Page 55 of Ruthless Moon
“I doubt it.”
“I married a man I wasn’t supposed to marry because he was my soul mate. Then separated from said mate to protect each other and ran across the country, pregnant, and threw myself on the mercy of your pack. And I’ve never seen him again.”
Fuck.I’m not sure how I would handle something like that happening with Gen, but it wouldn’t be well. I shake my head slowly. “Do you know what happened to him?”
“I know he’s alive. I can feel that. But I can’t look for him. And he can’t look for me. We’d both be hunted and either imprisoned and tortured or just killed outright. So you see, young man, I understand a lot.” Meredith’s eyes are glassy and tear-filled, but not a single one spills down her cheek.
I’m not sure I’d survive what she has survived.
Gen emerges from the bathroom, enveloped in a cloud of steam. She pulls a towel tight around her as the bathroom door swings shut behind her. Her face has flushed to a rosy pink from the hot water. She sweeps her long blonde hair up into a haphazard twist, deftly securing it on top of her head with a large dangerous-looking plastic claw.
“What brings you out here?” she asks, sliding her feet into her slippers and padding over to the coffee table. Her tone is casual, her movements fluid, as if their sudden appearance is the most normal thing in the world.
“We brought you clothes for the rehearsal dinner so you didn’t have to go back to your father’s house. Grabbed your makeup bag and a bunch of stuff from your bathroom too.” Rachel lifts a large tote into the air.
Relief washes worry from Gen’s face. “Thanks. I appreciate that a lot. The last place I want to be is back there.”
She doesn’t look at me.
I can’t look anywhere else.
They’re talking about the wedding. They’re talking about the event that will soon permanently steal her from me. And then I really will have to leave.
“Rehearsal starts in the town square at five, then dinner is at six-thirty.” Rachel puts a duffel on the couch and then lays a puffy white garment bag over the back.
My heart tightens, pain lancing through my chest like acid.
It’s Gen’s wedding dress.
Hell.I’m not sure how I’m going to survive seeing her in her dress.
“I’ll let you ladies talk. Gen, I’ll be outside with Jackson and Bast if you need me.” I meet her gaze and swallow my pain. I can’t make this harder on her. I have to be strong.
We’re doing the right thing.
Gen gives me a weak smile and a barely there nod.
I slip out the cabin door into the bright sunlight of the morning, listen for a moment, seeking my brothers’ heartbeats. I find them and walk off the porch into the trees.
It’ll be better if I spend some time outside of the cabin.
Less temptation.
I’ll see her tonight for the run.
It’ll be better this way.
Easier for both of us.
Chapter Nineteen
Things Can Always Get Worse
IMOGEN GALLAGHER
Running. Hunting.
Liam and his brothers had been right there with me all night. The sharp sting of isolation I’d felt the previous night had been swept away, replaced by games of tag, teasing, and breakneck races.