Stanley banged his gavel, finalizing the decision. Easton stood in his seat, his gaze landing on me, and I couldn’t handle it anymore. Couldn’t handle any more eyes on me. Couldn’t handle more judgement or rejection. My bitter scent broke through my deodorizer, and that finally pushed me to get out.
Felix was nowhere to be seen as I ran out of Town Hall. My hands were shaking as I unlocked my bike.
“Olive!”
A slight whimper slipped through my lips as Easton bounded up to me. My omega wanted to crawl into his arms, and that was exactly why I needed to get away.
“Isn’t this exciting?” he asked, grabbing my bike’s handlebars to steady it as I stood up.
His massive body was crowding mine, my eyes level with his chest. His broad, muscular chest. God, I wanted to press my face into his button-down shirt and cover myself in his chocolate hazelnut scent. My omega was begging me to climb this alpha like a tree, to invite him into my nest and get his scent everywhere while he had his way with me.
I swallowed hard and breathed in and out of my mouth steadily to stop myself from bursting into tears. I was letting myself fall into a ridiculous fantasy because I was overwhelmed.
“I have to go,” I mumbled, grabbing my bike from Easton.
8
EASTON
She was tryingto run away from me again.
She pulled a flashlight out of her bag and started biking towards the lighthouse.
I wasn’t letting her get away this time. I knew I was being too overbearing, tooeverything, but I could tell Olive was upset about something. She was always standoffish and skittish, but tonight she seemed exceptionally fragile. Whatever deodorant she was wearing masked her scent, but I would bet anything that it was all twisted and bitter right now.
I jogged after her, easily keeping pace. She glanced over at me and her expression made my heart stop. Fuck, Olive looked close to tears. She quickly turned back to the street and biked faster. I wasn’t much for cardio, but I would run to the ends of the earth if I were following Olive.
She was fumbling with the flashlight, managing to keep balance as she turned it on and clenched it in her hand.
I swore as I realized why she had it. “There aren’t lights along the path.”
It wasn’t a question, but she gave me a little nod, anyway.
She had been riding back and forth to town in the fucking dark? That was unacceptable. As we neared the small path to thelighthouse, I placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. She inhaled sharply and slowed her pedaling.
“I don’t like the idea of you biking in the dark. How about I take the flashlight and run next to you? That way, you don’t have to focus on holding it.”
She stared straight ahead, but her lower lip trembled as she spoke. “Why would you do that?”
I’d never wanted to hug someone so badly, but I had the feeling that she couldn’t handle that kind of affection right now.
“I need to get my workout in,” I said. “You know, I was the star cross-country runner of Starlight Grove High.”
She blinked, briefly meeting my gaze. “You were?”
I snorted. “Fuck no. I played hookey from gym class as often as I could.”
Her lips quirked into an almost-smile.
“I know you don’tneeda knight to rescue you, but just let me pretend. It will make me feel a lot better to know you got home safely.” That sounded good, right? Because what I actually wanted to say was,how about I follow you around at all times and implant a tracker under your skin just in case we ever get separated?
I was killing this wholetaking things slowthing.
Olive let out a little huff and it was the cutest fucking sound. “Fine.” Her tone didn’t give anything away, but I spotted the little smile on her lips and the pink of her cheeks.
I bowed with an exaggerated flourish. “Excellent, my lady. Let us go forthwith.”
I took the flashlight from her and pointed it down the pitch-black path. Stanley was going to get an earful about this tomorrow. As I kept pace with Olive, all the times Lars, Finn, and I had run down this path together in our childhood came back to me. I’d forgotten how we’d always had a stash of flashlights to light the way. It hadn’t seemed like a big deal back then, but this wasOlive. She was precious. And she deserved a lit path to her home.
