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I wanted to run from it, but yet, my omega leaned into it, the visceral need within me wanting to reach out for him. I fought it away with everything I had.
My phone rang, and I winced as my father’s name scrolled across the screen. The last thing I wanted to do was answer it, but I knew if I didn’t, he’d be calling again and again. If I pissed him off enough, he’d come looking for me. No, minimal contact was the best bet.
“Hello,” I said as I answered. His voice was so loud that I had to pull the phone away when he answered.
“Victoria Winters! It’s been months. I’m tired of this little tantrum that you’re throwing, and you need to come home now.”
“We’ve gone over this, Father. I’m not coming home. That isn’t my home anymore. I am an adult. I’m moving on with my life.”
“What kind of life are you living when you’re not here? You have nothing to offer the world except for being someone’s trophy wife.”
Even after all this time, his words still stung. I was proud of myself that this time tears didn’t form in my eyes.
“I’m not coming home. You don’t get to decide what I do with my life anymore. It’s mine.”
“No, you’re going to come home now. William is ready to marry you, his mother is working on a winter wedding.”
“He can be ready all he wants, but I’m not marrying him, Father. You can’t make me marry someone. Even you cannot be this delusional.”
“What did you say to me?” His voice dropped several octaves, and it was so deep that a shiver ran down my spine.
“I said I’m not marrying him. You know what happened between us. I’m not letting him anywhere near me.”
“We’ll see about that, Tori.”
The call ended there, and I closed my eyes, fighting off the whimper that wanted to escape. There was a threat in that last ending line, and I knew my father would be searching for me now regardless.
My phone slipped to the ground as I concentrated on not letting the panic swallow me again.
Suddenly, I was grateful for the men that were in this room with me, maybe even the growly one that was about to be changing my locks. Even if my father found me, he wouldn’t be able to physically drag me out of here.
They wouldn’t let him.
I should call my siblings to let them know what was happening, but I couldn’t do it. It was my own fault that I let him dig his claws in this deep, and I didn’t know how to get out from under it. But the last thing I was going to do was drag them and their packs into family drama.
They’d finally escaped, and if I could shoulder this so they didn’t have to, I fucking would.
“Are you okay, Tori?” Theo’s voice was soft this time. I nodded once as I stared at the TV, unblinking. It was still off, but I couldn’t make myself look anywhere else.
I barely registered when Easton came back with his stomping and grunting. I heard the whir of the drill as he took out my old locks and replaced them with new. When he slammed a fresh key on the counter loud enough that it shook the place, I nearly jumped out of my skin.
“Here’s your new key, princess. Throw out the old one. We have a set, too.”
He turned on his heel and stomped away. Jordan and Theo got up to follow him. I could feel someone lingering in the doorway, but I couldn’t make myself look up and meet their gaze. I was afraid of what I’d find there.
There was no way they didn’t overhear that conversation—the way my father talked to me and the lies that he was spewing.
I didn’t need their pity. Or their judgment.
Finally, the door closed, and I heard the lock shift as they locked it behind them, leaving me to my thoughts. The tears finally started to fall as I heard their door close down the hall.
I’d never felt more alone in my life.
Even worse was that I knew it was my fault.
I could call Felix or Warren in a moment, and they’d be here. Even if I didn’t fully trust them, I didn’t think that he was behind this anymore.
But I wouldn’t put it past William.
