“Just some information about a pack that wants to come in to use the gym while visiting for work. Two alphas, specifically. I want to make sure they’re solid before I grant them access.”
I nod. “Understood.” I’ve done this for her before. Hell, I’ve done this for all the Widows in some capacity. We’re constantly running background checks on strangers, making sure they’ll fit in with the Widows Peak demographics. “Just shoot me their names, and I’ll do my thing.”
“Awesome, thank you.” She studies me through the screen, her shrewd gaze instantly putting me on edge.
Aries specializes in self-defense for a reason.
She knows when someone is in trouble.
And while I’m currently safe, she can probably see the stress in my features. But it’s not for any of the reasons she could imagine.
“You okay, Lark?” she asks, the question one I’ve heard too many times in the last few days.
“Yeah.” I smile. “Just bored, like I said.”
Bored. Worried. Pissed off. Lonely. Confused.
Yep. A whole smorgasbord of emotions.
Aries studies me for another beat. “You’re always helping us, Lark. Just know that we’re here to help you, too.”
I force myself to smile even though it feels weighted somehow. Sad. Because I know she’s right. I know my fellow Widows would do whatever it took to save me, if I needed it.
But I don’t.
I just want my scent matches to come back.So I can kill them,I think.
“I love you all,” I say to Aries. “And if I were in trouble, I would tell you. But everything is good here. Just… heavy. I’ll explain whenever I come back home.”
Or at least give them enough details to placate their interest.
They don’t need to know about the sins of my past or how Widows Peak became such a safe place for us all.
That’s my burden to bear. Not theirs.
“All right.” Aries doesn’t look like she believes me. But she doesn’t press me for details. None of the Widows do. We all have our dark pasts, some worse than others. However, trauma bonded us. And we’ll forever respect each other’s wishes as a result.
“Shoot me the names, and I’ll send over full profiles in a few hours,” I promise her.
“Thanks, Lark.”
“Anytime, Aries.”
She waves at the camera, and I wave back. Then I hang up and glance up at the moon.
“I don’t have a computer,” I realize out loud, my brow furrowing. “But I bet Johan has one I can borrow…”
I’ve refrained from going through their rooms even though I’ve figured out by scent who lives where.
But given that they’ve basically abandoned me, maybe snooping is allowed.
If I get caught, I’ll at least have a good excuse for poking around Johan’s room.
Smiling, I shoot Johan a text.I need to borrow a computer. Consider this me asking for permission to enter your room.
I don’t bother waiting for a reply. If he decides to finally reach out, then he can see what it’s like to go unanswered for a while.
I walk back inside, set the phone on the nightstand, and leave my room to head for his.
