Fractured by N.O Darling

Chapter 299

**Josie’s POV **

+25 BONUS

Luke wakes us up in the best way possible. He’s found Harper, and she’ll be coming home soon. I can already feel the excitement bubbling inside me as I pace the kitchen, imagining the moment when I can finally wrap my arms around her. The thought that she is safe fills me with overwhelming joy, and I can’t wait to see her again.

Axel informs Raff, who arranges to have Archie’s parents brought here. I expect them to be a little hostile towards us because it’s our fault that Archie was lost in the first place, but when they arrive they just seem to be reviled and as anxious as the rest of us.

It has been less than an hour since Luke confirmed he had Harper, but it feels like a lifetime. The anticipation is killing me and the air feels thick with tension.

Mason is no better. He’s a prolific pacer at the best of times Now I’m worried he’s going to pass out from exhaustion before she even arrives at this rate.

Theo is sitting at the kitchen table bouncing his knee and Axel is resting his head in his hands. Deacon

is the only one of us that is not showing any outward signs that give away his emotions, but I can feel he is just as keyed up as the rest of us.

The last weeks have been a chaotic mess of frantic searches, desperate pleas and unanswered prayers, until now. We have barely spoken since Luke gave us the news.

I can barely see past the haze of my own thoughts and tear–blurred eyes. There are so many questions running through my mind. How is she? What has she been through? Will she need healing? Some therapy? The uncertainty

gnaws at me.

most beautiful sound in the world and my heart skips a beat. I turn to see

wrapped around her, and we sink to the floor in floods of happy tears. My guys are around us in seconds, enclosing us in the biggest of hugs. A thousand unspoken words pass between us and my heart feels as though it is going to burst in my chest as I get a rush of love that’s similar to the one I got when I gave birth to her and held her for the first

pulling back to look at Harper’s face, which looks pale

as if they’ve seen too much, and she looks more mature in a way that only happens with life experiences. I hear my guys all talking to her, but their

mum,” she cries, her voice raw. I pull her towards me again, kissing the top of her head as she presses. her face

don’t ever do something like that again. We would have come with you to get Dillon if you’d told us. We had no idea he felt so important

hear Deacon say into the mind link, and seconds later Luke joins

don’t ever want to let any of them go again. I want to lock them

that stunt,” Luke says with an exasperated laugh once he has had a moment to hold

13

Cluster 209

Theo

sorry, it’s the only thing I could think

+25 BONUS

just been through,” Luke blows out a breaths and shakes his head. “Oh come on, give us the full story, this sounds Interesting

spent almost an hour dodging: Mandy’s advances and making up excuses to delay their ‘bonding. Both he and Harper say Mandy is wild and kind of scary. I have a feeling I’ll get more in–depth retelling from Luke later. He seems a little spooked by the whole

to see Archie is in a similar situation to Harper, is parents surrounding bin and fussing over him. Then I look for Dillon and Robert.

the hall, slumped against the wall and looking a worrying shade of

my feet to get to

he gives

says, his voice sounding as weak as

not in a good way. “Let’s get him on the couch,” Deacon says, helping my