Page 174 of Claimed

He’s on his way. I know it. Ifeelit.

This is hours from being over. Grey will find me. He has magic. Even beyond that, I know how determined he’ll be. He won’t stop until I’m back in his arms.

It’s not that Wyatt’s days are numbered; hishoursare numbered. I just have to stay strong. But also… maybe I don’t have to just sit back and wait for my mate to rescue me. Maybe I can help make it a little easier.

***

Sherry with swollen-from-crying red eyes is in the little kitchen area, frying some eggs. There’s no power in the Airstream, the battery that was powering some of the lights is now dead, but thereispropane, so the fridge and stove are working and Wyatt raided Jared’s supplies and ordered Sherry to cook.

“Wyatt, can I please use the bathroom?” I ask for the third time, bouncing with my discomfort.

He rolls his eyes.

“Sweetness, untie her, will ya? Gotta make a call. Be good.” He points at her and then moves the finger to point at me and scowls. “Fuck around? You’ll find out.”

I say, “I just need the bathroom, Wyatt. I’ve been holding it for hours.”

“Use it and get your useless whore ass back on that couch.” He grabs his jacket and steps outside.

“Sherry?” I whisper with urgency.

She’s listlessly pushing the spatula around the frying pan.

“Sherry?” I repeat.

She turns to look at me and seeing her in daylight I see she has a harsh purple bruise on her cheekbone. Fucking Wyatt.

She comes over and loosens the rope around my neck and pulls it up over my head, then reaches for the one around my wrists.

“The special brew we talked about?” I whisper.

Her forehead wrinkles.

“Special brew…” I repeat and point my chin at my suitcase by the door. “Put some in his food.”

He wouldn’t try it when he ran those experiments with it on our people, so he’s got no idea what it tastes like.

It takes a beat before recognition hits her eyes, but because it does, I feel relief. She recalls our conversation in the bathroom the night of Erica’s birthday party when she asked about the special brew because she had some people she wanted to give it to. She leans in closer.

“You have some here?”

“Under the lining of my suitcase. Middle layer, mixed with catnip.”

She quickly darts and grabs my suitcase.

But loud and clear we hear, “See you soon,” and the door opens. Wyatt’s eyes pan over us and land on Sherry’s hand.

“Thanks,” I say, rising to take it from her to cover. “Just gonna change my clothes while I’m in there.”

“Food ready or what?” he demands.

His eyes are on her with suspicion instead of me, so I rush ahead into the small bathroom, doing my very best to keep my breathing steady, hoping he doesn’t clock how fast my heart is beating.

After I use the facilities and change my clothes, I leave my suitcase in the small, corner shower stall, knowing there’s a better chance of her accessing it in here than out there.

When I come out, they’re sitting at the dining booth and there’s a plate made up for me.

“You can eat that over there,” Wyatt says, gesturing to the small loveseat I slept on last night. “Watch out for eggshells,” he adds, pulling something out of his mouth and dropping it on the table beside the plate. “Good we’ll be livin’ large soon, mate. Then I won’t have to endure your cookin’.”

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