Page 12 of Wrath

Where was he going?

Making sure not to wake my other mates, I slipped out of the too-tiny bed—having to wiggle my way out from underneath Lupe’s muscular arm—and stealthily moved towards the entrance of the tent. Casting one glance over my shoulder, and ensuring my men were still asleep, I stepped outside.

The difference between the camp at night versus during the day was surreal. Before, it had been full of activity, full of light. Humans mingled with nightmares—the few who were here, at the very least—and laughter rang through the clearing like windchimes. Now it was eerily silent. In the distance, someone snored, the noise reminiscent of a chainsaw, and an owl hooted. Crickets sang in the surrounding forest.

I searched the darkness—blanketed by a haze of white from the full moon, softening the sharp edges—and finally spotted my mate standing at the shore of Lake Meade. Wind blew his brown hair back and caused his shirt to ripple around his body.

My heart tugged me towards him before my brain could even catch up. When I was only a few feet behind him, he spoke, his voice a raspy husk.

“The voices… They’re quiet.” He tilted his face up so he stared at the starry sky. “I’m not used to it.”

Not daring to speak, I breached the remaining distance between us and placed my hand on the small of his back. His muscles bunched under my touch before he forced himself to relax.

For a long moment, we stood there in silence, both of us staring up at the dark sky riven here and there with twinkling stars and a full, luminescent moon. I’d never been the type of person to stare up at the sky and marvel at the beauty of the universe. And yet…

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered.

“It is, isn’t it?” He canted his head to the side. “It’s strange to see the sky without blood dripping from the stars or monsters crawling over the moon.”

I whipped my head in his direction. “Did that happen…often?”

I knew he had suffered from hallucinations, butthat? I couldn’t even imagine. My heart ached for him, for all he’d endured.

Jax offered me a soft smile and captured the hand I’d placed on his back. He held it between both of his. Sparks zipped through my veins, and hunger stirred to life in my chest.Bathed in moonlight the way he was, his red eyes gleaming like gemstones and his brown hair blowing in the breeze, he looked beautiful. Ethereal.

Mine.

“I wish I would’ve found you sooner,” I whispered, finding it difficult to speak around the lump in my throat. “I wish I would’ve foundallof you sooner.”

How much would’ve been different if I had?

Dair wouldn’t have been subjected to years after years of abuse at the hands of his abusive father and brothers.

Jax wouldn’t have lost his mind to bloodlust.

Bash wouldn’t have become jaded and cynical.

Killian wouldn’t have been afraid to love.

Lupe would’ve embraced the softness inside of him instead of conforming to his father’s wishes.

Devlin wouldn’t have spent years alone—in love with a girl who hated him.

Ryland wouldn’t have felt the need to constantly hide in the shadows.

Or maybe that was wishful thinking. Maybe I was giving myself too much power. After all, at the end of the day, I didn’t save them. They saved themselves.

“I truly believe everything happens for a reason, Z. You came into our lives when you were ready for us and we were ready for you. Anything sooner and…” He slowly shook his head.

I understood what he was trying to say. Back then, when I first met him and the others, I hated nightmares and all they represented. I killed them without remorse or regret—all because of my need for vengeance. Nightmares killed my parents, after all, and I thought they murdered my ex-lover. It was only fair for me to exact my revenge.

How stupid I had been.

How young and naïve.

“Sometimes I wonder how things would’ve been if Devlin had stayed with you—had kept you a secret.” A wry smirk tugged up the corner of Jax’s lips, revealing a hint of fang.

“I would’ve found you all eventually,” I said—and of that, I was certain.

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