Bearly Enough (25 page)

“I’m not asking for your help in this,” Lucy said with
frustration, “I’m asking that you be my sister and understand and not write me
off because I’m choosing something different than you.”

Gabby stood frozen. “You’re right,” she whispered. “That’s
exactly what I’m doing. I’m sorry, Lucy.”

Lucy watched her sister, unable to understand her meaning.
“You’re sorry and you will stop holding this against me? Or you’re sorry
because you can’t help how you feel and this is how things are going to be?”
Her stomach twisted in knots as she waited for Gabby’s response.

“I’m sorry because I can’t change how I feel, and I can’t
control how your choice is going to affect our relationship.” Gabby shook her
head in sadness and then hurried down the steps, leaving Lucy alone in the
hallway.

Stone opened his eyes and looked around.

He was in his own bed, and he groaned in pain as he tried to
sit up. How had he gotten into his own bed? The past few days had been a groggy
blur, and he tried to remember being brought from Gabby and Zane’s house to his
own.

He vaguely recalled looking up and seeing sunlight filter
through the trees—he must have been transported during daylight hours.

Lucy.

Where was Lucy?

He tried to push himself out of bed, but then he saw a
handwritten note lying on the pillow next to him.

Downstairs meeting with the council. The meeting won’t
last long.

I love you,

Lucy

Lucy was meeting with the council? Well, that was different.
He knew the council had met with Zane and Quentin, though he wasn’t sure if
Lucy had filled him in on the details.

Everything was hazy.

The only things he remembered were that Evan and Jeremy were
dead, and Lucy had returned with him.

After everything that had happened, Lucy had remained by his
side, despite the horror in the woods.

He settled back onto his pillow, wondering when he would
start feeling like his old self again. He had flashbacks of Evan sneaking up on
him as he returned from the house Lucy had grown up in. Evan had hit him over
the head and dragged him out into the woods, leaving him to die.

Which he would have if it hadn’t been for that prick Zane.

Of all people to find him, it had to be him.

He hated feeling like he owed Zane something.

The events from that night were hazy, especially since he
had suffered a head injury, but he remembered seeing Lucy attacked, and he
remembered mustering every ounce of strength to protect her.

And he remembered how Lucy saved him, hurting herself in the
process.

It made him love her even more, yet it made him angry, too.

How the hell could she risk her own life to protect him?
What the fuck had she been thinking?

As if conjured from his thoughts, the door to his room
opened softly and Lucy appeared.

Stone’s stomach turned when he saw how bruised her face
was—that was
his
fault.

But even with her bruises, she looked beautiful. Her hair
was hanging long and straight down her back, and she was dressed in a long
black sweater dress and black leggings.

“Hey,” she said quietly, though her voice was filled with
happiness. “You’re awake.”

Stone nodded.

“You look better,” she added, brushing the hair out of his
eye. He clasped her hand and held on to it. Lucy smiled at him reassuringly.
“Everything is going to be fine.”

“It must have been a good meeting,” he remarked.

“Very good.” She smiled. “Are you up for visitors in here?
The council wanted to share some of their decisions, and instead of making you
come down, I suggested that they come up here.”

Stone wasn’t normally involved in the council, so he wasn’t
quite sure how they made decisions or what he would be included in, other than
his part in the death of Evan and Jeremy.

“I guess,” Stone shrugged. “It’s not a secret that I had my
ass kicked.”

Lucy frowned. “You did not have your ass kicked. You’re a
hero, Stone.”

Stone waved her off. That was not something that he was used
to hearing.

Lucy disappeared and returned a moment later. The five
council members filed in behind her, and Stone looked at each of them as they
entered the room. He measured the shock on their faces when they saw him lying
in the bed.

First came Karina, and her eyes welled with tears when she
saw him. “Oh, Stone. I knew it was bad, but I had no idea!”

“I’m fine,” he said gruffly, and Karina nodded, looking like
she wanted to hug him but was afraid of hurting him. She sat down on the foot
of the bed, next to Lucy. Next came Marcello and Andy, two of the oldest
council members and the ones who remembered Lucy’s father. Then Cathy, an older
woman who was well involved in the tribe and had born a number of cubs, and
then Stone’s father, Christopher, one of the more respected men in the tribe,
and one who always acted in the best interest of the tribe, even if it wasn’t
in the best interest of his family.

“Hey son,” Christopher said, gently touching Stone’s hand.
“You look a hell of a lot better.”

Stone gave his dad a weak smile. “Thanks.”

Marcello and Andy sat on two chairs in the room while Cathy
sat on the floor, and Christopher stood in the back, next to Lucy. He gave Lucy
a smile and squeezed her shoulder.

Stone must have missed a lot. It seemed his father and Lucy
had done some bonding.

Andy cleared his throat, taking in a wheezy breath. “We have
been discussing for many hours now, days in fact, the events that happened in
the forest. We are extremely disappointed in ourselves for not recognizing
Jeremy’s true intentions.”

Cathy jumped in. “I never liked Jeremy!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Marcello said, waving an old, weathered hand,
“You’ve made it clear that we all screwed up.”

“Anyway,” Andy continued in a loud voice, “we realize that
it’s not right to hold you accountable for Jeremy’s death. You were protecting
the princess, who also turned out to be your chosen mate.”

Stone held his breath. While he may have been forgiven for
killing Jeremy, they were yet to say if Lucy had been forgiven for killing
Evan.

“We also do not hold the princess accountable for killing
Evan,” Andy continued. “She was acting in self-defense, and she was protecting
her mate as well.”

Stone let out a sigh of relief.

“All offers still stand,” Karina chimed in, “and you and
Lucy will be rewarded for producing cubs, though we are not going to set a
limit.” She smiled at both Stone and Lucy. “But of course, the more the
merrier.”

