As a blonde steps out of the shadows, Raney’s whole demeanour shifts.
Heidi leans in to whisper in my ear. “Given the fact Koz hasn’t killed him yet, wanna bet that’s Hayes?”
“Is she safe with him?” I ask, suddenly worried for my bestie.
“He doesn’t have ADV, never has.”
“Could you rely entirely on the symptoms, or do you need a test to confirm ADV?”
Heidi turns and guides me away from the others. “What’s going on?”
I shake my head, completely and suddenly overwhelmed by even trying to explain the situation.
“Simona, what’s going on? You’re worrying me. Is it the suppressor? Your heat?”
She stares at me, wanting an explanation, but I’ve got nothing, and my eyes fall from hers as my own disappointment washes over me. I just don’t get why I can’t talk and think logically, but maybe she was on to something. The suppressor might be working too well, suppressing everything. Now that I think of it, I can’t remember what any of my scent-matched Alphas scent like.
I start to freak out a little more, at the same time bracing for a Heidi inspired lecture or explanation but instead, I get an apple scented cuddle. “After your heat I want you to come stay with me. You need a break. I’ll get the suite next to mine ready, no one will bother you, honey.”
Actually, no, I just need to tell you I have met my scent-matched pack. But see, I’m also really scared of Brody. I’m worried you’ll go after him or he’ll discover how much you mean to me, and he will come after you as a means of controlling me. God, I love you. Please forgive me for not being honest.
I make a full but silent confession to her. As she talks, she digs inside her bag without breaking our cuddle. She slides something into my pocket. “Duratious was formulated as a last defence for anyone facing an Alpha with ADV. It’s small enough to go where you go, designed to look like a lipstick in case any Alpha starts snooping through your personal belongings. I’m sending you the phone number of the Phoenix Group contact I have. You know where I am if you need me, and you know I’d drop everything if you do. But I have a lotof faith in you, Simona. Don’t you forget to have faith in yourself too”
With a final kiss to the side of my head, she stops hugging and takes a step away, putting herself out in front of everyone so I don’t have to.
“Excuse me. I need to freshen up,” I say quietly to no-one in particular, though almost every person looks my way.
Making my way back through Birdie towards the bathrooms, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Expecting it to be Hendrix with an update on their location, I nearly trip on my feet when I click on the tag for SinDaBella. Opening the App, I see a very distinguishable mask hanging on a hook with big bold text emblazoned across the black and white image. It’s very rockstar. It’s very Ryder. And his words have me melting.
@Koded.R.Genuine—
I’ve found my SinDaBella!
Ecstatic, mind blown, obsessed.
Writing loads of new material, but I am officially signing off for a while.
My girl needs me, and she comes first.
Like always, be fucking kind to each other.
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
SIMONA
Rushing up behind Heidi, I wrap my arms around her, burying my face in her hair. “I love you, Ho. My heat is making me paranoid, and I think the tabs are making me cray-cray. I’m sorry for acting more bonkers than usual.”
Heidi pats my hand as Tristan joins our cuddle. “Pfft. Crazy is a good place to be. Now, I have to tell you girls I’m so fucking jealous of Raney. Like, aren’t you?”
I laugh. “God, yes. The way Koz looks at her. And Puck. I want that.”
Even Heidi agrees. “And don’t forget Hayes.”
Our three-way is interrupted when Raney suddenly appears. She throws herself into our cuddle, reeking of sex, making us mock growl at her. “Stop talking about my pack. Hmmm. I like saying my pack.” She purrs. One minute she’s giving us shit, the next she is racing away.
That’s what causes us to break up our huddle. The most unfit member of our quadruple running is something worthwatching. We all get a little caught up cheering her on, with over-the-top shouting and clapping.
