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What the hell?
I had my doubts thathewas coming back for me. This was nothing like his behavior before.
Which left Warren.
A sick feeling twisted in my gut. This was exactly why I avoided alphas like the plague. They didn’t know how to give space or hear the word no.
Ellie’s words echoed in my head, reminding me it wasn’t his fault he was mated to someone who despised the entire idea of a pack, either.
Fuck, fate had done us all dirty.
Unease swirled in my stomach. I genuinely hated that I was hurting innocent people for my own issues, but wouldn’t lying to them every day be worse?
My text tone rang out and I tensed as I pulled it out.
Father: I’m done with this charade, Victoria Winters. You need to come home now. Your alpha is getting restless.
I should have kept my new number to myself, but there was still that little girl inside of me that refused to believe her strong and protective daddy could be the one doing all this harm.
It didn’t take deep diving into my trauma to know he was at the center of it.
Tori: He’s not my alpha. I won’t let him hurt me again.
Father: I know where you are, Victoria. Don’t make me come there. You won’t like the result.
Tori: I’m no longer a child and I haven’t been for a long time. I’m happy where I am.
Lies. My mind was a bitch but she wasn’t wrong. I wasn’t happy here and I wouldn’t be happy anywhere until I figured out how to fucking take care of myself.
I’d spent my life with maids and private cooks, tutors and privilege. Though, it never came without a price.
Right now my father was hellbent on making me pay that debt and I was doing anything I could to avoid it.
I needed a distraction and when my stomach let out a loud rumble, I clung to that and grabbed my keys, heading into town. Grocery shopping wasn’t my idea of fun but it was necessary.
Now that I was living off just my savings and what Mom put into my account, I knew that I needed to get a job fast and buy cheaper things.
Reality fucking sucked and so did being an adult.
I’d barely made it into the busy store when Felix’s timid voice was calling out.
“Tori,” he called as gently as he could. I turned and offered him a smile, surprising myself when it was genuine.
“Hey, Felix,” I said as I stepped out of the way.
“How are you holding up?”
“Listen… are you or Warren leaving things at my door?”
My voice shook and his eyes widened, the hazel depths full of concern.
“No, in fact, I roped him into helping me in the shop for the past few days. Is everything okay?”
I waved it off and put on my usual mask that hid anything real behind it.
“Yeah, I’m good, someone just probably had the wrong door. I need to...” I trailed off and gestured to the row of carts.
“Could we shop together?” he asked, biting his plump lip as he waited for the rejection. I felt my answer before it fell from my lips and I kept my inward sigh of frustration at bay. I shouldn’t be giving into him, it was dangerous and unfair to both of us.
