Page 45 of Pack Nightmare

All that time wasted, sipping tea and talking about true names, just to finish with nothing.

And I should have left when she told us to. I’m the reason we didn’t get out on time.

And I hesitated outside, too. We were free to go, could have been already on the road before Azalea came back out.

I never should have turned my back on her. If I hadn’t, she wouldn’t have had a target to toss that knife. Jeremy wouldn’t have had to jump in front of me to save my life.

So many things I did wrong. So much responsibility to bear.

My mind goes over every word, every moment, as the silent ride continues.

There has to be something to her statement that I already know how the break the curse. She didn’t just say I was blind to it; she said we all were.

At some point, we’ll have to sit down together and try to puzzle it out, but for now, I’m too tired for riddles.

Speaking of, where did Azalea come from? She called Derrek her cousin, which means they’re related through his mom. But he never mentioned a cousin when he told me the pack expected him to be their new witch. He sort of made it sound like he and his mom were on their own.

But clearly not, since there was evidently a cousin around.

My mind draws up every word she said, pulling them apart for clues.

And then, as if I’m putting together a puzzle for which I’ve never seen the entire picture, the full story clicks into place in my mind.

Finally—finally—it all makes sense. Every part fits. How Derrek found me, Azalea’s taunting words, the silver knife... I’ve been completely, utterly blind.

Fighting the urge to clamber into Jared’s lap, I lean casually against him instead. He wraps a warm, muscular arm around my shoulders, and I shift over so no part of my body is touching Derrek’s. The thrumming vibration of our bond soothes me, and I shoot another text message to Roxanne.

When we get back, we’ll handle Jeremy and his family first.

And then we’ll deal with Derrek.

Landon

I can feel the emotions coming off Layla, and it’s a heavy jumble. Pain, guilt, sadness, fear, betrayal, and a white-hot ribbon of fury. As the driver I can’t do much for her from here, but I sure as shit am not letting her go home alone tonight. I’d be willing to bet none of us are.

The tightness of my shoulders doesn’t ease until we get back on pack lands, and I drive us straight to the town security office, where Roxanne is waiting with the officers.

If it had been the death of a normie on pack lands, they would bring in the county sheriff and create a whole police report.

But given the circumstances, things are a bit different.

We pull into the parking lot just as a sleek silver BMW screeches into a space. I check my rearview one more time, and the black Yukon is still behind me. Once I park, there’s a still, pregnant moment where we all brace ourselves for the onslaught.

Then we unbuckle and step out of the car.

Layla heads directly for Roxanne, who seems to be giving her rapid instructions. The guys and I all gather at the side of the Yukon and wait.

First, a couple of guys from the football team I don’t know very well climb out of the back seat, then reach in to move their seats aside. They have a small amount of blood on them, and their expressions are heavy with grief. Amber and Justin, Jeremy’s twin, emerge slowly from the third row. They’re covered in blood, some of it already dry and brown. Amber’s face is tear stained, her eyes haunted, and she looks as if she’s not really even there. Justin pulls her to the side and wraps his arms around her, his eyes red-rimmed.

The security officers roll a stainless steel gurney up to the car and climb in, carefully removing Jeremy’s body, the knife still protruding from his back.

“Stop, please,” Layla steps forward, her voice rough. She leans in and whispers to the officers, who nod. One of them removes the long silver knife with a gloved hand, then drops it in a clear plastic bag. Reddish-brown blood smears the inside, and he seals it up before handing it to her.

Now, of course, they’re able to gently turn Jeremy on his back, and they cover him with a sheet.

Another officer has kept the Westley’s on the other side of the vehicle, so they didn’t witness the removal. Now they’re able to come forward, and the wail Jeremy’s mother releases upon seeing his body rivals the noise that Amber made when he died. I know without a doubt both sounds will haunt my dreams for a very long time.

Layla hands the bagged knife to Roxanne, then goes to speak to the Westleys. She gestures Amber and Justin over as well; her face heavy and lined with sadness, making her appear much older than eighteen.

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