Page 14 of Nick
But Sarah didn’t speak until they were back in the dimly lit kitchen.“I never actually told Nick.I couldn’t find the right moment, and then…it was too late.”
Una leaned against the chipped countertop, concern etched into her gentle features.“I hope his shock doesn’t keep him from standing with us,” she murmured.“We need all the strength we can muster against Vincent.”
A shudder ran through Sarah as she considered the implications.The pack was vulnerable, and Nick—strong, wary Nick—was their unexpected ally.His presence could tip the scales, but only if he chose to forgive her silence.
And the rest of it.
That moment almost four years ago when she’d told him Vincent and his gang were coming for Nick—because she had told them where to find him—flashed into her mind.
Restlessness gnawed at Sarah, a familiar anxiety that clawed its way up her throat.She paced the length of the trailer.What if Nick turned away?What if he decided her betrayal outweighed the bond they shared?
“You’ve always done what you thought best for Javier,” Una said.“For all of us.You’re brave and protective—qualities that make you a remarkable mother and an invaluable pack member.Trust that.”
The words wrapped around Sarah like a talisman.She stopped pacing and faced Una.“I have to believe he’ll understand.That he’ll see why I did what I did.But I’m afraid I made a mistake by not telling him sooner…” She trailed off, biting her lip.
“Nick may be many things, but at his core, he is kind.And he cares about you, about all of us.That has to count for something when the dawn comes.”
Sarah nodded, though the sick feeling in her stomach didn’t subside.
The next morning, Sarah stood in her small living room, her phone pressed to her ear.
“Malcolm,” she said when the line finally clicked.“I need you and the others at my place.It’s important.”
One by one, she repeated the call to Anders, Conall, and Quinton.The Sunburst members she knew resented Vincent’s grip on the pack.The ones most likely to help, least likely to report her to the alpha.
As the early light turned golden, Sarah paced the length of her living room.She had set the stage, and now all that remained was to wait for the players to assemble.
A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.Malcolm entered first.Anders followed, his gaze scanning the room, while Conall’s towering figure ducked beneath the doorway.Lastly, Conall’s identical twin, Quinton, slipped in.
“What’s going on?”Malcolm asked.
“Nick’s back,” she said, her breath catching on the name that still sent shivers through her body.
“Nick?”Anders arched a brow.
“Long story,” she managed, her gaze flitting toward the window where dust devils danced across the earth.“He’s brought help.They’ll be here any minute.”
The moment stretched thin until the sound of approaching vehicles broke it.Dust billowed outside as a trio of figures emerged from the black SUV.
Nick strode forward, scanning the perimeter with cautious intensity.Beside him, Ryker and Bronx surveyed the scene with eyes that missed nothing.
“Morning.”Nick’s greeting was clipped, betraying none of the emotion Sarah knew must be roiling beneath his calm exterior.
Sarah watched the expressions on the faces of her packmates as Nick stepped into the room.Malcolm’s eyes held a flash of joy he couldn’t quite mask.Anders’s mouth quirked up in an amused smile, while Conall’s broad shoulders relaxed from their tense set.Quinton, always the stoic one, merely lifted his chin in quiet acknowledgment.
“Didn’t think we’d see you ’round these parts again,” Malcolm said, his voice teasing, but his gaze held relief as clear as the desert sky outside.
Nick gave a one-shouldered shrug and a small, tight smile.“Neither did I.”
Sarah felt the knot in her stomach loosen slightly.This was good.They needed this unity if they were to stand a chance against Vincent.
“Everyone, this is Ryker and Bronx,” she introduced, motioning toward the two men who had escorted Nick back into their world.“From the Moonstone Pack up near Yellowstone.They’re here to help us.”One by one, she introduced the Sunburst men as well.
Ryker gave a half salute, a lopsided grin playing on his lips, while Bronx simply nodded, his gaze sweeping the room once more, assessing.The Sunburst Pack members looked the newcomers over, evaluating the allies standing before them.
“Vincent’s rule has gone on long enough,” Sarah said, bringing everyone’s attention back to her.“Nick, Bronx, and Ryker are here to help us end it.”
“Overthrow Vincent?”Anders raised an eyebrow, leaning forward with interest sparking in his eyes.“That’s a tall order.But with Nick and his friends here…” He glanced at Nick.“…we might just have the edge we need.”
