My limbs become heavier. It gets harder to breathe.
What if what if what if
“Obviously not, if you found more,” I mutter, as Avery enters through the front door.
The irrational panic swirls in my mind again, and my brother is just another reminder of how messed up my head is.
He stands next to me, and Alvin chirps at him.
“Hey—” he starts, but I walk away, heading to the back.
I need to look for any more strings, just in case.
And as I scour the floors, my pulse racing, I realize I’m only proving my brother’s point.
Ivan, Fang, and Logan don’t know how bad it can get in my head.
If they did, maybe they wouldn’t want to move in with me anymore.
Maybe Logan’s packhouse is just wishful thinking.
My inner Omega, ashamed and saddened, cries invisible tears.
22
IVAN
Something’s off with Maeve.
That week in the cabin was the best of my life—scenting and helping her through her Heat.
Having her splayed out naked before me, trusting me to take care of her, solidified the truth inside my soul.
She’s my scent match, but beyond that, my soulmate.
I love her, dearly.
But something has been wrong, even if she won’t admit it.
It’s been a week since she fought with her brother—and I heard the gist of it from Piper, since Maeve doesn’t want to talk about it.
She brushes it off when I ask her about it, but something that Avery said resonated with her, and now we’re putting the move into Logan’s packhouse on hold.
It’s fine—we can move at whatever pace she wants, and if me, Logan, and Fang have to end up cramped and crashing on her couch for the time being, so be it.
Being away from her aches way more than a stiff back.
Fang notices something is off, and so does Logan.
But I’m the one that’s known her longest, so I do my best to approach the topic.
It’s been a week since she’s been back at work, and despite her smiles, her eyes aren’t as bright as they used to be.
Even her scent, blossoming sweet chamomile, has slightly faded.
“Thoughts on chapter fifteen?” I ask her quietly, stroking her hair. She lays her head on my chest, breathing softly.
We both have the day off. Logan and Fang won’t be around until later tonight, so it’s just her and me for now, lounging in her bed, cuddling in the nest of blankets.
