Chapter Fifteen
Karissa
Thank the Goddess for the alphas who had for some reason taken me under their wings.
They sat down at a table and ordered food, allowing me to lie to them about being fine without demanding I tell them more.
They all had the meat loaf, telling me it was the best they’d ever had—except for Vaughn’s—and staying to have dessert.
From the moment they arrived, I started to feel better, safer.
But also worse, conflicted. They were being so kind to me, opening their home even, and my wolf was convinced they were our mates, no matter how often I told her we would never be able to bond with them.
She was having none of that. A simple creature, she knew what she wanted and needed and didn’t care about bureaus or rules.
They were my mates. I knew that, too, but nothing could come of it, so why pretend?
I hadn’t even told them my backstory, and I needed to.
But I also didn’t want to. If it was not going anywhere, why bring it up?
Besides the fact that I was forbidden to mate, I’d gotten to that place in a way no alpha would accept.
Soiled goods. The only reason the other alphas after the first even attempted to mate and mark me was because they were ordered to and offered some sort of gain within the pack.
I’d never understood the persistence in trying to get me mated, beyond the alpha wanting to grow his numbers. Could that be all of it?
I stopped by their table to refill their drinks as often as I could without neglecting my other customers, but as it got busier and the early dinner crowd began to arrive, I became more occupied.
“We’d probably better give up the table,” Poe said when I filled his water for the eighth time. “It’s getting busy, but we’ll be back for you at the end of your shift.” He took my hand and held it for a moment. “You sure you’re all right?”
“Yes.” I tried to smile, but I suspected I wasn’t succeeding.
“I appreciate your giving me a ride, but you don’t need to come back.
You must have better things to do, and I can walk home.
” They’d given me a ride to work, but they really weren’t that far away.
If not for Marco’s visit, I wouldn’t even be praying they would insist.
“Don’t ever say that. You are more important than anything else. I just wish you could bring yourself to trust us enough to tell us what is wrong, but we’re patient. We can wait.” Holt gave me a nod.
Vaughn, who didn’t like crowds, I’d learned, and almost never came to town, put an arm around my shoulders and squeezed. “We can wait to take you home and for you to be all right to share what has you so scared. What you’re running from. We all have our demons, omega.”
“Thank you.” I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to tell them my story. I looked bad in it, soiled goods and a complete failure at my sole reason for being born. “I’ll see you in a little while, then.”
As the dinner shift went on, I saw them passing on the sidewalk and lounging on the blue bench across the street.
It wasn’t until I was untying my apron and tossing it in the dirty laundry bin off the kitchen that I realized that there was no reason for them to wait instead of just coming back for me.
Unless they thought I needed protecting without being told.
When Henry let me out the back door, they were there. “Have a good night, Katie. You’ll be safe with the sheriff and his pack.” He gave me a wink and a thumbs-up, making me glad it was dim in the alley so my flaming cheeks were not as obvious.
“Night, Henry.” I started to say it’s not what you think, but with how badly I wished it were, I let him think what he wanted to. At least one of us could believe me a real omega.
We rode home together to where Vaughn had dinner waiting.
He was a slow-cooker champ, and the roast and vegetables he served along with a batch of quick biscuits he threw together while the rest of us washed up were tender, the gravy flavorful and all of it delicious.
But none of us ate much, the tension thick and humming between them, and guilt dulling my appetite.
After Marco showed up, I had to admit my time here was short.
Even if he rode on ahead, he’d eventually have to return this way, and if he came into the diner again, he would very likely see me.
Or he could ask around about a new redheaded omega.
He might see the truck through Darryl’s open door.
He’d find me if I stayed here, and these alphas would be in his crosshairs.
Marco’s brutality was well-known, my refusal of him and fleeing guaranteed to keep him enraged.
I couldn’t put the alphas who had been so kind to me in danger.
They would try to save me and end up hurt or worse.
No, I’d wait until they were asleep and then quietly leave.
Go cross-country in my fur to make it harder for anyone to follow me.
Maybe I could work out how to carry at least one set of clothes in my mouth, in a grocery bag or something.
If I stayed a wolf and avoided towns for a few weeks, it could work.
Trying to eat, I kept my eyes fixed on my plate, afraid they’d guess what I intended. I’d leave the little bit of money I had saved up to repay them for their hospitality, and Darryl could do that lien thing and keep the truck.
No loss to anyone.
Why had I ever been born? Incapable of fulfilling my purpose as an omega, I’d disappointed everyone who I ever encountered.
As I wallowed in self-pity, Holt’s phone buzzed. Nothing new there. The sheriff was always in high demand, but after he read the screen, he looked up. Caught my downturned gaze and held it.
Oh no.
Before he spoke, confirming that he knew what a pathetic excuse for an omega I was, I was on my feet and running for the kitchen door.
I jerked it open and raced onto the porch, clothing shredding around me as my wolf took over and carried me away.
I’d have nothing to wear when and if I ever stopped fleeing, but that mattered less than facing the shocked expressions they’d all wear when they knew my secrets.
They’d be safe from Marco and anyone from my old pack too.
It was for the best.
Then, why was my heart shattering in pieces on the ground under my paws?