[Rosco’s POV]I sit at my desk, watching as Charlie and Marty look over the maps that I passed them. The route they are examining is the one that leads to the sawmill that our captive claimed Roger and his goons were currently inhabiting. With this new discovery, there was no reason to go to that orphanage to investigate except to see if they purposely sent Elise there.Although I had half a mind to send one team to the orphanage and the other to the mill, the main focus was removing Roger once and for all so that the threat against Crystal Fang was taken care of.Now, I wait while Charlie and Marty get a layout of the land they’ll be traveling. Once they finish, they lift their gazes to me and wait for further instruction, but I want to wait for William to arrive since I knew that he wasn’t going to be pleased with the plan that was about to be laid out in front of everyone.“Why do you look so on edge?” Marty asks, eyeing me. “You look like you’re about to send someone off to their
[Denali’s POV]I sit, humming, as Serenity slowly begins to fall asleep. When she finally begins to relax in my arms, I feel my anxiety beginning to build again, but I try my best to keep it at bay.I was already aware of the fact that the meeting Rosco was holding involved leaving for where my father and his men waited. Would this be it? Would we finally get rid of the enemy so that our peaceful lives could return to normal?No. There was no chance of that happening, not anytime soon anyway. Once this was over, there would be the matter of whether or not our packmates were infected by the nue and finding records about my mother to see if my hunch about her being poisoned was true. Then there was whatever was going on behind Crystal Fang’s walls.“Why do things keep happening?” I sigh, getting up and taking Serenity to her crib. “Is it because I am just that unlucky?”Stop that. I think inwardly. I couldn’t let my poor me attitude return; I had grown and was stronger because I had Ros
[Denali’s POV]The feel of something warm and sticky pressing against my skin rouses me from my peaceful slumber. It is accompanied by a metallic scent that makes my stomach turn. Unable to stand it, I snap my eyes open and sit up, then fling the blanket off of me so that I can take in the blood that covers the sheet. Gasping, I try to make sense of what it is that I’m witnessing until a groan escapes Rosco.Eyes widening, I look over, and my heart drops while my stomach turns.“Rosco,” I whisper, reaching out and touching his cheek, which is hot to the touch. “Rosco!” I repeat, panic beginning to race through me. “Rosco, wake up!”As I speak, Rosco’s eyes slowly open, but it is like he isn’t fully able to see me. They’re bleary, and his skin is so pale and covered in sweat.No. This couldn’t be happening. No. I wouldn’t believe it, but the proof was in front of me.“Rosco, can you sit up?” I ask, continuing to take him in. “Come on, get up.”From what I could see, there were no visi
[Denali’s POV]I move forward, trying not to breathe through my nose or look too closely at the world around me. The groans of those infected echo around me, mixing in with the sounds of the nurses and doctors feet rushing along the floor. No one pays me attention. It’s like I’m a phantom here, and I guess with their minds occupied with the sick, no one really cared about me.I continue to move until I feel Rosco’s familiar essence. Once I’ve pinpointed where he is, I begin to move until I spot Maria coming out of a room, looking exhausted and covered in blood.“Maria,” I gasp, moving forward. “How are things?”“They’re…” She begins, worriedly biting her lip. “I’m not sure.”Not sure. If she was saying that, did it mean that even she wasn’t able to cure the infected of their ailment? If she couldn’t, then the only thing we could do was treat the sick and pray that they’d make it through.“There is only so much I can do.” She continues. “The illness the nue used is a strong one, and cu
[Denali’s POV]I stand in the doorway of Rosco’s room, unable to move. My eyes stay locked on the man who lays in bed motionless, with bandages covering his body and an IV attached to his skin that replenishes the blood that he has lost.Laying there like that, he looks so fragile, and it damn near kills me.No. I think inwardly, collecting myself. You can’t break down, not here, not now.Sucking in a few calming breaths, I begin to move, making my way into the room and then taking a seat beside my man. Once I’m comfortable, I reach out and grab his hand.For a moment, I don’t speak, as I just stare into his face, taking in his much too pale complexion and the dark circles beginning to form under his eyes.“Hey,” I whisper, bringing his hand to my lips and kissing it. “Don’t worry about things here.” I continue. “I’ve got them under control, so please just worry about getting better.”Growing quiet, I wait as if Rosco would respond to my words, though I know that he won’t.How was it
[Elise’s POV]I lean against a tree, watching as Serenity cooes happily between my legs. Beside me, William leans his head on my shoulder, watching the scene with me.“Must be nice.” I murmur, reaching out and letting her grab my finger. “To be so ignorantly oblivious to the danger that is surrounding not only us but her parents and pack.”“Let her be.” William responds, snuggling closer to me.Frowning, I give him a pointed look, but he simply remains in place, clearly enjoying using me as his personal pillow a bit too much.“Excuse me,” I finally huff, nudging his head. “What do you think you’re doing?”“Isn’t it obvious?” He asks me, giving me a look of amusement. “I’m comforting you.”“Don’t you think it is the other way around?” I counter.“I don’t know,” William chuckles. “Is focusing on something that annoys you helping you relax a bit?”For a moment, I don’t speak as I consider what he was saying, and when I realize that he was right, I feel a wave of annoyance rush through me
[William’s POV]I walk slowly, my irritation rising with each passing step and minute. Stopping, I turn and look at the man beside me and wait.“What?” My father asks, eyeing me curiously. “Is there something you want to say?”“Why are you here?”It was pretty fucking obvious what I would want to know. There was absolutely no reason for him to have come here with Uncle Hamilton and Aunt Naomi. His feelings about Rosco and anything that had to do with him were pretty obvious.“I can’t be concerned?” My father asks, giving me an ironic look. “Is that what you’re saying?”“Given your actions just the other day, no.”Goddess, I wasn’t in the mood to be dealing with this shit.“If you just came here to attempt to get me to go back to Crystal Fang once again, then...”“I didn’t.” My father says firmly. “You’ve made it clear that you are going to disobey my wishes, so I won’t try that again. I simply came because your uncle requested I do so.”Because Uncle Hamilton requested it, he came alo
[William’s POV]I stare down at the infant in my arms while Elise stares at me in amusement.“Famous last words.” She chuckles, beginning to move. “Since you’ve so graciously offered to care for her, let’s go and get her some diapers and formula. I’m sure she would prefer titty milk, but that just isn’t an option right now.”Nodding, I allow Elise to lead me out into the hall once more so we can make our way to Denali and Rosco’s room, but when we reach it, I stare at the door hesitantly.“Think it’s alright for us to go in there?” I ask, turning my gaze to Elise. “I mean, they’re not there and…”“And I was given the task of taking care of their princess.” She shrugs. “Don’t tell me that you’re afraid of breaking and entering.”Letting out a laugh, Elise heads into the room but stops in the center of the room while a hiss of shock escapes her. “What is it?” I ask, coming to join her. “What hap…”The rest of my words get lost in my throat as I take in the bloody scene. Fuck, it looked