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Chapter Twenty-Six 
     
QUINN
After the hell of yesterday, I’m thrilled to finally be home, to finally have my pack together again and everything just… okay.
Everything is going to be okay.
And as if that wasn’t amazing enough, I get to wake up in the arms of my mate.
“My arm is completely numb. I’m positive I will never be able to use it again,” Rowan mumbles.
“Why’d you stuff it under me, then?” I ask as I roll into him so he can free his pinned arm. Talon is trying to use my legs as a bed as Cleo lies against him, so I have to struggle to get free to reach Rowan.
“I really don’t know. I woke up an hour ago and you were kind of awake, so you looked like you needed a hug to coerce you back to sleep, and then I guess I just fell asleep like that. But at least I got my extra hour of sleep.”
“You do know if I get up, it doesn’t mean you have to? You can sleep in,” I assure him.
He shakes his head. “No, I don’t think I can.”
I smile as I tuck myself against his naked body. “Hundred percent sure you can. But that’s okay. You do you.”
“I will,” he says as he smiles at me before dragging me on top of him. “Let me guess… we have a million and one things to do today.”
“Sadly, we do. Deke wants to meet us at noon. I need to check on Dr. Lambridge. Then I need to figure out what to do with Diego and Katalina. You need to have a heart-to-heart with Brennan so he’s aware he can’t maim anyone. I need to see how Emery’s doing. We need to handle Enzo’s and Ethan’s passing. We need to have a big, long talk with the pack… I’m sure there’s more. But let’s see if we can get it all done early and have the evening to ourselves to unwind and just… be with each other?” I suggest.
That part sounds so amazing that for a brief moment I wish I wasn’t alpha so we could skip to that.
“I’m down. Wake me up when that part happens,” he says as he pulls his pillow over his head.
“Your brother is hopefully still in our living room. We need to deal with that too. And sleeping through it will solve nothing.”
He sighs, and I’m surprised he’s reluctant to talk with his brother. I wonder if it’s because he’s worried Brennan will just continue to disagree with and hate everything Rowan does. “And if he’s not there?” Rowan asks.
“No clue. As long as he isn’t maiming anyone… I guess we let him be,” I say with a shrug. I have a feeling Brennan’s going to do his own thing, but I was honestly surprised he decided to come back with us. Deke had gotten another vehicle for the rest of the pack to head back in and Brennan crawled right into it, clearly planning on coming with us.
“Do you really think my father got away?” Rowan asks anxiously.
“I’m confident Deke’s men will find him. Maybe they already have, and Deke will tell us about it when we talk with him again. He probably didn’t want to wake us.”
Rowan seems uncertain as he nods. “I hope. I don’t want to deal with him just… out there. I want him to face the consequences of the shit he did to others. And if he’s out there, will he just be destroying more shit? Ruining more lives? Creating a whole new fucked-up organization? I hope Deke’s men have him.”
“Me too,” I say as I kiss his forehead.
I push out of bed and head over to my dresser to get ready. Rowan joins me and I can’t stop smiling at him when he pulls me in close and kisses me. It’s like this huge weight has been lifted off me and I feel like we’re both ridiculously giddy about it.
Talon, hoping that we plan to return, lazily watches us from the bed.
Dressed and ready, we head into the living room where we find Brennan sitting on the couch staring at the TV. Cartoons are on, but I can’t quite tell if he’s enjoying them by the way he’s glaring at the screen like they did something to offend him.
“Holy shit, we used to watch this together all the time,” Rowan says as he rushes over to Brennan and leans over the back of the couch. Talon heads to the door before stretching as he waits, so I swing it open to let him out before looking back at Rowan and his brother. He says something to Brennan that I can’t hear and there’s the absolute slightest twitch to Brennan’s lips that makes me smile.
“You guys watch your cartoons, I’ll get some food ready,” I say as I head into the kitchen. I’m not much for early morning feast making, so I settle on some cereal and juggle the three bowls into the living room. I hand them each one before letting Talon back inside and taking my spot on the recliner.
It makes me happy to see them sitting together, like there really might be hope for this relationship yet. When I’m done and have fed the pets, I tell Rowan to meet up with me later when he’s ready. He’s hesitant but the look I give him assures him that I think his time is better spent with his brother at this moment.
