Page 80 of Fallout

But I know it is. I can feel it in my very soul.

Parker is dead.

Our plans for the future are gone.

My soulmate is gone.

It’s the last thing I think before the world fades to black.

19

I will always come for you.

Henley

Will doesn’t stop moving until I’m outside the building, but I fight him every step of the way.

“Henley, we have to get out of here. It’s what Parker would want,” Will says.

The fight drains out of me as I break down into sobs. I press my face against Will’s shoulder and he freezes for a moment.

“Are you okay?” he inquires, then mumbles something under his breath that I can’t hear. “Forget I said that. Of course you’re not okay.”

Will stands there, just holding me against him. I’m not sure he even knows what to do now.

I can’t believe that just happened.

Parker just…

“Will!” Somebody shouts from behind us.

Will turns around to face the speaker. I spot a familiar guy that I recognize from the pack, but I can’t remember his name.

“Bring her in here. You’ve got to see this,” the guy says, then turns around and runs back inside.

Will follows without hesitation. He carries me inside. The crowd parts way for us as we make our way toward the base of the stairs—toward where Parker is lying. I squeeze my eyes shut and bury my face in Will’s neck, not wanting to see my soulmate like this.

Will was right to take me away.

“Will, I can’t.” I shake my head, unwilling to open my eyes. “Please.”

“Henley, look,” Will says, the awe clear in his voice.

Something in his tone has me opening my eyes. When I see, I see steam rising from Parker’s mangled body. I’m about to ask what is happening when suddenly, Parker’s entire body catches on fire. The wolf shifters around us jump back, but Will stands there, unafraid.

My jaw drops open as I realize what’s happening.

“Is this what happened last time?” I ask. “When I got hit by that truck?”

Will nods wordlessly.

Something bubbles up in my gut—something that feels an awful lot like hope.

“But how can it be?” I ask. “He’s not a phoenix. He’s a wolf shifter.”

Will, still looking at Parker with wide eyes, answers, “But his soulmate is a phoenix. And the knowledge of phoenixes has been lost to us. For all we know, a phoenix can share their magic with their mate.”

I’m not going to argue against it. This is nothing short of a miracle.