Someone turned on a lamp. The glow felt like an uncomfortable spotlight, and I averted my eyes.
“You need your rest, precious,” Ben said softly, peering over the edge of the bed.
“Did you have a bad dream?” Theo asked, his voice tight.
“I just need some time alone,” I said, crawling towards the door. Why were my limbs not working? I could barely keep my arms underneath me.
Weak. Weak. Weak.
“Sweetheart,” Cam pleaded.
I forced myself not to turn around, forced myself to keep going. Once I got to the door, I used the wall to help pull myself up.
“Just go back to sleep,” I said, pulling the door open and shutting it behind me.
I slumped against the door and took a shuddering breath, waiting to see how my alphas would react. I expected them to open the door and demand that I return to bed. Maybe they would pull me into their arms, cuddle me, and force me to tell them how I was feeling.
But there was silence.
A sob burst from my chest.
I took off down the hallway in a frantic jog, trying to figure out where to go. Maybe I should leave? It wasn’t like I had anywhere to go, but at least my alphas would be protected if I left. I could take one of the cars in the garage and just drive. But then… what would happen if I got caught? I’d be arrested and who knew what would happen to them?
I squeezed my hands on the sides of my head as my panicked, racing thoughts screamed at me. I kept moving my feet. I didn’t know where I was going. I just knew I had to keep moving.
Finally, I stopped and looked around, realizing I had followed Cam’s scent to the basement level. The door to the gym was straight ahead. I took a deep breath as I flipped the light switch. Maybe this is what I needed.
I approached the black punching bag and started hitting it, the leather stinging my hands with each hit. My punches barely shifted the bag, which filled me with rage. I let out a frustrated growl and hit harder, reveling in the pain shooting through my knuckles.
The low creak of the door let me know I wasn’t alone, but I refused to look up.
“Josie,” Cam’s voice said softly from behind me.
“I’m not going back to bed,” I said, keeping my focus on the bag. If I looked at him right now, I would fall apart.
“That’s your choice, sweetheart. But if you’re going to use the bag, I need you to wear gloves.”
“I’m fine,” I said stubbornly.
I went to punch the bag again, but instead of hitting leather, my fist landed in Cam’s outstretched hand.
I met his gaze with a scowl.
“Gloves are non-negotiable,” he said with an infuriating calm, gently rubbing my tender, red knuckles.
I ripped my hand out of his and saw him flinch before covering his reaction with a mask of calm.
“I said I wanted to be alone,” I snapped. I turned away from Cam and froze when I saw Theo and Ben standing by the gym door.
I let out a shriek, feeling trapped under their watchful gazes.
Theo lurched towards me, arms out as if to pull me into an embrace, but then stopped himself.
“Precious…” Ben said, his eyes wide.
“Don’t call me that!” I shouted, moving away from the three of them until my back hit the wall.
“Why not?” Ben almost whispered.
