Page 53 of Fallout
“What about tomorrow? And the day after that?” Will crosses his arms over his chest. “She can’t keep suffering like this. You know what she is not, but it hasn’t helped anything.”
“I know that.” Parker’s voice is low and growly. He lets out a frustrated sigh. “I will figure it out. But for now, I am taking Henley home.”
Will gives him a curt nod. “I’ll bring her homework later.”
“Thank you,” I say to Will again.
He finally looks at me. “Don’t wait so long to tell me next time.”
Before I can respond, he turns and walks back into the classroom.
“He hates me.” I can’t help but frown at the thought. I don’t want Will to hate me. I want nothing more than for the two of us to be friends. He’s going to be one of Parker’s betas which means we’ll likely be spending a lot of time together. And even if he wasn’t a beta, he’s still part of Parker’s pack.
“I’m sorry.” Parker doesn’t bother trying to say that Will doesn’t hate me because we both know the truth.
Still, my chest aches at the animosity.
“I can walk,” I tell Parker, as he walks toward the exit, still carrying me.
“I know,” he responds but doesn’t move to put me down.
Knowing that’s the end of the discussion, I rest my head on his shoulder. “Wolf shifters are strong.”
He chuckles. “We are supernatural.”
Parker opens the door to the school with his hip and he easily carries me to the parking lot. He even manages to open the passenger side door to his Jeep with ease and he puts me down on the passenger seat. Even once I’m in, he keeps his hand carefully on my skin.
“Will you be okay if I stop touching you long enough to get in the driver’s seat?” Parker asks.
I nod. “We’re too far away for me to hear much.”
Parker studies me for a moment longer before he lets go. He shuts the door and races around to the driver’s side. As soon as he’s in, he grabs my hand in his. I’m hit with a calming sensation that will never get old.
I love how Parker makes me feel. The butterflies, the tingles, the racing heart—it will never get old. But even as I get to know him and discover more about him, I realize it’s deeper than the surface feelings. He’s my soulmate and we connect on a level that most people don’t get the chance to experience. I almost feel sorry for all the humans and supernaturals who don’t have soulmates.
My heart aches as I think about my dad, who only had a few weeks with his soulmate. I don’t know what I would do without Parker, but I don’t like to even think about it.
Parker drives the Jeep toward home. Since my dad is at work and he’s not allowed in the house when my dad isn’t home, we go to his house. His mom is at home with his youngest brother, Carson. When we walk through the front door, hand in hand, his mom comes to greet us. She doesn’t ask why we’re here, so I assumed Parker already let her know.
She steps forward, wrapping me in her warm embrace. “I’m so sorry you got sick. Are you feeling better?”
I nod as we pull back. Parker puts his arm around me and tugs me to his side. “I’m okay. Once Parker got there, I felt better.”
She frowns. “I wish he could be in all of your classes.”
“She could be if Dad would just give in and let the pack do school away from the humans,” Parker says, a bitterness to his tone.
Mrs. Thorne frowns, her forehead wrinkling. “I know, but your father is your alpha. It’s his decision and you must respect it. Someday, when you’re alpha, you’ll see that it’s not always easy to know what the right decision is.”
Parker sighs but drops the subject.
I imagine being a leader of a pack is very difficult. Wolf shifters tend to get along better than a group of humans would, but I know there are still arguments and disagreements. Parker and Will fight too much for me to believe anything different.
“I’m going to go make some lunch. Do you and Henley want something?” Mrs. Thorne asks.
“Please.” Parker’s body relaxes at the mention of food.
“You two go hang out and I’ll let you know when it’s done.” She gives Parker a stern look. “Keep your bedroom door open.”