Reclaiming Her Heart

Chapter 83 - Aftermath

Jadea

Adam carried me into the kitchen where he set me gingerly on the counter.

Moving with purpose, he first grabbed a blood packet from the fridge, shoving it into my hands with an order to drink as he wet a cloth next. Settling between my legs, he started dabbing and wiping away the blood on my face, neck and body.

I couldn't look at him.

I felt ashamed.

Numb.

Defeated...

I stared off in silence. Feeling the inadvertent quivers rushing over me, my skin clammy, breathing shallow.

"Baby... Sweetheart," Adam's voice sounded distant, as if he were speaking through a tunnel. Even though he was right in front of me. My gaze swam when his stormy eyes, filled with worry, met mine. One warm hand curled around the back of my neck, fingers rubbing strongly, soothingly, trying to bring me back from the edge. He yanked me into his chest, holding me close as he broke down.

His pain was what forced my head out from under the emotional upheaval I was slowly drowning in. Surfacing, I instantly reached for him, clinging to him like a lifeline. My mind crash connecting with his the moment the antidote kicked in enough to allow my mind to merge with his once more.

He was in shambles.

"I'm okay," I croaked, my voice raw. My throat hurting from the damage the chain had wrought.

"I'm not," he panted, his mind spiraling. He had been so close to losing me again—

Gripping the sides of his face, I came nose to nose with him. Gazes locking. Forcing him to look, to see me. "I'm here," I stated fiercely, shaking my hands gently. Delving into his mind, my essence seeped into him, weaving a command to breathe.

He dragged air into his lungs, sweat beading his brow, arms shaking as he anchored them against the counter on either side of my hips. His forehead pressed against mine as his heart started to slow, his mind calming.

Caden came crashing in next, his eyes wild and frantic. He paused when our eyes met over Adam's head, as I clung onto him while he melted into my embrace. Tucking his head into the crook of my shoulder, arms banding around my waist. Hard. Pulling me flush into him, as if trying to pull me inside of him, where he could keep me safe.

Keeping my left hand tucked against the back of his neck, I reached out with my other arm, beckoning Caden closer, knowing he was barely keeping it together. Sedately, he shuffled over, leaning into my embrace, tucking his head into the other side of my neck and breathing in deeply. Burying my fingers in his thick hair, I felt the tension starting to ebb from his shoulders. Kissing both of their temples, I whispered soothing nothings to them, allowing both of them time to assure themselves I was here. I was alive. And I was okay.

Caden pulled away first, his hands reaching for my neck to inspect the damage. Using my chin, he tipped my head around slowly, his gaze darkening. The chain, when pulled taunt, left little nicks where the links had pinched the skin. The bruising was spreading quickly. The fear in his eyes darkened to anger as he continued his perusal, his hand picking mine up to look at my fingernails. All broken to the quick. Some bleeding.

Adam, calmed down, also pulled away, his gaze moving over the rest of my body.

"I'm fine," I assured them. And, surprisingly it was true.

Even with the knowledge Keb almost won, I felt stronger somehow. I'd been able to face him without breaking down. Without becoming the scared, small bird he'd wanted me to be.

Lance and Garret walked in next. Lance tossed us some clothing, knowing we hadn't spared the time. Pulling the large shirt over my head, Caden and Adam slipped into shorts. "They teleported away. We checked the wounded and dead—"

My heart caught in my throat, my mind instantly touching everyone in my pack. A soft sigh of relief washed through me when I felt each one respond. They were all okay.

"Ag lost two. I lost one. Several are injured."

My gaze turned to Garret expectantly. "Some scrapes and bruises, nothing terrible," he shrugged, his nonchalance his tell he wasn't okay.

"Any of Keb's?" Caden asked darkly.

"Sixteen dead. We injured several of them. All but one escaped."

"Who?"

Lance shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest. "Ag took him to the stronghold at Constance's request."

"Did she not know...?" My question was so quiet, I wasn't sure if Lance heard me. She was supposed to come. To be here. To help.

"Ag alerted her to the attack, but she was in the middle of a different emergency. You had me," he stated.

