34

What’s wrong? Bodey turned to me, examining my face.

I didn’t consider Oregon trying to take over the rest of the states. Lynerd could be coordinating more attacks. My parents and childhood pack were no longer tied to me. All this time, I’d thought I’d be relieved once I was free, but now I felt a deep ache from losing my links to Theo, Mom, Stevie, and even Pearl. What if my family gets hurt? And we need to inform all the alphas about Oregon leaving. I’d been so consumed with Bodey and his injuries that I hadn’t considered the impact of losing Oregon on the rest of our people. What kind of queen was I turning out to be?

We’ll make sure that doesn’t happen. I’ll reach out to the alphas in the Northwest Territory to spread the word, Bodey vowed. We’ll return home and make sure we protect them.

My heart sank, and I thought about Bodey driving after everything he’d gone through. I connected with him, Are you sure you’re up for driving? You’re still healing, and I hate to put that pressur