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“Are you going home?” My dad, Tony, asks me as I leave the room after my goodbyes to the rest of my family.
“Yes.” I nod. “Back to Calling Wood.”
His face fills with anger. “Your brother is lying in there, fighting for his life and you're just going to go back to that school? Do you not even care?”
“Don’t.” I shake my head. “Don’t be like that. He’s going to be okay. I talked to the doctor. I have school. I have a life back there.”
“You have a life here!” he shouts. “Your family is here.”
“I have to go.” I can’t stay here any longer. He will drag me back under, sinking his controlling claws into me.
“Willow!” he barks, but I’m already halfway down the hall.
The moment I’m back at the house, I grab my bags and start the drive home.
The drive feels like a lifetime. I’m so tired and emotionally rung out. As soon as I drive through those gates, it’s like I can breathe again. I didn’t realize just how much this place has come to mean to me in such a short time.
“Welcome back,” Beth greets me as I meet her at the front gate.
“Thanks for coming to help. I would have called one of the others, but…” I bite my lower lip looking away. “I’m not ready to see them, not tonight.” I look back at her, understanding filling her eyes. “So much has happened in the past week, Beth.” Tears fill my eyes. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Whatever it is, I’ll be right by your side.”
“Thank you.” I give her a watery smile. “It means more than you know.”
We go right for the omega compound. Once I’m in my apartment, Beth helps me bring my bags in. I say goodnight, thank her again, and lock the door before I head into my room. I’m so tired, I’m out like a light the moment my head meets the pillow.
That night, I have a nightmare of the pack I so desperately want to be mine, seeing my mate mark and finding out what happened on my trip back home. They wanted nothing to do with me anymore and outright rejecting me.
I just pray that when I wake up, it doesn’t become my reality.
“Ready?” Beth asks me as I meet her at the front of the omega compound that afternoon.
“No.” My stomach is in knots and I feel like I’m going to be sick. I might have fallen asleep fast last night but my mind was riddled with nightmares. I woke up in a cold sweat a few times, heart pounding, and then cried myself back to sleep.
My hair is tossed up in a messy bun, no makeup and I’m in a sweater and leggings. I took a shower, thinking it would help but it didn’t.
“Whatever it is, I’m sure they will understand. They seem like an amazing pack.”
“They are.” Tears well in my eyes because the idea of losing them makes me want to break down.
The ride to their pack house is way too quick. I’m not ready, but when we pull up outside, Aubrey is there at the door waiting.
“Thanks,” I tell Beth as I climb out of the golf cart.
“If you need anything just call me, okay?”
I nod, giving her the best smile I can, and turn around to see the stunning red-headed beta.
She has this look of uncertainty on her face but when her eyes meet mine, a small smile graces her lips. It’s like she can tell something is wrong and is trying to hold it together because she's so strong and amazing.
When I don’t move from my spot, she comes to me. “Hi,” she whispers and that one word has me breaking. I launch myself at her, hugging her tightly to me, fearing that if I let go, I’ll lose her forever.
“I’m sorry,” I say with a sob. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“Shhh.” She runs her hand up and down my back. “What are you sorry for, Willow?”
Pulling back with red puffy eyes, I blink up at her with watery eyes. “For taking so long to realize you three are what I want. I don’t want this to be a temp thing, Aubrey. I want you to be my pack.”
