"Return him to us unharmed and we leave without harming anyone," he threatened.
I felt the alpha in me rise up with the challenge. Cade tensed beside him.
"You have twenty-four hours to return him to us," Travis said, issuing their final threat.
And with that, they left.
Crystal
I watched the entire interaction between the Keepers and the pack from my window. Hiding behind the curtain to ensure I wasn't seen, I clutched the fabric so hard my knuckles turned white.
Seeing Travis again ignited the fear I had experienced the first time I met him. I didn't know what to think of Harrison. He was a Keeper—one of them—yet he had helped me escape. Why? It made no sense.
I had waited anxiously, hoping and praying the Keepers would leave without incident. Kyle had refused to allow them to intimidate him and he had held his ground. I felt proud that he was mine.
Cade and Blake had stood beside him. This technically wasn't their fight but they would not turn their backs on Kyle. Kyle had saved them when Victor had attacked them, intent on crushing them.
And there was no guarantee that they would stop with just our pack.
When Travis spotted Dean standing in among the fighters, I had held my breath. Would they know I was still here?
It's not possible,I told myself. With every breath, I concentrated on the group I was watching. I studied each little movement, look.
Then, just when I couldn't take it anymore, the Keepers left. Feeling lightheaded like I had held my breath for the entire time they had been there, I leaned against the wall, taking in a deep breath before releasing it. Minutes later the door to the room opened suddenly and Kyle strode in.
"It's okay," he said, gathering me into his arms. Could he still feel my emotions through the wolfsbane I was being dosed with, or had he known that the Keepers visit would upset me so much?
"I'm sorry," I said, looking up at him, hating that it put more pressure on him.
"It's okay," he repeated.
I hugged him tighter and lay my head against his chest.
"What did I do to deserve you?" I whispered, feeling emotional.
"Nothing. Everything you are is perfect for me. I'm thankful for every day I have with you." He hugged me closer, and I felt guilty for every day I had taken from him. I released him and stepped back.
"I'm sorry," I told him again, swallowing hard.
"What are you sorry for?" he asked, looking puzzled.
"For running away from you, and this," I said. "I should have given you a chance to help me. I should have trusted you."
"You don't have anything to be sorry for. We can't live in the past," he said, reaching for my hand. "We need to let it go and live in the present."
I nodded. "Yes."
The fear of what would happen with the Keepers hung over us like a dark cloud. There was no guarantee of any future between us.
"What did they say?" I asked, needing to know how bad it was going to be.
"They've given us twenty-four hours to release Flynn."
The look in his eyes confirmed that letting Flynn go wasn't an option, like I had suspected already.
"You can't," I said. I had to change his mind. I couldn't allow him to sacrifice Flynn. It would lead to a war with the Keepers. So much blood would be spilled. I just couldn't.
"I'm not going over this again with you." His tone changed suddenly. He turned away from me and ran a hand through his hair.
