I nod.
He smiles. “Yes, I’m very happy with it.”
He leans down and kisses my forehead, and then he stands up.
“Sleep well, Sofia. If you need anything, anything at all, I’m just across the hall.”
I stare at him.
Where did he come from? There’s no alpha like him, I’m sure of it.
Tell him to stay, beg him to stay, instead I force my mouth to form the words that I should say and not the ones I want to.
“Goodnight, Mack,” I whisper and watch him walk to the door, pausing only to look back before he turns the light off and slips out, closing the door with a soft snick.
I try to stay awake, try to linger in the feeling of this warmth, but I can’t, I fall into the dark, fall into sleep.
I bite into my toast as I watch Danger dig into his meal. He eats as if I starve him.
“So, tell me about the city.”
I stiffen, lifting my head to find my mum staring at me. She’s got that look on her face, the one that says she’s not going to give up no matter how hard I try to wriggle free.
She plops a piece of fried bread, cut into the shape of a starfish and stuffed with jam onto my plate. My stomach turns violently. The last time I had one of these was the day Mack disappeared. I haven’t touched them since. I can’t, it brings back too many horrible memories.
“Mum. I don’t want to talk about the city right now, and I’m not eating this. I don’t like these anymore,” I say and slide the plate away.
“You love them.”
I shake my head. “No, I don’t. I haven’t for years. Just take it back.”
Her eyes narrow. “Why are you making a big deal about it?”
“I haven’t eaten them since I was a kid. I’m not going to start now. Why is it so important for you to have me eat them?”
She glares at me, and I glare right on back. I push the plate towards her.
“What’s going on with you?” she growls out. “What happened?”
I put my head in my hand and sigh. My stomach jolts, and that seedy, crappy feeling returns.
“No, I’m not going to eat it. I also don’t want to talk about it. Why aren’t you listening to me? Don’t I get a say in this at all?” I fold my arms over my chest, trying not to cry. Our surface conversation is stupid and immature, but it’s the one we aren’t having that is upsetting both of us. She wants to know what happened. I don’t want to tell her. She thinks I don’t trust her. I don’t want to disappoint her.
“Just give it a go!” Trust me.
“NO!” I stand up and take three steps away from the island. “Mum, I don’t want to eat it, and where are my keys? I want to go for a drive!” I need to get away, yes, I know it’s running.
“Check the key bowl!” Mum snaps, her temper frayed.
“I did; they aren’t there,” I say through gritted teeth, trying to ignore the way her temper is setting mine off. Our scents are clashing, and the angrier we get, the stronger they compete with each other. I forgot how explosive a house of omegas could be.
“I’ve got more important things to worry about than your keys, Sofia.”
“Well, I don’t know where they are,” I almost shout, shoving away from the island and putting space between us. “And I need them.”
The air feels like it’s going to ignite.
Pops bursts into the kitchen, his expression alarmed. Elijah is just behind him, his gaze finding mine and just reminding me of all the reasons I left Sunshine Cove in the first place. I’m not good enough for him, I never will be.