I walk out into the street with Talon by my side and decide to stop at Graham’s, since it’s the closest. I knock on the door only to have Emery immediately answer it. He’s decked out, head to toe, in my brother’s clothes. Graham’s hat, shirt, pants, and—presumably—socks.
“Welcome to my house!” he says excitedly. “Do you want a tour? Of course you do.” He waves me in even though I’ve been into the house more times than I could guess.
“This is my living room and my kitchen and that’s my maid,” he says as he points to Graham who is in the kitchen.
Graham just grunts, which is enough confirmation for Emery who is smiling like crazy.
“Don’t you just love my new house?”
“I do,” I say. “How are you doing?” I’m not sure why I’m even asking. Emery looks like a child on Christmas morning. Graham and I both know the happiness that comes with finally having a place to call home.
“Fine.”
“And your arm?”
“What arm?”
That gets Graham’s attention. “The one that’s still hurt and you refuse to sit still for five seconds to let me clean.”
Emery ignores him and instead pets Talon. “Did I tell you I got a new house?” he asks by way of distraction.
Amused, I watch him. “I see it came with clothes.”
He grins at me. “It did.”
“We could probably find you clothes that fit better, if you’d like? I could let you borrow some of mine,” I say.
Graham whips his head around and glares at me, and even though I’m positive Graham has been thinking Emery is ridiculous when he wears his stuff, he doesn’t want him anywhere near my clothes.
“Nah, these are fine,” Emery says. “So what do you want me to do today? I’ve decided to become your self-appointed bodyguard and I will guard you forever.”
“Okay, thank you. Today, I don’t really foresee me doing anything dangerous, so why don’t you just relax, and we’ll meet up when Deke gets here?”
Emery doesn’t seem certain but when he looks back at Graham, he must decide it sounds good and nods. “Fine. I’ll guard you then.”
“Thank you.”
“You know what…” Emery says, looking quite thoughtful.
“What’s up?” I ask.
“What happened to Diego? Did you murder him?”
Why Emery thinks I would just murder him, I’m not sure. “Diego…” I ask thoughtfully as I realize that I have no idea. “He was with you guys… when you escaped. With so much going on it didn’t even click.”
Emery scowls. “He ran off out of pure fear. He knew I’d fuck him up the moment he looked at me funny.” Emery mimes stabbing something, and I realize that maybe, for the first time in Diego’s life, he played it smart and got away.
When I’m finished there, I step outside only to run into Ari, as an ocelot, lying in a bush. I’m almost positive he thinks he’s completely hidden and is planning on jumping out at me. I pretend I don’t see him and take the path away from the bush. He lets out a noise of displeasure and comes barreling after me, shifting just as he reaches me.
“What the hell, man?” he asks like I’ve horribly hurt him by avoiding his surprise attack.
I grin at him as he pouts. “You need to learn to hide better.”
“I was hidden. I was so fucking hidden. I was like… a shadow in the night. A… an ocelot in the dark.”
“No, you were literally the first thing I saw as I came out. How did the hospital go? How is Dr. Lambridge?”
“He’s doing good. They think he’ll be able to come home in a couple of days. He was super lucky. They said with all of the damage, nothing vital got torn so it was more or less just like slapping him back together.”
“Were those the doctor’s words?” I tease.
He grins. “Yep. Now give me your jacket, it’s cold,” he whines. I reach into my pocket and pull out a pair of gloves that I hand him. He pouts. “I’m going to put one on my dick.”
I glare at him. “Do not.”
He bats his eyelashes at me. “But it’s cold.”
“Ari, you little ass,” I say as I grudgingly hand him my coat. He very merrily slips the coat and gloves on. He smiles at me, looking overly proud of himself for making me freeze.
But I’m glad to have him with me when I talk to the pack about Ethan and Enzo.
