“There’s a lake just up ahead of us. Thought it would be a good place to sit and talk without any interruptions.” He keeps walking and sure enough, about ten minutes later we step out into the most beautiful clearing and just as he said, a lake.
“This is beautiful.” A sense of peace overtakes me as my eyes scan the beauty before me. How this little gem isn't overrun with people is a mystery.
“Isn’t it? I was out for a run the first time we ever visited, and I came across it. The house your brother and the guys are staying in has been in Tav’s family for a century, passed down from father to son.” He takes my hand in his and I gasp at the vast difference in his hands and those of the male omegas I knew from school. While theirs were smooth and soft, his are calloused. “Let’s go sit down on the grass.”
He moves closer to the lake, finding a patch of grass that's right in the sun and takes a seat. I step over beside him and lower myself down. Running the palms of my hands along the dark green blades, tickles my skin. The lake stretches out before us. I close my eyes for a moment, letting the sunlight spill over my face, hot and golden, seeping into my skin.
“Storm is going to talk to you later, but I wanted to give you a heads up. To help you make a decision.”
My eyes open and dart over to him. Decision. What decision am I supposed to make, and why does he need to give me a heads up? Confusion swarms through me at his words.
“Decision?” I gulp hard. My cherry scent souring around me.
“He said he mentioned him, and his pack finding someone.”
“A beta. Yes, he told me. But he hasn’t mentioned her again. Is she coming here? Is he afraid that I won’t approve since she isn’t an omega? Because I don’t care. I just want him to be happy.”
Torin laughs, low and deep. “That’s what he said you’d say. They’ve lost contact with her. She’s gone silent. Not answering their calls and no one’s seen her. There have been rumors of betas going missing and they’re afraid she’s met that fate. It all links to the Foundation.” He clears his throat, scooting around so that he can face me. “His pack wants to go find her. But…”
“Storm doesn’t want to leave me.”
Torin nods. “I made a suggestion to him. My alphas and I have talked. We have room for you at our home. There’s a garage apartment that you could take. We’re near a college, and they even offer online classes.”
I just sit there, jaw dropped, eyes wide as he speaks. This man and his pack are going out of their way for me. No. Not for me, for Storm. I’d be a nobody to them, not even a blip on their radar of wanting to help if it wasn’t for him.
“We do have some conditions. Therapy being the primary one. You need to go. To get healthy mentally and physically. You’dtake our pack last name for safety purposes only. You can be my little sister.”
“Why do I need your last name?” My voice rises as panic takes hold of me. I’d kill for a blade right now.
Torin lets out a heavy sigh, gazing over to the water before looking back at me. “Storm wants to protect you. To keep all the bad in the world away from you, especially after everything you’ve been through. That’s where our opinions differ. I don’t think he should shield you. River, you’re strong. Hell, stronger than the lot of us, so you can take the truth.”
“He doesn’t like your suggestion,” I whisper.
He shakes his head, reaching out to place his hand on my knee. “You need to convince him it’s what you want. That he needs to go find her along with his pack. He’ll hate himself if he doesn’t.”
We sit there in silence while I process everything I’ve just been told.
“I’ll do it.” I pause. “As long as I’m not a burden. But I want something from you.”
He cocks his head to the side, eyebrow raised. “I’m listening.”
“Teach me to do what you do with the computers. I want to help bring down the Foundation and every other corrupt entity. No one should ever go through what I did. Or what others have at their hands.”
“And you’ll go to therapy. Heal yourself?” he asks.
“I will.”
“Then it looks like we have a deal. We should head back, before Storm sends out the cavalry to find you.” He stands up from the ground, offering his hand out to me. Placing my hand in his, he pulls me up to stand. “Remember, he knows nothing about this conversation, so when he brings it up…”
“Act surprised. I know.” A faint smile tugs at my lips, but it doesn’t quite reach my chest. We share the smallest nod of understanding before turning back toward the house.
***
I sit on the edge of the exam table, my legs swinging back and forth anxiously as Storm paces back and forth across the room. He wasn’t happy when he had to step out of the room for them to do the exam. As soon as they’d finished and stepped out, he was back in the room before the door shut.
“What’s taking them so long?” he growls under his breath.
“It hasn’t been that long. Just sit down and relax.”
