Behind me, I heard Kia calling my name. Heard my mother say something sharp to make her stop.
But I didn't turn around.
I made it down the front steps, across the driveway, to my car. Got inside. Locked the doors.
And then I fell apart.
The tears came in waves, violent and unstoppable.
I pressed my hands against my face, trying to muffle the sobs, but they kept coming. My whole body was shaking. My scent waseverywhere. Lilies and cinnamon mixing with fear and grief and something that felt like freedom and terror all at once.
Through the car window, I could see lights still on in my mother's house. Shadows moving behind the curtains. Probably everyone inside talking about me. Judging me.
Good.
Let them.
My phone buzzed in my purse. I fumbled for it with shaking hands.
Text from Jaxon:Game's over. We won. How'd dinner go with your mom?
A laugh that was more sob than anything burst out of me as my fingers hovered and I thought of what to text.
How did dinner go?
I slapped my mother.
Got disowned.
Chose two Alphas over my entire family.
My phone buzzed again. Luca this time:
Reina? You okay? You're not answering.
I tried to type a response but my hands were shaking too badly. The letters kept coming out wrong. I deleted and started over three times before giving up.
Another buzz. Luca again:
I'm calling you.
My phone started ringing immediately.
I stared at his name on the screen, tears still streaming down my face. Couldn't answer like this. Couldn't let him hear me falling apart.
But my finger pressed the green button anyway.
"Reina?" His voice was sharp, concerned. "What happened?"
I opened my mouth to say I was fine.
Instead, a sob came out.
"Where are you?" The sharpness turned to alarm. "Reina, where are you right now?"
I managed to choke out my mother's address.
"I'm coming. Stay in your car. Lock the doors." I could hear him moving already, keys jingling. "I'm twenty minutes away. Can you stay on the phone with me?"
