Page 66 of Beautiful Madness

“Max,” I said, softly.

He backed up. “No. Keepwhatever you’re about to say to yourself. I don’t want to hear it.” Then he puthis hands to his face to hide even as he asked the question. “Is he dead? You’dbetter tell me he’s not fucking dead.”

I took his shoulders. “Max—”

“If you let him die, KaitSilver, I will never forgive you. Never!”

“Shut your fucking mouth,” Samsaid.

Lucy and my mother stood besidehim. Lucy watched him with her crazy eyes, but he didn’t even notice her eyes.He was too insane with worry over Joe. My mother hurried to put her arms aroundhim.

“Sweetie,” she said. “He’s notdead. Not exactly.”

“What does that even mean?” Helooked at us all with eyes too wide, and there was understanding deep insidethem. But it was not an understanding he wanted to believe. “How can he be “notexactly” dead? Is he fucking breathing?”

Sam opened his mouth.

“Shut it, Sam,” I muttered. ThenI softened my voice for Max. “I’m just going to say it. Max, Joe was attacked bymagic that his human body could not survive. Bastien took him. He’ll come backto us, but he won’t be the same. Do you understand?”

“Bastien,” he said. “Bastienthe county vampire master? That Bastien?”

“Yes.” I only watched him,waiting to see what he would need.

His wide stare went suddenlyblank. “Then he reallyisdead,” he said, finally, and he turned to walkaway.

My mother started to hurryafter him, but I stopped her. “He’s going to need some time, Mom. Leave him be.He’ll let us know when he needs us.”

“Okay,” she whispered. “Poor,poor little thing.”

I was so tired that my bones weretoo heavy for my skin to carry. “Where’s Rick?”

“He said to tell you he’d talkto you soon,” Lucy said. “He needed to be alone, too.”

I nodded, and then, unable todelay for a moment longer, I jogged a few steps away and burst into my shift.Into my wolf. Jared would soon follow, and he would find me.

Always.

The awful blood magic thatFrederick Axton and his seer had created was dead. The effects of that magic,though, would live on forever.

ChapterThirty-Five

Forever.

I glanced at the alpha as Itrotted through the woods, my body knitting, my mind healing, my heart full.Yes, things were different, but I understood how much worse they might havebeen.

Finally, when my body wasready, I padded into a stream, shifted to my woman, and bathed as well as Icould. Jared bathed with me, keeping me warm—a little too warm—with his hands,his lips, his love.

Afterward, we lay under a treein the dry leaves and slept, unwilling to give up our peace and our alone timetoo quickly. Some of the warriors spread out in the woods around us, keepingwatch, and I shed tears for Wyatt and the wolves who hadn’t made it through thebattle at the caves.

I shed tears for Joe, and Max,and the detective, and I shed tears for myself. But then I lay in the alpha’sarms, my heart full, and I was truly happy.

When I woke up, Jared wasquietly watching me, and the sun was shining. “Good morning,” I said,stretching.

He kissed my forehead. “Are youready?”

I knew what he was asking. Inodded. “I’m ready for everything.”

Our pack needed us. Life was waiting.There were enemies to fight and people to protect, and that would not change.