“I’m so much better now that you’re here. I… I don’t know what to say. Can you believe it? I’m an alpha. And Mom has been hiding it for who knows how long.” I shudder with my words, my mind swirling as I struggle not to lose myself in the memory of Jade’s death.
Again, my sisters engulf me in hugs.
“We’re going to get this figured out. We all know that it was an accident. Mom should’ve never done what she did. She’s a fucking monster.” Scarlett heaves a breath. “We won’t stand by and let her control your life. We love you. Your sisters are here now. Sapphire, Raven, and Cyan send their love as well. We all plan to get together soon. We just need to figure this situation out a little more first. We need to find out exactly what Mom gains from this.”
Violet squeezes my fingers. “Hang in there, okay? I’m staying with Scarlett until this is all resolved. Winter is the slow season for us up in Anchorage anyway. The guys miss me, but they understand. Besides, it’s easy for me to hang around nearby and help since I don’t have any kids to look after. Oh, and the staff here seems really nice. I spoke a long time with a Theoden Hudson, and he—”
“He and two alphas have been watching out for me,” I say with a happy sigh that doesn’t go unnoticed by my sisters. “I never thought I’d be the one claiming an omega. I wish you could meet them all. Beau and Gabe… you would like them.” Warmth blooms in my middle, the thought of the three men who have helped me the last few weeks, pushing away the dark memories brought on by the mention of my mom.
“We’d love to. I’ll make the arrangements. I think it’s important that you see that you’re not the murdering alpha you think you are. Mistakes happen. This one was a tragedy, but don’t blame yourself. None of us could’ve known this would happen.” Violet sniffles, her voice cracking.
“I just wish I could explain everything to Jade’s pack,” I say, dropping my voice low. “I feel so fucking bad. They’re absolutely beside themselves. Their lives have been ruined by me. Jade…” I can’t finish my sentence, my emotions swelling to get the best of me. Damn it.
This is all so fucked up.
“They should know the truth. They should get answers. I’m just… I’m afraid,” I continue, my voice hitching. Mother disagreed and thought it best to hide it—for my sake. At least that’s what she said, but I doubt I can trust her—or her intentions—anymore.
Scarlett reaches out and pets my damp hair, brushing it away from my sticky tear-stained cheek. “I think you’re right. It’s going to be hard. Harder than anything you’ve ever experienced in your life, but they should know the truth. I’m not going to push you. None of us are. We know you will take care of things, when you’re ready. It’ll be easier to rebuild after.”
“I hope so. I really fucking hope so. I hate this. I just want my family back. I want a pack of my own. I’m just so tired of everything creeping up behind me, trying to take me down.” I shake my head, trying to get myself back together.
“I know, Amber. We’ll get through this. I promise.” Violet hugs me again, and I remain sandwiched between my sisters until Warden Black returns and tells them our time is up.
My heart aches, knowing that it could very well be months before I see them again. I’m just so thankful for this precious moment we got to have together now. It’s what I needed to find my strength. I know what to do now. Confronting Jade’s pack might be the only way to ensure I get the life I want. The life I didn’t think I deserved… until now.
I’ll do whatever it takes. I must.
Because I can’t hide from my past. If I do, I’ll never have a future.
seventeen
AMBER
“Idon’t like this, cherry pie. I’ve looked into Pack Vega, and they are not anyone you want to mess with. I don’t know how your sister got involved with them in the first place, but…” Gabe stands in front of me, staring out one of the panoramic windows of Theoden’s office. Turning, he reaches out and tucks a strand of my blond hair behind my ear. “They’re criminals. They run this whole big empire in Las Vegas. Thus the clever name of Vega. But even if they’re not the smartest guys, they’re crazy dangerous. You need to stay away from them.”
“The problem isn’t me staying away from them, you know that. It’s getting them to stay away from me, and it doesn’t seem like they’re planning on doing that.” I fix Gabe with my stern gaze; he already knows all this. “Jade was always the wild one. She ran away and turned her back on Pack Carlisle’s expectations of her. Pack Vega managed to bribe my mom, I guess. That has always been the best way to get on her side. Money is the most important thing to her, which is why she probably hid my order and tried to mate me off as an omega anyway. I broke her greedy little heart the moment I started showing signs of being an alpha. And she’s broken mine a million times since.” I bounce on my feet, anxiety getting the best of me. We should be in class, but Theoden managed to pull us out with the claim that he needed our help for something. Jade’s pack made it easy enough to contact when they gave me their contact information, acting like the authorities.
Now we’re just waiting for Beau and him to return. Because we don’t have much time. I thought that Warden Black would agree to give me a pass to see Jade’s pack, but she thought it would be a mistake to continue engaging with them. She’s probably right and only wants to protect me. I just want to do the right thing no matter how wrong it feels. Even though I don’t love their methods of getting in touch with me, Jade’s pack deserves answers.
“Which is why we need to be careful. What if they’re pissed off about more than just losing Jade? What if they want to come after you for the money they’ve spent and lost? I know a lot of asshole alphas who treat omegas like possessions.” Gabe rubs his fingers over his chin. “You never know.”
I grimace. “That definitely won’t be the case. They loved her. They wouldn’t—”
A knock on the side window of the classroom cuts me off. Beau waves, motioning for us to open it. I break away from Gabe and shuffle the ten feet it takes to get to the window before unlatching it and sliding it open.
“You have to sneak through here, kitten. Theoden is waiting in the car. We just got the coordinates of the meeting location. We’re not going to have a lot of time to spare so hustle that cute ass.” Beau extends his arms, helping me climb through the window. We chose this classroom as our point of departure for two reasons. One, it belongs to a professor who only teaches every other semester, which means it’s been largely unused since my arrival. And, two, it’s one of the few rooms on the bottom floor with outside access. None of the other windows in the student areas open easily. We’d have to break them if there was an emergency and we couldn’t reach an exit.
“I still think we should reconsider,” Gabe argues, following behind me without trying to get me to stop.
Beau whacks him on the shoulder. “Don’t be scared, Gabie-boy. I got you.”
Gabe grunts under his breath, joining us outside. I spot Theoden standing at the driver’s side door of the same sedan he drove to pick me up from my house and bring me to Drakewood all those weeks ago. He waves at us, and I offer my hands to both Beau and Gabe. I need their strength now more than ever.
“It’s going to be fine,” I say, not believing a word of the soft reassurance I utter. If only I could get my mind to stop the imaginary fire burning my life around me. “Once this is over with, I’ll be able to rebuild my life. Maybe even forgive myself for what happened.” I swallow the lump in my throat and meet Gabe’s eyes. “I’m so thankful you guys are coming with me. I can’t imagine handling this alone.”
Gabe smiles weakly, the concern refusing to leave his handsome face. “You’ll never be alone again, Amber. We’ll do anything for you.”
“Yeah. Even scare off these assholes if they don’t take it well,” Beau adds.