Page 22 of Rot In Knotty Pieces

We’re pack now.

Whatever happens…we’ll do it together.

Rolly

The sound of her screaming is one I can’t ignore. I slip into the forest, unnoticed, seeing everything and nothing. When I find them, Sage is holding her, and her fingers are white with how hard she is holding his jacket.

“You’re safe now,” Sage says over and over.

I just watch, the sound tears me apart, messing with my head until I feel like I’m going crazy. I walk away.

There’s no other choice. I pull out my phone and call a number I stole from Pix when he wasn’t looking.

“Hello,” the cautious female voice says.

“Sariah Spring?”

She’s quiet for two seconds and then humphs. “Rolly Aster. Twenty-seven years old. Heir to a great fortune, diagnosed with conflicting mental illnesses that are all swept under the rug and buried by that said fortune. No sign of violence or death attached to you, but you are an Aster, which means you are probably a killer just because.”

I smile grimly, wondering just how much I need to worry about this mysterious omega.”

“Pix is mine.”

She’s silent; I think I’ve surprised her. “Pix has an alpha.”

“Pix has five,” I correct.

“Huh. Well, that is interesting. You should tell him to drop in occasionally and say hello to his friends when he remembers he has them.” The bite of hurt in her voice surprises me.

“We think it’s interesting. Regardless, we need a drop.”

She barks a laugh. “And you think I’m going to be your carry bitch?”

I wait for her to stop. “Pix and…” I don’t say her name, “are going into heat together. Which means we’re moving deep and fast to a place that Bonnie knows. We don’t have nesting supplies.”

I can almost feel her annoyance.

“Didn’t prep this expedition very well, did you?”

I grind my teeth. “There is a certain someone watching our movements. We need to be off-grid long enough to-” I bite off my words, agitated and ready to kill this bitch. “Father is looking for her.”

Sariah’s silence gets sharp. “Who needs to move?”

“Everyone. Keep moving. Disappear, but bring me those supplies first.”

Sariah starts walking; I can hear it. “There’s a spot close by on the outer rim where I often leave things for Pix. He will know where it is. Drop in thirty-six hours.”

The phone cuts out, and when I dial it back, the number is disconnected.

I guess I’ll have to trust her.

“Rolly?”

I turn with a smile that just makes Pix frown harder. “Hello, my love.”

He swings at me, but I duck and come up behind him, my arm wrapped around his chest.

“I love it when you get violent with me,” I whisper in his ear.