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The layout was just how he described in the video. There was a map of Lockwood and then a map of Locked Inn, which, of course, was nearly identical, though a lot more whimsical than Lockwood itself was.
“Where’s our first destination?” Micah asked, pulling up his own app and watching me. He did that a lot. His eyes finding me in the quiet moments we’ve had so far, like he’s reassuring himself I’m here and okay.
“Why are you guys coming?” Thankfully, for once, it didn’t sound like a harsh question, just curiosity. “You didn’t know Everett. This isn’t going to be significant to you like it would be to me or Lake.”
“We’re Pack,” Riven said again. He always spoke like it was a challenge instead of an answer. At least I knew what to expect from him. Harsh, honest words and no coddling. I was realizing how much I hated the sympathy I got from everyone else. He just looked at me like I was an asshole and that was far better.
To him, I was an awful person. I had come here with plans that would have hurt someone in his pack. The intention was there and he wasn’t letting me off that easily.
“What he’s trying to say is that we’re pack. We’re going to be sticking together through the hard times and the easy times. That’s what pack does,” Drew translated, giving Riven a shove.
“You guys don’t even know me. I’m not your pack.” They all narrowed their eyes on me but it was Lake who protested.
“Look, I understand that you’re going to need time to consider all of this, but that doesn’t make you any less our scent match. It doesn’t make you any less pack. We’re going to sit by you when you face hard videos. We’re going to see you through this entire thing. You’re not going to be alone anymore.”
“You keep saying that.” I let out an exasperated breath as I stared right back at him.
“And I will until you believe me,” he argued. He gripped his blond hair and let out a harsh breath. I hated that I was stressing him out more. I wasn’t trying to.
“I’m not trying to be stubborn,” I said in a quiet voice.
“I get it. You’re used to being a lone wolf these days. But you’re not anymore, so just accept it, and we’ll face this together.”
“I’ll look at the list later. I need to go for a walk to get some fresh air.”
I stood up, and Riven started to protest, but Micah stepped up. “I’ll walk with her,” he promised before turning to me. “Actually, did you just need fresh air, or do you want to run to town with me so I can get some clothes from the house? We can stop for coffee on the way back.”
“Coffee sounds great,” I admitted. And so did getting out of this stuffy cabin for a while.
Before we could even walk out the door, my phone was ringing, my mom’s name flashing across the screen. I kept going, climbing into Micah’s passenger seat while I heard her out.
“Hey, Mom,” I said as I answered, putting her on speaker like I usually did, not even thinking about the fact that I wasn’t alone anymore.
“You sound oddly put together. How’s your little reunion going?”
‘Little reunion.’ As if this was no big deal.
“It’s fine. I’m fine. We’re fine.” The lies I’d told her for a year came so easily.
“Yes, yes. You can’t blame your mother for worrying,” she said, letting out a laugh. It was a superficial laugh, like one you gave to strangers so you didn’t hurt their feelings when you didn’t find them funny. “Look, if you need me, you know where to find me. I’m getting ready to run out, but call me, okay?”
She hung up before I could even respond to her and looked over at Micah.
“I see our moms are very similar,” he said as his lips tipped downward. “I feel like that was the obligatory ‘I made an effort, so why don't my kids talk to me anymore’ phone call.”
“She was really great at first when I lost Everett, and then slowly… I was too much. My grief was too much for her. My tears were too much for her. My presence was too much for her. She barely saw me off to my dorm room before she left me. Then I was the college’s problem.”
He reached over and gave my hand a squeeze before pulling back. He didn’t linger, just offering quick support.
“That’s a ‘her’ problem, not a ‘you’ problem. You arenottoo much.” He looked at me before turning back to the road.
“Thanks,” I said, turning to look out the window because I couldn’t handle the gentle look he was giving me.
Now that we were locked inside his car, his scent was everywhere. It was so strong that all I could do was breathe it in. I hated what it did to me. My inner omega perked up, relaxing because she was close to her mate while my mind was a mess of guilt and stress.
“You have a house in town?” I asked, trying to switch to easier topics.
“I do. I needed a change. We used to live in the city, and I hated it. Then I found Lockwood, and I've never looked back. There are plenty of homes to be redone in all these old towns around the area. Hell, maybe we need to expand to the cabin network.”
