“Whoop!” came from somewhere the kitchen, and I couldn’t help but smile. We had a good team of dependable, trustworthy people. I was proud to call them family.
I didn’t bother asking anyone for a ride. Why bother when I had four legs and a heavy fur coat? I needed a good, hard run to burn the edge off. My wolf was agitated, pacing and grinding his fangs at the back of my mind. He needed this just as much as I did.
My paws flew over the snow, eating up the miles as I ran along back roads and into the woods that led straight to my backdoor.
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting to see when I walked in, but Sky passed out sprawled over my mate’s lap, in my robe, the room smelling of a cheap bar, was definitely not it.
I wrinkled my nose and cursed. “God, how much did he drink?”
“A lot…” Fletcher admitted softly. “All the bottles were empty.”
But the expression he wore was grim, and the way that he looked at me? It sent a chill running down my spine, like drinking himself to death wasn’t even the worst of it.
“Adam?” Fletcher’s voice dropped to a hush. “He claims he killed Gracie’s son. That’s why he wanted to die. He says he’s a monster who deserves death.”
I froze in place. My blood felt like ice. “He killed Xan?” I repeated, the words turning my tongue numb. “Jesus Christ. Fuck…”
Fletcher grimaced. “Yeah.”
A sudden anger burned inside of me, chasing away the chill and turning me red-hot. “Gracie said he was unstable. She said he was going to snap. She warned us.”
“Adam, I?—”
“Damn it, Fletcher, this isexactlywhat I was worried about,” I hissed.
His expression contorted, half-grief and half-frustration. “He needs our help, Adam. He’s broken, and he’s scared, and he’s lost. He needs therapy, a good psychiatrist, probably medication.”
“No.” The word thrummed out of me in a low, guttural growl.
“Adam!” He squirmed out from beneath the drunken Omega, who moaned and curled up in a ball. Fletcher crossed the hardwood to reach me, but I held up my hand to stop him.
“No, Fletcher,” I repeated, sharper now.
“We can help him,” he insisted, his own fingers curling into fists. “Please, think about it. We have the means to. He doesn’t have anything! I know you don’t know what that feels like, but I do, and it’s the worst feeling in the world, knowing you haveno one to turn to. Knowing you’re trapped in this world, alone, unsheltered, unwanted and unloved.”
I stared into his green eyes, my chest aching and my heart racing at the same damn time. “It doesn’t have to beyouwho loves him,” I muttered.
“I want to help him, Adam. Is that so wrong?” His beautiful face crumpled, brows falling over his eyes.
Sky moaned in his sleep. Fletcher turned from me to go to him. He sat beside him on the couch and rubbed his back in gentle circles, and damn it all, if I didn’t feel that prickle of jealousy once more.
Then Sky lurched upright with a soft cry and heaved violently into the trash can. The stench of wet sick filled the room as he clung to the plastic rim and puked his guts out.
Fletcher held his hair back, whispering to him, so damn gently that it hurt. Tears streamed down Sky’s cheeks as he gagged and sobbed at the same time. Fletcher used a tissue to wipe the slime away.
And then, when he’d finished, my mate cradled the Omega close and hushed his cries. Sky hiccuped and buried his face in Fletcher’s stomach, while Fletcher stroked a hand through his hair.
I gritted my teeth. Fuck. Turning on my heel, I strode out of the living room and went outside, where the cold bite of winter nipped at me once more.
I needed to make a phone call.
4
ADAM
Still dressedin my work clothes and reeking of tonight’s special, I brushed snow off the porch swing and sat down. The frozen chains creaked in distress, but I paid them no mind.
I pulled up my contacts and clicked on Gracie’s number. It went straight to voicemail. My stomach sank. Shit. That wasn’t a good sign. Was Fletcher right? Had Sky really done the unthinkable?
