“Liv?” my voice cracks.
“Lily, what’s wrong?” I sigh in relief when she remembers me and wasn’t full of shit when she said I could contact her at any time.
I laugh slightly over the phone and shake my head, trying to find the words. “It feels like everything is going wrong.”
“If you need help getting out of there, I can make it happen,” she offers confidently.
I smile at her confidence and her loyalty to me, having only met once. I don’t really want Liv to solve my problems, or to gether and her pack involved with club drama. I just need someone who understands, someone to ease my nerves.
“What was it like getting your first bond?” I ask her. She sighs over the phone, and I’m confused by her reaction.
“The first time I was bonded… was against my will.” My heart breaks for the bubbly, larger-than-life Omega, but I let her speak. “But my true first bonding with an Alpha was with Grayson, and it was one of the most spectacular moments of my life,” she sighs dreamily, and I believe her.
“You were sure he was the one?”
“The men in my life before my pack had a real fucking knack for letting me down and never loving me for me. Grayson protected me more fiercely than my own flesh and blood did. There’s always fear there, but when you find someone who makes you feel safe, who would raise hell on earth for you while loving you endlessly… you can’t let that go.”
“I’m scared,” I tell her honestly.
“It’s okay to be scared. It’s okay to be unsure. Trust your instincts, they won’t let you down,” she encourages. Her words click for me in a way no one else’s has. My instincts know exactly what I have to do. I can’t let my fear of failure or hurt impede my happiness. “And Lily, if you need anything, I’m here for you. Besides my pack being richer than God, I do charity work for a foundation that helps Omegas. If you need anything, call me.”
“Thanks, Liv.”
“Anytime. If it helps, I kind of have a sixth sense about these things. Those guys are meant to be yours. Goodnight, Lily.”
“Goodnight,” I reply, feeling just a bit lighter. I’m tired of waging this war with myself of what’s most important: my family, the club, the guys. I’m the only one who has to live my life, so at this moment, I choose myself.
I don’t sleep, just pack up the rest of my life; I know I’ll be tired when Axel comes to get me tomorrow, but I can’t spend another day living this farce of a life.
It’s earlyas hell when my window slides open and Axel steps into my room. He looks around at the piles of trash bags and duffle bags before looking at me.
“Uh, darlin’?” he asks.
“We’re leaving.”
“I know, for the day, we don’t need this much for a trip that’s going to take a few hours,” he explains, his brows furrowed, and he uses a gentle tone, probably wondering if I’m having an episode of some sort.
“No, we’re leaving the compound. Unless you want to stay here… but either wayI’mleaving.” I shove the last bit of my belongings into a duffle bag, and he pulls up his pants so he can get down to my level.
“First off, wherever you go, I go. Second, what the fuck set this off?”
“Kurt. If I stay here, he’s going to force me to bond with the next pack who shows interest.”
“Like fuckin’ hell he is,” he snaps back.
“Exactly, so all my shit is packed. You, Cash, and… you and Cash need to get packed. We’re leaving tonight,” I tell him plainly. “They’re all out for the weekend, they should be back in two days. He all but shoved me into my room and told me if I left, he would chain me to the bed and bring suitors to my bedroom. We only have today to get ready and go.” I’m sureI sound panicky, but that’s only because that’s exactly how I fucking feel right now.
I’m leaving my family behind, everything I know, everyone I love, all so that I can live my life on my own terms.
Axel cups my face and as soon as his skin touches mine, I feel like I might break. As brave as I’m being, my heart fucking hurts.
“Baby, I got you. We’re getting out of here, no questions asked. But I’d still like to spend the day with you. I hate seein’ you like this. Cash can handle packin’ all our shit up. I don’t have much, anyway.”
“I don’t know, Axel. We shouldn’t waste any time.”
“Four hours, that’s all I need,” he nearly begs me.
“Can we talk to Cash first?” I ask him.
