Page 21 of Chasing Dawn

She nodded, still looking pale. “And the rest of the pack will be safe?”

Vance held her eyes. “I swear it.” He paused. “We’ll need your help with intel, if you feel up to it.”

Franklin gripped her hand. “We can do it without you though, if it’s too hard.”

The stubborn set of her jaw said she was going to force herself to be okay with it, and I wouldn’t stop her. As much as I wanted to surround her in bubble wrap and keep her safe, she needed this for closure. “I’ll do it.”

Respect shone in Vance’s eyes, and I ground my teeth. I cleared my throat, and his eyes slid to mine. Yeah, I wasn’t going to let him sweep this bombshell under the rug like a dirty little secret. She had a right to know, as did Franklin.

How she hadn’t realized herself was probably more to do with being gaslit her whole fucking life. She didn’t trust her instincts, not her Omega ones nor her wolf ones.

She deserved better. I’d hold Vance accountable, Alpha or not. She wasn’t going to start her time with us under lies and omissions.

Vance sighed, rubbing his hands over the back of his neck and up over his skull. “There’s one more thing, Dawn, something we need to get out into the open before we progress any further.” He stood, moving closer until he knelt in front of her, lowering himself to her level so he could meet her eyes properly. “Shit, I don’t really know how to say this.” He glanced quickly at Franklin. “But you’re my fated mate.”

Dawn gasped, or maybe it was Franklin.

My twin looked… shell-shocked. “How long have you known?”

“Since the first time I saw her at the gathering.”

My eyes bounced between the three of them, and I was too slow to stop Franklin’s rapid backswing, then his huge fist connecting with Vance’s jaw.

Well, that wasn’t how I saw this going.

To add to the shock of the situation, Dawn threw herself in front of Franklin, her eyes turned away, but her body angled to take a blow, like she’d stood in front of someone’s fist before.

“Alpha, please. He didn’t mean it!” Her words were whispered but filled with an Omega softness, and the sensation of those words ran along my skin, slowing my heartbeat. It was like Vicodin in pheromone form.

I’ve never seen Vance’s face so filled with self-loathing, or maybe it reflected her pain. He melted softly in front of her, back on his knees again. “He did mean it, Dawn, and I deserved it. I promise, I love Franklin like a brother. It would take more than that for us to have problems. Bears tend to be rough with each other, but we will curb our violence around you, won’t we, guys?”

He looked at Franklin, who paled at her reaction. “Of course. It’s okay, sunrise. We’re okay.” He laid a hand on her back, and none of us missed her flinch. Fucking idiots.

That was enough. I moved toward them, scooping Dawn into my arms. “I’ll take you back to your room and let these numbskulls figure their shit out,” I crooned and let out a relieved sigh as she clung to me.

Her damage ran deep. We needed to remember that, or we’d do just as much damage as her former pack mates. I strode from the sitting room, and I knew I should take her to her room, but I wanted her in my space, surrounded by my scent. She held onto my shoulders, her face buried in my neck like she found it comforting.

I blindly turned the handle on my door and kicked it shut behind me, then I walked to the neatly made bed and pulled the covers back, sliding her beneath them.

“This is your bed,” she whispered.

“Yes.” I tucked her under the soft flannel sheets and toed off my boots, then I climbed in after her. I pulled her on top of my chest and wrapped my arms tightly around her. I just wanted to hold her and prolong this last moment of peace in case it all came crashing down around us.

As if she could pick up the turmoil of my thoughts, she buried her nose in my chest. “I’m his mate.”

I made an affirmative noise. “You are.” I squeezed her tighter. “I don’t care. You aren’t property. He doesn’t own you.” I ran my fingers through her hair, and it tangled at the ends. “The only opinion that matters is yours. I don’t care if it’s ordained by the goddess or not.”

She tilted her face up and met my eyes. They were too big in her face.

“I’m a broken mate for an Alpha.”

I hushed her. “You’re perfect for anyone.” I leaned down and brushed my lips against hers. I couldn’t help myself, which probably made me just as much of a numbskull as Franklin and Vance. “Now rest. You’re still healing.”

She closed her eyes and pretended to sleep, until her breathing evened out, and it became a reality.

CHAPTER 14

DAWN