“Ok,” Haven says, nodding. “Um… are you guys… hungry?”
“I’m gonna take a shower,” Reese says, sounding raw.
“Me too,” I say quickly.
Haven watches us, her brow wrinkled in innocent confusion as we both race toward our showers to let off some metaphorical steam.
***
When I emerge, the house is quiet. I assume Haven has gone to sleep. I’m on my way to the kitchen when Reese’s door opens. I stiffen as he strides out into the living room, his face chiseled out of stone. He looks me up and down, his eyes resting on the fat lip that formed quickly after his assault.
“You ok?” he asks.
I’m surprised by the question. “Yeah,” I say. “I am.”
“How is it that you and I wound up in the same place, Cassa?” Reese was never one for beating around the bush.
I open my mouth to reply and then close it again. What does it matter that I got him out of prison? He’s not going to forgive me, not ever. That much has always been clear to me. I shouldn’t expect it, or even want it, because it’s not going to happen. He would just tell me it didn’t matter; that it wasn’t enough.
So instead of pleading my case, I just shrug and say, “Coincidence?”
Reese grunts, giving me a look that says he doesn’t believe it for a moment. “Where’s Raleigh?”
I swallow at the name of my brother. I haven’t heard it in years; not since Mom died. No one was left to care about him then. No one but me. “Dead. Shot and killed six months after you left.”
“Was it worth it, then?” Reese snaps, his face twisting with hate. “Lying to everyone, setting me up? Was it worth it for six more months with your brother?”
I know his words come from a place of anger. A place of betrayal. But after everything I’ve been through, for his reaction to my brother’s death to be so callous, so utterly cold… it hurts more than I would have expected.
“Fuck you, Reese,” I hiss.
Reese chuckles. “You and everyone else, Cassa. That’s what I’m here for, isn’t it? To be just another feral fucking alpha, ready to knot anyone who needs it?”
“Would you rather be back in prison? Because I’m sure that can be arranged.”
Reese shrugs, starting past me toward the kitchen. “Not much of a difference either way.”
Seeing the haunted look in his eye, I regret threatening him. With a sigh, I step forward, putting my hand out to make him listen. “Reese—”
Reese snarls as my hand touches his chest. He shoves me, and I stagger backward before righting myself. I put both palms out and push against him. He’s huge; all muscle and sinew, and I know I can’t move him. No matter how strong I’ve become, I’ll never be a match for an alpha. But that won’t stop me from fighting him if I have to.
So I’m surprised when Reese freezes. He puts up his hands in a gesture of mock surrender and backs up a step. “Just don’t touch me, ok?”
“Ok. I just… I want you to know that there’s an opportunity here. You’re getting paid, you have a job. There’s room to grow here. Room to be something more.”
Reese shakes his head. “Something more? Cassa, I don’t know what you think is going to happen, but I’m here to fuck. That’s all I’m here to do. So stay out of my way and let me do what I’m good at—the only thing I’m good at.”
I don’t like to hear him talking about himself like that. “That’s not true,” I mutter. “It’s not the only thing…”
Reese cocks his head to the side, studying me. “It’s absolutely true. I’m nothing. No one. I’ll never be anything other than a feral alpha. And for your own sake, it’s important that you never forget it.”
Chapter Six
~Haven~
I’m eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich—the extent of my culinary skills—when there’s a very quiet knock on the back window. I look over my shoulder and see a woman standing on the other side of the window. She has deep olive skin and black wavy hair, pulled down over one side of her face. She’s wearing black leggings under a long black turtleneck, with soft black moccasins on her feet. A gold chain with a rose pendant hangs from her neck — maybe a mic?
When she sees me looking, she stops knocking and waves at me shyly.