“What would they do ifweconfronted them?” Vee asks, indicating herself and Brooks. “Or all of us as a pack?”
I consider that for a moment, but then shake my head.
“I think you guys could take them in a fight, but I don’t want it to come to that. Because it would. If they knew you had me, whether I’m there for it or not… They don’t shy away from…” I trail off, my memories attempting to suck me back into the past.
I take a deep breath, and Vee scratches her nails against my scalp, helping to ground me.
“It would turn violent, even if you tried not to let it. They revel in it, and even if you won or whatever, they’d just try again.” My head falls as I look down at my clenched fists in my lap.
“No,” I whisper. “There’s no confronting them on this.”
“Okay,” Vee says, tucking me more firmly into her arms. “Then we focus on safety and prevention. You don’t go anywhere without one of us, and in the meantime, we’ll order some extra cameras for the property. Just in case.”
That actually does make me feel better, and after a family dinner, I insist that everyone join me in the nest for the night. I want all of my pack surrounding me, so I don’t have any doubt about their safety either.
We all get up together for work the next morning, and Brooks scrambles eggs with veggies for everyone. I think we’re all in denial about the situation confronting us, or at least I am. We haven’t acknowledged it, but the reality is that looking over my shoulder and never going anywhere alone isn’t a long term solution.
That’s not how I want to live my life.
We all tromp out the door, but when Vee turns around to lock it, she gasps.
Then she dives for me, attempting to block my view with her body, but it’s too late. I stare at the front of our house. At the vile words spray-painted across it.
OMEGA WHORE. YOU DONT BELONG HERE.
“What the fuck,” Riley whispers.
It’s not only words on the wall and door, though. When I look to the porch swing where I like to curl up and read sometimes, there’s what might be a knife and big X’s painted on it.
“Call the sheriff,” Vee says to Riley, then she turns to Brooks. “Can you stay here today?”
“Already on it,” Brooks says, his phone in his hand as his fingers fly across the screen.
“What can I do?” I ask, my eyes frantic as I spin around, looking for a way to make myself useful.
“Sheriff is on his way,” Riley says, then he hesitates before speaking again. “Do you think… Did they do anything else?”
“The shop?” Vee says.
“My lambs!”
I take off at a sprint, cutting across the rows of lavender like I’m running hurdles as my heart nearly pounds out of my chest, and then barreling through the grassy field as I head for the barn.
“Sage!” Brooks yells behind me, but even his clear distress isn’t enough to stop me.
If Steve or Josh are still here, I’d rather they hurt me than my baby sheep.
I burst through the gate, leaving it swinging behind me, and my fingers fumble as I unlock the side door to the barn.
“Daisy?” I call as I enter, my voice desperate. “Bramble!”
An excited bleat meets my ears, and then Daisy is pushing into my hand, nosing for snacks. Bramble saunters over behind her and allows me to scoop her into my arms.
“Oh my god,” I say, crashing to my knees in the hay. “You’re okay. You’re both okay.”
I rock her back and forth, but Bramble quickly loses patience and starts squirming, then nips at me to let her go.
I scoop Daisy into my arms just as Brooks makes it to the door behind me, huffing and puffing.
