Enlightening Bloom(34)

I take in another deep breathe, release it, and then with my mind I latch onto Rex. I'm hit instantly with all his memories. It's dizzying. They're coming at me so quick I can't get much detail. It's like watching a movie on warp speed. Then all of a sudden it's as if the play button is pressed and I'm seeing what my gift wants, no, needs me to see.

Rex is still in the gym. I can tell it's still today because he's wearing the clothes he had on when I found him through the pack bond. But the room is darker. It's night. He's alone now, instead of goofing around with his brother and friend. He's focused, pounding a punching bag with every ounce of his strength.

Suddenly he grabs the bag, stopping it's movement, and spins around with his fists up. He drops them just as quickly and grumbles. "I thought I was alone."

"Didn't mean to interrupt the one man party." A feminine voice says on a tinkling laugh. "I can come back tomorrow morning if you don't want company."

Rex shakes his head. "I don't mind the company."

The girl walks further into the room. "Good. I'm usually too tired during the day to come fight the crowd to work out."

Rex gives her a questioning look, which she answers right away. "I work nights at the bar in town. Up all night. Sleep all day. Tonight's my night off so I thought I'd get some training in since I sure as heck won't be sleeping."

Rex nods, not taking his eyes off her as she gets down on a mat, pulls her dark strawberry blonde hair up into a knot on her head, and starts stretching. She looks up, sees his eye on her and smiles. "My name's Abby."

She extends her hand for him to shake. He moves to her, grasps her smaller hand in his own, and starts to introduce himself. "Re... Mine."

Her unique scent hits his nose. The smell of fresh lemonade and that's that. The mating call has taken hold.

She's his.

He's hers.

I pull out of the connection because I don't need to intrude on the special moment any further. My eyes flutter open and I'm grinning. "Rex is going to find his mate tonight."

"It's about time." Amelia chuckles. She reaches over, pats my hand, and then adds. "And good job. You're getting better."

"Let's go again!"

"Bloom." Amelia's voice takes on a warning tone.

"I need to get stronger."

"You shouldn't push yourself." She says, her voice softening.

"It's worth it. If something I see can prevent my pack from being harmed then it's worth the risk."

She gives in immediately on a sigh. "Fine. But don't even think about searching out Kyran. You aren't strong enough to handle that kind of mind, yet."

"I won't." I close my eyes, happy that I got my way. Not that I would've stopped practicing without her help, it's just nice to have it. "Let's go again."



****************************



Pike



"How'd Rose take the news about Kyran?" I ask, leaning on my forearms against my desk. Tucker's spread out on the sofa in my office like he doesn't have a care in the world. I know the posture isn't true to how he's really feeling. I can feel his anxiety just like I can the rest of the pack's. He's better at hiding it, is all.

"She's shut down from what Killian is telling me. She, of course, isn't talking to me at all." He answers, not looking at me but the ceiling.

"I hate to ask this, because she is your mom, but it has to be done."

"Shoot." He says, rolling to his side so he's facing my way.

"Kyran's her son, too. Can we trust that she's not still in contact with him?"

"A few weeks ago, I would've sworn my life on her loyalty to this pack." He heaves a sigh. "That was before I found out she abandoned her only daughter. Now, I can't be sure about anything she says or does."

I nod in understanding. What else can I do? I sure as hell am not going to going to lay all my issues with his relatives on his shoulder, as if it's his fault. Every man is responsible for their own faults in my eyes and those should not be thrown upon anyone else.

"How do we prepare for a battle when we don't even know our opponent?" Tucker asks.

"Kyran is the opponent."

"He may be guiding them to us, but he is not the leader of those wolves. He's the instigator. Who's the leader?"

I lean back in my chair, forearms to the arms of the chair, nails digging into the leather. Tucker's right and I hadn't even let that sink in. "You're right. So what's this leader's motive for siding with Kyran?"

"More territory?" Tucker guesses.

"No, that doesn't feel right. There must be something else."





Chapter 22 - Rose



My feet carry me to her suite before I can back out of the decision. Grady's words echo through my head. "You don't have to do this alone." I push them quickly away, because I know I need to face this alone. Grady will want to protect me, but he can't this time. I deserve whatever punishment Pike and Bloom see fit to give me. I lift my hand and knock.