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CHAPTER FOURTEEN 
     
QUINN
“Logan?” I ask. We’re within twenty minutes of the location and I still haven’t heard any grand plan from Deke. All that’s been running through my head is different ways I can just give in and get Rowan back. I’m prepared to give whatever I have to give for him.
“We still have time,” Logan assures me, even though I’m not so sure we do.
“Logan, I have to get them back,” I say as my hands tighten on the steering wheel.
“If you go, you’ll be putting your entire pack in danger,” he says.
I look at him in disbelief. “You want me to just let them keep them? Ari’s with them too.”
His jaw tightens as he gives me a nod. “I know he is. And I would give up the world for him, but I’m convinced there’s another way to get them back and keep you safe. Right now, they want you in order to shake the pack. If the pack loses you, who knows what will happen. So handing you over is the very last option we have. We need to work hard and think of how we’re going to keep you out of it and get them back.”
I take a deep breath because I know he’s right. My mind is jumping to the most irrational thoughts possible, and because I’m anxious, I’m likely to do something wrong and risk Rowan’s life.
Logan fiddles with something as I keep driving. “I’m going to have you let me off about a mile from the spot. I’ll move through the trees, and when I’m in sight of them, I’ll send you a message for you to follow.”
“They’re shifters, they’ll hear you,” I say.
Logan swings his head over to me and gives me a look, like he thinks that’s the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever said. I think he’s forgotten that he’s a human and these are highly trained shifters. “Just trust me.”
And still… I kind of feel like he could annihilate the lot of them, especially when Ari is involved.
My phone rings and I quickly grab for it at the same time Logan does. When I get to it first, I switch it on speaker so Logan can hear.
“Give me something good,” I say to Deke.
“I have something better than good,” he says, voice sounding almost joyous. “Just received a call from a police officer who has picked up Rowan and Ari.”
Relief floods me to the point where I can’t even say anything for a moment. Logan takes it as an opportunity to snatch the phone from me.
“They’re both okay?” Logan asks, apparent relief on his face as well.
“Yes, they’re okay, they’re taking them to the police station at the moment. It’s a long story. So I need you to turn around—”
Even as relief washes through me, I know I need to stand my ground. “No,” I say stubbornly. “Now that they’re safe, Raylon might be gone, but there’s still a possibility he’d meet me, planning on deceiving me. If he does, then I want us to grab him. We could get so much information out of him.”
Deke hesitates as Logan watches me closely, looking like he’s mulling over the idea. “We’d be putting your life at risk, and I’m not okay with that,” Deke decides.
“My life is at risk every day Raylon and the others are allowed to fuck with me and my pack. At this point, I’m positive it’s more of a pride thing because why the fuck else do they want us? Yes, we might have information on them, but if they just left us alone, there’s little we could do against them. Please, Deke, we have to end this,” I say. “Even if it’s a fail, there’s a possibility you could stop at least one of them.”
He hesitates for a moment longer and I’m pleased to see Logan must be on my side because he’s not saying anything. Deke clears his throat. “Okay. We’re on it. We’ll get some stuff arranged and we’ll be there shortly. We were already heading that way,” he says. “I want you to wear a bulletproof vest.”
“I can’t shift with a vest on,” I say. “And I’ll need to be able to shift to get away quickly.”
He hesitates, clearly not fond of that idea, but I’m not putting anything on my body that’ll restrict my shift and keep me from fleeing.
“Okay. Quinn, we need to keep you safe, though. That’s our top priority in this,” he says.
“I know.”
“I’m going to have him drop me off about a mile from the meeting spot. I’ll meet up with you guys,” Logan says.
“Okay. I’m going to get some things situated and I’ll be giving you another call.”
He hangs up and I turn to Logan who gives me a smile.
“See? Things worked out in the end,” he says.
“I’m so relieved. I wish I could talk to Rowan or see him to settle myself, but this will have to do,” I say with a smile.
“I know. But they’re in police custody. I’m sure they’re fine,” he says. “Now, when you deal with these guys, I’m going to place myself directly south of your spot. If you need to get away, I want you to come to me, okay?”
I nod. “I will. Just don’t take risks and get yourself hurt.”
“I won’t.”
