11
Sheila was sitting in a lawn chair outside her tent. Next to her was a little folding table and another chair. Two mugs sat on the table. “Did I interrupt?”
She grinned and jumped from her seat. I was swept up into a bone-crushing hug. “I was so worried about you. I can’t believe they caught you.” She released me from the hug but kept her hands on my shoulders. “Are you alright? Did they hurt you? And please for the love of the moon goddess, take me to Wolf Creek with you next time so I can beat the shit of those assholes.”
“I missed you too,” I said.
“Tell me you’re not going back there,” she said. “Cause I heard a rumor that I’m not fond of.”
“Where did you hear this rumor?” I asked.
“I guess it was more of a heads-up than a rumor. Alec says you’re going to go back,” she said. “But he’s mum on the fucking details. Since when does he leave me out of shit?”
She sounded hurt and it made me think Alec probably had been honest when he told me that he’d acted alone. “Sit, sit. I hoped you’d come. Coffee is likely cold by now, but it’s still coffee.”
“I’ll let you two catch up,” Kyle said. “I’m going to check out the camp. Think you can keep out of trouble while I’m away?”
“I’ll do my best,” I said.
“We’ll be here,” Sheila said. “I promise she’ll be safe with me.”
Kyle didn’t look like he fully trusted her, but he nodded. “Holler if you need me.”
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “Thank you.”
“First of all, your new bodyguard is super cute. Seems pretty dedicated to you,” she said.
“We’ve been through a lot already,” I said.
“You trust him?” she asked.
“Well enough,” I said.
“Tell me everything,” Sheila said. “What the fuck happened after you left? I thought you and Alec were going to break that bond to your mate. Then he comes back and says you’re captured and then he vanishes. Malcom said he was captured too. I’m totally lost.”
I settled into the chair and picked up the surprisingly still warm coffee. After a few glorious sips, I set the mug back on the table. “You want me to start from the beginning?”
“Please. I thought I was in the loop, but I guess I wasn’t. Honestly, I knew Alec was up to something but I figured he’d tell me in his own time.” She set her cup down. “Lola, what the fuck happened?”
So many people were after me at this point, I figured it didn’t matter if I let Sheila in on it. There were countless ways for all of this to go south, I might as well have a friend who cared on my side.
“How much do you want to know?” I asked. “Cause I’m not sure I understand it all, and honestly, I don’t think I can ever look at Alec the same way again. I know he’s your best friend.”
“Spill.”
I took a deep breath and explained the whole thing. I told her about the recipe for the toxin and Alec selling me out. I glossed over the most gruesome details about my week of captivity, but gave her the gist. When I explained how Kyle helped me get out, her jaw dropped fully open.
“Wait. Alec sold you out to your old pack?” Her eyes narrowed and her expression looked murderous. “I’m going to kill him.”
“Wait,” I said. “Kyle told me he used the money to help me with something even more complicated, if you can believe it.”
“What the fuck could be more complicated?” she asked.
“I’m not sure I’m ready to share that part,” I admitted.
“He had no right,” Sheila said. “He never should have done that to you.”
“I know,” I agreed.