Page 53 of Eclipsed Heart

A part of me wanted to believe him, but I’d learned hope was one of the most dangerous emotions. The lyrics to the chorus of Lana Del Rey’s “Hope is a Dangerous Thing for a Woman Like Me” drifted through my mind. Words that had taken up rent-free space in my head for the past several years.

The moment Stevie’s hands stilled, I knew before she even opened her mouth, she’d come to her answer. Sweat pooled in my armpits as I waited for the gavel to bang.

She smacked her legs, the exact sound I’d been waiting for.

“You’re right. I messed up.” Her shoulders hunched as her face twisted into agony. “I didn’t consider the repercussions of helping the queen because I was focused on helping my family.”

Those were the words I needed to hear—not that I should have expected anything else. Stevie was one of the best people I knew. She hadn't seen the big picture, but at the same time, that was still the problem. Until she could care about all the wolves in this region and not just the ones closest to her, I couldn’t trust her.

She clutched her stomach. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to cause problems or help anyone get harmed,especiallyCallie.”

Jack placed a hand on her shoulder, and she gasped, her gaze darting to him.

“Weallmake mistakes,” Jack murmured.

“And most importantly, you were trying to protect my fated mate.” Bodey chuckled. “Which makes me very forgiving.”

Samuel cleared his throat. “You guys need to remember that she did betray us, and yes, we can be forgiving, but we can’t just forget that.”

Jack rumbled a warning, jumping to his feet as he turned toward Samuel. “No one’s forgetting anything. We’re having a conversation because shedidn’tmean to do harm.”

“Everyone needs to calm down.” Stella glanced over her shoulder at the people in the kitchen and continued, “We aren’t enemies here, and I’ll be damned if I let the stress of the situation cause our group to spiral.”

Miles smiled at her adoringly. “My mate’s right. This could be the very thing Queen Kel is hoping for.”

At this point, I wouldn’t even attempt to try to determine her motives outside of attacking us and wanting to take over the Northwest. Everything else that had happened was probably just bonus points.

“What I’m getting at is… I’ll give you her number.” Stevie rubbed her hands together. “That way, you can call her.”

Scratching his scruff, Jack sat back down and put his head in his hands. “I don't know if I like that.”

Carl’s head tilted back. “Have you lost your mind? How could younotlike that? That was what the entire conversation was about!”

“It puts Stevie at greater risk.” Jack held out his hands. “The queen will be gunning for her even more.”

My brows furrowed. I had to be missing something. “Why would it? They came here and left thinking they killed her.”

“And they could realize they didn’t succeed and come back.” Jack squirmed in his seat like he couldn’t get comfortable.

He’s being weird,Bodey linked to me and then said out loud, “Well, we’d be on the phone, so we could lie and say Stevie gave the number to us before they killed her since Callie’s her sister and all.”

“Oh, yeah.” Jack cleared his throat and placed his hands behind his head. “There is that.”

Stevie stared at him, her cheeks flushed.

I’m pretty sure they’re fated,I confided, still a little shocked by the revelation. Even though fated mates existed, they weren’t common. Most people selected a chosen mate because there was no guarantee they’d ever find their fated. I’d assumed that Miles and Stella and then Bodey and I were exceptions, but maybe being fated wasn’t as rare as I’d thought.

“I hate to bring this up right now.” Janet bounced on her feet. “But if we want the queen to continue to believe that Stevie is dead, that means that she needs to stay here.”

My breath caught as Stevie’s jaw dropped.

“So, I can’t go home, or I risk the queen learning that I’m alive.” Stevie laughed bitterly. “This keeps getting better and better.”

“The best thing we can do is make contact with her and get something in the works. Once we get her to back off, then you returning to your family and pack shouldn’t be a problem.” Phil smiled sadly.

Samuel snatched his cell phone from the table. “What’s her number?”

“It’s—” Stevie started.

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