“Wait, where’s Zac?” Eva gasped as her heart banged dizzyingly in her chest. Thump. Thump. She needed to find him and her father, make sure they were safe.
“The novices are the last line of defense if the worst should happen,” John answered. “Come on. We need to get you somewhere safe.”
Thump. Thump. “Are you serious? My brother can’t fight. He’s fifteen!” Thump. Thump. They’d arrived back at the pack center, and John was leading her toward the kitchen, which seemed to be bursting at the seams with people.
“Your brother is stronger than you think and a part of this pack. He’s fighting alongside his peers as he should be, and you’ll stay in this building until you’re told it’s safe to leave,” John ordered.
“Eva!” her father called, racing out of the pack kitchen. “Thank God, I thought you’d gone for a run. I was so worried.”
Thump. Thump.
“John,” Eva gasped as he let her go. “Be careful.” Thump. Thump.
The chaos stilled as his gaze met hers, the frantic beat of her heart calming. Closing the distance between them, John took her into his arms, pulling her flush against him and pressed a rough kiss to her lips.
“Stay safe,” he whispered as he released her.
As he strode away, Eva stared stunned, swaying on her feet. John had brought her back into the living. The same grief hovered overhead, the same impossible things filled her days, yet for the first time in a long time, Eva was alive. Her eyes were wide open, and she was looking forward, even if it terrified her more than anything ever had before.
She was at a crossroads. At a point in time where one path would lead her to a life very much like the one she’d always imagine, and the other would lead her into wonder and danger and a love that could potentially reach her soul.
Whichever direction she took, Eva’s time was running out. Fate was coming, and no one would be allowed to avoid its grasp.
Chapter 16
Anna
Walking from the bedroom, Anna yawned before speaking, “Why didn’t you wake me?” she asked Cage.
Turning from the stove with the kettle in his hand, Cage poured hot water while smiling. “Because you didn’t sleep well last night, so I figured you deserved to sleep in. I was going to bring you breakfast in bed.”
“You worry too much,” Anna replied, but it was nice to have someone worrying. It was a feeling she didn’t want to be without. “I’ll have my breakfast here instead.” She smiled, tapping the table.
Pulling out a chair, Anna took a seat at the dining table, her fingers automatically running over her father’s carvings.
“What are your plans for today?” Cage asked as he placed a cup of tea in front of her.
“I’m meeting Kat for lunch at Dark Shadow. Then we are going to watch a movie with Olivia, Eva, and I think Regan, but nothing much beforehand. You’re on the late patrol, right?”
“Yeah. Will Bass be there?”
“It’s a girls’ night.”
“He’ll be lurking around outside then.”
“Probably.” Anna laughed. Katalina used to come to her for girls’ night, but since the latest attack, Anna now had to go to her. It didn’t bother Anna all that much—other than it was hard to have a girls’ night in a pack with overprotective men.
“So you’ve no plans to work out today?” Cage asked her, caution in his tone.
Anna frowned. “Work out? Why would I do that?” She did yoga once in a blue moon, but Anna didn’t do exercise.
Cage waved a hand down her body. Anna’s gaze followed suit. “Oh,” she breathed. “I don’t even remember dressing.” She was indeed dressed for exercise, right down to the sneakers.
“Maybe you were subconsciously thinking about starting?” Cage suggested, walking from the kitchen with a plate.
“Hmm…” Anna picked up the bagel Cage had put down in front of her. “Maybe,” she murmured before taking a bite. Chewing in silence, Anna searched her mind for a reason for her attire but came up with nothing.
Cage let her think, his quiet presence grounding. Halfway through her bagel, Anna looked up and met his gaze. “I’m stumped.”
Smiling reassuringly, Cage reached across the table and took her hand. “Don’t worry. It will come to you.”
As the words tumbled from his mouth, Anna was hit with a vision. Images sailed through her mind in rapid concession. The bagel fell from her hand.
Snapping into sharp focus, Anna jumped to her feet, her chair falling backward as she did. Gripping Cage’s hand tighter, she gasped, “Run.”
Cage needed no encouragement following her as Anna dashed for the back door. Grabbing his phone off the kitchen counter as they passed, Cage then retrieved the backpack waiting nearby, which he’d had packed since the day they’d moved in.
Racing through the backyard, Cage leading, his hold on her hand remained unbreakable. They dashed into the trees that backed onto their house. Anna was out of breath within minutes, sweat coating her brow. Cage, on the other hand, looked like he could keep up the pace for days, and probably would, carrying Anna if need be.
“Cage,” Anna rasped. “Slow down for a minute. You need to ring Jackson.”
Obeying, Cage’s phone was to his ear, his focus on Anna as he nodded for her to explain.
“There’s going to be an attack. Very soon, possibly within minutes. But not on pack land, on those outside of it.” Anna sucked in a breath, before giving the names. “Nico, Olivia, Caroline, Toby, the twins, and their parents.
