“No, Mabel—”
“Why not?” she asks, sounding defeated. “There’s nothin’ for me here, Jo. And I’m no stranger to waitin’ tables.”
I try to ignore the pain that lances through my chest at her words. I spent five years doing everything I could to get her back, and she wants to…leave me?
“Don’t look at me like that, Jo,” Mabel pleads. “It’s not fair.”
Everyone’s eyes are on us, and I can’t take it anymore.
“I have to go,” the words choke out of me, and then I’m turning around and walking out the front door.
“Jo, wait!” Mabel catches up to me.
“I can’t do this right now,” I sniff, wiping my eyes. I can’t look at her. If I do, I might completely lose it.
“I’m sorry, Jo. Don’t be mad at me.” Her arms wrap around my waist from behind, and I stop in my tracks, my chin falling to my chest.
Tears drip down my nose, landing in the grass at my feet. “I’m not mad.”
Not mad. Just…heartbroken.
There’s only silence as my arms hang at my side. Mabel’s face presses into my back, and if her sniffles didn’t give her away, her tears soaking my skin would. “I can’t keep takin’ you from them, Jo. You’re not mine.”
“I’m your sister.” My voice is small.
“That’s not enough anymore, Jojo. It’s not fair to them, it’s not fair to you, and it’s not fair to me.” Her voice is muffled by my shirt. “I love you, but it’s not just us like it used to be. I need to figure out how to live on my own. You can’t protect me all the time anymore, not without puttin’ your pack on the back burner. Besides,” she lets out a bitter laugh, “we’re not blood. I wanna know where I came from.”
The small piece of information the twins gave me before we went to omega’s house jumps into the forefront of my mind, and the words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. “Aidan could—”
“No.” She’s shaking her head vehemently. “Not them. Anythin’ but them. That’s the other reason. I need to leave. I can’t be around them. Please don’t ask me to be.”
My heart pounds so loud in my ears I can hardly hear myself think. This is not the time to ask, but…when else will I be able to? “I promised…I promised them I’d ask you if you would give them five minutes to explain themselves.”
She stiffens, letting out a shuddering breath. “It’s not gonna change anythin’. I’m not a real omega anymore, it’d be impossible for me to have a scent match. That’s the only reason they want me, and if I’m with them, and they bite me and realize that it was impossible all along—then I’ll have nine useless bondmarks. And I don’t…Ican’tbe owned by anyone. Not again.”
“I would never ask you to,” I swear. “Just…five minutes? And then you can leave without any doubts.”
Her body slumps against mine, her breathing ragged. “Five minutes. That’sit.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the possibility.” My voice is quiet, and her arms tighten around me, her face pressing harder into my back. “I just didn’t want you to have to deal with it. Not after everythin’ you’ve been through.”
“You’ve always done right by me, Jojo.” She sighs. “I don’t have it in me to believe that this was any different. I love you. You’ll come visit me, won’t you? It’s not like it’s that far of a drive, right?”
“Of course,” I smile through my tears.
A door slamming has her jumping, and I look in the direction of the noise—Declan’s pack house. Just in time to see a head of Viking blonde hair disappear into an SUV parked in front of the house. He peels out of the driveway, not even sparing us a glance as he goes past.
“At least that’s one of ‘em I don’t have to worry about their feelin’s,” she mutters, making me sigh.
I won’t say it, but I think she might be more wrong about that one than anything.
thirty-four
Hayden
Ireally wish I was in something besides these tight little shorts right now.
Watching Kole and Jo circle each other like two lions about to go at each other’s throats is hot as fuck though. Especially since Jo is in a black sports bra and what I can only describe as booty shorts. Her ass looks even more amazing than usual as she eyes the alpha.