      
Once I let Logan out, I wait impatiently. A part of me is terrified there’s a shifter patrol out who will see Logan and they’ll hurt or kill him. It doesn’t matter how human Logan is, he’s part of my pack and someone to be protected.
I take a deep breath and squeeze the steering wheel tightly. I need to stay focused and have faith in Logan and Deke and the others.
It’s so hard relying on an outside source when I’m so used to shielding my pack from anyone on the outside. I always felt like there was no way I could fully trust them, but I know times are changing for the better. This should be clear enough proof that there are humans out there who do want to help us, who do strive to make the world a better place for us.
When I get the message that Logan is in place, I just wait for Deke’s notification. It comes about ten minutes later.
I send a quick text to Logan. If something happens to me, tell Rowan I love him.
The reply is almost immediate. I’ll keep you safe. I have your back.
Thank you, I reply before starting the car.
I put it in gear and drive to the location. It’s a parking lot for a nature walk that’s currently very desolate; the whole area looks overgrown, like it hasn’t been used for years. When I park my car, I can’t help but wonder if they’re even going to show without Rowan and Ari in their custody. Who knows how they got away, but maybe them ending up with the police scared the others off.
I start to grow impatient after a few minutes and debate calling Rowan’s phone to speak with Raylon, but when I text Deke, he tells me just to wait it out.
After fifteen minutes, I see two cars pull into the parking lot and park at the end closest to the exit, blocking my own exit if I needed to get out.
I wait for their cars to shut off before I open the car door. As I stand up, I unbutton my pants, in case I need to make a quick escape, and leave my coat in the car, even though the cool air is howling.
Raylon and Diego get out of one vehicle, and three shifters I don’t recognize get out of another.
The ones I don’t recognize spread out around Raylon, like they’re there to protect him as Diego just wanders behind them like he’s not so sure he even wants to be here.
Since Raylon isn’t aware that I know Rowan isn’t in his custody, I know I have to continue to play the frantic mate. “Where is he? Where’s Rowan? And do you have Ari too?” I ask as I take a step toward him.
Raylon’s eyes narrow as he nears me. “I told you I have him, didn’t I? I’ll let him go free if you come with me. Now let’s go.” He waves at me, like he’s expecting me to just run right over to him.
I stand my ground and shake my head. “Let me see him first. I’m not going with you until I see him.”
Raylon does a slight flick of his fingers, probably hoping to be discreet enough that I don’t see it, but I back away before the three move out around him like they’re planning on encircling me.
I can’t let them gain the upper ground that encircling me would give them. “Where is Rowan?” I ask, voice steady and demanding.
Raylon tosses his hands up in the air. “If you won’t listen to me then I can’t give him to you. Now for fuck’s sake, come here.”
I shake my head as I take another step back. If I engage him too quickly, I’m afraid Deke’s men won’t have time to move in, but I know the moment they do, Raylon will know what’s happening.
Diego looks around uncertainly; it seems like he might have caught wind of what’s going on. “Raylon—”
Raylon’s hand lifts, silencing him immediately. “Shut the fuck up, Diego. I’m sick of hearing you continually complain.”
Diego hesitates as his face scrunches up like he’s upset for being reprimanded. “But—”
Raylon turns his sharp eyes on Diego, shutting him up instantly. I notice that as Raylon and the others continue to move forward, Diego hangs back.
Raylon, fueled by rage, notices nothing as he continues moving in. “Come on, Quinn. You really don’t want to piss me off. Do you want me to kill Rowan?”
I wish I knew how far away Deke’s men were. “Please just tell me where he’s at.”
That’s when a noise behind me grabs my attention. Relief floods me as Deke’s team, decked out in protective gear, begins to invade the scene as Raylon looks around in anger. Realization is clearly settling on his face as he begins to shake with fury.
“I’ll fucking kill you,” he growls as he moves toward me.
“Get down on the ground, hands in the air!” Deke yells as he moves his men in.
I take this as my cue to get out of here and quickly turn to run for the protection my car offers. I manage to reach the door as Raylon shifts and charges me. Lunging inside the vehicle, I yank the door shut and shove the lock in place as Raylon slams into it. The door dents with the pressure against it as he smashes a large paw onto the window. The side of the car groans against his attack a moment before I see a spiderweb crack rush over the glass. I ram the keys in the ignition and start to turn it as I see Raylon coming in for another attack. Quickly, I climb into the passenger seat, narrowly avoiding the shattering glass that sprinkles over me.
