“I have to take Bee home, but I can come back after, if you want?” Sable asks, but I shake my head.
“No, I’ll be okay. Tell Bee I’ll call her soon. I don’t think I can face her right now.”
“Okay, text me later so I know you’re okay,” she says, pulling me in for another hug.
Sable and I say our goodbyes as Benson and Nick come up the stairs.
“I don’t want to push you, but I need to make sure you’re okay,” Nick says, and Benson nods.
“I don’t want to be alone, but I can’t talk about it right now,” I murmur.
“We can give you space, or we can stay with you. We don’t need to talk about anything until you’re ready. I can put on a movie, if you want?” Benson offers.
“Okay,” I agree.
I want their comfort, but there are too many thoughts rushing through my head right now for me to have a rational conversation with them. Tomorrow morning, hopefully, my head will be clearer, and I can tell them about confessing to Kai that this was all a lie.
Even though, in moments like this, things between us don’t feel so fake.
I lieawake in bed for so long, the TV on and both alphas passed out beside me, that eventually I can’t take it anymore and jump out of the bed.
Grabbing my phone, I call Stella. I feel guilty for waking her in the dead of night, but I know I won’t let this go if I don’t get answers.
“Plum?” she says, voice rough from sleep. “Is everything alright?”
“Is Kai with you?” I ask. Part of me is annoyed that the moment I finally feel like myself again, my thoughts are filled with concern for the beta. I couldn’t think of anything else, and it kept me awake until I caved.
“Yeah. We brought him to his apartment.”
“Is he okay?” I hold my breath as I wait for her answer.
“Plum,” she murmurs tentatively, pausing before continuing. “Your breakup was really hard for you. I know it fucked you up pretty badly. I don’t want you doing something that might hurt you again. You got through it once all alone. He’ll be fine eventually too,” she says, but when I don’t respond, she sighs. “If you really want to know, I’ll tell you.”
“Fuck. Just… Open the door when I knock,” I demand, hanging up the call. Her avoiding the answer is enough to tell me that no, Kai is not okay. I pull on a pair of black leggings and a pink hoodie from my luggage and head for the door.
“Do you want us to go with you?” Nick asks, startling me. It takes significant effort not to scream, but I manage to hold it in as he turns on the nightstand light. Both alphas are sitting up and watching me attempt to sneak out.
“No. Yes. I don’t know.”
“Going to see Kai?” Benson asks, and I wince.
“Yes.”
“Figured. Nick will drive. We’ll wait for you in the car.”
The drive to my apartment is silent, but their scents are soothing. Once I’m outside Kai’s apartment door, I take a deep breath.
I don’t know what I’m doing here. I knew Kai was messed up after our conversation, but the nagging feeling in my gut makes me think he’s worse off than I realized. I guess I assumed that if he could leave me once, this time would be easier.
The door swings open before I can even knock, and Val stands there, hair a mess, looking frantic.
“I’ve never seen him like this,” Val says, pulling me inside. “I know things between you are really fucked right now, but you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t care.”
“Hi,” Stella says, pulling me in for a short hug. “For the record, I don’t think you owe Kai anything, and if you turn and walk away right now, I wouldn’t blame you,” she adds, glaring at her fiancé.
“He’s been different since he got back to town. Not himself.” Val shakes his head. “It’s like every negative thought he’s ever had about himself turned him into someone else. The guy I picked up off the ground is the closest he’s come to the person I know, but in the worst fucking way. He’s…” Val shoves his hands in his hair, and Stella can’t take the sight of him in pain any longer as she wraps her arms around him. Her scent tries to soothe the alpha, but Kai’s is already so strong in the air that it’s futile.
“Here. My apartment is across the hall. Take my keys and go there. I’ll come get you if I need you,” I tell them. Val shakes his head, protesting, but Stella manages to get him to follow her.
