Hope.
I know what she means without her saying it. She’s hopeful I won’t be the only one to come home. She doesn’t know they’ve turned their backs on this pack to earn rank in our enemy’s territory.
Enemy.
I’ve never thought of Frostclaw Pack that way but that is exactly what they are. They stole me and the others, they turned them away from Bloodstone and made them just as cruel as they are. I don’t say any of that though, I couldn’t take that hope from Esme or this pack so I nod.
“I’m happy to be home. I, well, I didn’t dream I’d ever see this place again but…” I pause and look around the bakery.
“But what?”
“I…nevermind,” I say with a shake of my head. How do I tell her I don’t remember anything, at least I don’t until a memory gets triggered, unlocked by my surroundings and even then it’s spotty. A half-remembered memory, a phrase spoken, that’s not a real memory. It’s like my life started the night I turned up in Frostclaw. Everything before that is a blank, or at least it was until my memories started coming back.
“We’re a pack. I knew you when you were just a pup at your mother’s knee. What is it, Cordy?” Esme prods me gently with an understanding smile. “You can speak freely to me. I promise.”
I take a deep breath and nod. I trust Esme. I guess I’m a cheap date seeing as it only took a cookie for her to earn my trust. “Okay, it’s just that I don’t remember this place, this pack, or anyone in it, at least not until I see them?” I hold up the moon pie. “I didn’t remember until you showed me and even then it was just part of a memory. Nothing solid.”
Esme comes around the counter and puts a hand on mine. “If you can’t remember, it’s for a reason. The universe has a way of keeping balance. The moon goddess is always watching, keeping the world in perfect accord.” I can’t help but scowl at that. Perfect balance my ass. I’ve had more than my share of bullshit but I keep my mouth shut about it while Esme gives my hand a pat. “Not to worry. You spend a week here with us and you’ll be sick of us. I swear it. You’ll remember plenty, trust me. Now, why don’t you head on over to breakfast, hmm? If anyone gives you trouble you tell them Esme is the one they want to see and you send them my way.” She makes a fist and punches it into her palm.
I grin at the gesture. “Thank you, I’ll let them know I’m under your protection.”
“See that you do. You are my ward now and I’ll not have it. Have a good breakfast, dearie!” Esme waves me out the door and when I head towards the mess hall it’s with a bounce in my step.
Chapter
Thirty-One
THORNE
It’s five past eight in the morning and there’s no sign of Cordelia. I glance from the grandfather clock in the corner to the front doors of the mess hall and back again like that second would make any difference to the fact that Cordelia is fucking late.
Where is she?
I drum my fingers on the table and shift forward, both movements set my teeth on edge. I’m fucking fidgeting. I don’t fidget. I don’t squirm or shift from foot to foot, I don’t have nervous energy.
That’s not my way. It never has been.
That’s not true.
Quick as a rattlesnake I beat the thought down and look towards the doors again. This time though, Cordelia is there. A blessed distraction from the shit going on in my head. She looks beautiful. Her face is scrubbed clean, cheeks still pink from the morning air and hair loose around her shoulders. Sun plays over it, the light catching in the strands and showing blue against the black. She’s dressed plainly in a cardigan, tee, and jeans. Sensible boots are on her feet but it could be a ball gown.
She’s stunning in the morning light.
“Who is that?” A male at the table next to mine whispers. He leans close to his friend and I hate the way their eyes lock onto Cordelia.
His friend lets out a low whistle. “She’s a beauty, isn’t she? The stray come home, Annie saw her last night and-”
Stray.
I see red and rise from my seat with a growl. Both males fall silent and duck their heads, showing me their neck. I lean forward and put a hand down between them so I’m able to be on their level.
“She’s pack,” I say and look between them, “call her a stray again and I’ll cut your dicks off and feed them to your kin.”
“S-sorry, Enforcer,” one of them stammers while the other can’t even get his words out. I roll my eyes when I recognize him. He tried out for the patrol group last spring and didn’t make it. I turn away from them and make up my mind on what to do next. No one is going to say that about Cordelia. If Annie and her Ceelie are spreading that kind of rumor then I’m going to pay them a visit—a calmer one than I just gave the two idiots but a visit all the same. When I walk up to Cordelia she’s only taken a step inside the mess hall. She’s looking around the space and munching on a moon pie from Luna’s Loaves.
“You met Esme then, I take it?” I ask her when I’m in front of her.
Cordelia jerks back in surprise. “You scared me!”
