I look up and see the lighthouse, and the tightness in my chest gets tighter.
I kick off my clothes and wade out into the water, catching up Danger when he paddles after me. We swim around while I go over everything I know and try to find an answer, but no matter how hard I think, I can’t find a way out of this that ends with me having what I want.
“All right, let’s take Mum's phone back before she kills us.”
Danger barks and bounces along beside me.
I get back and find the house empty, so I wander upstairs, pushing open the door to my bedroom and going and sitting on the edge of the bed.
It smells like them.
I lay down and breathe in their combined scents.
Mum’s phone rings, and I answer it without thinking.
“Hey, Rebel.”
I blink and sit up. “How did you know I had Mum's phone?”
“Sebastian mentioned it, and Mack told me you needed time.”
It is so good to hear his voice. I swallow hard, wanting to tell them I don’t need time; I need them. Now.
“Do you want to have lunch? Just the two of us? No shenanigans. Just you and me and two wraps.”
My throat is tight. “Okay.”
“Come downstairs, then.”
My heart slams against my ribs, and I get up, pausing to check my face in the mirror before I trip down the stairs, my dog at my heels.
He’s sitting at the kitchen island, waiting. I walk up to him, finding it hard to breathe. I have no self-control around them. None whatsoever.
“Devon, what are you doing here?”
“Bringing you lunch, and I thought we could talk.”
“I just wanted some time.”
“I know, and I’m going to give it to you, just not as much as you think because, Sofia, no matter how you protest or what you’ve told everyone else, I know you better than anyone except your omega besties, and I know there is something going on with you.”
I sit down beside him, bowing my head. “It’s complicated.”
“Of course, it is, but it doesn’t have to mean that I don’t understand. Or that I don’t remember what happens if someone pushes to get the information out of you. So, I’m not going to do that.”
He sighs and slides a wrap to me.
“This is me here as an alpha courting an omega, bringing her food when I know she is distressed.”
My lower lip trembles.
He stands up and wraps his arms around me. “No matter what it is, it’s going to be okay. You’ll be fine because you are Sofia Sol. And I know how capable and strong you are.”
I wrap my arms around him, all these words locked behind my teeth.
I missed you. I love you. You are my scent-match alphas. Stay with me. Be with me. Bond me.
Give me forever.
