Page 6 of Fallout

“I’ll follow,” Blaine says.

I keep my eyes on Henley as we take off. Her brown hair is disheveled, so I push the waves back from her face. My heart pounds painfully in my chest as I wait for her to wake.

“You know she can’t keep this up,” Will says.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

He waves his hand toward her unconscious form. “She needs to figure out how to block the thoughts of humans. She can’t keep doing this to herself.”

I sigh. “I know, but what can I do to teach her? We don’t even know what kind of supernatural she is.”

My mind goes back to my earlier conversation with my father. I didn’t have time to think about it before I came for Henley, but maybe he has a point. Maybe phoenixes have stayed hidden from other supernaturals. I wouldn’t blame them for that—history hasn’t exactly been kind to powerful supernaturals. The Dragon War is proof of that. And, of course, the elves, which were completely wiped out of existence. If Henley is as powerful as I believe she is, her species was smart to stay hidden.

So how do I go about helping her with her powers? It’s not like I want to alert others to her existence. What if they do think she’s too powerful and they come after her? How many times can she evade death? There has to be a limit to these things.

“We have to protect her,” Will says as if he can read my mind.

“Do you think we can talk her into homeschooling?” I ask.

Will snorts. “Not likely. She’s stubborn. As long as we go to school, she will too. Unless you can convince your father to change his mind, there is no chance she’ll stay home by herself.”

He’s not wrong. My mate is as stubborn as she is beautiful.

“We’ll figure out something.” Will stops the Jeep in front of my house. My dad is standing on the front porch and he runs toward my Jeep when it comes to a stop.

“What happened?” Dad asks when he sees me carrying Henley in my arms.

I narrow my eyes at him. “This is what happens when you force me to leave her at school. She needs me.”

“I need you. You’re going to be alpha one day and you need to know how to run this pack,” Dad practically growls the words. “And when there is an unknown supernatural on pack land, I expect you to be here. Your mate will be fine. She is strong.”

She is wrong.

As much as I hate to admit it, he’s right. I do need to learn how to run the pack. I just hate leaving Henley.

“I’m sorry.” Dad sighs. “I shouldn’t yell at you when your mate is unconscious. Take her upstairs to your room and I’ll call Steve.”

Steve is our pack doctor. He’s a magical healer, but he also has a medical degree. There is nobody better than him to take care of her.

Will rushes ahead of me to open the door to the house. I walk inside, Will and Blaine both following behind. Neither of them are willing to leave Henley’s side until they know she’s all right.

When we get to my room, I lay her on the bed. I take her shoes off and Blaine puts a throw blanket over the top of her. I sit down by her, taking her hand in mine. I’m not sure if physical contact will help her wake up sooner, but I don’t want to take any chances.

“What was your dad talking about?” Blaine asks. “About an unknown supernatural on pack land.”

He probably doesn’t want me telling anybody, but this is Blaine and Will. I don’t keep secrets from my best friends. And considering one of them will be around Henley when I’m not, I’d rather them know what’s going on.

“Somebody has been on pack land. Dad said it’s an unfamiliar scent, but that it reminds him of Henley.” I keep my eyes on my mate as I say it.

Blaine gasps. “Seriously?”

“Do you think there are more like her?” Will asks thoughtfully.

I glance up. “There must be, right? How else would she exist?”

“If that’s so, why doesn’t this supernatural make their presence known?” Blaine asks. “Unless they’re hiding something.”

Which is what scares me.