Page 101 of Rot In Knotty Pieces

There’s something off about it.

No one would have bought these chocolates. I reach for the box, pulling it out and studying it carefully. I wander outside and stand in the garden.

“Afternoon!”

“Hi!” I say with my most winsome smile. I shuffle closer and heave a sigh. “This really is the most beautiful place, you are so lucky to live here. We’ll be sad to go when my holidays are up in three weeks.”

The man in his forties who was suspiciously watching me relaxes. “Just here visiting?”

“We hired the house. Just needed to escape the city. I mean, you get this job, and then the next thing, you’re working from dark until dark, and you are barely spending any time at home with the pack. We just needed to reset.”

“Well, there is no better place to do it than Marion Hollow.”

“It truly is a pristine piece of the world.”

“Exactly, so don’t go telling all your corporate friends.”

I laugh. “Cross my heart. I’ll be keeping this place a secret, and hopefully, we can come back. And if the omegas enjoy it so much, maybe come back for good.”

His eyes widen. “Have we made that much of an impact?”

“Honestly, I haven’t felt this much like myself in years. Here, do you want a chocolate? My omega bought them for me yesterday, said I needed some sweetness.”

“Don’t mind if I do.”

He reaches out and takes one. I pull one out myself and open it, and pretend to eat it. He chomps away, and we talk for another ten minutes before he gets white and starts to sway. I put the chocolates down and catch him when he collapses, dragging him into his house and putting him to bed.

For thirty minutes, I watch until I’m sure it’s just a sedative. Then I walk home and go straight into the kitchen. I sweep all the food into the bin, except the muffins I made and the drinks that they brought home with them.

There are seven more suspect containers, including a toothpaste brand we don’t buy. I collect all the items and set them on the bench.

I am meticulous and thorough and furious.

“Get everything packed and find us a new car,” I say with clipped words. “We’re leaving.”

Sage studies the food and gathers Merle up. He takes her to the bathroom, and when they emerge, she’s dressed in jeans and a T-shirt with a thick jacket and a hood.

She doesn’t look like herself; she looks dangerous.

But it’s still Merle, and her fear-filled gaze screams at me to protect her. I’m going to do exactly that. One way or another. I hand her a muffin and gently take her chin in my fingers, staring into her eyes.

“We’re going to keep you safe.”

She shakes her head, looking away, but I grip her chin hard and growl. Her eyes land back on me, startled.

“I promise. We’re going to keep you safe.”

“We’re ready,” Rolly says.

Roseland, Pix, King, and Rolly stand there waiting near the front door.

It’s time to leave this paradise.

Jay

“Are we running?” I ask conversationally.

Sage looks at me and grins. “We are.”