Chapter 38

After Duncan brought Sadie home and helped her to bed, he went to the kitchen to make her a cup of green tea. She lay curled under the thick comforter, her face pale, her body exhausted. The sight of her like this unsettled him. She was strong and resilient, but right now, she was vulnerable. He wished he could do more, but some things were beyond even an Alpha’s reach. The best thing for her now was rest. He would call her mother, Bianca, later that afternoon. Sadie had explicitly asked for her, and Duncan had no intention of disappointing her.

As the kettle began to whistle, Ryder burst into the kitchen, his boots pounding against the wooden floor with urgency. He nearly collided with Duncan, who barely managed to sidestep him.

“Whoa, big fella,” Duncan said, lifting the kettle. “I’ve got boiling water in my hand.”

Ryder barely registered the warning. “Is that for Sadie?”

“Yes, she wants some tea.”

“What did the doctor say?”