“I know times haven’t been the easiest,” I say as I look out at all the faces who’ve taken this journey with me. Trenton, who I once butted heads with. Scott, who still might be on my shit list, but I’ll be sad to see Gina go when they head back to their real lives to be with their daughter. “But the reason all of us made it this far was that we were together, that we were a pack that can support each other. We’ve had losses. So many awful losses along the way. As I’m sure you know, just last night we lost Ethan and Enzo, two members of our pack that were ripped from us. We will lay them to rest as a pack.” My eyes catch on Logan’s, a human who showed me that not all humans were evil. And as I continue talking, my eyes touch those who helped me along the way. Kaiya, Harper, Ari… the list goes on. These are all the people I couldn’t have done this without. I truly hope they understand just how thankful I am for their support and that they are here. I know I have all of Rowan’s support, as well as support from Graham and all my closest friends, but these people are trusting me enough to allow me to be a part of their lives. To be their alpha.
Afterward, as I walk toward the town hall where we’ll meet up with Deke, Rowan rushes up. “Why didn’t you wait for me to talk to them? I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”
“You were spending some much-needed time with your brother. There will be plenty of other times for you to hear me talk,” I assure him.
“Did it go well?” he asks as he gives me a hug.
“Yes. It did,” I say before giving his cheek a kiss.
Graham and Emery are already waiting inside and Logan, Kaiya, Harper, and Katalina aren’t far behind. I’m still not sure what to do with Katalina. I suppose that’s another task to figure out today. Hell, maybe I’ll make that Harper’s decision, or maybe we could do a vote. That might be fairest and not tainted by emotions.
After a few minutes, the door opens, and Trenton leads Deke into the room just before Ari slips in. Emery immediately stiffens at Deke’s presence and I can’t help but wonder why. I don’t think it’s because of Deke, per se, but maybe because he wants nothing more to do with this bullshit.
I kind of don’t either.
“Afternoon,” Deke says with a smile and a nod before sitting down. “Alright. I want to start this off by saying that things are a fucking mess. But the fucking mess is looking good for us. Suzuki’s team and higher-ups are scrambling to cover up their mess and mistakes. They’re doing absolutely everything they can to make it seem like it was a simple misunderstanding. The information I was able to send them as well as Emery’s video is hard evidence, since they completely cleared their system so we can’t pull anything from their computers, making it impossible for us to use any of it. It could be weeks, months, or years before any of this is solved.
“But I can assure you, they’re not going to get away with it. In my haste, I might have ‘accidentally’ included my sister—who’s a journalist and activist—in the email I sent when we were locked in that room. I told them again and again how much of an accident it was for me to include her email, but it was too late, she’d already written and published an article on it before they could stop her. They’ve since asked her to take it down while things are… examined, but the word is already out,” he says, not looking upset in the slightest.
“You… you think the media will react well to this? I mean… we’re all still shifters,” I say.
“Quinn, I think you’re used to being on this side of the world. In a lot of big cities, things are already changing and people are there and ready to fight for you. This will spread like wildfire. I know… I know all the shit you all went through was the worst possible thing, but this might be the push people needed to take a stand. It might bring about an outcome none of us ever expected and might be what is needed to bridge the gap between shifters and humans once and for all.”
While I find that I have my doubts, a part of me wants to hope. But honestly, as long as they leave my pack alone, I’ll be ridiculously happy.
He smiles as he continues. “This won’t be fixed overnight, but I think with your help, we’ll make this area very safe for all of you. We will also be fighting for monetary compensation for all you went through, especially the shifters who were experimented on.”
“I have a question,” Graham says and Deke’s attention turns to him.
“Why were they gathering this information on the shifters if they were planning on killing them all?”
Deke slowly shakes his head. “I… this is something we’re trying to figure out. They’re staying quiet about it, claiming they weren’t. They were simply ‘holding’ the shifters until they could ‘get them help,’ but the data I managed to swipe and share shows otherwise. There’s been speculation that while they were claiming to shut it down, they wanted to see just how far Stone and Mercer had gotten. To see what they’d accomplished and to learn about them. Possibly even just to learn enough about them to find the rest of Stone’s shifters. Or maybe there was something else there. But I promise, whatever it was, we’re going to make sure that information never gets out.”
Graham nods. “Great. Thank you. And I hope it all works out.”
“I promise,” Deke says.
“While that is being dealt with, can we buy some land around here? To build on?” I ask. “I have countless homeless shifters right now.”
“I’ll do everything I can,” Deke assures us. “Not to… add to all the shit you’re dealing with, but a few of the shifters Graham and Emery led to safety are asking if they can find protection here.”
