The Divided

Chapter Forty-Nine

Most of the people started filing out of the room since everyone had been dismissed. I watched Wyatt and Alice leave together, his arm looking comfortable wrapped around her shoulder. "Are they together yet?" I asked out loud, looking for an answer from anyone around me.

Dean smiled and shook his head beside me. "Not yet."

Reagan and Iris walked up to Roman, Bella, and Landon, who were all just a few feet away from me and Dean. "There is a house down the road from ours that we keep for reasons like this one. You three can live there for as long as you need," Reagan told them. "You are welcome to live there until the war is over and then if you wish, you can find your own places." The Extricate leader gestured for them to follow him. "Please, follow me. I'll take you there and show you around." Then, glancing back to me, he said, "Mel, you can stay there too, or if you like, you are always welcome to stay with us."

I nodded. "Thanks."

"Would you like to come with us?"

I shook my head. "I'll check it out later, but thanks."

Reagan nodded and led them away. "I'm going to go home and start dinner," Iris informed me. "You are welcome to join us." I just smiled and nodded before watching her follow after her husband.

Taking a deep breath, I turned to Dean, who was now the only other person in the room. For a long moment, I just stared at him and smiled. "Thank you for saving me—even after getting shot in the chest for defending me." I lightly touched his chest, brushing my fingertips over his bandage.

A light chuckled escaped his lips. "It seemed as though you are always thanking me for something."

I playfully rolled my eyes. "I'm serious. Thank you for always being here for me."

Then, he wrapped his arms tightly around me. He hugged me so tight that I was worried about the pressure on his wound. For that reason, I quickly pulled away from him. "Easy there, Tiger. You're still hurt."

Not thinking twice, he leaned down and kissed me on the lips. My heart immediately melted. It was passionate and full of love. "I love you, too," I told him, remembering that I hadn't had the chance to say it in return before.

His smile brightened and, at that moment, I knew that my words meant the world to him. Pulling me tightly against him, he kissed me hard, like I was the oxygen he needed. I kissed him back with just as much energy as he cupped my face in his palms. Reaching up on the tips of my toes, I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding me down toward me so I could reach his lips.

"Hey, guys, I--," a voice entered the room.

Wyatt stopped in his tracks and I dropped down to flat feet as Dean stood straight. "Oops, I totally just ruined a moment, didn't I?"

The blond in front of me tilted his head and grinned in amusement. "What do you want, Wyatt?"

"Uh, your dad wants you to show your guests that you are polite and trustworthy by actually socializing with them," he said.

"Roman, Bella, and Landon know that they can trust us," he replied.

Wyatt raised his hands in surrender. "I'm just following orders from our Leader."

Dean chuckled and rolled his eyes. "We will be there in a few minutes."

Nodding once, the boy took a step back into the doorway and touched his bare wrist. "Time's ticking."

Once our friend was out of sight, Dean sighed and kissed me once more. "We better get going."

Hand in hand, we walked out of the room and down the stairs until we exited the leadership building. Standing by the door on the outside, leaning against the brick, was Dean's old friend, Sean. He studied us with a menacing look. As we walked away, I kept my eyes on him, feeling uneasy. "What's going on with him?" I asked Dean.

He shrugged and ignored his creepy presence. "Who knows? Weeks ago, he told me to watch my back, remember? He's probably just planning something."

I breathed. "Are you not worried about it?"

Dean shook his head, making his blond locks dance. "We have a war to worry about. I'm not going to give him the satisfaction of giving him my time of the day."

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~Emily