He reaches a paw in, flailing it around and trying to hook me, but I’m far enough back he can’t reach me. He digs his claws into the inside of the door and tries pulling as I realize escaping by car is horribly futile. I yank my shirt off and hit the button for the window as he lunges through the opening left by the busted door into the driver’s seat. I shift and leap through the open window as I hear a gunshot, hoping whoever got shot was Raylon so I could get away from his crazy ass. Quickly, I dart toward the woods where Logan promised he’d be waiting even though I’m nervous about leading Raylon his way. Another shifter quickly rushes me as I skirt into the woods, realizing that I don’t have time to worry about anyone but myself.
There’s a gunshot and the other shifter flinches, but it’s like the shot doesn’t even faze him as he lunges for me. I slip out of his path, but it drives me closer to Raylon who has already escaped the car and is hot on my trail.
“You fucking…” he growls. “You must really not give a shit about your mate because he’s going to be dead after this.”
“I know you don’t have him. I know you were just lying to try to get me or kill me or whatever you want to do to me,” I say.
He’s close enough to me that no one seems to think taking the shot is worth the risk as I dart into the trees. I rush past one of Deke’s men as the second shifter who is following close behind me turns toward the human and slams him to the ground.
Realizing I’d just put him in danger, I swing back around, hoping to draw him off. I sink my fangs into the side of his neck as he rears up, trying to get me off him. Raylon lunges at me, driving me back as the downed human shoots at the shifter while I slip back out of the mess. Another human rushes up to help the other as I turn to face Raylon.
At this point, I feel like he’s being driven purely by rage. Who knows if he was even sent out here or if the vendetta he had from the time in the mine has driven him to this point. He’s irrational, swinging and lunging without rhyme or reason.
He’s driving me back, but I can’t let him get the upper hand. I slip to the side as I see the two humans struggling to drive the second shifter off, but he just keeps coming no matter how many times they shoot it. It’s like they’re dead to the pain the bullets cause.
Hell, maybe they are because of something Mercer did to them. I rush up to help, but Raylon cuts in front of me, swiping at me with his long claws extended. I push myself back out of his reach a moment before I hear a gunshot.
Raylon growls as he jerks back and blood sprays out of the wound. He turns to face Logan who steadies his gun and shoots again.
“Get on the ground,” Logan says to Raylon, voice steady, like he’s not facing off with a monster.
Raylon turns his attention to Logan as he darts to the side, trying to miss Logan’s shots. I can’t tell if all of them hit, though I know at least one does, making him stumble, but he’s indifferent. He’s determined to kill Logan no matter what as I turn on my haunches and race for him, knowing I need to protect him.
I don’t want to get shot by Logan’s gun but if Raylon doesn’t go down within the next four strides, he’ll reach Logan and could kill him with a single swipe.
I race up beside him as Logan goes to reach for a reload or a new gun. Leaping into the air, I grab Raylon’s neck, using his own weight to pull him off balance and drive him onto his side. He goes to rise up again, but Logan aims his gun at him.
“Stay down,” Logan says, voice firm, but Raylon clearly would rather die than give in because he’s struggling to get up, even when it makes my fangs sink deeper into his throat.
A group of Deke’s men rush onto the scene, helping to surround Raylon. As I release my hold on him and dart out of the middle, it’s clear Raylon realizes the situation he’s in. He rises up and looks around at those facing him, still debating his next move.
That’s when Deke shoots him with a dart. Raylon growls and turns quickly to see who shot him. He swipes out at Deke, but the drug must work quickly because he stumbles and then begins to turn, like he’s confused or disoriented. He staggers, then catches himself as he spots me. He must decide that killing me is worth everything else because he moves toward me as I step back, doing my best to avoid him. He staggers and then goes down but still no one removes their guns that are trained on him.
They wait a good five minutes before anyone gets close to him. Then someone pokes him with a stick. When he doesn’t move, they rush in to secure him and Logan guides me away. I follow him back to my car as I see the massacre that’s been left behind. There are dead shifters, but thankfully, it seems like most of the humans are okay. There are a few receiving medical attention that I can’t help but feel guilty about, since this was my idea.
