Veronica I could not help the nervous feeling that suffused my bones as I trekked the miniscule distance to the clinic. There were still happy couples meandering around the town, but there were noticeably less people about today in general. Everyone was probably getting ready for tonight or was already on shift for one of the extra patrols that Ryker had set. I had felt confident that I would be fine on my own for the trip to retrieve the herbs I needed when my mate had resisted my plan prior, in part because of the additional wolves that I knew were not far away. Yet, I could not shake the uneasy feeling that persisted in pervading my awareness as I made it to the clinic without any issues arising. Nothing looked like it had been disturbed when I entered the back room, but I remained cautious regardless, pausing in the doorway to scan the room at large with my enhanced senses before I retrieved the herbs. I bundled the chamomile, and several other herbs that might come in handy

Veronica I had to admit I felt a hundred times better after showering, but I found myself still as weary as I had been prior with the adrenaline crash after Ryker departed to take care of Seth. I knew Ry would probably kill him for his transgressions, but I couldn’t find it in myself to mourn for his loss. I didn’t want to think about him ever again after what he had attempted today, so I wracked my brains for a distraction, looking around the room until my eyes landed on the bathroom door standing slightly ajar. I collapsed on the bed as I went with the direction of my thoughts, giving myself a moment to get lost in the lingering fragrance of warm sandalwood and sweet peppermint still bathing the humid air. My mind drifted to how Ryker had gently washed away the grime and blood that had dried into my skin from the ordeal. There had been nothing sexual about it in spite of the close quarters in my diminutive shower, just my mate carin

Ryker The memory of my mate cautioning me to beware of smoke bombs came roaring back to the surface when she reentered the room a few minutes later, producing a perfect replica of the containers currently littering every nook and cranny of the bunker Seth had chosen to entomb himself within. I heard Ronnie’s warning through mind link right before I pummeled Seth’s face to a pulp for daring to harm my other half outside the foxhole this afternoon, but I hadn’t truly processed the meaning behind her words until she shocked the room with her revelation. I suddenly wished I could bring the traitorous male back to life, just so I could watch him suffer all over again. It might be cruel, but I wasn’t exactly known as the most sympathetic of males for good reason. Conversely, I had been concerned the ambiguous mention of Seth’s death in front of Ronnie would upset her, but other than her muscles tensing for a second, she appeared unaffected

Ryker It didn’t take me long to pick up on Willow’s anxiety as the other two wolves drew closer. She was so on edge I could physically smell the acrid scent of her fear gushing from her pores, or it seemed that way with her near proximity at the very least. I didn’t push her, leaving my eyes glued to Roxi as she played in the multicolored leaves and ran circles around the small yard. I could see Jax comforting her out of my peripheral vision, so I let him take care of his mate while I pondered why on earth she would want to converse with me. The last I recalled from the night before was that she was coming over this morning to spend time with the other she-wolves. After she took several deep breaths, Willow began speaking without a hint of disquiet detectable in her voice as she said, “I was thinking about what you said last night, about not being able to locate any additional bunkers in the area if they exist.” She stopped, a

Veronica I took in the unanticipated strain in the atmosphere, but I didn’t say anything as I held up my hand in a staying gesture and darted to the living room in order to catch Nyla before she escaped upstairs. The younger wolf had her foot poised to ascend the first step when she halted, rotating at my voice as I said, “Hold up a second, Nyla.” I trudged closer before I started speaking again, and she helpfully met me in the middle of the room. “How is Remus doing? Ryker let me know he was up this morning, but I’m guessing that is where you’re headed now.” “Yes. He actually just woke up from his nap. Thank you again for everything. I don’t know what I would do if I lost my mate so soon after finding him.” I embraced her as she became teary eyed, squeezing her momentarily before pulling back to reassure her, “Don’t thank me, Nyla. You have been working just as hard as me to help our patients heal. Everyone should be