Page 51 of Those That Are Lost
“Yes, I’ll get us booked on a ferry. There’s not much point in delaying, shall we leave the day after tomorrow?” Ty looks for confirmation.
We all stay in the office a while longer, planning the trip before we get interrupted by Millie. She’s come to drag me away as I promised to get ready with her for the celebrations.
It’s time for a party.
CHAPTER 24
TY
Iknew we wouldn’t stay here long term but Henry’s need to return to the continent has escalated my plans.
Plans I can do nothing about tonight as we’ve been dragged into the solstice celebrations. I’d wanted to check in with Red but she’s been absent since Millie came to drag her away. I’m glad she’s made friends here in the pack and know she’ll miss them once we’ve gone, but hopefully we will be staying in touch and able to visit them in the future.
I’d finished booking all that we needed to get back to West Scotia before getting ready myself. Ash had given me strict orders that we were to dress for the occasion and had even loaned me and Henry some formal attire for the night.
Stepping out into the town square, I now see why. Everyone has really put in effort. It might be well below freezing with bitingly cold air but the atmosphere is buzzing with life. Not that the wolves would feel the icy temperatures anyway. I’m still wearing the standard thermals and jumpers you need to spend any time outside in this place but I’ve been given a thick woollen coat to wear as my outer layer. Ash told me in no circumstances are we to turn up in our standard ski jackets.
This coat is impressive, the weave is intricate and has been adorned with several other threads to give it a ceremonial feel. And I have to admit, whilst I doubt it’s waterproof, it is rather warm.
I mingle for a while, spotting Henry amongst the crowds. I get handed warm drinks which I try but don’t overindulge in. I also manage to get a quick drink of some blood from a couple of the pack.
I’m making my way over to the main fire when I spot her.
In the dancing flames, Red is impossible to miss. Her hair is of course the first thing that I spot. Her large curls are loose, the variety of reds within it all shining in the light of the fire. I can see she’s got several long thin braids hanging amongst the curls. They’re adorned with beads, woven into the plaits to give her an even more ethereal look.
My eyes sweep down her form as my breath catches.
She’s wearing a fitted peacock green coat, cut to her waist but with tails behind. A ruffled overshirt peaks out from the collar and sleeves. Black leather gloves cover her hands as she animatedly talks to several of the females that gather round her. Those gloves match the leather skintight trousers that are showing off every curve of her legs. Her look is finished with some knee-high boots which are laced all the way up the front.
I stand rooted to the spot, struck immobile by how much I want to rip those clothes off her. My cock agrees, it fills more the longer I keep staring at her.
The ache in my chest grows too.
Instead of going to her, I divert to the nearest log bench and take a seat, subtly readjusting myself as I do so, trying to ease the tightness in my trousers. I continue to watch her as the group she’s with laugh and joke.
She’s happy here. Despite all of our recent talks where she’s told me about how she masks her real feelings, I can seethat tonight her enjoyment is authentic. I can sense it even though she’s several metres from me.
It scares me half to death to think I’m about to take her from this place and that she might go back to being anxious all the time. She told me she had panic attacks daily before I found her. I don’t think I could take the guilt if those return when we leave. The one she had at the training ground will forever haunt me.
But I also know that if we stay, the Froan Pack will catch up with us eventually.
“Tonight is not the night for such deep thought.” Eetu interrupts my brooding, taking the space on the bench next to me.
“We’re leaving soon,” I tell him. No preface. No cushioning.
“I know, Henry already came to tell me and Dora. He thanked us profusely for our hospitality.”
“Gods, yes. I’m sorry. Please know how deeply grateful I am. You’ve been wonderful.” I remember my manners. “You’ve done so much more than simply provide us with somewhere to hide out. I can’t thank you enough for that.”
“You don’t need to thank us, we’re family, Ty. It’s what we do.” My eyes move from Red to the male beside me at that statement, my chest feeling warm at the sentiment. “And if all you needed was a place to hide, we’d have been happy with that. But I’m glad to see that you’ve started planning again, that you’re looking to the future again.”
“I’m trying to. I just hope it’s enough.” I mean that with every fibre of my being.
“It will be.” Eetu pats my knee. “But are you going to put that right first?” He nods his head to the group of females where Red is.
“She’s not ready,” I reply without faltering. Red and I talk for hours most nights, when we’re shut away in our room thebarriers come down. But I sense them still there in the day when she’s around others. Tonight is an exception, not the rule. I haven’t brought up the future yet with her because I don’t want her to run back into herself. I’m not hiding it. If she asks me I’ll tell her, but she’s still hesitating. She keeps those conversations surface level.
“When you arrived, I agreed with you. But after seeing you two the past few days, I think she’s more than ready. Something’s shifted.”