Diego is still clothed, telling me he didn’t even shift, and is hunkered on the ground, arms bound behind his back. He looks up at me as I pass and his eyes get wide.
“Q-Quinn… t-tell them I haven’t done as much wrong. Your buddies, those two cats, they got free a while ago. We never had them. It was all a ruse by Raylon to try to get you,” Diego says.
I can’t answer him in this form, so I shift. “Diego, I don’t trust you or any of them.”
He bows his head and his shoulders start to shake. “I don’t want to die,” he whispers.
“They’re not going to kill you if you just listen,” I say. “Tell me where my brother and Emery are, and I’ll see what I can do to help you.”
“I… I don’t know where they’re at. Honestly. They crashed the transport truck a couple days ago. I know Stone sent a team out to retrieve them… I don’t know if they did or not.”
“They’re free?” I ask in surprise.
Diego looks pleased he gave me information I didn’t have. “I-I can direct you where they were if you help me.” He’s hopeful as he looks up at me. “I’m not doing anything wrong. I didn’t do anything. I didn’t want to. I didn’t…” He trails off as Deke starts heading toward us. Then he tucks his head down again. I decide to grab my clothes before explaining the situation to Deke and hurry over to my car. I grab them and pull them on before meeting up with Deke and Logan who are talking.
“Thank you,” I say to Deke.
He gives me a huge smile as he pats my back. “Of course.”
I nod my head at Diego who is watching me with hopeful eyes. “That man there is named Diego. He said Graham and Emery got free and there’s a possibility he could help us figure out where that happened.”
“No need,” Deke says. “I got a call a few minutes ago they’d found your brother and Emery and had them transported to a safe location.”
Pure relief fills me at these words and for a moment, all I can do is just let it wash over me. “Can I see them? And Rowan and Ari? Are they alright?” I ask.
Deke pats my back again. “Calm down. We’ll see what we can do. Right now, I know very little. I had to keep my focus on this operation. I’ll get things locked down tight here and then contact them to get you over to see them. I’ll have Rowan and Ari transported there as well. That work for you?”
“Yes, thank you,” I say.
“We’ll probably keep them there a few days. We’ll want to see if we can get some information out of Emery. Take some videos, all that jazz that we can use in the case we’re building. We will end this thing, Quinn. I promise you.”
“Okay. I have some stuff in my car, can I grab it? And then I’m ready to go whenever you are. I’m ready right now,” I say, wishing my car door wasn’t half torn off so I could drive myself. Unless… I could just tie it shut for the ride.
Logan must be reading my mind because he smiles at me. “We’ll find a different ride. One a little less full of shattered glass and cold wind.”
Disappointed, I head over to my car and grab my coat before noticing Graham’s coat and hat in the back seat. I grab them too since it seems like I’ll be out here a while. I hand the coat to Logan, who seemed to have been in a hurry to grab multiple guns but no coat, and keep the hat myself since Graham’s coat has a hood Logan could use. I shove it on my head and wait by the wayside with Logan. I’m positive we’re going to end up waiting years if they don’t get this show on the road.
“Do you think I could walk it?” I ask Logan who hasn’t even fidgeted once. He’s like a statue.
“Yeah, I’m sure you could if you wanted to arrive by next week,” Logan says before giving me a reassuring pat. “I’m very anxious too, but we have to be patient.”
I sigh, really unsure why I should be put through this torture.
OceanofPDF.com

CHAPTER FIFTEEN 
     
EMERY
Graham won’t wake up.
He’s like a hibernating bear in mutt form.
“Graham?” I ask as he sleeps away. I decide to tug on his fluffy ear and when that doesn’t work, I poke his nose. He shakes his head, trying to get away, and I retreat, pleased with myself.
“What?” he grumbles.
“You need to wake up before I sell you off to make mittens from you. You’ve been sleeping forever.”
“What time is it?”
“Forever o’clock.”
“Let me guess, you couldn’t nap any longer so you decided torturing me awake would make you feel better?” he asks as he rolls onto his back.
It’s creepy how well he knows me. “I sure did,” I say. “I even opened the window.” I point up at it before quickly retrieving my hand before it gets too cold. I was getting anxious with him asleep and decided to open it.
