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I see how lost she is. She never had a mother, a woman who nursed her when she was sick, who said I love you before she went to sleep each night.
Remedy needs something different than I do.
“No,” I tell her again. “I know who my mother was. I don’t need another one.”
“But I need your help.”
I squeeze her hand tight, not wanting to hurt her, but also knowing I’m not interested in her offer.
“I’m glad we met,” I say. “I said I wanted answers, but I think I already have them.”
Remedy’s eyes widen, they are filled with tears laced with frustration. “After everything I told you, about being a goddess and Mother Earth and everything, you’re just walking away from family?”
“You’re not my family, Remedy. And I don’t need a new one.”
28
Sawyer
When Lark tells Remedy no, that she doesn’t want to be a part of what she is asking, the guys and I exchange a look of concern.
Shit.
“You have to,” she says, standing. “I mean, Harlow and I are counting on you–”
“I don’t owe you anything,” Lark says. She stands and walks to the kitchen. Remedy follows close behind, clearly pissed. She was expecting Lark to be one thing and she certainly isn’t.
Though she be but small, she is fierce.
“Just give me a sec, okay?” Lark says, raising her hands to let Remedy know she means it.
Here is the thing about Lark that no one else in this room can really grasp: she had the love of a mother for her entire life.
After spending a few minutes talking to the wolf shifters, it’s obvious they never did. Neither did Remedy, nor we hawks. Lark is singular in that.
“Can I get you some pizza, dove?” I ask her. She’s facing the kitchen sink, looking out the window. I run a hand over her back, wanting to ease the pain.
“Sure, I should eat. But first, can you make the wolves leave?”
I wrap my arms around her waist, kissing her neck, inhaling her sweet scent and wrapping myself up in her hidden strength. “I love you, Lark,” I tell her. “Maybe the timing is off. God knows you’ve had a hell of a day. But I do.”
She turns around, facing me. My cock is fucking hard and I know she feels it.
“I love you too, Sawyer.”
Her eyes are cast down, and I lift her chin, needing to see her. “You do?” I ask.
She nods. “Yes, I do. Now, will you please tell those wild animals to leave so my hawks can put me to bed?”
My lips turn up. “Your hawks?” She licks her lips. “Yes. My hawks.”
* * *
NOT MUCH LATER, the wolves are gone. They are seriously pissed, but Lark was done with them for today. Everything they said may have been true, but Lark can’t deal with that tonight.
Not after the day she has had.
Arrow puts on another record, this one an old Etta James record. The lyrics, At last, my love has come along. My lonely days are over. And life is like a song, float through the house.
North locks the door. Vaughn lights candles and Brecken turns off the lights. Someone finds old quilts in a closet and moves the coffee table, spreading them out on the floor.
Pillows pile around the blankets, soft and thick, and we create the perfect place for Lark to rest. Here there is room for us all.
“Come,” I whisper, taking her hand and leading her to the living room.
When she sees what we’ve made for her, she blinks back tears. “You made a nest,” she whispers.
“Yes,” I say, “a nest for our little bird.”
“Not just for me,” she says. “For all of us.” Then she lifts the hem of her shirt and pulls it off. She slips off her pants, leaving on only her bra and panties. “You won’t let me sleep here all alone, will you?”
I raise an eyebrow, knowing the guys and I are done telling Lark what she can and can’t do. This is her home, her night, her life.
If she wants us naked in her nest, then we will oblige.
I strip quickly, to nothing but my boxers. Stepping toward her, she raises a finger, shakes her head.
“No entrance to this love nest unless you’re naked.”
“Those are the rules?” I ask, a grin spreading across my face. “I’ve always lived by rules,” she says. “Without my mother here to make them up for me, I guess I’ll have to make up some of my own.”
“And us being naked is one of them?” North asks with a smile.
She shrugs, then reaches behind herself and unhooks her bra. “Yep. That’s rule number one.”
“I feel like you’re making up the rules on the spot,” Brecken jokes, taking off his own clothes.
Lark tosses her bra to the floor, so she and her perfect breasts are exposed in all their glory.
