Page 92 of Wolf It Down, Knot Me Up

“We don’t want to go either,” Roman states, his brows pulled together. “Not for a fucking second do I want to leave your side.”

“Maybe we can fight this and⁠—”

Wolf’s hand slides against mine, and it silences me. “My songbird, your love for us is ruining me, and I’ll never recover from seeing you heartbroken. But we can’t win this fight swinging, or we’ll stop being partially free men. Going back to lockup means we get no chance of spending time with you. Wherever we’re going, we can make something work. You can visit. Whatever it takes, okay?”

His words should ease the ache, but I hate them and all the reasons that tell me I should accept this without a fight. “I-I don’t know if I can do this,” I choke out.

“You can and you will,” Roman adds, taking my other hand into his and then kissing my knuckles. “We’re doing this together. And until your grandmother returns home, maybe consider taking up the mayor’s offer to stay in the town motel. At least there you’re not alone, unlike out here.”

I shake my head, loathing everything about this. “No, I don’t really trust the mayor’s motives, and I promised my grandma that I’d look after her lodge.”

Grayson runs the back of his fingers across my cheek. “Little bird, I’m convinced your grandmother is going to agree with us on this point.”

Fear curls under my rib cage because whether I stay here or at the motel, I’m alone without my Alphas, and someone’s still trying to sabotage my life.

“Excuse me,” a loud male’s voice calls out, and we all turn toward the lodge. A man steps forward, dressed in a black guard’s uniform. He’s middle-aged, with short blond hair, and wearing a laminated ID on his chest. “Afternoon, I’m Officer Hall from the Department of Corrections, here for your transport to a new halfway house.” He’s feet from us now and points to his ID. “I have Wolf Bailey, Grayson Maddox, and Roman Alvec to pick up, and I’m assuming you three are coming with me, then?”

“Yes, sir, that’s us,” Grayson answers for them, shoulders back.

“Excellent. It’s a long drive, so we should get moving, as I’d like to reach our destination before dark.” The man just stares at us, and I’m pressed up against Wolf, who has an arm across the front of my shoulders.

“We’ll need to collect our belongings from our cabin first,” Roman adds, his voice flat, broken, and my stomach hurts so much.

“Of course,” the guard states. “I’ll walk with you.”

And then they’re moving away, Wolf giving me a strong grin, but it’s forced, and I’m left behind. Grayson and Roman hold my gaze for a long moment as if telling me it’s all going to be all right, except it’s not. Yet, I make myself smile anyway, even if I’m broken glass on the inside.

My throat tightens as they vanish down the path and into the woods toward their cabin.

I don’t know how long I end up standing around the sawdust, but I push myself to move and start dragging myself to the front of the lodge. There, I pace back and forth by the door, and dread spirals in my gut.

For the past five years, I suffered after losing Jerry, and here I am again, feeling as though my life is on repeat. Part of me wants to scream, and the other part is tempted to slash the van’s tires so they can’t leave.

Finally, the scuff of boots on gravel sounds behind me, and I twist around as the guard and my three Alphas emerge. Each of them carries an overstuffed duffel bag.

I’m running toward them before I can stop myself. They drop their bags and fold around me. I sob against them, not caring that the guard sees how much these Alphas mean to me.

“I just don’t know if I can do this,” I murmur between cries. “Please don’t leave me.”

Their embrace tightens. “You’re the toughest person I know, and we’re going to survive this,” Grayson whispers.

“As soon as we arrive, we’ll find a way to contact you,” Wolf murmurs, kissing me.

“We’ll be seeing each other in no time,” Roman insists, but the darkness in his voice says something else. “We’ll find a way for you to visit because I can’t be away from you. But for now, please go to town. Don’t stay here alone. Promise us that.”

I hiccup a breath, holding on to them, unsure how I’m supposed to release them or make such promises, when I want the world to crack open and swallow me.

“Okay, we need to get moving,” the guard orders and proceeds to pull open the side door to the van, revealing two rows of seats. “We’ve got to leave, as we’re already behind schedule.”

My throat burns, tears blurring my vision as they each kiss me. In seconds, they pull away slowly as if it pains them. I’m left standing alone, trying not to fall apart. I smile again so they think I’ll be okay, even if I’m not.

They all climb into the van, and the door gets shut. Through the windows, they’re watching me, their expressions startled, pale, as they’re also dealing with this sudden change of location. I lift a hand and wave, still pushing my lips into a grin even though my insides ache.

The guard approaches me, expressionless, and hands me several pieces of paper. “Confirmation of collection.” Then he marches back to the van and climbs inside. In no time, they’re driving away, and part of my soul is being ripped from me, leaving with them.

My heartbeat is banging in my ears. I stand locked on the spot long after they’re gone and the woods have swallowed them. How did this happen?

I force my legs to finally move, to carry me inside the lodge, feeling completely gutted. The place has never felt this lonely or empty before. I lock the front door and stride into the kitchen, making sure the deadbolt is in place too, then I push myself upstairs.