Barely able to breathe through my panic, I climbed out the door and onto the shoulder of the road. I stood there frozen, waiting for him to say he was joking and let me back in.
“Close the fucking door.”
Tears burned their way down my face. “Please don’t do this.”
“Close the fucking door, Madison. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”
I pressed trembling fingers to the door, and the moment it shut, he blasted off into traffic, leaving me there crying on the side of the road with nothing but the clothes on my back.
It took only a few seconds for terror to fully kick in. I couldn’t call for help. Who would I even call if I did? I didn’t have a single phone number memorized except for Tyler’s, because he’d had the same one since we were teens.
Alone and with nothing, I spun around, trying to get my bearings. In the distance I saw the familiar shopping complex I frequented. It wasn’t much of a solution, but it was definitely better than being roadside.
I took off at a run. Thank god I had taken up jogging. My whole body thrummed with adrenaline as I sprinted alongside the cars. It was hard to see while crying and I skidded on a piece of trash, earning myself a hefty bit of road rash on my hands and knees.
With a string of curses, I picked myself up and forced myself to keep going despite the sharp pain with every step. Moment by moment, Best of Nests came into view.
Please let Jude be working.
I didn’t know where else to go. I needed a friendly face even if he couldn’t help me. Pushing onward, I couldn’t stop the sobs that snuck free. Tyler had done a lot of stupid things throughout the course of our relationship, but this had to take the cake. He couldn’t walk back from this, and more than that, I didn’t think I could let him try even if he did.
I’d known for a long time he took my presence for granted, but I never imagined that things would end like this. If he had wanted to marry me or bond me, I could’ve let myself live in the delusion that I was happy. If he had committed to me, I could’ve stuck it out, but I wasn’t even worth that much to him.
By the time I reached the doors to Best of Nests I was fully hysterical, my whole body heaving with every sob. Even with the cooler temperatures I was sweaty and windblown, aching, thirsty, and desperate for some sense of safety.
I tumbled into the store, making a beeline for the registers. “Please, please, please,” I whispered as I rushed on.
Jude looked up from where he was talking to one of the cashiers and immediately sprinted toward me. “Madison? Holy shit. What happened? Are you okay?”
I threw myself straight into his arms and cried so hard, he probably thought I was dying. He held me tightly, providing an anchor point I desperately needed.
“Maddie, talk to me. What happened?” His voice was soothing, like warm velvet wrapping around me.
“He—” I hiccuped. “He kicked me out of the car.” Another sob. “He took everything.”
“Okay. Let me get you some water.” Jude scooped me off my feet and carried me into the break room, setting me gently onto the couch, and getting me a cardboard cup of water. I slurped it down gratefully.
Everything ached and my road rash stung.
I whimpered when Jude transferred me to the counter next to the sink, gently rinsing my hands under warm water, and using a soft cloth to clean the dirt from my knees. The soap made me hiss, but Jude’s warm gaze made it bearable.
“I’m sorry,” Jude whispered. “I know it hurts. You’re doing really well, though.”
“It’s okay.” I sniffled, shivering as he made sure my skin was dry before applying some ointment to the scrapes and applying bandages to the deeper cuts. When he was finished, he hugged me tightly. I sank into his arms, savoring the strength of him wrapped around me. “Thank you.”
“I’m so sorry this happened to you. Should we call the police? Report him?”
I shook my head. What would I even tell the cops? I had hurt myself in my panic. Tyler had only made me get out of the vehicle. “Could you give me a ride to the arena when you’re done with work?”
I didn’t have any money for a cab or a rideshare, or even the bus. I had to find Charlotte. She would help me.
“Of course I can.” Jude pulled me into another hug and I had the wherewithal to be embarrassed that his shirt held the scent of my distress. I’d probably ruined a bunch of products coming in here like I did. No one was supposed to come into the store without their scent muted, and here I was, crashing through it with my cloud of misery.
“Do you have somewhere to stay?” he asked gently.
“I don’t know. I need to talk to Charlotte.” One of her alphas ran the Omega Housing Initiative Tyler had been complaining about. Maybe they could get me on a list to find somewhere safe while I figured things out.
“That’s your friend with the Night of Knights alphas, right?”
