Page 101 of Knot Our Reality

Then the ground begins to shake again.

This one doesn’t last as long, nor is it quite as strong, but it doesn’t keep Alexei, Nikolai, Ian, and Wilder from covering mine, Camden’s, and the boy’s bodies with theirs.

A third quake shakes the ground eight minutes after the second, still too strong to consider standing, but less powerful than the first and second.

“I think we’re good,” Tessa calls about fifteen minutes after the third quake. “There will be more aftershocks to come, but I think the worst of it is over for now.”

It’s near chaos as everyone gets to their feet, but eventually, Bree and Tessa make it over to us.

“Thank the fates you’re all okay.” Bree rushes forward to hug me, rubbing her hand against my belly. “You are okay, aren’t you?”

I nod. “I am. They made sure we were safe.”

Tessa gives the guys a sharp nod. “As they should. There’s no cell service, and it looks like the power is out. We need to go through the cabins and make sure everyone is okay. I’m going to grab the satellite from my cabin, but we need to get all the suitors together so we can make sure we’re not missing anyone. We have Lucas getting the crew gathered to make sure everyone is accounted for.”

“I’m glad my entire pack is here,” Bree says, wiping tears from her cheeks. “Onyx went to our cabin to grab the bullhorn I have for just this reason. I’m going to have the suitors come to you. I don’t want you moving just in case another aftershock hits.”

It takes nearly half an hour for them to get everyone organized, but finally, most of my suitors have gathered around me.

“Where are Sasha and Dylan?”

No one answers, and I can feel panic rising in me.

“Sasha was heading back to the mansion.” Maverick’s eyes go wide. “Dalton and I will go look for him.”

“Sit your asses back down.” Tessa points to the ground as she joins us. “Lucas and his crew are searching the area. Everyone else needs to remain where they are, so no one else ends up missing. We have some serious injuries. Emergency services are sending out an ambulance as soon as they can, but that’s all they can spare. We’ll be bringing anyone else that needs to go in the SUVs.

“Bree and I already have aid on its way from LA. They were hit, but nowhere near as badly as we were. The epicenter was between Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage. It was a 7.2 quake, and it was felt all across the southwest of the US, plus parts of Mexico. First reports are showing severe damage to parts of Rancho Mirage. Palm Springs fared slightly better,” she continues with a shake of her head. “It’s really bad.”

Bree walks up, holding Elliot to her chest, Emmett right behind her with Emmy and Everest in his arms. “A transformer was destroyed, taking out all the power on the compound. We’re low priority, and they’ll be working on power in Rancho Mirage and Palm Springs first. It’ll probably be a week before our power is restored. We have generators for the mansion, but nothing for the cabins.”

“What does that mean?” I ask.

“It means we’re going to have to move people into the mansion while sending most of the crew to hotels.” Tessa shakes her head. “As soon as Lucas and his team are done sweeping the grounds, we’ll head inside to figure it all out. I already booked as many rooms as I could inRancho Mirage and Palm Springs. The places I called have generators, so everyone will be taken care of.”

“Sasha!” Dalton yells, jumping to his feet with Maverick right behind them.

I spin around, watching as Sasha staggers toward us, blood spilling down his face.

“Where’s Brooks?” Tessa calls out.

By the time Maverick and Dalton make it over to us with Sasha, a man with close-cut dark hair joins us.

“I’m Brooks. I’m a nurse,” he assures us as he uses a towel to put pressure on the wound on Sasha’s forehead. “Sasha, do you remember what happened to you?”

He nods slowly. “I was leaving mansion to come back. The ground shook—earthquake. I was knocked down. A branch broke off tree and hit my head. I was out for few minutes. I think. Woke up and came here immediately.”

“That’s good, Sasha.” Brooks pulls the towel away. “This isn’t too bad. Head wounds always bleed like crazy. I’m going to clean this up and glue it shut. We’ll need to monitor you for a concussion, but I think you’re fine.”

Tears run down my cheeks as I hug my boys close. This could have gone so much more than it did.

Although we still don’t have any clue where Dylan is.

Five hours later, most of the crew have been sent off the compound to hotels.

Dylan was found among the cabins, keeping a man from bleeding out while he was dealing with a dislocated shoulder himself. He refused to go to the hospital, having Brooks put his shoulder back in place and pulling a sling on.

My suitors joined Bree, Sophia, Evangeline, and Remington’s pack to go through the cabins to see what kind of damage we were dealing with, while we omegas gathered in the dining room to figure out how to make this work.

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