Page 63 of Pack Ruin
“First time in a storm drain?” I teased, wiping my lips on the front of my now-filthy shirt.
“First time ever,” he admitted. “When your wolf meets their mate at ten years old, there’s really no settling for less.”
“I think my wolf wants to meet yours.” I set one hand on my chest, over my scar. “I haven’t shifted again, not since I was here. But now, it feels like she’s close. Like I’m almost ready to?—”
Suddenly, Luke’s hand landed over my mouth. “Listen.”
The distant noises from outside had diminished, but the voices of two males approaching were clear, panting along with running footsteps. “...heard Torran called them already. He said to make up the rooms.”
“Shit. When will they be here?”
“No telling. I’ll wake up some of the females. You let the others know that…”
They were too far away to hear, but it was clear. We had to get out of here,now.Luke handed me my clothing, and I dressed quickly.
A moment later, a shadow fell across the tunnel opening. I knew without asking that it was Grigor.His eyes sparked red in the darkness as he lifted the round cover away, that unnatural stillness a blanket around us as we stepped out into the night. “The fence is heavily guarded.” His whisper sounded strained, like he was in pain. “We must go. I’ll try to conceal us. There is a place we can hide until…” He staggered, and Glen caught him.
The scent of blood and silver in the air had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. There was no time to ask what was wrong, not a second to spare, as he poured all of his power into creating a cloak to conceal us as we crept down an alley, across a secluded stretch of packland, and to the back door of a house.
Glen tried the handle. It was locked, and he let out a soft curse. I didn’t hesitate. I leaned down, felt under a rock, and dug out a mud-encrusted metal key.
Then I opened the door, tears coursing down my face when I stepped inside and took a deep breath.
The house still smelled like Del.
29
Worth Any Sacrifice
FINNICK
Asoft, feminine hand rested on my back as I retched into the toilet. I’d been violently ill on and off for days, ever since Stella’s visit to my room.
I’d felt my mate at the other end of our bond. Felt Flor’s shock, pain, and then her rage. I might have been able to live with that, but her anger had changed. Turned to something that might have been acceptance.
Or pity.
I sat up, my eyes closed. It was hard to focus. As soon as Stella had left the room, I’d shifted, and my wolf had tried to claw his muzzle to ribbons, to get rid of the taste of betrayal. It had taken all my strength to wrest control back from him, and hours to heal from the self-inflicted damage.
The next night, while I slept, he forced another shift, and I woke with a muzzle covered with blood from chewing at the locked door. My wolf had gone feral, and I was using every ounce of my training to keep from shifting, and fleeing to go to her side.
A cool cloth was pressed to my forehead. “Finny, what’s wrong?” Tana asked quietly.
I glanced at the door, and she rose to close it. I’d made certain to disable the cameras in my bathroom, but she turned the sink and shower on as well before she spoke again. The servants came in and out daily, and I didn’t trust any of them not to leave a bug in a stack of towels, though I checked every time they left.
“You’re sick. Shifters don’t get sick. Finny, what’shappenedto you?”
I sighed, turned so I was sitting with legs crossed on the black tile—though not moving too far from the toilet, just in case—and stuck out my tongue.
“Finnick McDonnell, what are you doing?” Her outraged laughter was the only reason I’d had to smile in a week, and I took it.
“Showing you what happened.”
She moved closer as I stuck out my tongue again, her jaw dropping as she saw. “You’re… You’re mat—” I pressed a hand over her mouth before she could say the word aloud.
I rose on shaky legs to turn the heater on for more noise, then returned and sank back down. “Yes, I am. To the most infuriating, wonderful, strong, powerful female I’ve ever met.”
Tana’s eyes welled up as she threw herself at me, embracing me. “Oh, I’m so glad. So glad! But… where is she? Who is she? Mother… Oh, no.No.”