I nod as I look over at Graham for his opinion since he knows who they are. “Yeah… if that’s good with Graham. Right now, we don’t have much space. There’s always the possibility of doing something with the land left behind from Apollo’s pride, but this place has always been home.”
“It all doesn’t have to happen today,” Graham says.
“True.”
“And Stone?” Emery asks.
Deke looks surprised, probably because he hadn’t mentioned it yet. “Oh, shit. Sorry. I should have led with that. The team found him this morning… found… his body. He’d clearly been attacked by a shifter,” he says, his eyes flickering over to Rowan. Mine do too, unsure of how he’ll take this news.
“He’s dead?” Emery asks as his hand slaps down on the table. He has no care in the world that he was Rowan’s father, but I don’t blame him. “Dead dead?”
“Yes.”
“Like he’s not going to rise from the dead dead, right?” he asks, an extremely hopeful expression on his face.
“He is deceased.”
Emery sinks down on the table and Rowan reaches over and gives his back a reassuring pat. I feel bad Rowan is comforting someone else, but maybe he doesn’t even need to be comforted over this. His father was abusive and a horrible man.
“He’s really dead,” Emery whispers against the table. “I’m finally free. I’m… he’s not coming back?” He sits up quickly, like he needs this answered.
“No, he’s not,” Deke promises him.
Emery covers his face like he just doesn’t even know what to do with himself. “I’m free?”
“No, you’re stuck with us,” I say.
He drops his hands and smiles at me. “I want to be stuck with all of you. Thank you. Thank you. They’re gone. They’re dead and gone, and I’m… I’m free… ish.”
“You are,” Graham says.
“What about Stone’s shifters that ran off?” I ask.
“We’re looking for them. Honestly, I’m not sure what we’ll do when we find them, but we’ll take it one step at a time.”
Emery seems so relieved that he can’t sit still for the rest of the conversation, but I don’t blame him. Graham has to keep drawing him back by squeezing his hand.
“Now, Katalina, you said you could give Deke some information about Stone’s second facility. The one he was trying to take the shifters to when they escaped?” I say, which is the only reason she’s here.
“Yes. It’s where they’d taken me to before I managed to get away. I don’t know the exact location, but I’d be more than happy to go with you to help you find it. I’m confident I can,” she says. “I need to do this. I know it won’t fix anything I’ve done but I want to be able to help.”
Once Deke is done and driving off, I turn to Rowan. “Are you alright?”
He nods. “Very much. Let’s go tell Brennan.”
Rowan holds his hand out to me and I immediately take it, relieved to have him safely by my side without threats looming over me for the first time.
OceanofPDF.com

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN 
     
EMERY
It’s been four days since I arrived here and I’m positive this is the best place ever. It’s like a little fairy tale magical place of mysteries. Everyone’s ridiculously nice and they’re all happy.
“Is Quinn drugging them?” I ask Graham as he walks into my kitchen.
Graham seems unreasonably confused. “Why would he?”
“Everyone’s too happy. They’re all clearly drugged, right?”
He oddly seems less than convinced by this revelation, but that must be because he’s also drugged.
“You’re drugged too. He’s drugged you all so much you’re not aware you’re drugged.”
Graham’s eyebrow slowly rises. “How about we head out so we don’t miss the run?”
“Right! The pack run,” I say. “Yes, now let’s go. I wanna outrun you. Leave your ass in the dirt. Let’s go.”
I hurry to the door then wait for Graham who’s like a crotchety old man moving at the speed of a snail. “How long can it take you?”
He shakes his head, clearly amused. “Have some patience!”
“I don’t want patience,” I realize as I follow him outside and hurry over to Quinn’s meeting area. Everyone is gathered around, anxious for a run that hasn’t happened in quite a while with everything going on. Quinn cuts right to the chase and then everyone is shifting and running.
I race to the front while Graham struggles to catch up to me. I could run like this all day with my mate by my side (or struggling to catch up from behind). Grudgingly, I slow enough that I can bump into him and he playfully nips at me. This freedom is unlike anything I ever could have imagined.
I feel so free. So insanely free.
“You’ve left the entire pack behind,” Graham says.
