Tia erased the four women’s memories of Ivan and the other three wolves. To keep our time in Lost River State Forest under wraps, I figured out each girl’s identity, and we took them home instead of the hospital to help clean them up. They had been abused by the wolves in more ways than one, and it might not have been my place to tell Tia to make them forget, but I thought it was for the best. The emotional trauma could easily destroy them, and I don’t want that horror being a part of them for the rest of their lives. All they will remember is getting drunk at a party, and they went home to sleep it off. Was it the right thing to do? Maybe, maybe not. It has to be better than remembering the truth. All that matters is that they’re safe. By the time we were done with them, morning had come, and the full moon was gone.
Zayne left Minnesota to avoid being questioned by the FBI. When I called Reed to tell him about Chris and Anthony and how I found Ivan, I left out the part where Zayne and Colin helped me. Reed is supposed to arrive soon with a team of FBI agents to recover Chris and Anthony’s bodies. Explaining to him what happened isn’t going to be easy.
I knock on Tia and Sawyer’s hotel room door, and Tia answers. She lets Colin and me in, and I walk over to stand beside the bed Sawyer is still passed out on. Tia blows out a sigh and sits on the bed with him. “We ready?”
Colin drapes his arm over my shoulders, and I nod. “As we’ll ever be. We need him awake before the FBI get here.” Tia holds a hand above Sawyer’s head and slowly waves it over his face.
He sucks in a deep breath and slowly opens his eyes. When he sees us all staring at him, he furrows his brows. “Do I have something on my face?”
Tia laughs and kisses him. “I’m so glad you’re feeling better. You had us all worried.”
Sawyer sits up and looks around. “What do you mean?”
Tia goes through the spiel about how he felt ill and stayed asleep for the past two days. It hurt my heart having to tell him about finding Chris and Anthony in the woods. He got right up and started getting ready, so we could go out and find Ivan, but I had to break the news that he was gone too. I feel bad for taking away his chance to avenge Chris and Anthony, but there’s no way he would’ve survived fighting against Ivan and the other wolves.
Sawyer’s eyes turn red, and he looks away as he sits back down on the bed. “I wish I could’ve been there.”
He wouldn’t look at me, but I could see the torment on his face. I sit down beside him. “Me too,” I answer in all honesty. “But Ivan and the men with him are gone.”
“How did you kill them?” he asks, turning to me. “You couldn’t have done it all by yourself.”
I look up at Colin and then back to him. “Let’s just say we got it handled. Maybe one day I’ll tell you.”
Sawyer glances over at Tia. “Why do I feel like you’re all keeping something from me?” When he focuses back on me, he stares into my eyes. “You don’t think I’ve noticed, but there’s something different about you. I can’t put my finger on it, but there are times when your eyes change. I thought it might be the lighting, but I don’t think that’s it.”
I want to tell him the truth because I trust him, but Tia needs to be honest with him about her situation first. If he can handle her having powers, I’m sure he can take me being a wolf. Placing a hand over his, I squeeze it and smile. “One day, Sawyer. That’s all I can say.”
My phone rings, and I stand so I can grab it out of my back pocket. Reed’s number flashes across the screen. “Hey,” I answer.
“I’m almost to the hotel. I wanted to see you before I meet the team that’s out retrieving Chris and Anthony’s bodies. I’ve already notified their families.” He blows out a sigh. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
My eyes burn. “Okay.”
I slide my phone back into my pocket. “Reed will be here soon,” I say, focusing on Sawyer. “Do you want to talk to him with me?”
He shrugs. “And say what? I wasn’t even with you. I was passed out here with the fucking flu. I’m too embarrassed even to admit it.”
A car door slams outside. “Okay. I’ll go by myself. For all he knows, you were with me. I won’t say otherwise.”
He nods. “Thanks. I feel like I let you down.”
“You could never let me down, Sawyer.” I turn to Colin, kiss his cheek, and walk out the door.
Reed parked across the parking lot and walks toward me, taking off his sunglasses. “I’m sorry you had to find Chris and Anthony the way you did. I just got off the phone with one of the guys out there in the park. He said it’s disturbing.”
Swallowing hard, I try not to envision the scene in my head. “It was.”
He stares at me and narrows his gaze against the sun. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the other list. I didn’t want you going after those men.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I huff. “Yeah, I wasn’t too happy about that. Did you not think I could handle it?”
“That’s not it,” he says, looking away. “The men on that list are the worst of the worst. To think of them doing something to you made me sick. I’m the one who chose to keep you from it.”
His sincerity warms my heart. “I appreciate you wanting to keep me safe, but I think I did pretty damn well.”
He focuses back on me and smiles. “I see that. You marked four men off that list. Do you want to tell me how you did it?”
I’ve thought about this for hours on what I was going to say, and nothing ever came to mind. A smile spreads across my face, and I simply say, “I fed them to the wolves.”
Reed lifts his brows and shakes his head. “All right, you don’t have to tell me. As long as they’re dead, I’m good with it.”
“Seriously?” I ask. “That’s it?”
Sliding his sunglasses back on, he stares at me, but I can still see a hint of darkness in those green eyes of his. “I don’t care how you do your job, Kami, just as long as you get it done without getting hurt.” He steps back toward his car. “Why don’t you take a break for a few weeks. I have a female recruit coming in after Thanksgiving. I’d like you to work with her for a couple of weeks.”
“I’d love to,” I say, feeling excitement bubble in my chest.
Reed nods. “Good. I’ll be in touch. Until then, take care of yourself.”
“Always.” I watch him leave, and Colin comes out to join me. He wraps his arms around my waist and kisses my neck. “Did you hear?” I ask him.
His arms tighten around me. “I did. Congratulations. It looks like we’ll be staying in Wyoming for a while. You know the next full moon is on Thanksgiving Day.”
Turning around in his arms, I slide my hands behind his neck. “Yes, it is. We should have a dinner at your house. I can invite my family, and we’ll invite yours. It’ll be a great night.”
He shakes his head. “There’s a problem with what you just said.”
“What?” I ask, furrowing my brows.
Pulling me closer, he rests his forehead to mine. “It’s not just my house, Kami. It’s ours. We may not be bonded yet, but we’re one. My home is your home now.”
My heart swells with love, and I know exactly what I want. “Then take me home. That’s where I want to be.”
His eyes search mine. “You sure? You don’t want to go back to Montana?”
“No,” I murmur. There’s a feeling inside of me that tells me this is the right move. Our vision showed us together at the Wyoming house, and that’s where we’re supposed to be. Lifting up on my toes, I kiss him and smile. “I love you, Colin Storm. Months ago, I never would’ve thought I’d say those words.”
Colin chuckles. “Months ago, I never thought I’d hear them. But I’m glad you came to your senses.” I smack his arm, and he nips my bottom lip to cut off what would’ve been a smart-ass reply. “I love you too, Kamille. All I can say is that I’m ready for the next full moon.”
I nod. “Me too.”
I’m more than ready for it.