"Welcome home, ladies," Spencer says, giving Mom a kiss that is sweeter than I can deal with right now. I scoop up my new puppy and hug her tight. My emotional support Bat. "I was just about to take her out for a walk."
"I'll do it," I offer and grab her leash and harness from him before he can respond. Mason left a bunch of pet supplies when they were here last night. "I'll see you guys later!"
The Holiday Market is still up and running, and I think about grabbing something sweet to eat, but decide against it. The guys probably went back to the cabin to spend Christmas with Samantha and her family. Still, I wasn't going to risk running into them. Or her.
Fuck that.
Turning the opposite way, I curse my bad decision-making when I see Samantha walking my way. She calls my name, hurrying forward, but I refuse to stick around and talk to her. I try to hurry back to my house, I really do, but Bat can only go so fast, and when I stop to pick her up, Samantha is right there, trying to catch her breath.
"Jesus, woman. Didn't you see me or hear me calling?"
"I didn't really want to talk to you, Samantha." Dammit! I was just starting to feel better. Why did she have to come along and ruin it? I squeeze Bat tight, sucking in her new puppy smell to calm me down. Emotion support Bat indeed.
She cringes. "Yeah, I don't blame you. What I did was shitty. I love my brother more than anything, and I was so sure you would ruin things again. Leave again and break their hearts. It took them so long to get over losing you… Honestly, I don't think they ever did."
"I am so tired of feeling guilty about what happened six years ago." Bat starts squirming and yipping, so I place her on the ground. "I never chose one of them over the other. I made it crystal clear that I would never be able to choose just one of them. I left because I knew how much they needed each other, and seeing them fighting broke my heart. Guess what, Sammy? I never moved on from them. I never stopped loving them and probably never will. But it's all ruined now."
"Nothing I said was true," she rushes to say. "They did leave, but it was only to go pick up your Christmas present. Zayne told me about it, and while they were out, I called with a fake emergency. Of course, they rushed to come help me, but I was only five minutes away from the cabin and snuck in. I got lucky when they had car trouble in the middle of nowhere with no phone signal. I stole the note they left you and took apart your nest. It wasn't them." I can see the regret in her eyes. Did she feel bad about hurting me or for not getting away with it?
"Why are you even telling me this? You got what you wanted, Sammy."
"No, I didn't. All I've ever wanted was for my brother and his pack to be happy. They're miserable without you, Vanessa. Please takethem back. I'm so sorry." Samantha's face shows how hard it was for her to utter those last few words. It looks like she ate something sour.
I fight back a laugh when I see Bat sniffing at her feet before squatting down and peeing all over her boots. I needed to get out of here. "I forgive you, Sammy. I'm not very good at holding grudges, but I'm going to need time getting over it. I don't know what's going to happen with the guys and me. I'm hurt. I need to get the puppy home; it's getting cold, and I think we both need a nap. Goodbye."
Was I ready to forgive the guys? My heart was screaming yes. I love them. I love them so much it hurts. They might have had good intentions, but they still left me all alone and vulnerable the morning after my heat. I could forgive them for that, but what if they hurt me again? They didn't bond me. Nothing was stopping them from waking up one morning and deciding I wasn't worth it.
But if I didn't try, didn't hear what they had to say, wouldn't I regret it for the rest of my life?
I turn on my phone for the first time that day and open up a new chat with Zayne, ignoring all the other notifications.
Vanessa
I'm ready to hear what the three of you have to say.
Vanessa
Leaving me alone after my heat was a shitty thing to do, but your sister explained what happened.
Vanessa
I don't know if I'm ready to be over it, but I love you guys. I'm willing to try.
I press send on the last message a second before I realize I just told Zayne that I loved them. Over text! Before I can delete it, I see the read icon pop up and then… nothing. I stand outside in the cold waiting for him to respond. I wait long enough for Bat to start getting impatient and whining to go inside.
Zayne read my message and couldn't be bothered to respond.
With tears streaming down my face, I throw open the door to my parents' house and hurry inside. "I'm back, but I'm not doing so good, and men suck. I just want to be alone right now and drown in my grief. If you think you need me, you don't."
I'm halfway up the stairs when strong arms wrap around my waist. Smoky campfire. Mason. He doesn't say anything, just carries me down the stairs, into the living room, where Silas and Zayne are sitting across from my parents.
"What the fuck is going on?" I hiss out, trying to get off Mason's lap when he sits down between Silas and Zayne.
"I forgot how dramatic you are," Silas says, grinning at me.
Mom giggles. "She's the worst."
I gasp. "Why are you being nice to them, Mom? And the three of you." I glare at my dads, who at least look a little bit ashamed. "You're supposed to be on my side. You had no problem sending them away last night. What changed?"
