Page 125 of The Rogues

I must have started crying, because my face is wet and my throat feels swollen. My entire body feels like it’s been put through the wringer as I slowly come out of the abyss that it was just thrown into.

“Josie, please breathe,” I hear someone say, their accent beautiful as their face comes into focus. Icy blue eyes look into mine, dark hair falling over his forehead perfectly. “Omega.”

Dark chocolate rolls over me, bringing my senses back to life. I blink, the fog finally clearing. “Cyrus?”

His smile is soft and patient. “Hi, baby.”

With the fog clearing, I’m reminded of the reason I am on the floor to begin with.

I sit up, my eyes shooting back to Lark, who is also kneeling down, looking at me with concern.

“Is she okay? Where is she?” I ask.

Please don’t say she’s dead, please don’t say she’s dead…

“She’s alive.” Relief soars through me, easing a bit of dread clinging in my ribs as I try to breathe. “She’s at the hospital. I was about to head over but I wanted to be the one to tell you… Do you want to go with me?”

I find myself nodding before she even finishes her sentence. “Just let me change first.”

Lennon kisses my forehead as I pass, and Remi and Malaki give me the usual pack squeeze that actually sends little jitters of joy to blend in with the pain. Jamie stops me for a moment, giving me a hug. He is shaking, and I hate that it might be because of the state he just saw me in.

“We’ll be here waiting for you,” he whispers. “I love you.”

If it were anyone else, the moment might seem odd but it lifts me in a way that I need. He knows the words will add some much-needed support right now, especially with all the guilt that’s starting to set in.

I walk into the nest and start to change. Cyrus comes in a second later, watching me with silent support.

“Do you want any of us to go with you?” he asks so quietly that only I can hear.

I ponder that for a moment, but ultimately shake my head. “I need to be with my friends. I’ll text you if that changes.”

He nods, accepting my answer. “We’ll be right on the other line, we promise.”

When we get to the hospital, it’s a madhouse.

Paparazzi are everywhere, and it only gets worse the closer we get. A part of me is wondering how this is possible; it must be some kind of safety hazard with the way the hoard of slimy photographers are blocking the main entrance to the emergency room.

Ruby meets us on the outskirts, security already in tow to help get us inside. I hear the clicks, see the flashes of light, but my body can’t keep up to give the surprise off my face as we are ushered inside.

“How did they know she was here?!” Lark hisses when we get inside the quiet waiting room.

“Someone on staff probably told someone before we could get here,” Ruby mutters, her eyes slit with anger. “We’ll figure out who, don’t worry.”

We follow her to the front desk, my stomach twisting in knots. She turns to us. “I’m going to deal with everything outside and call a few people. You guys go ahead, I’ll be back in a bit.”

Lark turns to the nurse behind the desk as I watch Ruby walk away.

“We’re here to see Cleo Del Rossi.”

“You can’t see her yet, but we have a private corridor you ladies can wait in until you can.”

It’s silent as we follow her, the smell of antiseptic clinging in the air. It makes me rub my arms uncomfortably.

When we sit down, Lark looks over at me. “I’m sorry for earlier,” she says. “I trust your guys, I promise. I was just thinking about what Cleo might want, but we can’t think that way anymore. They are your mates, your pack. We’ll have to find a way to correlate boundaries with the new dynamic.”

I nod. “I understand. I like that you were considering what she would want, but it’s true. They’re my pack; they’re going to be in our lives forever. I guess that’s something we all have to think about.”

Lark reaches out her hand and I take it gladly.