Semua Bab Bite: Bab 151 - Bab 160

We say we’ll take care of her, so that’s what we do. Hunter holds her up as the nurse examines her for wounds, and—thankfully—doesn't find anything but a few scratches. Talon helps her strip out of those bloody clothes as gently as possible. Axel relays the information the doctor needs about what happened, leaving out anything relating to Penwood for obvious reasons. And when the nurse walks her to the bathroom to help her wash off, I jump at the opportunity. I didn’t want to just sit around being useless. I want to show Olivia that I can be here for her no matter what happens, that she isn’t just someone I want when things are going good and we’re having fun. I take her from the nurse, ignoring the older woman's narrowed eyes. “This is a hospital,” the nurse informs me as I lead Olivia into the bathroom. “I hope you don’t intend to do anything funny in there.” I glare at her. What the fuck does she take me for? Even I’m not that much of an asshole. But looking at her is a mist

The nurse checks me in less than ten minutes, but if I thought I was okay, her worried response tells a different story. “You’re wounded nearly everywhere,” she scowls. “Nothing major—a few gashes here and there—but there are so many that you may need painkillers for the next few days.” I crook my brow. “So does that mean I can leave?” “It means that whatever happened to you must not repeat itself! Are you trying to get yourself killed?” I grimace. We, in fact, have gotten someone killed, and it’s killing my girl in return.So it’s killing me. Her eyes soften at my silence, and her voice does as well. “I’m glad you kids are okay. I don’t know your relationship with Ricklan, but I am sorry for your loss.” I run my hand over my pants, trying to avert her pitying gaze. I didn’t know him. I’ve been expected to grow up and be like him, but that doesn’t mean he meant anything to me. Still, death is death, and just like when my mother was killed, I want nothing more than to di

Leaving Talon felt cruel, but I don't think Ryan Darlington would have wanted to see me right now if he knew what his son and I have gotten up to. I barrel down the white halls, the rose in my hand, with a single destination in mind—my dad’s room. But as I'm about to enter, a woman bursts out, looking paler than ever. I do a double take. “Mum?” Diane West’s eyes land on mine, and my heart breaks the second I see her worried brown eyes. “Hunter!” She breathes out the heaviest sigh of relief, wrapping me in her arms. “Baby, I was so worried about you. I got the message about what's been going on.” I'm a whole head taller than her, but I bend down and return the hug as tightly as possible. I rake my hands through her bobbed hair. “I’m sorry we scared you.” She pulls me back, eyes boring into mine. Anyone else would have yelled my head off. In fact, she should yell my head off. But my mother doesn’t have a single angry bone in her body. “Is Ricklan really dead?” she asks

Every time I wake up, I’m on a different boy’s shoulder. Talon. Hunter. Ryker. Axel. Talon. Hunter. Ryker. Axel. Talon. Hunter. Ryker. Axel. Each of them caring for me in their own unique but wholehearted way. If my eyes didn’t sting from weeping, and if I didn’t feel so drained from all that has happened, this would have been paradise. This time, it’s Ryker, mindlessly running a hand over my hair, sitting with me on the bed while the rest of the boys have a quiet conversation in front of us. “Are we alive?” he mumbles into my hair. No. Not really. But I’d never break his heart by telling him that. “As alive as I can be right now.” “That’s more than enough for me.” I muster all my energy to try and joke with him. “You know, for a premium fuckboy, you’re really good at this whole caretaker thing.” Somehow, his touch becomes even more gentle. “Oh, trust me, darling, my fuckboy days are in the past.” I shouldn’t look into his eyes—seeing any emotion in them makes me even more

The funeral takes a day. I’d always known Ricklan was legendary, but I thought after he was kicked off the council, people would have forgotten just how important he was. But the hall for his wake was so filled that some people had to sit with others in their lap. Many stayed outside to honor the man who raised Olivia all those years. So many people had stories about him, about how incredible he was. At the burial, me and the boys get to stand in front of the church with Olivia in the middle of us. She has always been small, but today, she looks fragile. Breakable. She rests on Hunter’s shoulder as Ricklan is lowered into the ground, and I want nothing more than to be the man holding her. We all sit at the grave, Olivia quietly crying as we try to comfort her. It’s when the sun is finally setting that she mutters, “We can go.” Hunter runs a finger over her shoulder, “You sure?” “Yeah.” She says, sounding tired as she wipes her eyes again, “I’ll come back.” “Will you go to yo