Page 81 of Desolation
Hale looks over at me, clearly wanting more than that, but I’m not opening that can of worms if Lana isn’t ready to talk about it. However, if Ash’s rage gets any worse, I would tell Lana about the night at the inn myself. If he can’t figure this shit out, she deserves to know. They all do.
"I think everyone is just tired and hungry,” I state in a gentle voice, hoping he drops it. “We should all eat and get some rest. Emotions are running high with the stress of everything going on right now."
Hale watches me for a moment before deciding that’s all he’s getting. Shrugging, he does as I hope and goes to throw out the rest of the mess before grabbing his own food.
Though Hale is the calm, collected decision maker of the group, I’m worried that he’ll become unhinged if he finds out one of our own treated Lana with such disrespect.
The quiet and collected ones are always the ones to be scared of.
Hale
What the fuck is going on around here?
It feels like I walked into a war zone with the plate smashed on the ground and the tension thick and heavy in the air. The twins filled me in on what happened with Ash and the spanking conversation while I was in the shower and now this?
I can’t help the doubt that filters in.Can we make this work? Will we ever all feel satisfied?
I shake my head. This is all still fresh but we’re fated to be her mates so there must be a way for us to coexist and find some normalcy in this situation. We’re meant for her, just as she is meant for us.
How long will it take for us to find our groove as a unit?
As I’m stewing over my thoughts while eating with the twins, Zedd begins washing the dishes, humming a soft tune.
I pause in my eating. "Zedd, I can wash those. You don't need to cookandclean."
He waves a soapy hand in the air. "I appreciate that but I find it soothing and I need a moment to collect my thoughts right now. Lana deserves this time upstairs to herself for a little bit."
He’s such a damn good man.
Grunting in acknowledgement, I glance over at the unusually-quiet twins as they eat in complete silence. I take a deep breath and blow it out before standing and crossing over to the where, Ash, the brooding asshole, is lounging.
Taking note of the empty bowl and plate on the coffee table, I cross to sit on the opposite side of the sectional from him. He shows no sign of caring that I’m here, continuing to lay as he is without so much as a twitch.
I’ve noticed his slow withdrawal from the group in the past two days. I had chalked it up to him dealing with all of the changes in his own way, well aware he isn’t the best at talking about his emotions. I thought maybe he just needed some space.
However, now, it seems to be affecting the rest of the group and I won’t allow that. We have way too much shit to deal with and not enough time. We can’t fall apart as a family right now.
"Hey, Ash," I start off lightly, hoping he would engage.
He gives me a two-fingered wave and nothing else.
Okay, let’s try again.Careful not to push him, I ask, "What's going on?"
His chest rises with his deep inhale and exhale before he speaks. "Oh, just the usual—not being wanted by Lana and arguing with her."
Rubbing my eyes, I struggle to find the words to handle this situation. I don’t want to make him feel like I’m attacking him but I need him to see that this can’t continue.
"Look man, it isn't that Lana doesn't want you. We're all learning control over our powers and I know that she would never hurt you on purpose. That burn was an accident." He scoffs and I breeze past it. "You've been different recently. Withdrawn from the group and territorial of Lana. What's going on? I know this dynamic isn't conventional but we all decided to share her even before we learned of our magic and this world."
Bitterness seeps into his words. "Well, maybe I don't want to share her anymore."
I can’t help the harsh bark of laughter that escapes me. "Well, I don't think that's up to you, bud. I think that's Lana's call. Oh, wait—no. Maybe it's fucking fate's call. We're all her mates. Accept it and chill out with the temper tantrums."
I push up from the sectional, done with his pissy behavior, but halt at his quiet words. "Watch yourself, Halston."
Halston?
"Is that a threat?" I ask incredulously.
