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It came to a head this afternoon. I know there are reasons why I’ve pushed her away, but the further we get from Goldenrod, the harder it is to remember them. It occurred to me that I can’t be without her a second longer. It’s as though something catastrophic will happen if I’m not there to protect her.
If she was an omega, it would make sense. I’d have reason to think she was my mate.
But she’s only a beta.
So, no, she can’t be my mate. Just an important person to me. Basically, a member of the family. No different from Stella. My stomach churns at the thought. Not my sister. I don’t know what she is to me anymore, but it’s not that.
Pushing my unease and questions down deep, I keep my body moving. I’ve never run so hard or so far—it feels surprisingly good. Natural, really.
By the time we slow down, it’s twilight, the pink and purple sunset glowing behind the tree branches. We’re still moving swiftly, though, darting through the trees.
Suddenly, my senses are piqued by the scent of familiar people nearby and the earthy scent of water; a familiar urge erupts inside of me. The same feeling from Cypress House when confronted with an angry Run. It comes to me out of nowhere—ramming into me like a brick wall.
A singular, restless impatience crackling under my skin.
Wyatt stops, inhaling the wind before turning to me, his face shadowed by the impending darkness.
“Look,” he starts. “I think there’s some sort of gathering happening up ahead. But let me do the talking. I’ll explain before you—”
I don’t let him finish.
Swerving and rushing forward, I hear him calling out my name. But I ignore him, my feet pounding the soft forest floor, branches and bushes smacking me in the face, tearing my dress shirt.
My footsteps come to a halt when I reach a large clearing under a circle of oak trees, a huge, snapping fire in the center.
Circled around the fire are a smattering of familiar faces, most of them only vaguely so—a couple of Rill’s alphas, whom I’ve only ever seen from afar. But some of them are faces of omegas I’ve known my entire life—Goldenrod omegas. Including Stella.
She’s the first one to react to my presence, jumping from Nick’s lap with a gasp.
“Noah! What are you doing here?”
All eyes are on me as I lean over, my hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath. I hear Wyatt come up behind me.
“Damn it, Noah!” he yells, his voice strangled. “I told you to wait.”
“Where is she?” I pant, standing straight. “Where’s Hetty?”
Stella’s face twists with confusion. “Hetty? What do you want with her?”
“I—” My mouth hangs open, my heart pounding in my chest, wild and uneven.
You don’t know what you want with her, I remind myself. You have no idea what you’re doing here.
“I just need to see her,” I supply lamely.
Stella’s face pinches with suspicion as she steps toward me, her eyes dark.
I don’t like the accusing way she’s looking at me, so I shift my eyes away from her. But it’s only to find the rest of the alphas and omegas staring at me blankly, like they have no idea who I am or what I’m talking about.
Stella knows, though. She’s looking at me like she’s seconds from clawing my eyes out.
“She’s a beta, Noah,” she grits out in a low voice. “What are you thinking?”
I shake my head dumbly. I’ve no defense. She’s right—I know it.
A rough laugh barks loudly through the thick silence, causing all of our heads to snap up in unison.
“Someone get this alpha a cup of sun water,” a familiar scratchy voice calls out from the darkness. “He looks like he needs a drink.”
