Chapter 55
Jade
It took Tracey longer than I expected to come find me. As soon as Lucas saw her or scented her approach, he was up and gone. He couldn’t stand to be near her for too long. I wondered if it was because he was desperate for her approval and knew he couldn’t get it yet.
She sat down across from me. Her wiry curls were somewhat tamed in a braid down her back. Her skin was scrubbed clean and she actually wore a pink long sleeve top with black pants. I didn’t think I had ever seen her in pink before. It complimented her skin tone nicely.
I grinned at her. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”
A little smile materialized onto her face. “I missed you.”
I leaned over to pull her into my arms for a hug. Her hand brushed my stomach and I winced. She pulled out of my embrace and worry took over her features. “Do you need anything? I’m so sorry!”
I held my hands up. “I’m fine, it was only a little pain.”
Tracey looked around us in panic.
“Don’t be like that.” My voice broke.
Her brows pulled together. “Like what?”
“Like I’m going to break at any moment.”
She shook her head. “You just might.”
“I promise you, I’ve been through worse.”
She didn’t look so convinced.
“Okay, maybe not,” I shrugged. “But I will get better and when I do, I’ll be stronger for it.”
Her eyes wouldn’t meet mine. “All of this is my fault.”
“Is that why you won’t look at me?”
My friend didn’t answer but instead watched the woods. “Who is the wolf?”
I let out a groan. “Don’t go about changing the subject on me.”
She leaned back onto her hands. “It’s bothering me too. All of this is bothering me. I have never felt so out of control in my entire life and I just need things to start making sense again.”
I scooted closer to her and picked up her hands in mine. They were scarred and callused. “None of this is your fault. They would have come after me at any time. They are the ones to blame. Okay? Damian is. Not you. Never any of you. Could we have all done better? Absolutely but I know without a shadow of a doubt that we are stronger now. We will be better now.”
A tear streaked down her cheek. “I just wish none of this had happened.”
Tears threatened my eyes. “Me too, but its okay. I value my pack a lot more than I did before.”
Tracey perked up. “Your pack?”
I smiled. “I guess I need to tell the alpha-hole that, huh?”
Tracey snickered. “I’m sure he will be thrilled.”
“Let’s not hold our breath. I’m sure he’s still the asshole he was before I was kidnapped.”
Rafe wasn’t at his home when we finally got up to go inside hours later. The fresh air and sunlight did me wonders and I didn’t want to go inside. But eventually, both of our stomachs grumbled and there wasn’t anything left in the picnic basket.
There also wasn’t any food in Rafe’s brand new fridge either. When we got in Tracey’s car, Lucas hopped right into the trunk. All Tracey did was frown.
