Page 17 of Threads of Fate

“Jay? Could you stop by the nurses’ station? We are officially assuming you are his next-of-kin—and I have some paperwork.”

“What? He must be in the system already,” Jay says incredulously, genuinely confused.

“If I may? Screw that. That boy is here because his former next-of-kin is useless. That’s why he’s hanging on by a thread. We sure as hell aren’t calling him. What we did do was call the police.”

White-hot rage turns his vision red because, for the first time in his entire life, Jay wants blood. Wants his teeth in another Were’s neck and his claws in his chest. That there’s nowhere for that rage to go makes Jay sick to his stomach, and his blood pounds in his head.

Instead, he holds it down, hauling his exhausted mate to his feet and collecting their shit so they can follow Dennie out of the room. A quick signature on Nix’s intake forms and a detailed list of all of their mates so that they could be let in as visitors, and then they were in the elevator heading to the fifth floor.

“Jay?” Finn’s whisper is loud in the quiet. “Where has he been all this time?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, I’d like to know why we’ve thought he’s been d—gone for nine years. Why would your mother tell you that?” The anger obvious in the other alpha’s scent burns Jay’s nose. Even now, Jay can’t think about the day his mom had called to tell him that the Renas had all died in a car accident shortly after Jamie had left to make music as an intern at Ripley Records.

Shit. He would have to call their manager and let them know thatLong Road Homewas on hiatus indefinitely. The new album will have to wait because the pack comes first.

“I’d like to know that, too. But not today. I can’t.” Jay can’t deal with his mother while Nix fights for his life. The doors glide open, and Finn steps ahead, guiding them to the ICU lounge. Only two rooms on the floor are occupied, but in the room nearest them, there are active preparations taking place.

Finn pushes him into the waiting room, where his pack will gather ready to spend however long it takes Nix to heal. Jay has no intention of leaving Nix’s side—not until he can walk out of there and take him home.

As he settles into a chair, Jay is reminded of the call he still owes Leo. With a sigh, he pulls out his phone and dials, silently hoping the beta will handle the hardest part of breaking the news to their mates.

Leo Costas, steady and dependable, has always been their pillar of strength, and Jay feels a wave of gratitude for him.

“Jay?”

“He’s alive. He’s in intensive care, but he’s alive. We can’t see him yet, but yeah. He’s still here.” It’s scary to say it out loud. Jay hopes that they are a comfort to each other and maybe snuggled in their pack nest.

His relief is short-lived.

“Thank fuck. We’re on our way. We all want to be there for him. We’re coming.”

It’s not what Jay wanted for them, but he’ll focus on getting his hands on his mates and reassure his wolf that at least this part of his pack is safe, rather than his distress at the thought of them coming here to see their broken mate. Jay takes a seat across from the door so he can keep the staff elevator at the far end of the hall in sight. Finn perches on the very edge of the couch beside him.

“Hey, why don’t you freshen up? Splash some water on your face.” When Finn shakes his head, Jay brings out the big guns. “Luca is probably freaked out. Seeing you look so sad will no doubt make it worse.”

Finn glares but does as he’s told, and Jay looks around at what he’s sure some designer thinks is a “calming” waiting room. There are two long sofas in a soft blue pattern in an L-shape and a decent-sized television on the opposite wall. Add in a small coffee station and an apartment-sized fridge, too; it’s set up for families who might need to hunker down for a few days’ vigil.

Jay takes his turn in the restroom after Finn emerges, looking marginally better. The fluorescent light feels harsh as he washes his hands and splashes water on his face. Glancing up at the mirror, he catches sight of himself—wild, bloodshot eyes staring back, the weight of everything etched deeply into his features. He grips the sink for a moment, grounding himself, before heading back out.

The faint sound of commotion in the hallway catches his attention, and hope stirs in his chest.Maybe it’s Riordan with news of Nix’s recovery.

But it’s not the doctor—it’s his pack. The elevator doors are open and his pack is making their way toward the waiting room with Luca in the lead. He wastes no time in throwing himself straight into Finn’s waiting arms. Tears spill down his cheeks the moment they connect, and without hesitation, he sinks his teeth gently into Finn’s neck, his quiet sobs muffled against the alpha’s skin.

“It’s okay. Shhhh, baby.” Finn sits on the couch with the crying beta in his lap soothing him with a hand rubbing along his spine, ready to ease his mate, knowing Luca finds comfort in the instinctual behaviors of pack life.

Their youngest mate nearly bowls over Jay himself. Their baby alpha is not one for casual affection with his fellow alphas,especially since he is a newly presented enigma. His instinct to dominate and demand submission runs high, making it difficult for him to show affection outside of sex. Ruts can be especially difficult, and Jay has spent the last two of Rowan’s ruts with his teeth in the younger enigma’s neck. It just takes the smallest bite to help him remember who’s boss.

Jay isn’t upset by it. He’s honored by Rowan’s submission because where Leo and Luca submit partly because they crave it, his alphas do it because they choose it. Every single time. And that choice—like their trust in him as their leader—is as precious to Jay as their love. Everything he does, everything in his deeply blessed life, is driven by his need to keep earning it.

So, a hug like this means Rowan is feeling adrift. He needs the grounding of a confident pack alpha, so Jay grips the back of his neck and pulls him down into a kiss. Wet and messy, Jay forces his tongue into Rowan’s mouth with a growl. The young alpha responds immediately, opening his mouth wider, sucking on Jay’s tongue.

“Keep it SFW!” Grayson joins the hug, squeezing Rowan in between them and stealing a kiss from Jay when Rowan’s knees buckle.

“Hey, pretty. You okay?” Jay searches Grayson’s face. There are lines of stress around his full mouth, and his blue eyes are red-rimmed. Not that even these signs of grief could detract from a face that fits DaVinci’s Golden Ratio to perfection. Add to it a body that could be born from Aphrodite herself, andprettyis woefully understating it. Of course, Gray isn’t just beautiful on the outside.

“I’m all right. Glad we’re here together. Do we know anything?”

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