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“I’ve escaped. There were actual fucking paparazzi trying to stop me and question me. It was insane. My landlord stepped in and helped me get out safely,” I sighed. It sounded forlorn and hollow and my brother’s tone instantly changed.
“Things will be different now. You’ve done city life, met some shit people, now you’re going to good, old, small-town USA,” he promised gently. “Just give it a shot. You know I always said I wanted to travel and live in big cities. But Lockwood won me over.”
“At this point, I can’t hate on it too much,” I admitted. “Thanks again, Micah.”
“Don’t be too hard on Tori,” he said in response. “She’s kicking herself hard for convincing you to do this. Especially now that it…”
“Backfired?” I supplied. “Went up in flames?”
“Yes,” he said bluntly. “She means well.”
“She does. And I’m not mad at her. I’m humiliated and heartbroken.” The emotion in my voice had him letting out a groan.
“You’re killing me. I’m about ready to drive down there and kick their asses for you,” he half-growled.
“Don’t you dare,” I laughed through the tears that had started to fall. “This is just an opportunity to start over. If they could throw me away that easily, they weren’t worth it. I need change. This is it. I’ll find a job and find a place.”
“I told you. I’m not worried about gaining a roommate,” he protested. “You’re not a damn burden. You’re family.”
“And you’re not getting any younger,” I argued. “You’ll meet some adorable omega and betas and find your pack. Then I’ll be old news and in the way.”
“What if I said I wanted to be a single alpha forever? Clearly, our family doesn’t have the best idea of what relationships and commitment are. Hell, our sister has had a whole string of packs she’s walked out on.”
My chest ached at his words. We all knew why it was hard for us.
“Well, when your parents are as… difficult as ours, you don’t exactly get a good picture of what a pack should look like.”
“Ain’t that the truth.” Even Micah sounded annoyed. They’d given us hell for years, trying to force us to do more, be more, so they could brag on us.
The call beeped and Tori’s name flashed over the screen.
“I’ve got to go, that’s Tori calling in. I’ll see you in a few hours,” I told him. He gave me a quick goodbye so I could answer the call.
“Ellie,” Tori said with a sniffle the moment I answered her call. She was definitely the emotional one of us. “I’m so sorry. Those bastards shouldn’t have done this. I can’t believe it turned out this way. It’s all my fault.”
Here I was the one who got humiliated and she was being dramatic. If anyone had a right to freak out it was me, and I was—shockingly—keeping it together. Maybe it hadn’t hit me enough or maybe I was just too fucking jaded to let it break me. Either way, I was not in the mood to reassure her for long.
That and there was a gas station just ahead and some guilty-pleasure snacks were my first step in leaving all this shit behind.
“Look. I’m sad, it sucks, but I don’t blame you. It’s on them for playing me. End of story. I’ll call you when I’m at Micah’s, but I’m stopping now for gas.”
“Okay,” she said. Honestly, she sounded dejected that I was getting off so soon but she reluctantly let me go.
Of course, the moment I stepped inside the gas station, I was met with the magazine rack and my face plastered on several covers. The girl in that picture felt like a whole different person.
Ignoring them completely I went to the fountain and got a drink, then grabbed all of my favorite snacks. All I needed to turn my mood around was some sweets, salty chips, caffeine, and a solid playlist.
The lady at the register narrowed her eyes like she knew me but was easily distracted by the amount of snacks I bought. I’d gotten enough for a full pack and it was just little, old me.
I swear this whole thing gave me paranoia. I’m downright terrified someone will recognize me now.
The moment she handed my change over to me I rushed outside and back in my truck. In a few short minutes, music was pouring through the speakers and I couldn’t help but feel relieved to be leaving the city behind.
If only the memories were so easy to dismiss.
As the miles went by, I grew less optimistic and downright depressed. It was easy to put on a brave face when I had to. I’d never been one to let people in easily. I think it was living in my siblings’ shadows. Everyone loved Micah and Tori. They were outgoing and loud, charismatic and funny.
And I was the opposite. My favorite Friday nights were spent at home with popcorn and a good book, curled in my favorite cozy chair. I’d never had a ton of friends because I learned quickly they’d use me to get to my alpha brother or hot, omega sister.
