Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
SASHA
No, no, no, no.
This can’t be happening.
I can’t breathe. My lungs feel like they’re on fire and my skin itches like I rolled in a tank of mosquitos. I can’t stay here, not with him. The high I was riding from watching Stone kill that sack of shit has evaporated into thin air. Like it never even existed.
Bolting from the house, I step out onto the porch and collapse down on the steps. The wood presses against my palms, the pressure grounding me for a moment while a tornado of emotions swirls in my chest.
This is why I never wanted to be serious with Levi. Why I didn’t want to bond with anyone who wasn’t my Kismet. But that handsome, bad boy fucker inside wore me down. His tongue of a god and smooth words had me convinced he’d love me no matter what. That even if he found his Kismet, it would always be me and him. He bonded me without consent, but I’m so far gone for the bastard it had no chance of being Arcane.
My omega.
I won’t forget how those two little words sounded on his lips. Breathless and full of desire. He very nearly replaced the shit scent of sewage with leather the way his goddamn scent spiked with arousal. Then to know he has a pack mate now too? Stone… The off-the-force cop who just happened to be looking for the same cannibal as me. It’d be ironic if it wasn’t so fucking hurtful.
The regret Levi must feel already. Knowing he jumped the gun and bonded a beta when he had a Kismet omega out there. Neither one of the assholes even noticed I left the house. Too busy staring at their new precious toy, like lovesick fools. Levi didn’t even hear me question that he had an omega. My hurt words fell on deaf ears, which only makes my heart break more, making the anger in me boil over.
Rage courses through me. If only we could have found that picture earlier, then this fury that I’m feeling would have an outlet. Jimmy could have been my punching bag… or more like my gutted fish. Either way, I find myself wanting to go out and search for a new target. This town is full of corruption and naughty alphas, so I’m sure I could find someone easy enough.
With shaky legs, I stand tall, ready to face whatever comes my way. I won’t let this break me. I am stronger than this. Stronger than him and his stupid Kismet omega. I walk down the steps, the night air cool against my flushed cheeks. It feels as if I’m walking through a hazy dream. Or a nightmare.
I pause at the edge of the property, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I can’t just leave.
Stupid, stupid Sasha. Such a rookie killer.
I have to destroy all the evidence that could link me to this place. The bodies and the house have to go. It’s the only way to make sure I don’t get caught.
My hands shake as I pull out the burner phone I bought before arriving. I take a deep breath before dialing Nadia’s number, my heart pounding in my chest. She’s the only one who can help me now. The phone rings twice before she picks up.
“Hello?”
“Nadia.”
“Sasha? What’s wrong?”
“I need your help,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “I screwed up. I need to destroy all the evidence.”
There’s a pause on the other end. “Where are you?”
“I’m at Jimmy’s place. I just... I need to get rid of everything. The bodies, the house... all of it.”
“Calm down, Sasha. Where’s Levi? Is he there?”
I nod, even though she can’t see me. “Yeah. He’s not able to help.”
“Why? Is he hurt? Should I send Dexter?”
“No,” I snap. “He’s too busy ogling the picture of his Kismet omega we found in the house.”
She blows out a breath, realization dawning. “Sasha. You’re still his. Being Kismet to someone doesn’t make you less. Levi loves you. Everyone can see that.”
“Well, sure doesn’t feel like it. Him and his new packmate, Stone, didn’t even realize I left the house.”
“Who’s Stone?”
“I’ll tell you later. What do I do, Nadia?”
"You go in there, like the bad bitch I know you are, and you deal with the situation. You tell Levi how you feel so that he can tell you that you’re acting crazy. Then together you deal with the bodies and evidence, which we will talk about later.”
“Okay.”
“Sasha,” she calls. “You’re one of the strongest and best people I know. Don’t count Levi or yourself out yet. You both deserve more than that.”
Taking a deep breath, I hang up and try to steady my racing heart. I can’t believe this is happening. As my mind races, I walk back toward the house. I need to think, to plan.
