me feel worse.

Thankfully, no one asks me anything as they all hurry out to the car. We pull away from the safe house.

My heart feels all mixed up and complicated. My head doesn’t know what to think about my time there. I’ve loved being at the prairie and the freedom it has given me. I’ve very much enjoyed being my wolf self and experimenting with the guys. But I guess it’s better for us to go home now before I get even more attached and it breaks me even more. Not that I can picture it being worse than this. I don’t even know if I can survive this.

* * *

ThankGod I managed to sleep for most of the drive. I didn’t have to sit and stew. Not that I would have been able to come to any kind of conclusion anyway.

“Here we are.” Sam turns around from the driver’s seat to look at me. “You good?”

“Yeah, I think so.” I look out the window at the warehouse in the middle of nowhere. I can’t imagine it’s as safe as the house on the prairie, but it’s better than going home. “This is it? This is where you guys live?” I ask.

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