Somehow, Kelly did.
“I am scared,” Carter admitted, and I remembered them singing along with the radio, windows rolled down and a breeze blowing through their hair as we traveled farther and farther from our home. “Scared as I’ve been in a long time. Maybe ever. But you want to know what scares me even more than turning Omega?”
Kelly shook his head, lips in a thin line.
Carter smiled, though it trembled. “Losing you. That might scare me more than anything else in this world. If there’s even a chance that we can beat this, even a chance that I can keep you safe for at least one more day, don’t you think I’m going to do it? And I know you’d be doing the same for me if it was you in here. Don’t try and tell me otherwise.”
“You can’t leave me.”
Carter’s smile widened. “Never. I still need to threaten Robbie some more. Did you know he sniffs you when he thinks no one is looking?”
“I do not,” Robbie said, though he was blushing furiously and looking down at his feet.
Kelly glanced at Robbie, scandalized, before turning back to his brother. “You promise?”
“That he sniffs you? Yeah, man. He does it—”
“Carter.”
Carter’s expression softened. “Yeah, Kelly. I promise. I’ll always come back for you.”
“Elizabeth?” Ox asked.
She stood in front of her brother-in-law. He was almost against the barrier, growling lowly. He tapped his claws against his bare legs. The raven on his throat twitched with the tensing of his neck muscles. He watched her with violet eyes.
This was her family.
This was all she had left.
And when a wolf mother was backed into a corner, there was nothing she wouldn’t do to protect what was hers.
Elizabeth Bennett said, “Do it. Shatter the door.”
KELLY AND Joe stood in front of Carter. The timber wolf wasn’t pleased to have them so close, but it kept back behind him. They spoke quietly to each other, Joe’s arm wrapped around Kelly’s shoulders. Carter was trying to get Kelly to smile, but Kelly wouldn’t look at him. I didn’t know if he’d ever forgive me.
Robbie was at my side on the other end of the basement, away from everyone else. I knew he was working himself up to something, so I was giving him the time he needed. He was going to threaten me, and I’d let him. He had Kelly’s back, after all.
So I was surprised when he finally said, “You’re doing the right thing.”
I grunted, because I didn’t know what else to say.
“He might not see it, and maybe he never will, but you are.”
“I don’t give a shit.”
Robbie rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Okay, Gordo.” He pushed himself off the wall with a sigh. “If it makes you feel any better, I’ll pretend to believe you.”
He started to walk away.
I called after him.
He looked over his shoulder.
“You don’t need those glasses,” I said. “Take them off. You look stupid.”
He grinned at me. “Love you too.”
Idiot.