Page 69 of Fallout

“It’s not their fault,” I tell him, keeping my voice soft. “I did this to myself. Actually, most of my injuries are self inflicted.” I rub at my sore tailbone.

“Most?” Parker’s voice is low and growly.

Yeah, okay. Maybe now isn’t the time to tell him about all my injuries.

I clear my throat. “So, am I to assume by your presence that Will and Blaine are off duty?”

Parker stays quiet, his golden eyes on Will and Blaine behind me.

I step up on the tips of my toes and attempt to embrace him. “I missed you. But my dad isn’t home, so we should probably go to your house.”

Parker puts an arm around me and scoops me closer to him. “I missed you, too.”

I hear the sound of footsteps walking away.

Smart of Will and Blaine to flee while they can.

“We will be talking about this later,” Parker says.

I glance up and see that he’s looking at Will and Blaine’s retreating figures and not me.

“Just remember, it was my idea. I asked them to teach me.” I give him a stern look. “You will not be punishing them for doing what I asked.”

Parker smirks, shaking his head. “Will’s right—you are stubborn.”

I laugh. “And you’re stuck with me because we’re mates.”

Parker’s smirk grows into a full, dimple showing smile. He leans down, pressing his forehead against mine. “You say it like it’s a chore or something, but it’s not. I promise you, Henley, you and I are going to have a very happy life together.”

My breath gets caught in my throat.

He’s right—we will be happy together. And I can’t wait for whatever the future holds for us.

“I love you,” I tell him, right before pressing a gentle kiss to his lips.

His arms tighten around me. “I love you, Henley. More than anything in the world.”

16

He’s not finished with you.

Henley

Despite Parker’s protests, Will and Blaine continue their fighting lessens. And even as November fades to December, no matter how much time passes, I still suck at fighting. However, Blaine promises that I am improving.

It’s been a whole month since we’ve heard anything from the phoenix. He hasn’t been at school, he hasn’t been spotted on pack lands—nothing. Not that it’s stopped the wolf shifters from looking for him. Parker and the others go out on frequent patrols and I am under constant guard duty. I know that multiple wolves guard my house while I’m sleeping and nights when my dad is working, I stay at Parker’s house.

I chuckle thinking about how Parker’s parents put me on an entirely different floor on the opposite side of the house from Parker. Parker complains about it, but I think it’s hilarious. It’s not like Parker could sneak around in his house anyway—his parents have supernatural hearing.

I sit in the living room of Parker’s house. The youngest of his siblings are asleep, so things are actually quiet for once. About the only time his house is quiet is when his siblings are asleep.

I sip at a cup of hot chocolate that Mrs. Thorne made for me. Parker sits beside me, finishing up some homework. He has been so busy lately that he’s gotten behind in his schooling. His dad has him working so hard.

Parker’s parents have already gone to bed, though I know they’re listening. We have a very strict ‘curfew.’ We are both to be in our respective bedrooms by eleven o’clock on weeknights. Parker complains that he hasn’t had a bedtime since he was ten, but even he won’t go against his parent’s wishes. I know that he finds comfort in knowing I’m so close at night. He never did like that I stayed at home by myself so much.

I drink the last of my hot chocolate and get up to wash my mug. I put it on the drying rack and walk back into the living room where Parker is writing as fast as he can. I sit down beside him and grab the sock that I’m working on. When Parker’s mom found out that I enjoy knitting, she requested a pair of socks—I’ve already made her two pairs since she asked. She loves them and wears them around the house all the time. Since she loves them so much, I’ve decided to make her a whole bunch of them. I’m hoping to give her quite a few for Christmas.

Parker glances from his book to me, his lips turning up in the corner.