Worrying her lip between her teeth, she contemplates the two sugar-free options. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to have a little chocolate.”
Filling both our cups, I choose to suffer through the lack of sugar with her. I swoon when we join Shepherd and Kaitlin at the counter, watching my Alpha scoop the little girl into his arms and help her pick what toppings she wants through the plexiglass covering.
“You two are spoiling her.”
I turn, pulse pounding at the frustrated look on Hannah’s face. She still hasn’t acknowledged the connection between us, which makes me think she might not want to be my Beta. My heart aches at the thought, but I shove my hurt down. It hasn’teven been a full day since they left the Montgomery cult. She needs time to process everything.
I can hold myself back for her, but I cannot promise I won’t complain about it.A lot.
Being patient isn’t easy for an Omega who is so used to getting his every wish granted.
“She deserved to be spoiled. To be loved.” Taking a chance, I reach out and brush my finger against the birthmark on her inner elbow. “You both do.”
Chapter Four
My heart racesas Foster’s finger skims over my birthmark. I hoped they hadn’t noticed, but should have known better. Shepherd is an agent at the DAU. Attention to detail is in his job description, and is required for him to save lives. There is no way we would have made the trip to the safe house drop-off without him noticing.
I cannot fault him for telling Foster. He is Shepherd’s bonded Omega after all.
Suppressing a shiver from the contact, I force myself to look away. Whatever connection exists between us, it doesn’t matter. I’m still legally married to Colin, and even if I weren’t, I’m too much of a mess right now to even contemplate future relationships. Six months pregnant and on the run from a cult.
The pull between us may seem tempting now, but after things get even more complicated…
They’ll run.Rightfully so.
“Here, Mommy.” I blink, focusing back on Kaitlin as she leans toward me from Shepherd’s arms. She extends her hand toward my face with a spoonful of bright pink frozen yogurt covered in gummy bears and sprinkles. Internally groaning, I accept the bite and force a smile. It is way too sweet. When sheoffers me more, I shake my head, politely declining and lifting my bowl.
I don’t truly believe they are spoiling her; I only worry that the attention they are showing us both will cause problems later. Neither of us can afford to get attached to these men. Watching my daughter’s heart break if they leave will be insufferable. And I’m not sure my own would survive it.
By the time we’ve finished shopping for things we need to take to the safe house, my energy levels are nonexistent. My back hurts, and my feet feel like they’re swollen to twice their normal size. I’m ready to lie down somewhere semi-soft and soothe my aching muscles.
Unfortunately, as we climb into our third and final DAU vehicle, Shepherd informs us it will be another hour until we reach our destination. Swallowing a groan, I stare out the window at the darkening sky.
Part of me still expects my father and his followers to show up, ready to exact his punishment for my defiance. For years, I’ve pretended to be the perfect Montgomery daughter.Quiet. Submissive.Even after I was forced to marry Colin, a man twice my age, I still played along.
I could have escaped when I was nineteen. Ran away and never looked back. But I couldn’t bear to leave my little sister behind. Even now, the thought of not being there to stop him from finding Sarah terrifies me. Our mother has no maternal instincts, only a willingness to allow her body to be used to meet her husband’s expectations. Her lack of care left me in a motherly role for Sarah. Raising her from infancy into her late teens. There is no part of me that doesn’t see her as my own. I’ve been the only mother figure in her life.
Or I was. I suppose she may have found someone else to fill that role after she left.
Part of me thinks my mother innately knew Sarah would be an Omega and hated her for it, but that seems far-fetched from a woman who barely conveys more than distaste to her other children. Some people aren’t meant to have children, and she is one of them.
A disposition I do not share. My children are my world. Both the ones born from me and the one I chose to raise in my mother’s stead.
What feels like hours later, we pull up to a tan, two-story house. Two cars are parked in the gravel driveway, but there isn’t anyone in sight. Worrying my lip, I glance at Shepherd as he puts the car into park. Is this where we part ways?
“This is a one-night stop,” he says, meeting my eyes. “Donovan is meeting us here to debrief. And we thought you would want a chance to see your sister before we have to go into hiding.”
Tears brim in my eyes as his words sink in. Sarah is here. She’s safe.
“She goes by Omen now,” Foster speaks softly, turning around in his seat so that he can look at me. “Her situation is… complicated. I think she needs to see you almost as much as you need to see her.”
Nodding, I brush the tears away and unbuckle Kaitlin. Her wide eyes watch the house, tiny hands clinging to my sleeve. When we step outside, she attaches herself to my leg, refusing to accept a hand from Shepherd or Foster. Both men deflate a little at her rejection, and I give them tight smiles. They are still unknown in her life. It is only natural for her to want my comfort and protection when entering a home full of strangers.
I ignore the glares both men send my way when I lean down and lift my little bug into my arms, resting her on my hip. She’s tiny for a four-year-old, and I’m used to carrying her weight. It won’t hurt me.
Shepherd sighs, guiding me forward with a warm palm hovering over the small of my back. The tiny flare of heat has my body lighting up, long forgotten urges threatening to resurface. I quickly crush them back down. Now is not the time.
Sweat trickles down my spine as we stop at the front door. How will Sarah- no, Foster said she goes by Omen now. How will Omen react to seeing me?A lot has changed in the years since she left.I’vechanged, and I’m sure she has too.
