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“Get up,” I’d told him roughly. “Get up. Get up, and I’ll help you.”
I chose him then. Chose to help him.
Even after everything.
It wasn’t about necessity.
We were pack because we chose to be.
And I wasn’t going to let that go without a fight.
I knew now what needed to be done.
I just hoped they would be able to forgive me.
PAPPAS PROWLED along the line of silver spread out in front of him, boxing him in. The metal wall behind him was scored with thick claw marks. He snarled at the sight of me, throwing himself against the invisible wall that held him in.
Carter and Kelly stood face-to-face, the silver running between them on the floor. Kelly reached up and pressed his hand against the wall. Carter hesitated before doing the same. The timber wolf was trapped inside with him, pacing behind him, tail flicking dangerously.
And Mark.
Always Mark.
He sat nude in the middle of the floor, eyes closed. He was awake, and his hands were on his knees, digging into his skin. The raven on his throat fluttered every time he swallowed. Ox was crouched on the other side of the line of silver before him, watching him intently.
Joe touched Ox’s shoulder, causing him to look back. He stood as I approached, nodding toward Mark. “It’s like it was with Pappas,” he said quietly. “The lull before….”
I nodded tightly.
Joe squinted at me. He reached out and pressed his fingers against my forehead. “It’s in here, isn’t it? Something’s happened.”
I nodded, and his hand fell away. “I… might have a plan. But it’s going to take all of us, I think. And you’re not going to like it.”
Joe frowned. “What is it?”
“It’s… we need to wait. For the others. Elizabeth and Jessie, they’ll…. We just need to wait. I only want to say this once.”
Ox stared at me. “Will it help them? Carter. And Mark.”
“I don’t know,” I said truthfully. “But it’s the only thing I’ve got. Tomorrow’s the full moon. There’s not time. I just… can you give me a moment? I need to….”
Ox and Joe stepped back.
I took a deep breath and turned to Mark.
I sat down on the floor, mirroring his position. My eyes burned when I looked at him, but I couldn’t do anything to stop it.
“Mark,” I said. His name on my tongue broke into pieces, and I cleared my throat.
He opened his eyes. The violet had faded. All that was left was the frozen blue. “Gordo,” he rumbled. “I—I’m sorry. I tried to fight it. I tried to—”
“It’s okay. I’m okay. You didn’t—you didn’t hurt me.”
He looked stricken. “If Ox hadn’t been there—”
I snorted. “I don’t need Ox to kick your ass, you overgrown mutt. I can handle myself just fine.”
His jaw clenched. “This isn’t a joke, Gordo.”
