“No, I won’t join your nonsense gypsy cult. Look what it’s done to my granddaughter.” I heard Grandma Sidney yelling before I could open my eyes. “She’s half dead from growing some tree? Get out of my house, Tony.”
“It’s not a cult, Sidney.”
Nicholas was kneeling next to me when I opened my eyes. He had dried blood on his face and looked as exhausted as I had felt before I’d passed out. “You shouldn’t have come back to the community. They might have taken you.”
“You shouldn’t have let yourself get so jealous you became a freak werewolf.” I wanted to glare at him but I was too relieved that he wasn’t out of control anymore.
“I’m sorry I thought you’d slept with Toryn.” He helped me sit up. “You are one crazy gypsy, Piper.” He half smiled. “I never would have considered bargaining with Baobhans.” He shook his head. “They won’t uphold the bargain, though. We need to get you into hiding again.”
“No.” I pushed his arm away. “They found me last time and they’d find me again.” Grandma Sidney pushed the door open.
“Piper, you’re awake.” She rushed into the room and hugged me tight. “You can’t go back there. I just can’t condone that. Look at the condition you came back in and look at him.” She pointed at Nicholas in his shredded rags and blood soaked body.
“Don’t worry, Grandma Sidney. I’m not going back there. I live here.” I hugged her again and cried as she rocked me in her arms. There were so many moments when I’d thought I’d never see her again. I cried out of joy, relief and sorrow too. Sorrow for the families who wouldn’t be able to hold their loved ones close as I did.
Tony had provided a toned down version of what had happened and bless Grandma Sidney she tried to believe me when I agreed with him.
“We’ll talk about this after you’ve had some rest,” she said tears glistening in her eyes. “I love you, sweet girl.” Grandma Sidney kissed my forehead. “I’m going to go call my doctor friend and have him take another look at you now that you’re awake.”
“I’m fine, Grandma Sidney. I promise.”
“Be right back.” She left to go make her call. I turned to Nicholas to ask questions I couldn’t ask with my grandma there.
“Is Donnell okay?”
Nicholas smiled and nodded, but I didn’t miss the tremor in his chin before his jaw tightened. “We lost eleven of the pack.”
I sat up and hugged him. “I’m sorry. Were any of them your brothers?”
“Not in blood but,” he squeezed me as his voice broke, “they were all my brothers.” I cried then too, and he kissed me and wiped away my tears with his thumbs. “It would have been all of us if it hadn’t been for you.”