Mending the Beast (Awakening Pride #10) - Lacey Thorn Page 0,33

to watch over and protect you while you heal. Let me love you while you learn to love yourself again. Let me love you, Ariel, even if it’s only for a brief moment in time. Let me be the friend you’ve needed, the person you can count on. For as long as you’ll allow. Let me stay.”

Her hands fisted in his shirt, her forehead touching the warm skin of his neck. She was drained. Emotionally spent. She’d never allowed herself to cry the way she just had. She’d shed tears in anger. Hell, she’d done a lot of things in anger over the years. She’d worn the damn emotion like a suit of armor, protecting her from everyone and everything. She wasn’t sure she could prevent herself from doing it again down the road. But for now, she wanted Daniel to stay. Needed him and all he’d just offered. For as long as she could allow.

Never uttering a word, she slowly nodded her head against him and felt his muscles relax at her agreement. This time, she kept her words inside where no one but her tiger could hear them.

Please, don’t let me hurt him. Please.

Chapter Ten

Daniel held Ariel long after her body had softened and she’d dropped off into exhaustion. The emotional deluge she’d released had taken a huge toll on a woman who’d obviously not been sleeping well. She was pale with dark circles that seemed to highlight the delicate bone structure of her face. She’d lost weight, and his mate was tiny to begin with. How did he mend what she thought was too broken to ever put back together? How did they get a chance at the happiness they both deserved?

He carefully removed his phone from his pocket when it started vibrating. One glance at the screen, and he knew it was Tony calling.

“Hey,” he answered softly, doing his best not to wake Ariel. His mate definitely needed her sleep.

“I take it you found her?”

“She just went to sleep.” Daniel glanced down to where her fingers still gripped his shirt, though without the tight hold she’d had at first.

“Mitch and Jonah flew back with Quinn. I gave Tah a heads up so they’re prepared for her. There’s a story there, but she’s not talking yet.”

Daniel knew Tony was right. Quinn definitely had a story. He’d been shocked to find she was the one Ariel had crossed paths with. Hell, the pride had been looking for Quinn since they’d discovered Isaac Erikson’s secret journals. They suspected Isaac had been the one to send Quinn into the heart of hunter territory, fueled by the anger she’d felt after her mother’s death. Daniel knew firsthand how good his dad had been at feeding anger. At pushing those around him to seek revenge. And Quinn had appeared to be a woman barely holding it together. It was a look Daniel was all too familiar with at the moment.

“Your brother and the others are still a few hours out. They’ve reserved rooms at the same hotel you’re at. Aleksy, Lyra, and I have, as well. We’ll be there in a bit. They’ll send the helicopter back in the morning for those who want to head back.”

That caught Daniel’s attention. “Who’s planning to stay?”

And why?

“Talbot’s here. He’s the one who had Quinn. Someone helped her get out. Someone who wanted her found. By us. I don’t know what’s going on, but all the little hairs on my arms are standing on end. He’s here. He’s watching. Waiting. And I plan to find him.”

Daniel figured there was a story there, also. Tony had a hardon for Dr. Talbot for some reason. Daniel figured if anyone knew why it would be Aleksy. The two were like brothers, Tony having brought Aleksy home with him when they were kids.

“If Talbot is here, my brother will stay.”

Dr. Talbot had rained hell on Gabriel’s mate, Kenzie. A hell that began even before she was born. Luckily, someone in the lab where she’d been kept had decided to save Kenzie. They’d managed to sneak her out and get her to allies, who’d placed in the care of a family of cougars.

Until it was discovered that Kenzie couldn’t shift. Thinking her more human than shifter, they’d moved her into the human foster care system. Kenzie hadn’t fit in there either. She’d had enough animal senses to make her stand out among the humans but had appeared too human to fit in among the shifters. She’d spent her whole life