Page 17

"Bayer!" Emery called. "Thank goodness. Maybe you can convince this stubborn ass to actually rest like the doctor ordered."

Danny rolled his eyes. "There was no doctor, just Esther, and she didn't order anything. Besides, I'm fine." But even as he said it, I could see him wince slightly, one hand drifting toward his temple before he caught himself and dropped it.

I crossed the kitchen, drawn to him despite my best intentions. "You look exhausted," I said, studying his face, noting the dark circles under his eyes and the tight lines of pain around his mouth. "And you're holding your head at an angle that suggests you have a headache."

Danny's eyes narrowed. "Are you analyzing me?"

"Yes," I said simply.

He blinked, clearly thrown by my honesty. "Well...stop it."

Emery snorted. "Good luck with that. Alphas are observant." He wiped his hands on a towel and gave me an assessing look. "How bad was it?"

I glanced at Danny, unsure how much to say in front of him.

Danny sighed, reading my hesitation. "I already know five people are dead."

I sighed, leaning against the counter. "It was...messy. Not a normal attack." I kept my voice carefully neutral, but Emery's eyes widened slightly, understanding what I wasn't saying.

"Silver-skins?" he asked quietly.

I shook my head. "We don't think so. At least, not like any we've seen before." My hand drifted to my pocket where the carved bear sat like a stone.

Danny's gaze tracked the movement. "What's in your pocket?"

I pulled out the carving, placing it on the counter between us. "Found this at the scene."

Danny leaned forward, studying it without touching. His eyes widened at the gouge, and he hopped off the stool as if he was going to reach out, but then he didn’t find his footing and, face paling, he stumbled right into me. My arms wrapped around him instinctively, steadying him against my chest. For a moment, he stayed there, his smaller frame fitting perfectly against mine, and I felt that same connection I'd experienced when I'd pulled him from the car. Then, as if suddenly realizing what was happening, Danny shoved hard against my chest.

"Get off me!" he snapped, stumbling backward. "I don't need your help. I don't need your charity, and I definitely don't need you hovering over me like I'm some fragile human who can't take care of himself!"

The words stung more than they should have. I dropped my arms immediately, taking a step back to give him space.

“Danny—” Emery started.

"What? It's true. Everyone's treating me like I'm made of glass. I'm not part of this...this pack thing. I'm just the pathetic human who can't even drive a car without totaling it." Danny's voice cracked slightly. "And now he's here pretending like he cares when we all know he's just doing it because he’s suddenly decided to act like an alpha."

I kept my expression carefully neutral, though the bear inside me was growling in distress.

"Danny!" Emery admonished, shock written across his face.

But Danny spun on his friend. “He’s playing at being this big, bossy oaf with me just because he can’t cut it with his pack—”

“Stop it,” Emery snapped, but I’d heard enough. I wasn’t going to be responsible for coming between these two friends.

“I’ll wait outside for Phoenix,” I said and strode to the door, closing it behind me. I stared out at the empty pack circle, the few cars. I knew there were wolves watching me, and for a moment, feeling my bear itch under my skin, I was tempted to shift and run into the forest and never come back.

It hurt. It hurt so damn much.

No one would miss me. Danny was right. I was playing at being an alpha. I had a lot of bears waiting for me to pull my head out of my ass and form our pack, but I’d spent weeks hiding out, manning the barrier and keeping out of everyone’s way.

I’d seen them all look at me with hope, and I knew every day I let it slide, their disappointment in me grew. If I wasn’t here, they’d either assimilate properly into Phoenix’s pack, or another bear would step up.

I couldn’t run off and leave Phoenix with the mess my dad had caused, except I honestly wasn't sure how much longer I could stand to stay. Watch him. Feel him.

Love Danny desperately, knowing he would never love me back.

I waited another moment, struggling to decide, until it came to me, and I nearly laughed. I could do both. I’d help Phoenix, then I’d simply leave. I’d spent a lot of time as my bear simply to avoid the cruelties at home. Every shifter knew if they spent long enough as their animal they forgot their human side, and as my human side brought nothing but hurt, it would be an easy decision to simply let it go.