AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She shakes her head. “Don’t you dare come back until morning. You need to sleep in a real bed and get more rest so you can be healthy when he wakes up.”
“You should take your own advice,” Tris tells her. “He won’t be happy if you set back your healing by driving yourself to exhaustion.”
Her focus shifts to her brother. “I want him to know he’s not alone.”
“He won’t be.” Tris grips her frail shoulder. “I’m taking the night shift tonight.”
Tears fill her eyes. “Thank you. I’m so glad he has all of you.”
Owen and Haut have both taken shifts to sit with Ros, too, which surprised me when I learned of it. They hadn’t been thrilled when Ros first joined us, but somewhere along the way, they accepted him as part of our family.
I hug Delilah, and squeeze Ros’s limp hand, sending healing vibes through our bond, before Tris and I leave the room.
When we walk out of the clinic, the sheriff’s SUV idles at the curb, Haut leaning against it.
“Behave for the grumpy ex-Alpha.” Tris kisses the top of my head. “I’ll be home in time for breakfast.”
Haut strides forward to take me from Tris, practically carrying me around to the passenger side, where he stows me like special cargo. As he shuts me in the SUV and hurries around the front, I spot the to-go bag from Nesse’s Diner in the back, and I twist around to grab it.
He climbs behind the wheel and sighs when he sees me peeking into the bag. “Wait until we get back to the house.”
“Did you get me fries and pie?” I eagerly open the top container and stare in confusion at the contents inside. “What is this?”
He pulls away from the curb and drives us toward home. “Poached chicken breast and white rice.”
“But…” I look up at him. “Why?”
Haut glances at me from the corner of his eye. “Dr. Lopez said to ease you back into regular food.”
“Did she also tell you to torture me?” I search the cup holders. “Did you at least get me a milkshake?”
“No dairy,” he grunts.
I shut the to-go box and drop the bag to the floor at my feet. “I want to return to the clinic. At least they gave me Jello.”
Without taking his eyes off the road, Haut reaches behind my seat to grab a second bag and plop it into my lap.
I peer inside to find a dozen Jello cups, all strawberry. “I suppose this is a start. Are you going to spoon-feed me again?”
His hands tighten on the steering wheel. “Once I get you settled, I need to join Owen.”
I gape at him. “You’re ditching me on the day I get to come home?”
The muscle in his jaw clenches. “This is why I told Tris you should stay at the clinic until he came home tomorrow. But he said you’d be mad if you found out you could have left earlier.”
“Damn right, I’d be angry!” I reach out to touch his tense arm. “What’s going on?”
“We caught a scent trail near the road. Abony is with Owen, trying to figure out which way it leads.” He catches my hand. “We’ll catch him this time.”
I shiver. “Maybe I should have stayed at the clinic.”
“Jesse’s at the house waiting, and Barron will be there soon,” he assures me. “They’re planning blankets on the couch and a movie night.”
“That sounds way better than puzzles at the clinic.” And if Jesse’s there, I can convince him to make us pie.
“That’s what Tris said.” He lifts my hand to his lips. “Arden will be on patrol, too. You’ll have more guards than you did at the clinic, and Aspen and Mel warded the house, so no one who isn’t pre-approved can get inside.”
“Wow, you guys have been busy.” Happiness fills me as the big house comes into view, followed by relief. I had worried, after my attack, that I’d be scared to return home. “Did they ward all the coven members’ houses and get Mazes of Misdirection made?”
