Page 28 of Pucking Feral: Part Two

But I nod anyway because she's trying to help and I don't know how to tell her nothing will make this better.

Nothing will be the same after she saw.

The walk back to the SUV is a blur. Thane leads, breaking trail through the wet underbrush. Ivy stays close to my side, her hand finding mine again, holding on like she's afraid I'll disappear if she lets go.

Maybe I should.

Maybe that would be better for her.

Thane takes the driver's seat without asking. But I'm in no condition to drive anyway. Barely in condition to exist.

And Ivy looks exhausted.

My fault.

"You want the back?" he asks, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

I nod, climbing into the back of the SUV, folding my massive frame into the space. Ivy follows without hesitation, settling beside me instead of taking the front passenger seat for some reason.

She curls against my side, her head resting on my chest. I keep my face turned toward the window, watching the fog roll past. Trees emerge from the mist like ghosts, then disappear just as quickly.

Everything feels like a dream.

Or a fucking nightmare I can't wake up from.

Chapter 5

Thane

Nobody's said a word since the county line.

I check the mirror again.

Wraith's head is turned to the window, eyes vacant. Ivy's asleep against his chest, her skirt shifted slightly to reveal the bandage on her thigh I'm pretending I didn't see.

There's a heavy fog over our city today. Fitting. Our pack house materializes out of it in the distance as I take a left down the ramp that leads into the parking garage.

I cut the engine and the sudden silence feels loud.

Ivy stirs in the back, stretching with a sleepy little squeak. Wraith blinks blearily down at her over the wet scarf clinging to his lower face, still out of it.

"You want a minute?" I mumble to Wraith.

He shakes his head.

Knowing my brother, he wants a million fucking minutes, and to disappear, probably, and that still wouldn't be enough.

So I guess he isn't taking any at all.

We get our bags out of the SUV and head for the fire escape. I watch him lift Ivy to the fire escape by her waist, hovering in case she slips on the wet rungs. She climbs ahead of him, sure-footed despite the dampness from the rain and fog.

Wraith shadows her, constantly adjusting the scarf, and I watch, unsure if he wants me to follow.

Halfway up, Ivy pauses and looks back at me.

"Can he come?" she asks Wraith quietly. "Or do you need it to just be us?"

Wraith's gaze flicks between us. Between Ivy's hopeful expression, and my careful neutrality I'm managing to keep on my face even though I'm praying he says yes.