Chapter 327 – Back to the Real World
Ella
I’m sitting anxiously by Rafe’s basinet, watching him sleep, while my mind wanders impatiently
elsewhere. It’s been twenty–four hours since we heard from Cora and Roger and I feel, just a tiny
little bit, that every passing minute is a knife in my heart.
Where is my sister? I wonder to myself, sighing as I look down at my baby and honestly barely
seeing him. 1
It’s okay, my wolf says to me, rubbing her body warmly against my poor aching heart, nuzzling
me with her snout. Roger will take care of her – I know it. He can’t not.
But what if he couldn’t, I think anxiously, my mind turning inevitably to that freak storm that
they hit – the storm which separated them from their guards, which seemed….just, too precise.
Too convenient. To perfect to be coincidence. What if the cult trapped them? And hurt them both?
I wail, inwardly, my wolf giving in a little and sitting back on her haunches to raise her nose to the
sky and howl a little along with me. She still believes, but she’s overwhelmed, a little, by my
despair, even though inwardly she keeps the faith.
“Ella!” I hear Sinclair shout from downstairs. I jump a little, turning towards the door, but I freeze,
not allowing myself to hope. If it was bad news – he wouldn’t be shouting from downstairs –
But something very urgent could be happening so he can’t come up –
“Ella!” he calls again. “Come down! There’s a car in the drive!”
I gasp, leaning down to quickly scoop Rafe up into my arms. He gives a little half–hearted cry of
protest and I know that I should leave him here to sleep more – but damn it, with the cult out
there looking for him, there’s no way I’m leaving him out of one of his parents‘ sight for an instant.
Not until I know he’s safe.
the room and pound down the stairs, looking
a hand raised to take mine. I slip my hand into his as
his. “Is
–
doesn’t know he came
together, we both stride to the
–
I give a little moan of relief, sinking against
– I can see Roger, turning towards her and saying a few words
cry, tears filling my eyes as I
smile as I throw myself at her, tossing my arm around her neck. Cora takes too steadying steps backwards at the force of me, but wraps her arms
—
baby,” I
but well, in this moment, all I care about is that I have my sister back, safe. “Where were you?” I demand, stepping
all, of course – I
me. “We were in the storm for a
a charger?” I ask,
didn’t plan to stay
cord in the
wasn’t one –”
stopped,” I cry, “at a gas station to buy
Cora says, stepping forward and looking into my eyes with her own wide with
know you were so worried. We were fine. –
on the way home, we just wanted to get here
–
say, sniffing a little and wiping my
“I can’t lose you, Cora. I was worried I
says, putting a warm arm around me. “I’m sorry, Ella,” she
us. “You’re right we should have called, or texted,
–
fault. We were…” she hesitates
at me and sinking
I ask, confused, looking between the two
Cora blushes –
Blushes?!
My mouth drops open.
Roger, explains. “The storm was bad – we stopped…at a little motel. Just to weather it out.” She doesn’t say anything else but the big smile that
for
should try it sometime, Ella,” Roger quips, and when I turn to him I see that he’s smirking at me again. “There’s nothing
“Oh my god,” I repeat, taking a step forward to shove Roger for his comment for good measure and then turning to
awe.
says smoothly, ignoring my
to take
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