Page 91 of Claimed

“Bain?” I hate that my voice wobbles when I say his name. I hate it even more when a tear slips down my cheek. I hadn’t realized how upset I had become.

“What’s wrong?”

“I miss you.”

I hear him sigh, and there’s a slight pause before he replies. “Baby, we miss you too. We’ll be home in a few hours.”

“Okay,” I whisper, unsure what else to say. I feel like such a burden. They’re trying to help me and I’m bringing everyone down.

“You’re killing us, baby. We can feel how sad you are.”

“Then come back.”

He sighs again. “You know why we need to do this.”

“To avenge my honor,” I say, repeating the words he told me right before he left.

“Yes, but also to make you safer. With him gone, you’ll never have to worry about him resurfacing one day.”

“I just have a bad feeling about it. You’ll be extra careful, right? Stake the place out first and watch each other’s backs?”

“Of course, we’re doing that now. This isn’t my first mission.”

“It isn’t?” I ask in confusion and he chuckles.

“No, angel. I was an enforcer, remember?”

“I guess I didn’t realize what that meant.”

“Sometimes I had to take out threats to the pack. It wasn’t always as simple as a rogue wolf. Sometimes I had to go to them.”

That just makes me worry about all the times he could have gotten hurt in the past. Which is stupid. I know that rationally, but right now my brain and my heart aren’t in sync.

“Give me the phone,” Maddox’s muffled voice says in the background. There’s a bit of rustling, then he speaks, much louder now.

“Sweetheart?”

“Maddox.”

“What else is bothering you?” How does he do that? How can he possibly know? “There is something else, isn’t there?”

“I’m a terrible mate.”

“Hey, don’t speak about my mate like that,” he says teasingly. “Why would you think that?”

“Hunter and Chase are amazing, and they’ve been trying so hard to distract me all day, but I keep thinking about you guys being gone, and it physically hurts, and then I feel bad because I don’t want them to feel like I care about them any less, because I don’t. I love all of you equally. I want to bond with them, but I’m worried about you guys.” I’m barely able to finish my train of thought, my voice getting squeaky as I try to stay composed, despite the tears rolling down my cheeks.

Hunter passes me a tissue and I blow my nose as both of them pat my cheeks dry. I give them both strained smiles, worried about what they’re thinking.

“Listen to me, Cherry. Chase and Hunter do not think you’re a bad mate. They probably feel bad that they haven’t been able to cheer you up, but they know it’s not a reflection on them. Don’t let yourself spiral. They are there with you and they care. They are only worried about how you feel right now. Do you understand?”

“I think so,” I say with a sniff, my tears no longer falling.

“I love you, sweetheart. Now be my good girl and listen to Hunter and Chase, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Good girl. Hunter, you there?”