Lucy let out a bit of a nervous laugh. Stone saw now that
Lucy was anxiously tapping her fingers. What else could possibly be coming?

“And now, the last bit of information,” Stone’s father spoke
up. “There have been many talks, many suggestions, and I have tried to remain
as neutral as possible,” he grinned at Stone, “but we have decided on a new
alpha for the tribe.”

Stone was curious to see who would be chosen next. Perhaps
Torin. That would make sense.

“We would like to officially offer you the alpha role in the
tribe,” his father said softly.

Stone was stunned.

“What?” he finally asked.

“You!” Karina said loudly, smiling.

Lucy was nearly bouncing up and down.

“No,” Stone said, “that can’t be right.”

“Yes, son. It’s right. You would be an excellent leader,”
Christopher spoke up.

“But—but I’m not interested,” Stone said, “and I don’t know
how to lead.”

“Even more reason that it should be you,” Cathy said firmly.
“You’re not interested in the power that comes with being alpha, so we can
trust you not to abuse it.”

“And I think you have a smarty over there,” Andy added,
pointing at Lucy.

Lucy ducked her head and smiled.

Was Lucy okay with this, too? Had she known they would
suggest this?

She must have known.

“What do you think?” he asked, looking directly at Lucy.

She gave a little shrug. “I don’t know much about it, but
I’ll support you in whatever you do.”

“Smart woman,” Cathy remarked.

“Let’s be clear,” Marcello spoke up, “you mating with the
princess did not factor into this decision. That’s just an added bonus. We’ve
had our eye on you for some time.”

“Huh? Me?” Stone was floored. As far as he knew, he never showed
any signs of leadership.

“Of course,” his father said. “Though I was always hesitant
to push for you because I worried others would think that I was favoring you.
The crowd doesn’t sway you, Stone. You are strong in your beliefs, and you do
what you think is fair and right. You are the perfect person to lead this
tribe. And I believe you will finally bring us to a time of peace.”

Shocked and humbled, Stone gazed around the room at the
faces. All of them were looking at him with admiration.

Could it be true?

Was he a leader without realizing it?

He glanced at Lucy, who gave him a small smile and nodded.

“Well, alright,” he finally said, and Karina clapped her
hands together with delight. “But on one condition,” he said, “you all will need
to help me and give me guidance.”

“That’s what we’re here for,” Andy said, pushing himself
back to his feet. “Now, I’m exhausted and I need to get home to the wife.”

Marcello nodded in agreement, following Andy out of the
room.

“You get better,” Cathy said, rising to her feet, and gently
patting his hand. “I’m going to send over some food for you.”

“That’s okay,” Lucy jumped in, “you don’t have to do that. I
can manage.”

Cathy smiled at her. “You have your hands full, dear. And
don’t forget that you’re hurt too.”

She left the room, and Karina stood up too. “I’ll be in
touch soon,” she smiled, following Cathy out.

Christopher and Lucy were the only ones left. “You gave us
quite a scare,” his father said, his voice grave.

Stone felt sick thinking about what his parents must have
gone through. They had already lost one child, and knowing that Stone was near
death must have been awful.

“I’m sorry, Dad. I can only imagine.”

“Don’t apologize. You’re on the mend now, and that’s what
matters.” He gave Lucy a kiss on the cheek and made his way to the door. “Start
considering some things you would like to do or change as the new alpha. We’ll
give you all the help you need, especially now as you’re getting better.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

His father left the room, and it was just Lucy.

“Are you ready for this?” Stone asked. “Being the wife of an
alpha?”

Lucy laughed nervously, her bruised face looking beautiful.
“Am I ready for any of this?” she teased. “What’s one more thing?”

“I’m sorry,” Stone apologized.

Lucy sat on the bed next to him. “Don’t be. We’re going to
get you better and then we’ll worry about everything else.”

“But look at you,” Stone said in a strangled voice, reaching
out to Lucy’s damaged face. He knew they were just surface wounds, and would
heal soon enough, but seeing her so battered was almost more than he could
take.

“I’m fine,” she insisted, “really. Just a little sore, but
I’ll be back to normal soon.”

She sat quietly on the bed, playing with the edge of the
sheet.

“What is it?” Stone asked. “There’s something you’re not
telling me.”

“No, it’s not that,” she said thoughtfully. “It was just an
idea.”

“I’m listening.”

“So, now that you’re the new alpha, maybe you could make
peace a priority.”

Stone’s eyes darkened, and he could feel his bear waking.
“Peace is a priority,” he nearly growled. He gathered himself and took a deep
breath. “Why? What are you suggesting?”

“Well, I know that you will promote peace within the tribe,
but what about peace with the other tribes?”

Stone narrowed his eyes. “Explain,” he demanded.

Lucy fidgeted. “Now that there are two princesses in two of
the tribes, not to mention
sister
princesses, it seems that it would be
in your best interest to get along with each other.”

Just the thought of having to get along with the Virtus made
his blood boil. He couldn’t even imagine trying to get along with the
Atrocitas.

“Lucy,” he warned.

She held her hand up. “Just think about it! Remember that
they did help save your life. No one is saying that you all have to be best
friends. But a truce wouldn’t hurt.”

Stone gave her a wry grin. “And I’m guessing you have an
ulterior motive?”

“Well, not ulterior,” Lucy said slyly, “but yes, I think I
would benefit from that decision.”

Stone knew exactly why Lucy would benefit—a truce would make
it much easier for her to see Gabby. They wouldn’t have to worry about the
tribe matters interfering with their relationship. He hated to admit that
Lucy’s idea was a good one.