I was absolutely speechless, and I sensed Neo's presence within my mind as he quietly spoke within our connected bond.
"The Forbidden Pack has never apologized to anyone, Sweetness. Even when we were in the wrong. This is a big deal, and I know without a doubt that he meant every word of his apology."
I didn't need Neo to explain that to me, but the added dialogue and viewpoint were important in helping me come to my decision. I’d known Dimitris long enough to acknowledge the pride he carried in being the leader of this phenomenal, lethal pack.
He managed to bring them together, and the result created a pack of power, loyalty, and complete submission from anyone who dared to strike back. Him acknowledging his mistake and apologizing was enough to prove he meant it, and he wasn't doing this because of what I now was.
No matter if I'd survived as a human, he would have apologized.
"I forgive you," I quietly affirmed. "Now get off the grass. You're staining your pants and I ain't going to be the one being punished to do laundry and clean them for you."
I sensed Neo's smile, while Onyx huffed, "As if we'd let him make you do laundry. Royalty doesn't do laundry."
I gave him a side look, but Dimitris stood back up to face me, drawing my attention once more. "Are you okay?"
"Been better," I admitted. "Could use a Snickers bar to get back to my usual self and go on a killing spree, but I'm sure the stores are closed."
"Not the convenience stores," Saint pointed out. "Chocolate on the way home. Want alcohol, too?"
The question made me smirk, and Neo replied, "That's a yes."
"Got it," Saint declared with a wink. "So, can we all hug and get the hell out of here?"
That seemed to relieve the intensity between all of us, and Jayce and Saint approached to get first dibs on hugging me. Obviously, Onyx and Neo had gotten their moments with me, but it didn't stop them from hugging me a second time, or from Onyx slipping in a brief kissing moment to further relax me.
By the time I was finished hugging Dimitris and moving on to Viktor, I felt like I'd drop at any second. He clearly noticed because he announced, "What's the getaway plan? Because Willow needs to sit down."
"If that's your way of getting out of a hug, you better shut the fuck up," I huffed at his clear attempt to avoid my hug. "You're getting this hug, even if my ass passes out after."
"We're trying to avoid that, Sugar," Onyx pointed out, but I could tell he didn't like that I was nearly out of fuel. "You're going to need a shot."
"You’re going to need to mind your own business," I countered.
"She's snarky when she's on the verge of unconsciousness," Saint concluded.
"Nah. She just doesn’t want to take that shot," Jayce acknowledged.
"I don't...oh fuck it," I huffed and moved right in to hug Viktor, who stiffened at my hug. "Suck it up, Viktor. I'll order you to hug me back if I have to."
Viktor grumbled something that sounded like “This is assault” or some shit, but he actually did hug me back - and caught me when my legs gave up on this 'let's be a strong badass' facade.
"Shit," Viktor cursed. I felt Neo and Onyx at my sides in what surely was a nanosecond.
"Wolf down," I practically slurred. "Ya...I'm dying."
"You're not dying," Neo calmly stated.
Onyx huffed and had me in his arms in seconds. "We need to go."
Something told me he wasn't stating that because of my decline in health, but because something was approaching and it would brew into a dangerous gamble of life and death if we didn't hustle out of here.
"Jayce." Dimitris was already in full Alpha mode.
"Already called the team. Our rides should be here. Escalade and G-Wagon. Won't catch too much attention compared to our usual travel accommodations."
"Where are we going?" Onyx asked. "We can't go to Willow's place right now, and I don't think it would be a good idea to go to the safe house either for obvious reasons."
"Like the fact that it's burned to the ground," Neo casually noted.
"Oops," I commented while I kept my eyes closed and head rested against Onyx's chest.
"We'll deal with that later." Dimitris sighed. "We're heading to Neo's hotel."
Hotel?
I could feel Neo’s amusement trickle through me, but Viktor decided to ask the obvious.
"His hotel?"
"I own a hotel not too far from here," he declared. "It'll be safe for us to lay low for a few days until we know what's going on."
"It doesn't guarantee that those after Willow aren't going to be snooping around or attempting to catch our trail," Viktor stressed.
"I’m aware of that," Neo responded without a hint of worry.
Jayce chuckled, which caught our attention.
"When Neo says his hotel is safe, it means Neo owns the entire hotel, has connections with every single individual within the hotel, and owns the entire district around it."
That surely silenced Viktor because he seemed to have nothing else to say while Onyx commented, "You know, for a blind, artistic fucker, you're seriously dangerous."
"Good," Neo replied. "Makes life more eventful, don't you think?"
"Remind me not to let my guard down around him again," Viktor muttered to Onyx.
"Likewise," Onyx replied. "What’s the seating arrangement, because an Escalade won't fit all of us."
"Willow, Neo, Onyx, Jayce, and Saint, head to the hotel. Stay there until I get back so we can discuss our game plan," he began. "Viktor, you'll be riding with me."
"On what terms?" Viktor demanded. "I don't take commands from you, regardless of whether Willow's a part of your pack or not."
That means he’s being a bitter bastard because I was in this predicament due to Dimitris's actions helping to egg me on.
"Vik...tor." I didn't think I'd struggle to speak, but I did, and felt like fucking shit. If I lost consciousness, it wouldn't end well.
"Viktor, she needs a shot. We can deal with this leadership shit later," Onyx emphasized. Viktor tsked, but it seemed like he was retrieving something before Onyx sighed in relief. "You have one."
"Give it to her in the car," Viktor encouraged. "Also, if you're going to be a possessive asshole, don't punish her like I'm positive you want to."
"I said nothing," Onyx pointed out.
"You don't need to say a word for all of us to read you like an open book," Neo acknowledged.
"Only because I allow it," Onyx brushed off.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Neo concluded.
Sleep? The fucker doesn't sleep when he wants to punish someone.
My thought must have gone through to them because they were chuckling the next second, which left Saint a bit stumped.
"So...did I miss the joke?"
"Wilting Flower must have said something in their mate bond," Jayce acknowledged.
"I forgot about that connection stuff. Damn. That's not fair," Saint complained.