Page 56 of Glass
He’ll never forgive me.
I take a step toward Peter, knowing my closest brother will offer me all the comfort I need as I fall apart. I only make it that one step before Felix is dragging me back to him.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
I shake my head profusely. “I’m so sorry. I just thought—”
“Poppy,” he cuts me off. Even though I feel like I’m being stabbed in the lungs as I draw in ragged, uneven breaths, I make myself look him in the eyes. I owe him that much. “This is not how I imagined things going.”
We stare at each other as if no one else is there, and I’m only vaguely aware that they’re all staring at us anyway. I can’t read Felix’s expression.
“I’m sorry,” I repeat. I’m already mentally packing my bags and panicking about what will happen with the kids. I wonder how fast he’ll expect me to leave. Surely one of my siblings will give me a ride, but where am I supposed to go from here?
“Poppy.” He sounds exasperated as my name drips from his lips. “Stop looking at me like I’m a monster. I risked everything to keep you safe once, and maybe it makes me a selfish bastard, but I would do the same thing ten times over. As long as The Lost continues to serve its purpose, I don’t care who the hell considers us a sanctioned pack.” He glances over briefly to Tasha. “No offense.”
“None taken.” I can hear the smile in her voice. My chest expands with hope that I wasn’t comfortable feeling until now. I can feel happy tears prick in my eyes.
“This is it, then?” Felix asks, uncertainty still hovering over us. “This is what you need to feel good about staying?”
I nod. I want to know that we’re all protected. That if something happened to me, I wouldn’t wonder what was next for my siblings if they choose to stay here—and it will be their choice ultimately.
“Thank fucking Goddess,” Felix groans and kisses me in a way that’s downright indecent in front of the kids and my family. When he pulls away, he chokes up as he says, “I’m so damn grateful for whatever brought you here to me.”
“Elvis.” I’m grateful too.
“What?” He stares at me like I’m growing a second head.
“You can thank Elvis.” I laugh as I pull him down by the shirt collar to kiss me again. An embarrassingly loud cheer rises through the air from my family. I’m sure every other house in the East Point area of Swans Island can hear us, but I don’t care. This island, not far from Acadia, has a high population of The Lost shifters.
And now it’s mine too. The home I never thought I would have, filled with the family I always knew I would.