He let the subject drop as we drove toward my apartment. My stomach clenched with nerves the closer we got. I was half afraid I’d find the pack waiting for me.
“Are you sure you want to head back there?” he asked. “You don’t exactly look settled about the idea.”
“I’m not,” I admitted. “What if they’re here waiting?”
“I’ll walk you up,” he promised. “You don’t have to face it alone.”
“Thanks, Cole,” I said quietly. There was no way I was turning down his offer. Not tonight.
He finally pulled up in front of my building. I scanned the cars in the lot, but I didn’t see any of theirs.
True to his word, Cole walked me up to my door, his hand protectively on my lower back.
Honestly, an omega should’ve been wary of an unfamiliar alpha’s touch, but I couldn’t bring myself to put distance between us. Ilikedthe feel of his hand there.
Protective. Steady.
Had my pack ever felt that way?
We took the elevator up to the fourth floor. The doors slid open to reveal an empty hallway. They didn’t have keys, so that meant I was safe.
For now.
Regardless of their cheating, I knew they’d be furious that I’d embarrassed them. I’d stood them up at the altar in front of everyone they knew.
“Well, this is me,” I said as we approached apartment 412.
He glanced down the hallway one more time, then back at me. “Are you sure you’re safe here?”
“They’re cheaters, not violent,” I said reluctantly. As much as I didn’t want to be away from Cole’s protection, I needed tonight to myself. To process everything that had happened today.
“They don’t have a key,” I promised. “I just think it’s time to face how I feel about all this.”
That made him look even more concerned, but he didn’t argue.
How could he? We barely knew each other.
No matter what we’d promised his mom, the truth was we were absolute strangers.
“Can I at least see your phone?” he asked. He would need my number now that we’d been somehow tied together tonight.
I handed it over and he quickly typed in his number. His phone went off a second later as he texted himself from my phone.
His face was serious as he looked back at me. “Call me if you need me. Otherwise, I’ll check in tomorrow evening and we can talk more about Christmas.”
“Okay,” I breathed out.
“No matter what happens, Aspen. Your job is not at risk. I would never do that. I like to think I’m an alpha of integrity. You can walk away from this at any time... but my offer still stands. If you want a break from the city, a chance not to spend Christmas alone, I’d love the company.”
With that, he gave me one last look before turning and walking away, stopping at the end of the hall to wait until I went inside.
Somehow, I had the self-control not to look back as I locked and deadbolted the door behind me.
Then I broke.
Aspen
Imanaged to make it to the couch before I completely lost it. My heart was breaking, and I didn’t know how to fix it.