Yes. We did. He was part of Constance's guard, marked by her archangel's sword and a strong controller to boot. Altogether, we'd been able to wipe out the enemy with minimal casualties. It was a huge win, even if it didn't feel that way.

"She said when she returns to the stronghold, she will interrogate the survivor and then relate what she learned to us. And discuss the next steps."

So, we were sitting ducks. I didn't like being here, out in the open. "And Agamemnon?"

"Will be back and continue to patrol the perimeter until he is told otherwise."

Okay.

Nodding, Lance took his leave as the rest of my pack sauntered in. I connected everyone's minds and we started dealing with the fallout of this fight. In their minds, I saw how—after Keb administered the demon's blood—Adam led the pack. He'd given orders. They'd followed them, but Keb's wolves had concentrated their attention on making sure my re-capture was complete. They got in the way of every attempt to get to me. Adam and Caden had both been so severely distracted and in a frenzied distress over my state, they hadn't been able to focus on the wolves they were fighting, which in turn meant they delayed their own responses further. It was surprising neither had been seriously hurt.

We would have to work on that. Our future trainings were going to be hard and emotional. Neither alpha was used to staying level headed under such pressures. It was something I had perfected during my time in the hunt. It was one of the reasons my pack had the highest successful rescue rate.

My pack, luckily, hadn't responded to Adam's panic. They'd been able to stay calm, even as I was being dragged away. They knew the consequences of fighting emotionally and making emotionally charged, rash decisions.

Slipping off the counter, I hugged each of my pack mates, allowing them the physical connection they craved to drive away the remnants of fear clinging to them. Garret was last. When I approached him, he caught the opposite end of the chain, still locked on my wrist and studied it. I watched silently, curiously while he worked through some heavy emotions as his fingers clenched around the cuff still slick with Keb's blood. "Like the new jewelry," he tried going for light and airy, but the emotion bleeding into his tone said it all. His dark eyes glistened with tears. "That was close," he whispered.

"Too close," I agreed just as quietly, stepping closer to him. Falling into his embrace.

"We've got work to do," he grumbled.

Indeed. He had been privy to my thoughts. Though, as my beta, he would have understood the need for specialized training for Adam at least. And possibly Caden, if he was going to commit to me.

"You did good," I praised, knowing the calls and sacrifices he'd made to ensure Adam survived. Instead of being able to focus on my recovery, he had to divert resources to ensure Adam wasn't killed due to his over-emotional state. I'd been too far out of reach. He focused on protecting the reigning alpha.

"It doesn't feel like it."

"Everyone will feel better after some blood, snuggles and sleep," I declared. Obediently, everyone downed a packet of blood before we made our way to the room Derrick and Briar shared where we huddled on the floor. Adam and Caden sat shoulder to shoulder while I leaned my back against theirs. My pack swarmed me, laying their heads in my lap or along my legs. Garret sat next to me, tucking himself into my side, demanding a little extra comfort. Ensuring everyone was connected, I helped regulate their emotions. We faced each other's fears and recounted the hardest parts each of us had to face.

Adam and Caden did not participate in this part, both knowing their fears were still boiling toxically below the surface. They needed a different outlet in order to calm down. One that should be witnessed by the others in my pack.

"Why do you think Silas came?" Briar's voice broke the silence.

"Whatever the reason, it can't be good," Chance groused.

"What I want to know, is where the rest of his pack is," Blade muttered.

"It was almost like he was laying in wait. But for what?" Garret piped in.

Sighing, I said, "I think he's been tracking us. I think he's going to ask me for asylum.

Garret's and Blade's appalled expressions were exactly how I felt.

"Well, if he knows what's best for him, he will stay away," Blade grumbled.

Garret's sharp gaze bore into me as he was intimately aware of my mixed emotions swirling around Silas. And why there was even the slightest bit of sympathy for the wolf. Thankfully, he didn't say anything. Settling back down, silence fell once more. I allowed several more minutes to pass before it was time for me to take care of my men. They were brooding, and their countenances were growing cloudier by the second.

After saying our goodnights, Adam pulled me into our shared bedroom, Caden locking the door behind him.