Chapter 50
Tessa’s shivering had begun to ease when there was another knock at the door. Jess got up and let Margaret inside. Margaret was hastily dressed, in completely different clothing than she’d been wearing at the party. She had on sweatpants that were way too big for her, a pair of unlaced boots, and an oversized t–shirt that said “What happens in Vegas p>
“How is she?” Margaret asked Jess. They both looked at Tessa.
“Fully cognizant,” Tessa said impatiently. She was tired of everyone speaking over her head.
“Gracie.” Margaret came and sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at her with such warmth that Tessa instantly forgot her irritation. “How are you p>
“Fine,” she said. “Ready to sleep.” It had to be well past midnight by
now.
Margaret smoothed the edge of the top comforter, tucking it snugly
against her. “Of course you are. But before you go to sleep, I need to
know exactly what you saw. What happened p>
Alex’s face flashed into her mind again, and she flinched.
“Tessa?” Margaret laid a hand on her shoulder, her face lined with
concern.
Not possible, Tessa told herself. Her mind was simply substituting a
terror she couldn’t understand with one that she understood all too
well. She pushed away thoughts of Alex and tried to find the words
to explain what she’d seen. Haltingly, uncertainly, she described the shadow that had attacked Natasha, and the sudden appearance of so
many wolves. “I have to be hallucinating,” Tessa told her,
half–hoping Margaret would assure her that she was.
Instead, Margaret looked grimly resolved. She nodded and looked over to Jess. “That square up with what you saw p>
“Yeah. I mean… what little I did see.” She shrugged.
Tessa’s eyes drifted shut as Jess and Margaret continued to speak in low tones. Sleep tugged at her, blurring their voices into a meaningless hum. Exhausted, she let herself slip into the darkness.
A long creak startled Tessa into half–awake confusion. She blinked into the darkness of her room just as her door clicked shut. How
long had she been asleep? It felt like only a second had passed, but
her lights were all turned out and the hot water bottle at her feet
was no longer hot.
“How is she?” Declan’s low voice came from the hall, just outside
Tessa’s door.
“She’ll be fine,” Margaret answered. “She’s sleeping p>
Tessa expected to hear the sound of their departing footsteps, but instead, there was a prolonged silence.
Declan broke it first. “Tougher than she looks p>
“Maybe.” Another silence. Then Margaret spoke again, “I worry we
haven’t done right by her p>
“You mean me p>
“I mean all of us. She’s been hurting since she got here. We invited her here, asked her to live with us, teach our children, care for us…
what’s she gotten in return for it p>
Chapter 50
“We look out for her, just like any p>
“You ever notice she never talks about her parents? That she gets embarrassed when Natasha mothers her? That she doesn’t know how to take a compliment? That’s a woman who’s not used to being taken care of by anybody. She’s not going to take the risk of putting herself out there–because it hasn’t paid off in the past p>
Declan said nothing.
“She knows she’s being held at arm’s length,” Margaret said softly. “And we’re all waiting for her to take the final step. But why should she trust us, when we haven’t trusted her p>
“What are you suggesting p>
“I’m not even sure.” She sighed. “Just that something needs to give with her. And I think the give is going to be on our end p>
“You want to tell her p>
“Not yet. I need to think. Talk to some people.” Her voice hardened a
bit. “And in the meantime, you better fix your attitude. I still claim
wardship over her, even if Natasha’s been staking out my claim, and
if I hear you’ve been p>
“I know, Margaret. I told you I was wrong about her p>
“You were wrong about yourself, too, pup p>
“No, I admitted the wolf wanted her. But p>
“You’re full of shit. The man wanted her as much as the wolf p>
A low growl rumbled.
“Fine, lie to yourself p>
The growl faded into a sigh. “Mags. Look what happens with my family and their mates. Look at the mistake I almost made…” He trailed off into silence.
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.