From the front passenger seat, Tadeo twists to look at me. His dark eyes catch mine, steady, searching. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay,” I answer, even though the words come out rough, my throat scratchy with sleep.
But Tadeo doesn’t look convinced. His gaze lingers, steady and unflinching, and the worry in his eyes makes my stomach knot. He looks almost…gutted? Or maybe scared.
I don’t understand why he’s looking at me like that, but the weight of his stare leaves me uneasy, making heat crawl up the back of my neck.
Alex seems to notice as his gaze flickers from me to Tadeo, then he casually says, “Hey,” he reaches up and taps Tadeo’s shoulder, “you got time to look at the water heater with me later? Think it’s acting up again.”
Tadeo blinks, the distant look in his eyes fading. “Yeah. Sure.”
Alex jumps into a few things that could be wrong with it and what parts they’ll need to get. Tadeo nods along, offering a few possible solutions.
Honestly, I can’t tell if Alex was deliberately trying to pull the young alpha’s attention away from me, but I’m grateful he did.
I take a breath and glance past the still-sleeping Dakota, out the window. The world outside has shifted. No more trees or mountains. Just rows of modest houses, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder. They all have patchy lawns and driveways cluttered with dated cars. Some of the vehicles are shiny, maybe vintage, but most are rusting out, long past their prime. Betas drift across the yards, but an occasional alpha leans under the hood of a car. For some reason, they’re all tattooed and scarred, looking just as intimidating as Knox and Alex.
Why are we here?
Maybe they're visiting someone or picking something up?
I wish they’d hurry. The longer it takes to get to their house, the less daylight I’ll have to work with. Four men living together are bound to be messy, and it’s going to take energy to put things in order. My stomach gives a low twist, reminding me I haven’t eaten since this morning. But food can wait. If I start with the chores, they’ll see I’m useful right away. They’ll be happy. That matters more than me being full.
I’ll clean first. Eat later.
The SUV rumbles as Knox turns the wheel, heading down a cul-de-sac toward a small blue house with a dead tree out front. Tadeo straightens in his seat, posture sharpening like he recognizes it. Like he’s glad to be here.
I lean forward, peering past him to get a better look.
The house is small, its siding weather-worn, bushes out front have grown into a tangled mess. One shutter hangs crooked, barely clinging on. A windowpane has a jagged crack running across it, like it might collapse with the next hard rain.
And then it hits me:Is this where they live?
It can’t be.
Proper packs live on sprawling land, in houses with gates or private driveways. The extra land helps keep their omegas safe. But this is clearly a beta-neighborhood, with no added security or privacy.
Knox cuts the engine as he parks next to an older model black sedan. His voice is steady, almost proud as he says, “We’re home.”
The word hits like stone.
Home.
My chest tightens, dread crawling into every corner of me.
My years of classes at the academy fill my head as my palms begin to sweat. They drilled into us that impoverished alphas were too feral to own omegas. They lack discipline and control. Only alphas with money and standing can be trusted to properly care for my kind.
And the house in front of us looks anything but disciplined.
In fact, if the governance board saw this place, they’d call these men unfit. And maybe they are.
Then right on cue—like the universe wants to really drive the point home—the dangling shutter snaps free and crashes onto the patchy lawn.
If the established, prominent pack almost killed me…how the hell am I supposed to survive these alphas?
Finally Home
Alex