“No wonder it’s like the Arctic in here,” he says.
He slides out from under the covers and shifts so he has two working arms to push the window down. He shivers dramatically as I mourn the loss of my warm mutt, but I watch him as he hunts for a clock before finding one on the wall. “Our nap has lasted two hours.”
“Yes, more than enough time. Let’s go. I want to go to the village,” I urge, unsure why we have to even be here. “Quinn’s village. I want to live somewhere there. Where do I live? I’ll just live with Quinn.”
Graham stills quite quickly as his eyes lock on to mine. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like the possessiveness in them. “Why would you move in with Quinn?” he asks, voice all grumbly and displeased.
“Because I don’t have a home and Quinn loves me,” I say.
It’s like I can see the hairs on the back of Graham’s neck stand up at the idea of that… and I love it. He likes me for some weird reason. But if I get too attached, it’ll hurt more when something happens.
“Where would you like me to stay? Out in the cold?” I ask. “The dumpster? Do you want me to live in the dumpster?”
He grimaces before saying, “You can stay in my house.”
“Will you be there?” I ask, acting like this is a serious question.
He narrows his eyes at me. “I’m not sure why I thought we hit a turning point earlier.”
I grin, highly pleased with myself and so much more at ease now that he’s awake. I don’t even mind that the window is closed. “I’m glad I woke you up.”
“I was having a very nice dream.”
I smile at him since he really doesn’t look too heartbroken about it. “That sounds lovely—I’m glad I saved you from it.”
“Me too,” he says, and I can’t tell if he’s being sarcastic or not. He heads to the bathroom, and while I impatiently wait for him to return, I pull on the clothes they’d brought him. They’d given me some too, which I’d worn over, but they’re like two feet farther than the ones they’d brought Graham.
These ones are baggy, but I don’t care because they’re all mine now. Graham comes out and eyes what I’m wearing as it seems to dawn on him what’s happening.
“I think those are mine.”
What a foolish man. “Not anymore. Come on. Hurry up. I want to get going,” I say. “Surely, they’ve done all the shit they need to do by now, right? Time to go?”
“I have my doubts, but we can ask. I, at least, want to talk to Quinn.”
“Yes. And then Quinn can snap his fingers, and we’ll be back at the village and I’ll move into my new house.”
“It’s still my house,” he says as he looks around for clothes that could fit him. He seems to be purposefully neglecting to look at the pile I’d left on the ground.
“Is it?” I ask him with a raised eyebrow. “I’ve never had anything. No one’s ever given me a present before. All I’ve ever wanted my entire life is a present.”
He stares at me for a moment then sighs and I have to try my hardest not to grin. I’m rather pleased by my ability to guilt him into giving me his home.
That’s when I realize what his issue must be. “Would you… like to move into my new home with me?” I ask like I’m shy.
Graham just shakes his head before he chuckles. “I don’t even know why I try.”
I smile, pleased with myself. “I don’t know either.”
He lets out a long sigh before reaching down and picking up the clean clothes I’d shed earlier when I jumped into the shower. “These are not going to fit me.”
“But the clothes I’m wearing are all warm now and those are cold. You want me to put cold clothes on?” I ask with wide eyes.
The pants have an elastic band and boy do they sure stretch as Graham stuffs himself into them. They’re clear highwaters on him and look a bit like leggings with how tight they are. The shirt looks like if he moved his arms just right, he’d tear it off.
Which… I mean, who would really complain, right?
“Okay, now that your clothes are all warmed up, let’s trade,” he says as I slip out the door and hurry down the hallway.
Clearly, this man doesn’t understand what the issue is.
“Emery!” he says as he rushes after me.
“Yes?” I ask as I innocently look back at him. “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t go out looking like this. What are you trying to do to me?”
I give him the most innocent expression I can possibly muster as I stare at him. “B-But, I don’t know what you’re talking about. And these clothes are so comfortable. Do you want me to be uncomfortable? Do you like it when I’m uncomfortable?”
He sighs, clearly realizing that this battle might not be won by him. “You know—”
The door at the end of the hall swings open and Suzuki steps in. “Just who I was coming to get,” she says with a smile. Then she eyes our clothes and looks reasonably confused. “Your brother just arrived,” she says, clearly not planning on broaching the subject of our clothing choices.
