But if it was . . . it would break their hearts.
A protective swell spawned. The urge to protect my Scent Matches from pain, to protect them from her.
Would they even believe me if I told them?
Chapter 24
Ispent two days in the bedroom by myself, not from their lack of trying to invade my space, but because I barricaded the door. Crossing my legs, I scooted higher on the mattress to lean against the headboard.
The dresser pushed up against the door wouldn’t last much longer. The Alphas had made it clear the ‘space’ theyallowedme would come to an end today.
Already the time between their coming to knock and talk through the door was growing smaller and smaller.
They were becoming restless, but I didn’t want to eat. Or see their faces. I kept myself buried under the covers, looking up everything I could about them. It took a little digging, but in researching HeatLink it led me to their profile and the charities they donated to. With a bit more sleuthing, I found out which orphanage they used to be in, then I dug into any public records available.
I’d been fixated, and at least there was fruit from my labors.
What I discovered was a small economics-centered blog, and the Ironwyld Pack was one of their topics. As was Susanna . . . because she gave an interview. Through that article, I discovered she went by Susanna Ironwyld. She’d taken their last name.
I gritted my teeth.
She talked about belonging to them and how she was by their side while they worked on investments and how they had a ‘good eye’.
I scoffed at her hubris when she took credit for their work. Not only did the article anger me, it confirmed a few things. She was the same woman I met with the name Demi. And she was headlining at The Bordello, well not ‘Susanna’. No, as Demi Desires. The Bordello website didn’t have any pictures of her, just a back shot of a woman hugging herself in a dress with cutouts running up the length of the sides to show skin.
A thud wracked the door.
I jumped, the Epad slipping out of my hands and onto the mattress.
“Enough hiding, Eva,” Dorian called, voice raised. There wasn’t anger in his tone as there had been the last time I saw him. There hadn’t been anger since he started the knocking rotations. Just gentle words asking if I needed anything. “I’m . . . sorry you had to see that picture.”
So that’s why they thought I locked myself in here. They thought I was throwing a tantrum. Good, I’d use that.
With quick swipes of my finger along the screen, I erased my searches and got out of the privacy mode and tapped on the streaming app. That was all they would see if they looked through it.
“You can’t go another day without eating or drinking.” Dorian hadn’t left?
I’d been taking sips of sink water, nothing new with all the ways Father tried punishing me, but a crisp iced water would be amazing.
“I’m knocking it down. Move out of the way.” Rafe’s voice now.
I was out of time.
“Fine,” I shouted and hurried to the end of the dresser where it was closest to the wall. I braced my back against it, pushing against the lip of the dresser. Carpet made it easier to scoot it over. I managed to get it angled away, and one of them opened the door. The edge hit the side of the dresser.
“One second,” I huffed, exasperated. A large bronze hand poked through and gripped the edge of the furniture. Rafe scooted it over, allowing enough space to slide his body through the door. Once he was in, he lifted it and moved it a few feet to get past it.
I was still perched on the edge of the couch, gawking at his forceful entrance. Dorian came in behind Rafe, but I didn’t have a moment to even panic with Rafe charging at me like a bull. I froze, my heart pounding in my ears.
He swept me up, and my upper body pressed against his shoulder while his arms banded under my ass. Dorian was moving the furniture to allow Rafe to exit without hindrance.
“What are you doing?” I shoved against his shoulder, trying to move my legs.
Rafe swatted my ass. I was so shocked my words stuck in my throat. He crossed the living room and entered the kitchen. Dorian pulled out a chair while Rafe lifted my legs and I wobbled in his arms. Then he settled me on the wooden chair. I landed gently and righted the shirt with a few yanks, trying not to salivate over the food placed on the table.
But my mouth watered as soon as the smell hit me. Neat slices of steak, asparagus, and brown rice were plated on a white porcelain plate.
I was fucking ravenous. My stomach cramped.
