Page 318 of Pucking Feral: Part Two

I drop a twenty on the counter, collect the bag, and don't wait for change.

Ivy catches up with me at the door. "You okay?"

"Perfectly fine."

I hold the door open for her. She ducks under my arm with a cute little "thanks," already trotting briskly to the SUV. I follow, watching her open the back door on Wraith's side.

He's in the same position, slumped with his arms crossed, eyes half-open and tired. The strained breathing hasn't improved.

"Hey," Ivy says gently, holding up a water bottle. "Drink."

His hand comes up slowly and takes it.

I set the grocery bag on the passenger seat and lean against the side of the SUV, watching through the open rear door.

Wraith unscrews the cap.

And he doesn't turn away or angle his body to hide.

I watch in surprise as he tips his head back, parts his jaws, and pours the water directly into the back of his open mouth. Like a dragon would. Some of it runs out through his sharp teeth, trickling down his scarred jaw and soaking his shirt. He drops the bottle on the floor at his boots when he's done and lets his head fall back against the headrest with a soft, shaky growl of a sigh.

He's either too deep in pain to care about the performance of normalcy, or he's stopped performing entirely.

I'm not sure which is worse.

Ivy is staring at him in utter shock, and I know it isn't because the brave little omega is disturbed. She reaches over and adjusts the collar of his hoodie where water soaked through, as if that might help.

He lets her, or perhaps he doesn't notice.

"I got you jerky," she says softly. "Mushroom and black pepper. Your favorite."

He manages a faint nod. Thanks.

She watches him for another second, then reaches down and rests her palm on his forearm. I catch her holding her breath and subtly pressing her fingertips against his pulse point before turning to me.

Through our fresh bond, I feel her fear as if it's mine.

"Actually," she says, "I'm going to sit in the back. If that's okay."

"I'm already mourning my co-pilot," I say somberly.

She manages another grin, already climbing over Wraith to get to the other seat. "You'll survive."

I close the door behind her and slide behind the wheel, adjusting the mirror so I can see the back seat better. In the reflection, Ivy is buckling herself up beside Wraith. She tucks herself under his arm, pulls his hand into her lap, and laces their fingers together.

I adjust the mirror back.

Some things aren't mine to watch.

The Cedarbrook exit is marked by a faded green sign peppered with buckshot holes.

How cute.

I take the exit and the road narrows immediately, asphalt crumbling at the edges where the forest is taking over enough to turn the two-lane road into a one-lane death trap. Dense pine presses in from both sides, branches scraping the roof of Wraith's SUV.

Hope he has good insurance.

"Welcome to Cedarbrook," Ivy murmurs from the back seat.