38. Zeke

Whoever said time is a healer was a lying son of a bitch. I get through the days fine enough. I prepare defences with Finn, Tucker and Hayden. The latter is trying to convince me my own sprawling tattoo art would help me deal with losing Franz. Considering he's absolutely drowning in ink, what kind of life has he had before joining the Shadowlands Warriors?

I cut down and split trees for firewood until my muscles scream. Then like a glutton for punishment, I listen to Easton talk for hours on end. Literally hours. I do everything and anything Cillian asks of me.

There was a brief moment of respite when I pinned the blonde Beta Adrian to the floor by his throat. With Alpha Cillian looming in the background he spluttered and panicked for his life. “I only read your letter because it came from Maddox!”

“You didn’t trust Maddox?”

“NIkolai took him off duty! If Nikolai doesn’t trust him, I don’t trust him! It’s nothing personal!”

“You didn’t open anything else?”

“Never! No! I thought I w