The Pack's Nemesis (Quirin's Story) novel Chapter 84

Christy

I was woken by the sounds of the pack’s excitement. The feeling in the pack made me nervous and scared and I suddenly felt vulnerable and alone. Tears began streaking down my cheeks as fear began to overwhelm me.

“Hey. Are you in pain? What’s the matter?” Deborah asks me. She’s the one sitting with me today.

“What’s going on? Are we under attack?”

“No, I’m not sure exactly what’s going on. I can find out if you want me to,” she says, but I shake my head quickly.

“Don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me,” I say to her.

“I’m right here. You’re safe,” she says soothingly. I’m not sure I’ll ever feel safe again. Every time I close my eyes, I see him. I’m back in that bathroom with Arlo, terrified, dominated, and abused. Luna Yara said I could go back to the packhouse today, but I’m not sure that will be any better. What will the pack say to me? How will they look at me?

I hear the doors to the pack hospital open and Deborah goes to look into the hallway.

“Oh, hello Alphas, hello Lunas,” she says.

“Kennedy, go with your mother. I’m going to check on Christy,” I hear Alpha say. Luna Yara pokes her head into the room first.

“I’m going to get my daughter settled, then I’ll be back to check on you,” she says, then her gaze focuses on me and she steps into the room. “Christy?”

I feel my lips trembling as tears begin running down my cheeks again. “What’s going on?” I ask.

“I’ve got this Luna. Go help Kennedy and I’ll be in soon,” Alpha says, stepping in behind her.

Luna Yara steps back out and Alpha nods at Deborah to join her. When he walks to the bed, a feeling of calm protectiveness washes over me. He wipes the tears from my cheeks then pulls up a chair, taking my hand in his.

“What has you frightened, Christy?” he asks gently. I’ve never heard Alpha speak so softly before.

“What’s going on, Alpha? The pack feels ... I don’t what they feel like,” I tell him.

“The trackers found Slater. They are angry and they want him to pay for what he did to Kennedy and to you.”

“To me?” I ask. Why would the pack care about what happened to me? And Slater may be Arlo’s brother, but he was in the cells when Arlo attacked me.

“Luna Kennedy may have let the pack know how very angry and disappointed she was that no one protected you, Christy. That includes me. I should have known what was going on. You should have felt comfortable coming to me, to know that I would have protected you. The fact that you didn’t tells me everything I need to know about how poorly I was running this pack.”

“Oh no, Alpha ...” I begin, but he holds up a finger.

“If you had felt comfortable coming to me, none of this would have happened. Things are changing quickly in this pack, Christy. I know you’ve been in the hospital recovering, but when you return to the packhouse, you’ll feel the difference. Anyone who is not on board with those changes will be required to leave the pack. Anyone who feels scared or threatened by any pack member needs to feel comfortable coming to me, Beta Kier, or Luna Kennedy,” he says, then smiles.

“Did you hear that Arianna accepted Kier and they’ve now marked and mated?” he asks me.

“She did it?” I ask, excited for my friend.

“She did, and the pack couldn’t be happier about it.”

“Really?”

“Really. Kennedy has taught all of us a lot about the different kinds of strength that our pack members bring to the pack. The warriors got a firsthand look at how much we underestimate our omegas when Kennedy put the omegas on strike and we had to cook for ourselves.”

I’d heard from the other omegas how difficult it was to sit back and watch the warriors burn meal after meal.

“We’re becoming a family, Christy. It’s the way our pack should have been run from the beginning, but none of us, including me, had a good family life to pull from. Kennedy did, and she’s leading us into a new way of thinking and living. I don’t want you to be afraid. I know you have a lot to work through but know that I am here for you. Kennedy is here for you. Betas Kier and Arianna are here for you. Your friends are here for you and the warriors are here for you too. You are not alone. You are safe and you are loved.”

“Remember, Christy. If you need anything at all, ever, I’m here for you,” he says, holding my gaze so I know he means it.

“Thank you, Alpha.”

We don’t say anything until he walks out the door, then Leo turns to me.

“I promise you, Christy, if you give me a second chance, I will be the best mate I can possibly be for you. I don’t want you to feel like you need to go to Alpha if you need something. I want you to come to me. If you’re scared, if you’re hurt, if you’re happy, I want to be the first person you think of to share that with,” he says.

I look down at our clasped hands then frown. “You’re bleeding.”

He shrugs. “They found Slater. Alpha let us have him. I punched him several times for you. But then I realized that what I really wanted was to be here making sure that you are okay. I was worried that the excitement of the pack had scared you.”

“It did. But then Alpha came in to talk to me,” I say.

“I should have come sooner. I'm sorry. I’m not perfect, Christy, and I’m sure I’ll make mistakes, but I truly do want to be the best mate I can be for you. I wanted to kill Slater for having anything at all to do with what happened to you, but making sure you were okay was more important,” he says, then smiles at me. “If you say that pummeling him is more important, I’ll gladly go back out there and continue using him as a punching bag,” he says, making me smile.

“I’d rather you stay here with me.”

“Then here is where I’ll stay. As long as you want me to be here,” he says softly. “You look tired. Why don’t you get some rest. I won’t go anywhere. You seem to sleep better when I’m here.”

I nod. When he’s here, he somehow manages to keep the nightmares at bay.

I close my eyes. I’m just starting to fall asleep when I feel Leo’s warm lips press against my forehead. “I love you, Christy,” he says, barely above a whisper.

His words send warmth spreading through my body and I fall into a calm, peaceful sleep.