“Don’t tell me he tried to feed it to you.”
Another giggle. “No, nothin’ like that. It was left in front of my bedroom door with a note.”
Huh. That seems oddly…tame for Rory. Especially since he was apparently talking about kidnapping her. I want to ask her how it makes her feel, having him leave food for her. If she wants to run the other direction or embrace it. Instead, I dumbly ask, “Was it good?”
“The pie?”
“No, the note.” I roll my eyes. “Yes, the pie.”
“I don’t know, I didn’t eat it. I gave it to the other omegas.” Ah. So run the other direction.
“Hey Jo?” Mabel’s tone, which was lighthearted and sweet a moment ago, is now somber.
“What is it, Mabel?”
“Do you think…” She lets out a shuddering sigh. “I can’t…I can’t stand havin’ these marks on me.”
My throat goes dry. This is the first time Mabel’s said anything about her bond marks or her life before I found her. “Mabel…”
Despite the fact most of her omega nature is gone, an unmistakable omega whine leaves her. “I need to get them off, and I can’t. Why? It’snot fair, Jo. I killed ‘em, they’re dead, so why do they still get this part of me?”
“They havenothin’, Mabel Harding.” My voice comes out harsher than I want, but she needs to understand that these dead alphas have no power over her. “You gave them nothin’, you hear me? They tried to take from you, and theyfailed. Those marks? They’re nothin’ more than battle scars. They do not define who you are.”
She sniffs, and is quiet for a moment before she finally speaks. “They’re so ugly though.”
A shocked laugh leaves me. “You vain thing. We’ll figure somethin’ out, okay? Stick with long sleeves for now so you don’t have to look at ‘em, and we’ll…well, we’ll find a way to where you don’t hafta look at ‘em anymore, I promise.”
The sound of footsteps has me turning, and I look to see West walking across the grass.
“Okay, Jo. I love you.”
“I love you too. We’ll talk later, okay?”
“Bye, Jojo.”
We hang up right as West reaches me. “Am I interrupting?”
“Nope,” I look up at him, the moon illuminating his handsome face. “You feel like joinin’ me?”
“I’d love to.” He drops to the grass, his feet dangling over the edge of the cliff with me. He lets out a shaking breath. “Fuck, maybe I need to scoot back.”
“Why, Doctor, are you scared of heights?” I tease, looping my arm through his and resting my head on his shoulder. His mint and chamomile scent soothes me, and I let out a contented sigh.
“It’s not the height I’m afraid of,” he snorts, “it’s the falling to my death and drowning in the ocean that does it.”
“Don’t worry, my good Doctor,” I murmur, watching the way the moonlight sparkles against the rippling water. “I won’t let you fall.”
His hand clamps over mine. “Of that, I have no doubt.” We’re silent for a moment, watching the ocean and listening to the roar of the waves. It’s nice, just sitting with him here like this. “Was that Mabel on the phone?” he asks quietly.
“Yeah,” I sigh, “I haven’t said anythin’ yet, but I have a feelin’...” I trail off, biting my lip. I haven’t voiced my concerns to anyone, because I’m not sure if it’s breaking Mabel's trust or not. I mean, I haven’t even toldheryet. But I have to talk tosomeone. “I think Mabel and Declan’s pack might be true scent matches.”
“Oh, shit.” West mutters. “That’s…”
“Weird as hell?” I offer, letting out a little laugh.
“Yes and no,” he shrugs, “I mean, it’s your brother and your sister, but technically you and Mabel aren’t even biologically related, plus the fact that Declan had never met Mabel before Thornfield. He didn’t even know about her before you called him the first time, right? So it’s not like there’s ever been a moment where he thought Mabel washissister.”
“That’s all true,” I sigh, lifting my head. “But…I don’t know. I’ve wanted him to find an omega for years, and Mabel’s always wanted a pack, even when we were teens…”
