He grabs the bottle. “This?” He shows it to me. I nod my head. “How long did you use this soap?”
“I don’t know, like a year. She bought it for me right before she died.” I reach for the bottle. “She said that she bought all she could find because the scent reminded her of when she was a kid.” I smile at the thought of my mother.
“This isn’t normal soap, Ronnie.” Dash stands up straight. “Darrell!” he shouts for his father as a look of worry washes over his face.
The bathroom door opens revealing Darrell, who raises an eyebrow seeing us in here together. Dash tosses the bottle to Darrell who catches it. “Where’d you get this?” Darrell questions, concentrating on the bottle.
“Her mother gave it to her. She’s been using it for over a year,” Dash says.
“Well until two months ago when I ran out,” I reply. “What’s wrong with the soap?” I ask.
“This soap is infused with an herb that helps keep your heat subdued. It stops your heat from developing if you’re supposed to be an omega.” Darrell squeezes the bottle. “Your fucking mother,” he growls.
“Hey!” I shout at him. “Don’t say it like that.”
Darrell holds the bottle up. “She stopped you from getting your heat, you should have had it six months ago, when you turned eighteen.” Darrell steps into the bathroom further. “Is this why you needed to go to the store and wouldn’t tell me what exactly you wanted to buy?”
“Yes. I thought I could just buy it. I didn’t know what it did. I just know it was one of the last things my mother bought for me, and if she wanted me to use the soap that reminded her of her childhood, then I would use it.” I clutch the shower curtain to my body.
“Finish up and get downstairs.” Darrell lets out a frustrated sigh, turning on his heels. He slams the bathroom door shut as he leaves.
“Well shit,” Dash says, turning back to face me. “That explains so much.”
“So my mother tried to keep me from having my heat. Why?” I ask as Dash climbs back into the shower with me.
“Probably because we were all supposed to be Alphas. And she knew what that meant.” Dash pulls me into him, hugging me tightly.
I ponder that thought. My mother knew what was coming, yet she continued to stay with Darrell. She never once actually warned me about what was coming, she just secretly helped me hide.
We finish our shower, and Dash is eager to help me dry off and get dressed. Since I’m not going to school, he wraps the towel around me. “Lets go to your room,” he whispers softly. He leads me quietly to my room while I just stare at the walls as we walk, not really sure what to think.
When we’re in the room, Dash finishes drying me off and leaves me standing in the middle of my room. I’m just standing there though, not talking. Staring off into space. This is all too much.
Alphas. Omegas. My mom hiding me. Everything is barrelling down. Caving in on me. I need to leave. Dash hands me a bra, I take it and put it on. Kicking myself into gear. “I can dress myself,” I say, stepping around him into my closet. I pull a large sweater off a hanger and throw it on. A pair of black leggings stare at me from the shelf, so I grab them. Stepping into them, one leg at a time. I flick my wet hair out of the sweater and grab a pair of socks. My mind is in overdrive, and the only place I know for certain I can get away from everything is the library.
“What are you doing?” I hear Dash, but I wouldn’t dare take a chance by looking at him.
“I’m going somewhere,” I say nonchalantly as I sit on the edge of my bed. Putting my socks on, I look around for my shoes, spotting them under the dresser. With a quickness, I side step Dash again and grab my shoes with a huff of frustration exiting my lungs.
“I literally just told you that you can’t do anything without talking to us. Where are you going?” Dash sits on the bed next to me as I push my feet into the shoes.
“Out. Now, I’m not in heat so I’m not in danger. Right?” I say, snapping my head to the left to look at him. He’s still wet from the shower with a towel tied around his waist.
“Not exactly. They can still smell that you’re an omega.” Dash lifts his hand to put it on my thigh.
I jump off the bed, stepping away from him. I can’t have him touching me right now. I need to get away, I need to think. “And all four of you have marked me. So my scent should have yours mixed with mine.” I grab my purse off my dresser and fling it over my shoulder.
“Yes, but-”
“But nothing, Dash. I’ve left before without you at my side. I need to go to the only place in the world that shuts everything out. The one place that I feel the most like myself. And right now, I need that.” I take another step back as he stands up.
“The library? That’s where you want to go?” He hooks his hand around the knot on the towel to keep it from falling off him.
“Yes, the library. I’ll be there for a little while. If you so much as follow me into that fucking place, I will disappear completely. I need time,” I say, holding my hand up to keep Dash at an arm's length. “Please.”
“Ronni. I swear to fucking God that if you disappear,” he grabs my wrist and pulls me so my nose is touching his, “I will fucking find you. Tearing apart anyone or anything standing in my way.” I see the anger boiling in his eyes.
“Then let me go,” I plead with him, closing my eyes softly in hopes that he hears my cry for solidarity. The grip around my wrist loosens until it’s nonexistent.