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“Cade says the same, but… I don’t know. This feels bigger than us, Jackson.” I agree with her. There are things in motion that we are still in the dark about.
“We’ll figure it out,” I assure her.
She ducks her head, gripping the railing even tighter. “There’s just so many unknown variables, but I was thinking about this for hours after you told us what Ayden said… If you and Dove were imprinted, that means you were inside the facility.”
Since I had already thought about that, her words don’t hit as hard as they should. “I don't remember being there, so whatever questions you have for me are pointless. I can’t tell you anything.”
She pushes off the rail and drops onto the bench next to me. I can feel the tension radiating from her body. “I can’t even think about what is happening there without wanting to puke. All this time, I thought my mom was dead, and I was so happy when I found her, but now… Now I’m thinking death would have been kinder. Do you think Dove went through… this… and… you too?”
I close my eyes, trying to block out the sensations washing through me. I don’t want to think about what might have happened. “It’s the past, Halle. Our only focus needs to be on stopping the Order.”
She nods, but a frown mars her expression. “I just… I can’t understand what they’re building this army for, Jacks, and I don’t like not knowing.”
“Neither do I.”
“Jacks… Are we okay? I mean, there’s every chance we won’t make it out of whatever this is. I don’t want to die while you're still angry with me.”
It’s half said in jest, but it slices through me like a knife. Fuck.
“You’re not going to die,” I mutter, pulling her against my side. Her head rests against me, and I feel her body loosen. “It’s done, Halle. Water under the bridge, yeah?”
She nods, and I press a kiss to the top of her head, feeling the knot inside me dissipate.
The door opens, drawing our attention as Dove steps out in a pair of yoga pants and my hoodie. Her scent fills my awareness, my wolf whimpering with desire as she takes us in.
Her gaze softens as Halle sits up, putting space between us. I reach for Dove, sliding her hand against mine and pulling her into my lap. She comes without question, her arms wrapping around me as my nose goes to her neck, trailing along her warm skin, and drawing her scent into my lungs.
“Is everything okay?” There is a hint of uncertainty in Dove’s voice, a brief tremble that I don’t like to hear.
“I was just leaving,” Halle says, standing.
As she passes Dove, my woman grabs her hand, squeezing it between her fingers. “You’re welcome here. Anytime.”
Halle smiles, her green eyes watery, as she pulls free and heads back toward her cabin. She’s already forgotten. All I can focus on is Dove.
I tighten my grip around her, as if I’m scared she will leave me if I let go.
“That looked like a pretty serious conversation,” Dove murmurs against my temple.
“We talked—that’s all.”
She pulls back, and I resist the urge to pull her back into my arms. “It looks like you came to an understanding. You need to fix things with your brothers too.”
Fuck, no.
Halle’s magic betrayed her, but her actions didn’t come from a bad place. She didn’t want to hurt Dove—none of the girls did—but my brothers… No. They have been vocal in their disdain for my feelings toward her. I can’t just forgive that.
“I would give you anything, Dove, but I can’t just forget what they did.”
She slips off my lap, putting distance between us that I do not like, her arms wrapping around her waist as if she is in physical pain. “Stop it! Let it go, Jackson. There’s more at stake here than whether or not your brothers accept us. I can’t watch you destroy yourself over this.”
I tear my fingers through my hair, frustration rolling through me. “They’re meant to be my family. I can’t just forget what happened.”
Disappointment ripples across her face. “Then I can’t be around you. I don’t want to be the reason you turn into someone you’re not.”
She turns, grabbing the banister to descend the steps that lead away from the porch.
My heart threatens to leap out of my throat.
