“That’s what you get for weaseling a free ticket out of me in the form of payment,” Skylar snorts. “I’m calling this karma.”
“We shouldn’t talk about karma and the shit I have on you,” the alpha laughs.
I stopped using my alpha pheromone blocking cream ever since I had my heat. The alpha’s woodsy scent turns my stomach, but I think this has more to do with his words than anything else.
“We’ve known each other for far too long for friendly blackmail,” Skylar mutters. “You’re well paid, and would be very bored without us.”
“How is hunting down bond skippers going for you?” Rhodes asks in a bored tone. “Please don’t piss me off, Fishman. I’m tired and I haven’t been able to punch anyone today.”
“I would prefer not to be punched, thank you,” Fishman sighs. “Am I going to meet your omega? Is he settling in well after I flooded his apartment?”
Inhaling sharply at his blase tone, I inadvertently call attention to my presence. Turning so fast he almost twists his ankle, Rhodes eyes grow wide.
“Koen,” he says softly.
“Oh. There he is,” Fishman says. I must be in some kind of alternate universe, because he acts as if he didn’t just blow up my entire life.
“Is that true?” I ask, my hand clenching around the leash as Princess attempts to launch herself at Rhodes.
“It sounds much worse than it is,” Skylar says, his blue eyes on me.
I have three alphas staring at me, and for the first time since my heat, I feel like prey.
“Has this all been a game to see how far you can push the omega before you break him?” I breathe, releasing Princess’ leash so Rhodes can pick her up. “We’re scent matches. Doesn’t any of this hurt you?”
“This was for you,” Rhodes grunts. “Koen, you ignored us and played hard to get. What else were we supposed to do?”
“Not be fucking psychopaths?” I ask, my voice getting louder. “Did you ever plan to tell me? Did you just gaslight my coach and teammates to convince me you’re good people?”
“We’re not good people,” Skylar says. “And no. We weren’t ever going to tell you so we could avoid a melt down.”
“I’m not a child, and I think I fucking deserve this so-called meltdown,” I growl.
“The growl is cute,” Fishman says. “Is he going to make this a whole thing?”
I think I’m losing my mind. I can feel my body flushing in anger. My tie is too tight, my shoes feel as if they’re pinching, and I don’t think I can do this.
“Can’t do what? Have a conversation about how your alphas are psychopaths?” Rhodes asks. Princess Sunny is on her back in his arms, showing off her belly and fast asleep. She has no idea her daddy is a goddamned monster.
I’m also beginning to allow my thoughts to escape into the ether, so it’s time to be done. I allow the anger, frustration, and heartbreak I’m feeling to flow through my bond with Rhodes, and he physically flinches.
“Wait, Koen.”
“I am no one’s fool,” I hiss.
The room has emptied out in the last few minutes. While I’m grateful for the lack of audience, I also wish I was able to go back in time when I didn’t have this information.
Yet, is ignorance really bliss? I’ll have to figure that out when tears aren’t threatening to spill over my lashes. I was falling for alphas who don’t deserve me.
“This is the only way we could?—”
“No!” I scream at Skylar. “I may be stuck with Rhodes as my bonded mate, but I reject you. I want nothing to do with you. Maybe I’ll call Rhodes up for a booty call in a couple of months when I have my heat, but I am fucking done. There will be no more fishing me out of fights you think I’m too small for or stalking me. You are fucking dead to me.”
The blood rages in my ears as I turn and begin to mindlessly walk away from them. I don’t care that there’s a freak snowstorm, or that I don’t have a way home. My mind can’t process that I’m once again left with nothing because I refuse to return to Skylar and Rhodes’ home.
I’ll be goddamned if I go back for anything they bought me.
My mind is spiraling with all the things I need to get and it’s full of pain, but I still hear Rhodes whisper, “Peanuts.”