“They shouldn’t be so damn slow,” I say as I take a hard left, disappearing into the brush. I leap forward, jumping to a high branch that I grab onto to pull myself up. Once there, I sink down and wait. I can see Graham, but he doesn’t see me. He’s looking around, clearly confused about my whereabouts before deciding he’ll track me. He puts his nose down and starts sniffing his way toward me. He moves quickly, and just when he’s in position, I leap down onto him. He stumbles but doesn’t go down until I push against him.
“Where the hell were you?” he asks as he looks up.
“Secret,” I tease as I shift into my human form. He shifts into his so I’m now sitting on his stomach looking down at him. I grab his hands before he can reach out to me and pin them down. We’re far enough off Quinn’s path that I doubt anyone will come across us naked and rolling around, so I lean into him and kiss his lips gently. Heat swells inside me, crashing through me as I realize my stubbornness needs to go on hold because I want this man and I want him now.
“I’m having a lot of fun running… but I feel like I could have a lot of fun with you,” I say suggestively.
I can see his interest spike. “Oh?” He’s grinning now.
I nod toward the village. “Back in my home in my bed.”
“Ohhh…” Graham says, clearly intrigued.
“I’ll race you back. If I win, I decide everything from this day forth,” I announce before shifting and bolting.
“Hold on a minute!” Graham says before shifting and darting after me. “What do I get if I win?”
“My ass, Gram-Gram.”
He clearly doesn’t seem ready to complain about that as we rush across the forest even faster than I’d gone out. He manages to catch up to me but never overtakes me as we reach the village. I’m not sure if he can’t or if he just doesn’t want to as I reach the front door, shift and push it open. The moment he’s shifted, I grab him and yank him into the front room with me, my mouth crashing against his. As soon as his lips hit mine, it’s like everything is immediately perfect. Heat and desire swell inside me and it’s all for this man. Always for this man.
I’ve gone through so much with Graham, but I never once realized how much I would want and need him. How I’d desire him like I do. He presses into me, a groan of satisfaction on his lips that makes my excitement grow. I press myself against him until I can feel his naked body against mine.
He pulls me back and I follow him without hesitation. I never realized how easily I could follow someone. How easy it’d be to trust again. But only him. Always, only him.
I break from the kiss as he guides me for the stairs.
“For so long… I was determined to never need help or anything from anyone…”
“And then you met me,” he says with a smile.
I grin at him. “Awfully cocky, aren’t you?”
“Honestly, quite proud of myself,” he says as his eyes twinkle. “Emery, I’m so thankful you took a chance with trusting me.”
“Me too. I’m glad you put up with me while it took me a bit to trust you.”
“The best things are worth waiting for.”
“Don’t be all sappy,” I tease before drawing him into another kiss.
Graham must decide I’m walking too slowly up the stairs because he picks me up and starts carrying me the rest of the way. I wrap my legs around his waist as he carries me down the hallway and into the room. He sets me on the edge of the bed and pushes my chin up. “Emery, I’m happier than you could ever imagine just to see you happy. And not dissing me.”
“I’d never diss you,” I say, like I’m offended by the very idea.
“You literally ignored me for weeks while I was left pining after you,” Graham says.
I pretend like I don’t remember any such thing and give him the most innocent smile I can muster.
“You look fucking guilty,” he warns me.
I gasp at the man who is supposed to be my kind and caring mate. How dare he ridicule me like this? “Me?”
He grins at me and the simple look immediately makes me happy.
“I’m really glad we don’t have to deal with any of that stripping clothes nonsense,” I say as I smack his bare ass. “You’re already all naked and ready.”
“And so are you,” he says as his eyes run down me like he wouldn’t mind devouring me. I’m not so sure I’d mind being devoured.
“I saw you eyeing me when we stripped earlier. Like I was just some bone or a rope toy or something,” I say.
“I’m not a dog,” he says, shutting me up with a kiss. I’ll take it. It’s much better than my not very funny jokes. I think I just get so caught up in finding everything amazing that I just can’t stop. Graham, always the quieter one, does manage to make me stop, though, simply by the power of his touch.
