“I need to get changed.” I stand.
He angers me, I don’t want to see him as a broken shell of himself. We’re stuck together for the foreseeable future; I have to find a way to meet him in the middle.
I’ve never been a fan of pushing someone who’s standing on the edge. I won’t swallow my emotions, but I can stop leading with them. This situation is bigger than one individual and if he’s going to break, it’s better to know it now than when we’re in the thick of things.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Isee a ghost house where others only see a foundation. The scorched earth below me feels alive, it’s as if all our memories were trapped here with the remnants of the burned-down dwelling.
“That’s weird,” Kirk says.
“What?” I turn toward where Kirk is kneeling.
“It looks tampered with.” Kirk shines a flashlight on the ground that’s been disturbed.
“Kids with nothing better to do than see the tragic site?” I shrug.
“No.” Cadoc shines his light a little further down where another pile of rubble has been formed.
“I think they were looking for something.”
“Why would they do that?” It’s been a dare spot for young kids for years, but this is different.
“Does anyone else know about this room?” Cadoc’s spine stiffens.
“I don’t think so,” I say.
He exchanges a look with Kirk. “Fell and I will keep watch outside. Take Kirk and Bo with you to look for the entrance.”
“I don’t even know what we’re looking for,” I say as my palms grow slick.
“Any part of the ground that looks or feels different.” Cadoc’s already turned away, studying the horizon for signs of a threat.
“That doesn’t make sense. I know this home too.” Fell protests.
“And sending you and Bo in together would be a disaster,” Cadoc adds.
Bo winks.
“I’ll keep her safe from outside. You do the same in there, Jensen.” Fell’s green gaze bores into Bo.
“I don’t need to be told what to do with my mate,” Fell says. The energy between them crackles.
“She’s not yours—” Fell’s chest expands and his eyes flicker to yellow as his wolf surfaces.
“Yet. The way I see it, she likes me a lot more than she does you, lately.” Bo smirks.
“Bo.” I reach out place my hand on his wrist and shake my head. “Please, don’t.” I hold my wrist out for Fell.
He brings my pulse point to his nose and breaths in my scent, slowly settling as I ground him. Nothing brings a wolf out of an emotional spiral like their mate.
“Fine, Princess. I’ll lay off.”
I pull my arm back after a moment, ignoring his goading.
“Thank you.” I squeeze and release him. “Can we go now?” I ignore Fells’ wounded expression.
Bo grabs my hand to annoy Fell and pulls me with him further into what used to be my home.
“Where are we now?”
“The front hallway, take a left.” We turn and I see the opening imposed in the nothingness.
“And this would lead us into the kitchen. Through here.” I walk the distance and stop.
I crane my neck, peering up “It’s a door.” Awed, I observe the swirling vortex of energy. “I think I found it.”
“Do you see something?” Bo asks.
“You don’t?”
Bo shakes his head.
“It’s right there.” I reach out and gasp at the prickling cold bursting through my fingertips and back to the peculiar portal.
“Ohhh,” Bo whispers. “That.”
“You see it?” I remove my hand.