Graham is excited as he rushes over to her. It’s funny how it makes him forget allll about his rather tight clothing choices. “Quinn’s here right now?”
“He is. Come on, I’ll take you to him.”
She leads us out of the hallway and down another before pushing through a door. Logan and Quinn are right inside, both bundled up in winter gear. Relief washes through me as they turn to us, and the moment Quinn sees his brother I can see the tension leaving his face. He rushes up to Graham and wraps him up in his arms, squeezing him tightly.
I can’t help but wonder what it’d feel like to have a family member care about me that much. Someone who cared if I was even dead or alive. My parents were rather cold to me when they were around, and after that, I was passed from foster home to foster home before ending up out on the street.
Suddenly, Quinn is grabbing onto me. Startled, I begin to pull back, but he won’t let go of me as he squeezes me in close. “I’m so sorry you went through so much. I’m really glad to have you back, Emery.”
But maybe family doesn’t mean blood.
I wrap my arms around him and squeeze him to me, oddly relieved to also be back in his presence. He doesn’t give me the same relief that Graham does, but he gives me a sense of structure. An immovable head to look up to for guidance. “Can I go back to the pack right now? Please? Please take me back.”
Quinn gives me another squeeze before smiling at me. “Shortly. Deke is wanting to help us as much as he can. And to do so, he needs some proof to take to court. We’re hoping he can interview you and get some information from you so there’s no way we can lose this case,” he says.
I hesitate because, more than anything, I just want to go back to the pack. When I finally have a home to belong to, I can’t even go to it. That suppressing feeling begins to wash over me again, settling in the pit of my stomach. “But…”
Quinn pulls back just enough to face me, and I realize he oddly smells like Graham. He must be wearing something of Graham’s and the thought distracts me enough to focus. “I know you don’t want to be here any longer than you have to. I don’t want you here any longer either, but if we’re going to get the information we need to stop them, we’re going to have to help Deke’s group. And he’ll put a stop to this. I know he will. He already has Raylon, Diego, and some others in custody.”
I look at him in surprise. “He does?”
Quinn nods as he pulls Graham in close again. “Long story. We’ll get to it in a bit. But first… what are you two wearing?”
“Clothes,” I say.
“I think you two might have gotten your clothes mixed up,” he says with a grin.
Graham, who’d forgotten about the clothes fiasco when he saw his brother, sighs loudly. “Emery does what Emery wants.”
“Uh-huh…” Quinn gives us a sly look that is greeted with the most bored expression I can muster and Graham looking confused more than anything. What he’s confused about, I’ll never know. I’m not sure what he’s complaining about when he still looks handsome even with those clothes on.
Quinn reaches for the hat on top of his head. “Speaking of clothes, I forgot I was wearing your hat,” he says as he plops it on Graham’s head, and I realize that was exactly where Graham’s scent was coming from. “Come on. Rowan should be here shortly, so let’s find someplace to talk. I’m sure you guys have a lot to talk about and I have a lot to share.”
As he turns and starts walking, Graham follows him. I reach out and pluck the hat from his head, deeming that it is now mine, which I think sounds fair enough. Graham looks at me with a raised eyebrow and I tug it onto my head, highly pleased with my new find.
Instead of saying anything, Graham pats me once on the top of the head before following his brother and Logan. When we reach a room with a large table and multiple chairs, Quinn sits down and waves for us to follow suit.
“I guess before we get started, we’ll wait for Rowan. He should be here shortly when he’s done with the police officers,” Quinn says.
“What happened while we were gone?” Graham asks.
“A little bit of a mess,” Quinn says with a sigh and tells us how Rowan ended up meeting with his father.
“The guy I told you about who deceived me was Stone, Rowan’s father,” I say.
“What?” a voice behind me asks. Rowan rushes in and spins my chair to face him. “The guy you told me tricked you and drugged you before having all that shit done to you was my father?”
“Yes…?” I say, wondering if I should have broken the news to him in a… different way. “I mean, I’m not positive, I wasn’t there when you were conceived since I wasn’t born yet, and it’d also be a bit creepy, but that’s what Brennan said.”
