Page 161 of Drown My Sorrow

The reaction is instant; the house gets cold, and my three alphas, who have had themselves masked this entire time, drop their camouflage, allowing all the Raines to see what they’re dealing with.

Bailey straightens and really takes a good, long look at Shale.

“What’s wrong, Cher?” Beau murmurs and slinks towards me. He slides a hand up my ass and up to my shoulders. “You look lovely this morning.”

I turn to Beau. “Holt is filming me and pretending I’ve hit him. He’s also refused to give me the keys to the car, and Nat is in the hospital.” I burst into emotional tears, which annoy me no end, but Beau simply gathers me in his arms and kisses my head.

“I’ll take care of it, baby.”

“She’s not lying,” Erin says, but I can see her nervously watching Keagan, who has floated closer.

“Early retirement,” Shale says, looking right at me. “Or an early grave, your choice.”

Keagan walks up and punches the beta in the face so hard he flies back into the wall.

Beau, who has let me go, wanders over to take his turn. He hits him so hard in the gut that Holt vomits down the front of himself.

Shale holds out his hand. “Keys to the car. My love needs to go to the hospital.”

Charles swallows hard and passes his keys to Shale. They all ignore Holt sobbing on the floor.

Ezy hands over their phones and wallets while Gael hangs up his phone.

“I just spoke to the nurse. She’s been badly beaten, but she’s okay.”

I throw myself into his arms. “Really?”

“Really. I spoke to the nurse who’s been taking care of her all morning. She is okay, just scared.”

Kelly closes his eyes. “You guys go ahead. I need to keep fighting here.”

Ezy looks torn but then goes to stand with Kelly. I know they have to, and they are doing it for me, but I wish they would come with me. I need them.

Gael grabs his coat and snatches the keys out of Shales’ hand. “I’m driving.”

Shale shrugs and looks at Holt. “Go to your room and stay there. Do not harm yourself. Do not call anyone. Just sit there and wait for us to come and deal with you.”

The command is so absolute that there is no way he can fight it. I almost feel sorry for him, but then I remember how he flinched and called out, ‘don’t hurt me.’

He can go to hell.

I lift my nose in the air and follow my pack outside. Shale drapes an arm over my shoulder and pauses, glancing back inside the house.

“We are Pack Daane. Not Raines.”

The Raines family stare back at us, their faces white. Charles nods once. “It’s good to have you with us.”

It appeases the Pack, and the tension disappears.

Then Shale pulls the door closed and guides me down to the car that’s waiting for us.

When we’re in the car, Beau pulls me into his lap and starts kissing and nuzzling my shoulder.

“She will be fine. Nat is a survivor.”

I nod. I know this, but it doesn’t stop the ball of fear inside me. What will I find?

Teeth sink into my neck, a painful reminder to stay in the present with the alphas I’m with.

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