"Hey, Warrior Princess," Sammy''s voice broke the tense silence, his tone gentle but firm. "If that''s how things stand, he''s going to need more time. We''ll radio down to keep them updated, but Grant is here for you, and he''ll wait as long as it takes. We''re going to run a quick patrol just to make sure no one followed you here. Sound good?" He cleared his throat, ncing between me and Greta.


    I couldn''t decipher Greta''s silent message, but her bodynguage was unmistakable —she wanted Sammy and Jensen gone. Without another word, the two men dropped their bags and headed out the door, their footsteps fading down the hall.


    "What do you mean by ''build a tolerance''?" Greta''s low growl was directed at me alone, her eyes narrowing.


    I shifted slightly in her arms, trying to ease the tension. "Well," I began, "we never trusted him. So, we took turns applying the neurotoxin to ourselves and inflicting wounds-just to see what it actually does and how people react." Her fingers dug into my skin, but she remained silent, listening. "We couldn''t rely on his word. Just give me a few more hours, and then we can leave. I''m talking now, and I can move most of my body. I just want to be able to move on my own, in case something else happens. We were lucky nothing happened to you while you brought me here."


    Greta''s eyes softened a little. "Well, we both know how to fight. I think the survivors ran scared."


    I looked up at her, surprised. “I''m honestly amazed you brought me here. You could have just left me behind I was barely alive."


    "There''s no way I would ever leave you," she said firmly. "I don''t leave men behind. Ever. Especially not..."


    "Especially not what?" I interrupted, my voice barely above a whisper. "The mate you don''t want? We all know you don''t want me. Even I know your alpha sent me here with you so you could reject me without the whole pack watching." The words hit me hard, and I felt my stomach twist painfully. Another rejection would shatter me, but I wasn''t going to follow her around like a lost puppy as I did with Amy. I wasn''t wanted. I wasn''t good enough—even though the Goddess had options lined up for me. No one wanted to im me when I was six. Nan took all of us in, like lost boys in Peter Pan. She was ourst hope.


    I tried to pull away slightly, but the moment her hands left me, my body betrayed me. The poison still coursing through my veins made me convulse violently. I copsed, and she caught me, pulling me back against her chest.


    "If I didn''t want you here—alive or whatever—I wouldn''t have dragged your big ass for hours to get you to a safe ce. And I wouldn''t be lying here with you now, making sure you don''t seize,” she said softly, her voice filled with a fierce protectiveness.


    "I honestly don''t understand why you''re here," I admitted, my voice shaky. "You don''t like me that''s no secret. You don''t want me as a mate-not a secret either. Only Kennedy and Ryker know you''re my second chance mate. No one else trusts me because of my connection to Amy. No one wants me, Greta, not since my pack was attacked. You don''t have to stay and pretend. You kept me alive long enough to heal and stabilize. Go. Your alpha needs you now that you have more information about what Janelle is working with."


    She shook her head stubbornly. "I''m not leaving when you start shaking like a leaf the moment I get off the bed."


    “I''m fine,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "My muscle control ising back. I even have enough brain power to argue with you." I chuckled, and she responded by digging her nails deeper into my skin.


    "Then you''ve got enough stubbornness to walk back to Rory''s. Get up-we need to get you cleaned up. It''s been a while, and I think you''re the one scaring off the rogues."


    “Hey!” I sat up a little more, feeling more like myself with every passing minute. I couldn''t resist pushing her buttons. "You''re still here, so it can''t be that bad."


    She giggled softly, a sound I hadn''t heard from her before. "Umm... I think that''s a mate thing. The guys couldn''t get out of here fast enough."


    "I didn''t know you were capable of giggling. Is that some kind of new upgrade?” I teased.


    "F*ck off, Rookie. I did not giggle," she shot back, sliding out from behind me and letting me flop back onto the bed.


    "You kind of did, though," I said with a smirk, rolling over and pushing myself off my side of the bed. My legs wobbled, but I managed to stand. I moved toward the bathroom, and she looked like she might follow. I wasn''t sure I was ready for that— after so long without being with a woman, now was definitely not the time to get reacquainted. Holding up my hand, I walked past her and closed the door behind me, leaning against it to catch my breath.


    When I emerged, feeling almost like a new person, I noticed she had packed all our things, ready to leave. The walk wasn''t far, but after everything that had happened over thest few days, it felt like it was going to be a long one.


    "Let''s go. Rory and his guys are expecting us," she called from the doorway.