Page 22 of Savage Torment

Well… fuck. That’s not what I was expecting from the man who refuses to acknowledge Polaris’s worth to us. I’m not the only one surprised by the news, but it’s Minnie’s pleased smile that declares it’s a good thing.

“Why would he be laid up in here now?” she pushes, and he shrugs again.

“I don't know.”

“Could it possibly be due to Blaze?” Tatum asks, but none of us are going to know the true answer to that without asking him.

“Why would Blaze attack him?” I murmur, thinking out loud again as a heavy weight takes form in my stomach.

If I thought everything was out of our control before, I hadn’t yet realized how deep that was going to get.

We were on a mission, a task we didn't want to do for The Crow, but we did it anyway, for personal gain. Personal gain that came with consequences that harmed Polaris. And to heal Polaris, her bound had to be the one to do it.

Her bound.

We didn't know about her bound. Seemingly, she didn't know about it either.

I sigh. “I don't think we’re prepared for this turn of events,” I admit, and Lincoln grunts.

“There is no turn of events,” he states, and the tension immediately rises around us again.

“Says who?” Wylder interjects, and Lincoln gives him a pointed look.

“Says me, and I'm Alpha,” he retorts, and Tatum rises to his feet, hands close to his sides as he snarls at his best friend and leader.

“If you carry on being so single minded, I don't think you'll last.”

Holy fuck.

“Fuck you,” Lincoln grunts, also rising to his feet, while I gape in disbelief.

We never take that tone with each other, and especially never from Tatum. But it seems our lack of sleep, worry for Polaris,and the complete revelation of the fact that Blaze is the one in control right now leaves us all reeling.

“No, Linc, fuck you. Polaris is on the other side of those doors without us and you're still focused on you.” Without another word, Tatum takes off toward the doors. Lincoln instantly panics, eyes wide as he tracks his friend.

“Where are you going?” he asks, the anger leaving his tone, and as Tatum storms toward the doors, he doesn't bother to look back.

“To get snacks. We're here for the long haul. If you're not up to it, you can leave. I don’t want you here when I get back if this is how you’re going to act,” he grunts, disappearing through the doors as Lincoln rakes his finger through his hair, tightly tugging at the ends before he sighs. But as his chin drops to his chest, he retakes his seat and the tension in the air eases, just a smidge.

We might be screwed, but at least we’re all screwed together.

7

BLAZE

Iknew the chances were slim of her actually heeding my order, if not impossible, but the onslaught of rage that this beautiful woman can expel drifts to nothingness as she sleeps. I’m taking that as a win. Watching her eyelashes dust over her skin as she catches up on some much-needed healing is impressive.

I wonder how many others have had the privilege of this view? I wonder if they had it and took it for granted without even realizing.

My mind drifts to the wolves and I shut down that train of thought. Instead, I recenter my focus on the woman before me. She's feisty, that's for sure. Putting up a fight isn't something that is second nature to her. It somehow has a way of enhancing her from head to toe, inside and out, like she takes a step closer to finding her true self with every breath she takes.

It’s not an easy road, but she’s taking it.

All it does is prove to me that she spent her life surviving, pushing, fighting for another day. And even now, as she finds herself at Trinity Falls Academy, finally aware of what her future may hold, she doesn’t hunker down and pretend none of it exists, she just stands taller, works harder, and takes no prisoners.

Me included.

I shouldn't expect anything less from my bound.

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