My stomach twists as I force a nod. I can’t tell them. What would they do, anyway? Ask me to stay? Not likely, and I wouldn’t accept if they did.
“I have somewhere,” I lie. “It’s not an issue.”
Hudson scans my face one more time, and I force myself to maintain eye contact. The subterfuge feels sour on my tongue.
I’m not lying, though. It might not be the best place, or conventional, but the dungeon can do for a little longer. I’m not sleeping in doorways where handsome green-eyed viking alphas can coax me with yummy smelling items of clothing. I even have a lamp now.
I squeeze the envelope in my hand. Icouldpay for a motel tonight. Sleep on a proper bed.
But if I do that, I’ll keep spending money I could use for a deposit on an actual apartment.
Hudson relaxes slightly, nodding. “You’ll tell me? If you need anything?”
I nod, my head feeling heavy as I turn away. I hate that I’m misleading him, but this is for a good reason.
“Nate can be… a lot,” he says quietly as my hand lands on the door handle. “But he has a good heart. The best, actually.”
I look down at the floor. “I…can see that.”
“His offer was genuine. I hope you’ll take us up on it soon.”
My heart jumps in my chest as he holds the door open for me as I leave.
“Can I walk you home?” he questions. “Or at least get you a cab?”
Refusing with a shake of my head, I give him a short wave goodbye.
“Thank you, Hudson.” My words are earnest, and he smiles at me softly, even though I can still see worry there.
For me.
It warms me from the inside out, even as I make my way through city streets and the muddy riverbank to the dungeon, lighting my oil lamp and curling up on my sleeping bag. I desperately want Axel’s hoodie, missing the comfort it’s given me since he handed it over, but one cautious whiff tells me that it’s in dire need of the laundry facilities at the restaurant.
I keep my wages inside my top, just in case anyone decides to come sneaking around. I’ll add it to my hiding place later.
Sleep doesn’t come easily, my eyes remaining stubbornly open as I play over the day in my head.
When it finally drags me under, I dream of warm arms holding me and a tempting mixture of honey brown, hazel and bright green eyes.
ChapterNineteen
Cade
Ilean back in my chair as Nate finishes regaling us with what he and Hudson have been doing today.
Hudson is still down in the restaurant, and Axel, Nate and I are settled in the living room, a muted action movie playing on the screen that none of us are paying attention to.
“I invited her to dinner,” Nate says, his tone disappointed. “She said no.”
Axel looks a little exasperated as he leans back, kicking his legs out in front of him as he crosses his arms. “You steamrolled her. I’m not surprised she backed off.”
My nod of agreement makes Nate’s shoulders deflate. Wide, frightened blue eyes slide back into my mind, sending my swig of beer down the wrong way as I start to cough.
“We need to be careful,” I say hoarsely, as Ax whacks me on the back.
Nate’s clearly head over heels already, and it sounds like Hudson is moving in the same direction. I trust their judgment, and it was already clear from our brief encounter that this omega isn’t in a great situation. She needs help.
Help that Nate is clearly desperate to offer.