His eyes get wide. “Brennan? You know where Brennan is?”
“He’s here.”
Rowan spins around, like if he just moves quickly enough he might be able to find him somewhere in this massive building. “Is he still an asshole? Is he just like…”
Quinn steps up to him and grabs him in his arms, hugging him tightly before he can escape. “How about you calm down, let me hug the hell out of you because I thought Raylon had you, and just—”
“LOGAN!” Ari yells as he comes flying right through the door and leaps onto Logan where he’s sitting. Like straight off the ground and onto Logan who doesn’t miss a beat.
Logan just smiles and hugs him close, giving him a gentle kiss as Ari starts shaking him. “I nearly died! DIED, I tell you. So there I was being all innocent and shit and like Floofdaddy took me over to be serial killed and I nearly died. But I did shoot some people!” He’s giving Logan a good shaking with every word of his story.
“I’m glad you survived,” Logan says with a wide smile.
“Please shoot me if I ever act like that,” I tell Graham.
Graham seems a bit reluctant to agree to that, which I find a bit strange.
Ari, who shockingly has good hearing when his own shrill voice was nearly deafening me, turns to look at me. “I see you’re back, Emery,” he says before flipping me off with both hands. “I kind of love you, and I’m really glad you’re back and safe but also, fuck you.”
I grin at him, oddly pleased to see the little man. “Good to see you too.”
The door opens again, and Deke comes in to witness the weirdness of what’s going on. He looks a bit confused—I don’t blame him, I’m generally confused every time I see Ari’s face—but clears his throat and has a seat. “Alright, can we talk for a moment? We’d like to take a report of everything that happened if possible.”
“Then can I leave?” I ask.
Deke looks at me and smiles. “Shortly. I need to gather some information before you can go, but you’ll be able to before long.”
I sigh and sink back into my seat, highly irritated with this whole thing. Honestly, these fuckers need to get their shit together so I can leave.
“It’ll be fine,” Graham says quietly. “I’m here. And anyway, if we help him, we can stop this so we never have to deal with any of them again. That sounds nice, right?”
I grunt. It’s the only confirmation I can give him when I fully want to fuck right out of this place.
“The kid that was with us who had the horse. Where’s he at?” I ask.
“Child services are handling the situation,” Deke assures us.
“He won’t go back to his dad, right? His dad was beating him,” I say.
He gives me a smile. “I don’t think so, but we can give you an update when we know more.”
“What about the other shifters?” Graham asks.
“I was told that after questioning, they’d look for a safe place to take them. Once they find it, they’ll be released unless they were wounded. Then we’ll keep them in the infirmary until they’re safe to be moved. And, of course, the ones that were originally in Apollo’s pride have the option of joining your pack if you wish it. Now, Graham and Emery, can you two give us a very detailed description of what happened?” Deke starts up a recorder in the middle of the table. I stare at the thing while Graham starts to talk. He tries to engage me every now and then to tell my side of the story, but he’s doing a perfectly fine job himself. More than fine. And really, my grunts of acknowledgement are more than enough confirmation.
I watch him as I pull off my new hat and fiddle with it until Deke turns to me. “Emery, what would you like to add?”
“Nothing,” I say.
“What if we talk about your life before escaping?” he asks.
I stare at him, more than positive that’s something I’m not talking to him about.
Quinn smiles at me encouragingly. “Emery, you could help us destroy them. They could use this information to ruin the whole operation.”
The look on my face must make him hesitate because he takes a deep breath and turns to Graham, like Graham can make me talk. No one is making me talk if I don’t want to.
I continue to stare at Deke. “Where’s the bathroom?”
He seems hesitant about letting me go, like I might run off if I’m let outside this room. “Um… out and to the left, about halfway down the hallway, you can’t miss it.”
“Thanks,” I say as I step out and head down the hallway, right past the bathroom. I go back to Graham’s room, slide open the window, remove the screen, and crawl out into the yard. I’m still surrounded by a massive fence, but at least I’m outside where it’s easier to breathe.
There are immediately some guards watching me. They’re not coming toward me, probably just wondering why I crawled out the window. I slip around the side and find a little nook in the side of the building. It’s fucking cold, but I give no shits as I tuck myself into it and tug Graham’s hat down tightly.