Page 163 of Fangs
“I should probably stay at the clinic.”
“Why? So you can sit in there and worry about Sam?”
I crossed my arms and glared at him.
“C’mon, Freckles, it’ll be fun,” he coaxed.
“What’ll be fun?” Wolf inserted himself, his eyes narrowing on Lee’s arm around my shoulder.
“The bonfire tonight!” Lee didn’t seem bothered by Wolf’s glare in the slightest. “Help me convince Freckles to go and not sit at home and sulk.”
“You should come, Em,” Wolf said, his eyes earnest. “We’re all gonna go.”
I wavered. I didn’t want to sit at the clinic by myself, but I also didn’t have any of my crew to be a social buffer.
“You know Apple will lose her mind,” Lee added, and I couldn’t argue with that.
It was a busy day at the clinic. An illness was going around the little kids and the older folks, keeping me working constantly. I had to admit it was helpful to have Sable organize people, check vitals, and handle any minor issues. He didn’t speak to me unless necessary, but he was polite and calm when he did. I tried to ignore the guilt.
I wished Kai was giving me the silent treatment, but unfortunately, he expressed his anger over my treatment of Sable by constantly making little needling comments that set my teeth on edge.
“Oh so youdoknow how to say ‘thank you,’” he said after I thanked Leda for bringing me some fresh herbs.
“You’re good at lying, can't you at least pretend to be nice?” he asked after I responded curtly to a tearful mother’s heartfelt thanks.
The day passed quickly, though, and soon the supper bell rang. I reluctantly joined Wolf’s crew, heading to the canteen. Lee immediately threw his arm around me again, and I’d never admit it, but it strangely helped ease my nerves. Apple came flying down the path when she saw us and, as Lee predicted, lost her mind when I told her I was going to the bonfire. She had to run back and tell all the kids, who shrieked and ran around like wild things until Leda finally corralled them into a line again.
I took my regular seat at our table and then realized if everyone did the same, I’d be the only person on the table’s far side. I hesitated, but Lee immediately sat beside me, and Wolf sat on my other side. Scar sat across from me in Wolf’s usual spot, and Sable, Kai, and Tuck took their usual seats. Apple wedged between me and Lee, and I was grateful because she happily filled any silences. I nibbled at my food. The absence of my entire crew hit me hard. Three nights alone with Wolf and his crew felt like an insurmountable obstacle.
“Hey, can I talk to you for a second?” Wolf asked when we stood to head to the Pit.
My stomach churned, but I nodded, and we both fell back a little from the rest of his crew.
“I wanted to apologize,” he said in a low voice, and I glanced at him in surprise. “I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did to you not knowing what was goin’ on in the world. It wasn’t your fault, and I’m sorry if I made you…feel shitty.”
“It’s okay,” I said automatically.
“It’s not okay,” he corrected, but he didn’t sound mad.
I didn’t answer, unsure of what to say to that.
“I also wanted to apologize for all the shit I said when you first told me you’d been with the Reapers. I was out of line. I said some really fuckin’ awful things to you, and I’m so sorry, Emmy.”
I kept my gaze on the path ahead as we walked, my fists clenched tightly at my sides.
“Mom would?—"
“No!” I finally looked at him, the word bursting out of me in panic. “Don’t. It’s fine. I forgive you.”
“Em—"
“Please, Wolf. I can’t—” I swallowed hard. “Can we not talk about this right now?”
He was quiet for so long that I glanced at him. He was frowning at me, but he looked sad.
“Alright,” he said in a low voice. “But later, okay?”
I nodded, relieved, and wrapped my arms around myself. If this was indicative of how these three nights were going to go, I was fucked.
