At Piper’s words, Blair relaxes. “Good,” she says. “I’m glad that’s over. I’m glad this is all over.”
Again, the inflection is wrong.
Something iswrongwith my Omega.
Now Ryland is the one to look at me, concerned.
“Yeah, baby. Let’s get this taken care of, then we can cook for you, how about that?” Rowan adds. “Hell, Pipe, you can come along, too. Bring your pack. We can all hang out?—”
“I’m tired,” Blair blurts. “I think I’m going to stay in for tonight.” She looks to Rowan. “You three should get checked out at a hospital, anyway.”
Her smile has grown tighter, and I’m seconds away from losing my shit.
She’s physically in my arms, but she’s shrinking into herself.
“You should sleep at the packhouse,” Rowan says. “We changed the sheets and everything. The nest is there for you whenever you want, sweetheart.”
“I’m really tired,” she repeats.
The tow truck pulls up behind us, and Ryland opens the car door while Blair scrambles off my lap and into Ryland’s empty seat.
“Piper, do you mind dropping me back off at the rescue?” she asks.
“…okay,” Piper says slowly. “Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Yeah,” she says. “I have to feed Mervin and Marlin, anyway.”
“Don’t you have an auto feeder for them?” I ask, and she swallows and looks away from me.
It’s just an excuse to get away from us.
“What the hell is going on?” Rowan asks softly. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
“Ride in the tow truck with Ryland,” I say to him.
“Like hell I’m doing that?—”
“Just.Go.” The command in my voice is enough to make him nod.
If anyone can get through to Blair right now, it’s me.
But as she shifts into the seat furthest from me, dread creeps its way up my spine.
She won’t look at me anymore. She just gazes out the window.
“So, exactly what’s happening, here?” Piper asks.
“Just take me back to the rescue once the tow truck takes off,” Blair says softly. I reach for her hand, which lays idly on her thigh. It’s cold, and I when I try to intertwine our fingers together, she doesn’t move.
Shit.
I run my thumb over the top of her hand, and for a moment, her eyes flicker to mine.
I find nothing there but disinterest.
Don’t shut off from me,I want to say.Don’t do that again. I’m here. You’re not alone anymore.
I tell myself that she’s spooked by the sight of the accident and that she just needs time to adjust.
