Page 48 of Our Deceptive Heat
“What?” Digs chokes on air. “We can’t, that’s, no, just, no.”
“She needs some TLC from the mamas.”
Digs groans and thinks about it for a long minute. “Are you sure?”
“Yes!” I snap. “I’m not asking. I’m telling. That beta needs our mamas and if any of you try to argue with me, I’ll let Gran know.”
Digs gasps. “That’s just cruel and unusual.”
It was cruel, but it was the right thing to do. Something is very wrong with Ryn’s life, and I have no doubt that she’s barely telling us the truth about anything.
The taste of her lingers on my tongue, and the memories surge up again. The pack knows about this kiss, but they don’t know about the first one. And they don’t know that the reason Ryn disappeared is because of what we did that night.
They don’t know that my actions drove her away from us. That we almost betrayed everyone.
I should never have touched her.
I need to make this right.
Chapter fifteen
Ryn
Dreams of your lipsand whispered words haunt all my waking moments- Ryn Raines
It hurts so much to be me. I can barely breathe through the pain tonight. My imminent failure is looming on the horizon, a future with those alphas who will simply order me into doing the depraved things I don’t want to do. I don’t know why I can’t escape these black thoughts, but anxiety has a throat hold on me.
Yesterday, Envy told us we’re heading back to their home village; Carmine.
And the panic set in. The more afraid I got, the louder my failures seemed. My skin feels too tight, and I haven’t really stopped weeping in hours. Nothing feels safe. Nothing feels right. Fear skitters up my spine and seizes me by the nape. My bleak future is coming true.
I need Kelly.
Perhaps I should ask Locke for help.
Pain rips through my stomach, causing me to double over. What the fuck?
I open my bag and pull out some over-the-counter painkillers. I pop two and chug it down with a bottle of water.
The pain continues, rippling and cramping, but I’m able to stand.
Tyr appears and looks me up and down. “Feeling all right, Raines?”
“Yes,” I snarl. “I don’t need you to tell me I look like shit, Tyr.”
He grunts and puts his hands in his pockets. I can still feel his eyes.
“Ready to go?”
“Yes, we’re stopping in Carmine for two weeks, aren’t we? Or have the plans changed?”
Tyr shakes his head. “Envy has been summoned home, so you’re coming with us. The plan is still the same.”
I go completely still. “I can stay in a hotel or something. Seriously, I don’t have to go with you.”
“Afraid that’s not going to happen. Denise, Envy’s mother, has decided she wants to meet you.”
I want to argue with him. I really do, but the car rocks up, and he ushers me into it. A few minutes later, Envy, Digs, and Mako get in.
