Page 1 of Mercy

CHAPTER ONE

Meghan

The sterile scent of disinfectant invades my nostrils as I fold the last of my t-shirts, cramming it into the duffel bag on my hospital bed.

My hands tremble slightly, betraying the anxiety bubbling beneath my calm exterior.

Freedom is so close I can taste it, but the thought of returning to the clubhouse sends a chill down my spine.

I zip up the bag with more force than necessary, the harsh sound echoing in the quiet room.

My gaze drifts to the window, where golden afternoon light streams in, painting patterns on the linoleum floor.

It's a beautiful day to start fresh, to leave this place behind.

A soft knock on the door frame startles me from my thoughts.

I turn, expecting to see Esperanza's kind smile or Skadi's fierce grin.

Instead, my jaw nearly hits the floor when I spot Fern, the President's ol' lady, and Tor's step-mother, standing in the doorway.

I manage to squeak out, my voice betraying my surprise, "Fern?"

She steps into the room, her presence commanding as always. "Hey, Meghan. Thought you could use a hand getting out of here."

I blink rapidly, trying to process this unexpected turn of events. "I... thanks. I wasn't expecting you."

Fern's lips quirk into a half-smile. "Clearly. You look like you've seen a ghost."

I force out a chuckle, running a hand through my ashy blonde hair. "Sorry, I just... I figured it'd be Esperanza or Skadi."

"They were both tied up with club business," Fern explains, her eyes scanning the room. "You about ready to go?"

I nod, gesturing to my packed bag. "Yeah, just finished up."

Fern moves to pick up the duffel, but I quickly reach for it first.

"I've got it," I insist, putting it over my lap.

The weight of it makes me readjust slightly. My body's still not quite at full strength.

Fern raises an eyebrow but doesn't comment.

Instead, she asks, "How are you feeling about heading back?"

God, what a question.

The truth is, I don’t know how I feel about it.

I swallow hard, considering my response.

How do I tell the President's ol' lady that the thought of returning to the clubhouse fills me with dread?

That every time I close my eyes, I see LeAnn's face, twisted with hatred as she brought that ball down on my head?

I lie, plastering on a smile that doesn't quite reach my eyes. "I'm... looking forward to seeing everyone."

Fern's piercing gaze tells me she's not buying it, but she doesn't push. "Well, they're certainly looking forward to seeing you. Especially Tor."

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