Page 47 of (Sur)real
Leaving my bag behind, I stepped out into the snow again. Grey was the first one out of his car. He came to me and wrapped me in a big hug. I closed my eyes and exhaled, trying not to let his grief influence my own. Grey and Thomas had both been like second fathers to me.
“I’m so sorry,” he said.
“Don’t be. Mom did what she promised to do. She wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
A softly sniffling Michelle touched my back. Grey released me, and I turned to face her. Her red eyes and wet cheeks conveyed her pain as much as her scent.
“It wasn’t supposed to be like that, Henry,” she said, hugging me.
“I know. Don’t blame yourself. Blame Blake. I do.”
When she pulled back, Charlene waited behind her. She didn’t say anything, just pulled me into her arms. She hugged me like my mom would have. One hand on the back of my head, smoothing over my hair like Mom had done whenever I’d been hurt. I closed my eyes and returned the hug, letting myself soak up the comfort for just a moment. I could feel them all around me. My pack. My second family. Who would we lose next? The thought stirred my grief.
“All this death and pain…” Charlene said.
“It’s our reality,” a new voice said. “Our future.”
My gut clenched at the sound. It was her. I released Charlene and turned to find the source.
My gaze locked onto the prettiest pale-haired woman I’d ever seen. She stood tall at the back of the group. An ugly bruise marred her cheek and another tinted the skin of her neck. I barely noticed either of those, though, as I stared into her eyes. Black eyes, like her pupils had swallowed her irises. I shuddered but couldn’t look away, held under some kind of spell.
She didn’t move. My stomach started doing all sorts of crazy shit, and it took a moment to realize I was feeling the pull. If Mom were there, she would have been cheering. Thoughts of Mom smothered the persistent tug in my gut.
I shuddered and stepped toward the new girl, angry and ready to fight. Jim’s words stopped me. Be nice.
“You must be Olivia,” I said.
“I am.”
“You’re the one feeding Blake information?”
“Yes.”
I inhaled deeply, her sweet scent making my mouth water. The pull didn’t stop the anger, though. Not at her or Blake.
“Good,” I said. “I’m supposed to want a Mate above all else. But I don’t. I want Blake’s death more.”
She reached up and placed her cold hand on my cheek.
“There’s nothing I want more, too.”
I set my hand over hers and removed her touch.
“I won’t be the one,” I said. “I refuse to ever feel that loss again.”
She opened her mouth to say something more, but Winifred interrupted.
“Where’s Jim?”
I stepped back from Olivia and focused on Winifred, who stood just behind her.
“Getting everyone something to eat. I have the room keys.” I handed them over, and she immediately gave one to Sam.
“Get Clay to his room. I’ll be in to see if it’s something I can repair.”
It wasn’t until she said those words that I noticed Clay. He leaned heavily on Thomas and had one arm pressed around his gut.
“Like Mom?” I asked, staring at him.
