“Wait.” Leo’s eyes widened. “We were all invited to craft night and didn’t go? Shit.”
This was worse than I thought. Lucy must be really upset.
Leo’s big bouquet of flowers taunted me. “I’ll be back,” I muttered, heading across the street to Beans ’n Bliss, refusing to be shown up by the hot beta.
37
Lucy
HoroscopePisces
Pisces, our compassionate spirit. Your sensitivity is your strength. Keep your eye out for the vulnerable, and see how you can lend a hand!
I wrapped my arms aroundmyself as I trudged into the tree line at the base of the mountain. I wasn’t going hiking again—I wouldn’t repeat that mistake—but I needed to get away.
Golden, early morning light streamed through the tree canopy. I swallowed around the lump in my throat. All the enthusiasm and excitement I’d felt about last night’s class had been quickly snuffed out with Wilder, Leo, and King’s absences.
Just because you’re an omega doesn’t mean you get to act spoiled. Not everything’s going to go your way all the time.
Stop crying. You’re always crying.
Maybe you need to up your suppressant dose if you’re going to be this emotional all the time.
I sank down on the forest floor, wishing my omega wasn’t so…much. I only had myself to blame for how I was feeling. I’d let myself get infatuatedagain. I’d started dreaming of nests and heats and being spoiled by a packagain. In the midst of my fantasies, I’d ignored the waving red flags that clearly communicated that these guys weren’t really interested in me.
The sounds of the woods washed over me, and dappled light through the trees danced against my closed eyelids. Tears spilled down my cheeks and I buried my face in the sleeves of the baggy sweatshirtI’d pulled over my pajamas—the ones covered with illustrated Felix faces.
There were so many things I needed to do today—clean up my shop, get caught up on my invoices and expense reports, and muster up the energy to put on a good face at breakfast with my friends—but I just wanted to stay here and ignore reality. The Felix’s Feral Four group chat had already been inundated with messages this morning “just checking in.” The fact that I usually slept in bought me a tiny window of time to pull myself together before they demanded a response.
A tinysqueakmade my muscles tense. I lifted my head and checked my surroundings. Was that a mouse? A chipmunk?
There it was again.
Whatever it was, it sounded upset. I rubbed my temple. If I was smart, I would scoot out of here before I got attacked by some rabid woodland creature, but I was not smart. I got on my hands and knees and peered through the underbrush until I locked eyes with a tiny baby bunny.
“Aww, hey cutie. Are you waiting for your mama?” I wished I had my phone so I could take a picture. I stayed still, not wanting to scare it, but the more I looked, the more concerned I grew. The bunny’s eyes were open, but it was lying on its side and barely moving. I had no idea what normal bunny behavior was, but something about how it was positioned had me worried.
I slowly crawled closer and pushed aside the leafy branch that was half covering the bunny, revealing a gash on its hind leg.
“Oh no,” I whispered. I looked around as if a bunny ambulance would appear out of thin air. “I feel like I’m not supposed to touch you, but I also can’t leave you.” What if the cut was infected? I hesitated a few more heartbeats, wishing again that I had my phone and could look up what to do.
The bunny let out another tiny squeak and its eyes started to close. Panic shot through me. “I’m sorry if I’m doing the wrong thing,” I murmured as I gently picked it up. I tucked it against my chest, carefulnot to bump the injured leg, and headed back to town as fast as I could. “I’m going to take you to James, and he’ll fix you right up. I know, I don’t like going to the doctor, either, but he’s really nice. I promise.”
The town was starting to wake up by the time I hit Main Street. Shops were opening, many of them already sporting Easter-themed decorations and signs for the Eggstravaganza. A few people called out to me and waved, but I didn’t stop. Whisker’s Vet Clinic was all the way at the end of the street, and the walk felt endless.
I passed my shop on the opposite side of the street and did a double take when I saw Wilder, King, and Leo standing outside my door. What were they doing? At least I had confirmation that they were alive.
“Don’t worry. You’re my priority, little cutie. Men are the absolute worst. Unless you’re a boy. That doesn’t count.”
I kept my head down, hoping they wouldn’t spot me, but I wasn’t that lucky. I quickened my pace, ignoring the steady pounding of their footsteps.
Wilder got to me first. “Where have you been?”
The question stopped me in my tracks, and I whirled around to face him. “Where haveIbeen? What kind of question is that?”
His eyes widened at my tone, but I kept walking. The clinic was in sight.Please be open. Please.
“Lucy, wait,” Leo called out.
