Monroe stood, still reluctant to leave me. “Ellora will be right back…”
“It’s okay. I’ll be fine,” I reassured her.
With that, they headed down the hall, leaving me alone with my chaotic thoughts and gut-wrenching fears. Kicking off the huge flip-flops I’d borrowed from Copeland, I tucked my legs against my chest and wrapped my arms around them. My eyes landed on the large grandfather clock in the corner and followed the second hand as it moved around the gold-plated face. It had been almost ten minutes when Ellora reappeared.
“Here we go.” She was carrying a small tray and handed me a steaming mug of hot chocolate.
I took the offered drink, more to have something to do with my hands than from an eagerness to drink it. Any other time, I’d have loved the treat, but with my stomach churning as though it was making butter back in the 1800s, I wasn’t sure I could keep anything down.
We sat in silence, listening to the clock tick away the passing minutes, before she spoke again. “If you’re okay by yourself fora little while, I have a quick errand to run.” Ellora chewed her bottom lip between her perfect white teeth, obviously torn about leaving me.
“I’m fine.” Forcing a smile to my lips, I set my mug on the table next to me. “I think I’ll try to take a quick nap while I wait for the doctors to give me an update. Last night was rough.”
Ellora hopped from her seat and pulled me into a tight hug. “I can’t even imagine what you’re going through. Yes, try to sleep for a bit.”
I thought I’d cried out all my tears, but my eyes instantly began to water. It was one thing to be treated with kindness from the men who were bound to me as mates, but it was something completely different to experience it from female shifters. I’d had plenty of female friends as a child, but as I started questioning things and then moved on to rebelling against the arbitrary rules, things had changed.
Worried that I’d be a bad influence, the older females did their best to limit the amount of time that was spent between my friends and myself. I knew I’d be punished for challenging the council’s authority, but despite that, I found it impossible to keep my head down and my mouth closed. Anyone perceived to be my ally or friend would face similar consequences, so I didn’t blame the other girls for avoiding me as we grew older.
Ellora grabbed a throw blanket from a basket on the floor and tucked it around me. My chest warmed as I watched her bright blue ponytail swing with each step she took as she left the room. It had been less than an hour, but I already knew Monroe and Ellora were going to be amazing friends. My life had changed so much in such a short time.
I could be happy here… as long as I have my mates at my side.
Overwhelmed by mental and physical exhaustion, I closed my eyes and dropped my head back against the leather chair.
Imust have dozed off, because the next thing I heard was the sound of soft whispers. I slowly opened my eyes, then bolted upright in confusion, not remembering where I was.
“Hey, it’s okay.” Monroe leaned forward, catching my frantic gaze. “You were asleep. We’re still in the waiting area.”
My galloping heart slowed as the room and the two women sitting in the chairs on either side of me came into focus. “Linc? Copeland? How are they?”
The corner of Monroe’s mouth turned down in a frown. “Nothing the doctors have tried has made any difference. Fletcher told us everything he knows, and we informed the medical staff, but they simply don’t know where to even start.” Seeing my distress, she was quick to add, “Don’t lose hope! They are still alive, and that’s the most important thing. No one is going to give up trying to save them.”
I swallowed hard, unable to speak. I’d feel a lot better if we knew more about what we were dealing with, but it wasn’t like Blackberry Burrow was going to hand over records to the pack about a weapon they’d created specifically to kill wolves.
Ellora cleared her throat and bent to snatch a bag from the floor. “I’m sure you’ll want to visit the shops and pick out stuff, but I couldn’t resist grabbing a couple of outfits so you could at least be more comfortable. Since no one has seen you shopping in town yet, we figured the men were probably keeping you hostage.” Her eyes twinkled with a knowing look. “If I weren’t so stubborn, I think mine would still be holding me hostage.”
Monroe nodded. “Yes. I thought being married to the alpha was tough, but Ellora’s mate, Mac, takes the prize for pure bossiness.”
They were back to trying to distract me. Needing to think about anything other than losing my mates, I appreciated it. “Mac?”
“Yes. He can be a little intimidating.” Ellora rolled her eyes. “But he’s an absolute teddy bear when you get to know him.”
“I’m sure you’re right, but everyone is too terrified to get close enough to find out,” Monroe teased.
Ellora laughed. “That’s probably true!”
“Maybe when the guys are feeling better, we can have a girls’ day out,” Monroe suggested. “That could be a lot of fun.”
Since I had never been on a girls’ day out, I had no idea if it would be fun or not. But I thought I would enjoy spending the day with them when I wasn’t so stressed about my mates.
“Here.” Ellora handed me a glossy pink shopping bag. “There’s a bathroom across the hallway. You can go in there and change. We’re about the same size, so I think everything should fit.”
“Are you sure?” I reached out to take the bag but stopped, hesitating.
It would be nice to wear clothes that actually fit, but I didn’t have money to reimburse her.
“You might as well take them because she won’t take no for an answer.” Monroe twisted the cap off a water bottle and took a sip.