He guides me down onto the bed, so I scoot back to make room for him. He reaches past me for the bedside table where he grabs some lubricant and a condom. My hands slide up his sides, and I love the way he murmurs against my lips. There’s a soft shiver as my fingers travel down to his side and over his hip. I dip down between his legs, brushing gently over his cock before running a finger back up it. He kisses me again as I hear the lid of the lube pop open and I hook my legs around his thighs, drawing him in closer. Once his fingers are wet, I take the lube and coat my own fingers in it.
Graham pushes my hips up with a pillow as his hands slide over my cock, dipping between my legs. I take his cock in my own slick hand and push my hips up so my erection brushes against his. I stroke them together as his finger slips between my ass cheeks. He draws it gently over me, rubbing softly before pressing against me.
My arms fall to the side and his hard cock bumps against mine as his slick finger breaches me. I groan as he moves his finger inside me while his free hand moves down my chest, reaching down to my cock. The moment his fingers brush against it, I find myself pushing up into him as he slides a second finger inside me. Every touch is driving me crazy, making me ache for more.
I grab for the condom, not sure how much more I can take before I just urge him to push inside me. I press it against the tip of his cock and he clearly gets the hint, fingers slipping out of me to take over. The moment he’s rolled the condom into place, I rub lube over him before hooking the back of his neck and dragging him down for another kiss.
When our lips part, he presses into me as I feel his slick cock brush against my skin. He pushes slowly against me, and I shift slightly, anticipating the moment he enters me. He’s moving carefully, but I’m consumed by so much desire, it’s driving me crazy.
“Hurry,” I urge.
“I am,” he says, even though I’m positive he’s drawing it out. But as he presses harder and I feel myself opening to accept his size, I moan. Graham slides in deeper before hesitating to allow me to get accustomed to the fullness. As he stills inside me, his lips brush against mine and his fingers gently trace over my cock. He rocks his hips slowly before sliding back and pushing in deeper.
As he moves inside me, I can’t help but wonder how I ended up with this man. While I might have been overly stubborn for a while and tried my best to avoid anything with him, it’s now clear he’s not going to stab me in the back. He’s not going to leave me or desert me or any of that bullshit.
He’s mine. And I sure as fuck won’t let him go anywhere.
The sensations coursing through me make my mind focus on what we’re doing. I feel so hypersensitive that his touches make me shiver. It’s like every single move or touch or thrust just draws me deeper into him until the pleasure inside me is overwhelming.
His thrusts quicken and I feel myself reaching my limit. He slides in harder while his hand strokes my cock. I can barely take any more as he drives in deeper, and I feel my balls draw up as I moan and grab desperately onto him. His hand tightens as he strokes me and I tip my head back as I come, desire and pleasure and all those other feelings coursing through me.
I can tell he’s close by the way he moves, the way he holds me as his breath quickens, and as he sinks deep inside of me, he comes.
A gentle kiss is pressed against my lips before he pulls out of me. I want to draw him down to me, but he’s busy getting rid of the condom and grabbing something to clean us up with first. But the moment he’s done, I drag him onto the bed and lie pressed up against him.
“I’m really glad I let you in my house,” I tease.
Graham chuckles as he pulls me in closer. “I’m glad too.”
I grin at him before kissing him. “Is this really my life?”
“Of course it is.”
“But really, really?” I ask. “It feels fake. Do you think I’ll ever be able to just… stop thinking it’s all going to fall to shit?”
Graham’s protective arms wrap around me. “That’s not going to be solved overnight. And you’re not going to miraculously just start trusting everything.”
I look up into his amber eyes. “Yes, but I trust you. So that’s a start.”
He gives me a big smile. “It’s a very good start.”
“I’ll shiv you if you fuck up.”
His eyebrows scrunch up. “Okay… a bit of a rocky start, but it’s a start,” he says, which makes me laugh.
“So… now that we’re like… normal people, what do we do? What’s something normal?”
“Hmm… since you hate sports, what about a board game? Or cards? My brother and I had this deck of cards we found in a trash can when we were kids that we’d play with. We didn’t really know any games, so we made quite a few of them up. So I’ve always been fond of playing cards.”
“You’ll teach me how to beat you?” I ask.
Graham smiles. “I’d love to.”
“Then you’ll read with me.”
“I’m not… the biggest reader—”
“Then you’ll read with me,” I repeat since he clearly didn’t hear me right the first time.
“Then I’ll read with you,” he says.
And I realize how amazing that sounds.