Page 122 of Those That Are Lost
His shadows curl around our legs and bind the limbs of Miller, who tries to run again rather than answer some of our questions. Failing escape, he lashes out, nearly injuring Ash, and seals his fate. Ty and Antares take him out together.
The other one, who I find out is called Nahzir, is much more willing to cooperate. It turns out he only joined this pack as part of a deal with the one over in Carnio. A deal which has since soured greatly but Adicious had refused to break the bond over Nahzir, forcing him to stay here rather than return.
“I didn’t realise,” Ty puffs out, like the revelation hurts him physically.
“You wouldn’t, the deal was struck before you rejoined the pack and nobody talked about it. I didn’t talk about it. Adicious would’ve punished my family more.”
“You can go.” Ty drops his hands and the shadows fall away from Nahzir’s wrists. “Back to them that is. I understand if you want to leave right away but if you want to stay a few days and rest. I’ll help ensure you have safe passage as well.”
The male on the floor looks up, brows knitted together. “You’d do that?”
“It’s the least we can do,” I add.
“I’ve been in contact with the Carnio pack recently. They are going to recognise my mate bond to Aurora, help us establish an underground network between the packs, and get some connections built again. If you stay, I can send you with some plans.”
“Share information?” He looks even more perplexed. I guess after years under Adicious’s rule, this does sound too good to be true.
“This pack isn’t going to run like it was a moment more. I want to build the legacy my parents once had. I want to connect the packs again. It’s the only way we have any hope of surviving long-term.”
There are more shocked faces from the group around us. The only ones not looking slightly slacked jawed are our two bonded and Mitch. Even Atlas seems a little surprised at the declaration, although it's not long before his face breaks into a huge grin.
Ty addresses them all, “We will make the same offer to all of you. You’re free to leave if you wish. You’re free to stay. We will offer you a few weeks' refuge here before we ask you to bond to us. But should you choose that option, know that we will be running this as a pack should be. You will be expected to contribute but we want you to live, to thrive.”
“Of course I’m in.” Atlas barely allows Ty to finish speaking before he’s jumping us. “You’re finally doing it, and I don’t want to be anywhere but here.” He lifts Ty off his feet in a bear vice-like hug. That is until Ty winces from the healing wound. As Atlas lets him go another moment passes between them and the mate bond floods with emotion, it tastes like hope and relief. I see their losses. I see the pack they once were and are about to be again. Tears start threatening to streak down my cheeks.
After the moment passes the rest also take it in turns to agree to stay, including Nahzir. He wants to contact hisbrother but says he’ll stay and help in any way he can. That his brother, the pack leader, will want an alliance.
With weariness setting in and the adrenaline in all our systems draining at a fast pace now the fighting is over, we set about hauling body parts to a central spot on the lawn. Ty and Atlas are adding to the fire, ensuing it’s hot enough that we can burn the corpses and put an end to this night.
“Set Jackson aside. I don’t want to burn him with the others. He deserves a better send off,” Ty calls to Henry as he emerges from the house carrying out the bloodied headless body of the vampire we failed.
As we wait for the fire to rise, Ty returns to my side. I’d been gathering up the remnants of a wooden bench near the veranda, thinking that it may as well be used as firewood now.
‘How are you doing?’His voice in my head gives away how exhausted he’s feeling.
‘I’m strangely okay. I think maybe this might all hit me tomorrow.’I feel his hand come to my hip as I balance the snapped planks in my arms.
‘Yeah, I think I might be in the same place. It all feels too surreal right now.’
‘How’s your chest?’
‘It feels almost fine.’
I shoot him a look over my shoulder as we reach the fire and I drop my gathering beside it for Atlas to add.
‘If I asked you to drink more blood, would you?’
‘Everyone needs blood. I can’t take priority.’
‘You can and you will.’I peel his blood crusted t-shirt away from the wound and find that under all the dried blood, the skin looks paper thin and there’s now swelling around the ribs either side. It still looks like it should be fatal, would be fatal to a human.
‘Mitch is worse off than I am currently.’Ty flicks his gaze towhere Mitch has sat on the grass, as ordered, to rest his clearly broken ankle. Two of the wolves have shifted back and are sitting with him, looking as exhausted as the rest of us. I was right and one of them is Kai, the other is Altair.
“I’ll go grab the rest of the packets from the fridge,” I reply aloud, turning back towards the house. There weren’t many, but even a few mouthfuls will help the injured.
“Stop!” Atlas yells. “We have company.”
CHAPTER 50