What if Levi doesn’t understand? What if he doesn’t care? The thought gnaws at me, but I push it aside. I can’t afford to doubt myself right now. I have to be strong, decisive. Nadia’s words echo in my mind, bolstering my resolve.
I return to the porch and sit back down, crying. I’ll let it all out and then go in there and handle my shit.
* * *
LEVI
I look up from the photo; the wave of heartbreak coming from the bond is so strong it almost knocks me off my feet..
Sasha is gone.
My heart races, panic setting in. How could I have been so stupid? How could I let her slip away without even realizing it? Every fiber of my being screams at me for my foolishness. She means everything to me.
“Stone, where’s Sasha?” I ask.
A knot tightens in my stomach, a mixture of fear and regret.
He looks around, his eyes darting from one corner to another, while absentmindedly tugging at his left ear. “I don’t know. She was just here.”
My mind races, replaying the last few minutes in a blur. The words I said in front of her. How could I have been so blind? With my ears filled with the echoing sound of my own pulse, I bolt from the house.
Stepping onto the porch, I freeze in my tracks at the sight of her. Her head in her hands, she sits on the steps, her shoulders heaving with silent tears. The sight of her like this makes my heart ache. How could I have let her hurt like this?
“Sasha,” I call, my voice soft but desperate.
Can she feel my desperation? Does she understand how much I need her?
She looks up, her eyes filled with pain and tear marks tracking down her beautiful face.
“Levi,” she whispers.
Seeing her like this shatters me.
“I’m sorry. This changes nothing. I want you, Sasha. Always.” I reach out, longing to touch her, to reassure her that she is my everything.
“Are you sure?” she asks, her voice trembling. “Because you have a Kismet omega, that Stone guy inside is also bonded to him. How is this going to work? I don’t want to be a sideline in your relationship.”
Her words cut through me like a knife.
She thinks she’s just a sideline.
How could Sasha ever think that? Doesn’t she see how much she means to me?
“You’re not a sideline,” I insist. “You’re everything to me. The omega doesn’t change that. I love you, Sasha. Can’t you feel it? We’ll figure this out together.”
I search her eyes, hoping she can see the truth, the depth of my feelings for her. I pour every ounce of love down the bond, desperate to reassure her.
She shakes her head, tears streaming down her cheeks, glistening in the dim porch light.
“I don’t know if I can do this, Levi. It would hurt too much to see you with another woman. I’d be jealous. I know I would.”
A female? Did she not see the picture? Not hear Stone ask if he was his omega too?
“Baby. I promise you, it’s not like that. We’re stronger together and I could never be with another female. It’s probably why even fate knew my Kismet would have to be male.” I smirk, watching the realization sink in.
I reach out and squeeze her hand, hoping she can feel the honesty in my touch. Relief fills me as I feel her lighten in the bond. I think back to our first meeting, how her smile lit up the room, how her laughter was like music to my ears. Every moment since then has only made me love her more.
She locks her eyes with mine, as if trying to uncover the truth behind my words. I can feel her tentatively search the bond reaching to find my honesty. Slowly, she nods, her grip on my hands tightening.
“Okay,” she whispers. “But if we’re doing this, we do it right. No secrets.”
“Agreed,” I say, relief flooding through me, washing away the panic. “No secrets.”
I wrap my arms around her, feeling her heart beat against mine, our connection pulsing, promising a future we’ll tackle side by side.
“Sasha, I remember the first time we met,” I murmur. “You were wearing that blue dress, and you smiled at me like I was the only person in the room. I knew then that I was in trouble.”
She giggles, a little smile peeking out from her tears. “I remember that. You couldn’t stop staring.”
“Because you were the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen,” I confess. “And you still are. Every day with you is a gift. I can’t lose that. I can’t lose you.”
She rests her head against my chest, her tears soaking into my shirt. “I’m scared, Levi.”
“I know,” I whisper, kissing the top of her head. “But we’ll face those fears together. I promise. You’re not just a part of my life, Sasha. You are my life.”