Chapter 10
10
APRIL
“I hate them,” Skylar declares. “I absolutely hate them. They’re dead to me.”
I sigh. “I don’t hate them.”
“That’s fine. I hate them enough for both of us.”
It’s been more than a week since I came back to Isleton, and Skylar is ready to go to war for me.
So is her entire pack.
Devyn and Ben are, as well.
We sit around Skylar’s tiny living room as my friends brainstorm ways to ruin Donovan’s, Liam’s, and Hunter’s lives.
Everyone except Vincent, who is still at his detective agency.
Skylar cuddles between River and Landon on the couch, and Devyn sits in Ben’s lap on the floor.
I’m on the floor as well, my back against the front of the couch and on the opposite end of Devyn and Ben.
We should have done this at my house—Skylar’s place is already small enough without six people. The coffee table in front of us is full of cheese, crackers, olives, and all different snacks that Skylar and Devyn scavenged from their kitchens. I offered to contribute, but Skylar insisted that she and Devyn had it handled. But I hardly pick at my plate loaded with smoked salmon, goat cheese, and slices of sourdough baguettes.
Instead, I struggle to ignore the heavy pain in my heart.
It’s been a week of hell.
“We could blow up their cars,” River adds, trying to be helpful. “That’d be funny as fuck. I’m sure those assholes have insurance; but it would be fun to stress them out.”
“You can’t do that, River,” Ben warns. “No more doing stuff with cars.”
I almost forget that River poured coffee into Skylar’s ex’s truck and destroyed the engine.
“They deserve worse,” Skylar mutters, and I shake my head.
“No, they don’t,” I snap, and my best friend’s eyes widen. “It’s…complicated.”
“But you broke up, right?” Devyn asks tentatively. “Or are you just on a break?”
Ben absentmindedly kisses her hair, and I feel a twinge of jealousy.
Everyone around me is so happy, their scents sweet and mellow, and I’m alone.
I’m the one that can’t have a normal relationship and had to pretend to be in one until it blew up in my face.
And no one around me knows the truth.
I sigh and bury my face in my hands. “I… think we broke up,” I mutter. “But um…I’m still going to go with them to a few more events.”
“Wait.” I lift my head to see Landon, who looks at me curiously. “That doesn’t seem fair to you. Why would you do that?”
I shrug. “It’s easier for them if we still appear to be together in their social circle.”
Landon doesn’t seem convinced. “But is it easier for you ?” he asks softly.
“None of this has been easy,” I blurt before I can stop myself. River gives me a strange look while Skylar bites her lip. “I mean…I’d rather not make things more complicated.”
“Sorry.” Skylar waves her hands animatedly. “So, just so I’m clear, they broke up with you , but you want to make their life easier for them?”
“Babe,” River starts, but Skylar continues.
“Fuck that,” my best friend says. “Let me talk to them. Give me five minutes with that asshole Donovan.”
Devyn pouts. “You deserve better than that, April.” Her bright eyes sparkle with sincerity, and I close my eyes and groan.
I don’t want to deal with any of this.
I can’t explain why I still have to attend their events, and that the reason Devyn still has a job is because of a contract I signed.
It’s all so fucked.
“I know what I’m doing,” I murmur, playing with a cracker on a plate.
Skylar even splurged for the fancy olive rosemary crackers. I should pay her back.
In fact, I should buy her a whole fucking house, because the amount of money in my bank account is insane .
I tried to reverse the transfer Donovan did, but I can’t . I can’t even send it back to him.
It’s infuriating.
He says I’m not good for his pack, but he gives me more money than I could ever dream of having.
Why ?
Every app on my phone has credits on it. The rideshare app, my music subscription, and even my food delivery app has a ridiculous amount of money placed into the accounts.
Is it because he feels guilty?
I don’t want to think about it anymore. The words Donovan said to me burn in my chest and make me want to throw up.
Liam would fall in love with anyone that showed him attention. Hunter gets obsessed easily.
I’m not special.
I’m not good for them.
“I think we should stop talking about it now,” Landon says gently.
A jolt of longing pierces my chest.
Skylar’s pack is perfect for her. River is wild and unhinged, just like her, while Landon balances them both out with his logic and patience. Vincent is quiet, strong, and loves Skylar with a devotion I didn’t know was possible.
And I want that.
But Donovan has made it clear that Pack Axton will not be able to do that for me.
The front door unlocks, stopping my train of thought, and Vincent walks in. His gaze falls to me, and he frowns.
“Hey, April,” he says, his voice low. “Do you have a second?”
Everyone turns their heads to Vincent.
“What do you mean, killed ?” River demands.
Vincent shrugs. “I mean killed. Jumped by three guys with shanks made out of tape and sharpened plastic forks. They did a pretty good job, too. He bled out in less than a minute.”
I’m at Skylar’s kitchen island, perched on a stool, picking at an apricot-flavored macaron.
Dead.
He’s dead.
The man who held me captive is no longer on this earth.
“How do you feel, April?” Devyn asks sweetly, her bright eyes earnest. “Are you okay?”
I swallow a bite of macaron, looking at her incredulously.
“Am I okay?” I repeat quietly.
Am I okay?
Devyn doesn’t deserve my anger. It’s a question that comes from a genuine place of concern, and she’s only nineteen.
But am I okay is the stupidest fucking question I’ve heard in a minute.
“It’s a lot to process, Devyn,” Skylar interrupts helpfully. “I’m sure she doesn’t have the answer to that question.”
Everyone stands around the kitchen, their eyes on me, waiting for me to say something.
I’m being treated with kid gloves again, and I hate it.
So, instead of answering Devyn’s question, I fix my gaze on Vincent, who keeps his expression neutral instead of worried. Whether it’s because he knows I don’t prefer to be babied, or because he genuinely doesn’t care that much, I don’t know.
But I appreciate he didn’t keep the news from me.
“Do you have any idea why this might have happened?” I ask him.
There’s a small part of me that might have an idea as to why this occurred, but I’m probably wrong.
Vincent scowls. “The three inmates that jumped him suddenly had money put on their books. The most an account can hold at one time. Once they’re out of confinement, they’ll be eating good for a while.”
Nausea churns in my gut and Skylar shoots me a look.
“So, it was a hit?” River asks.
Vincent shrugs. “The prison doesn’t care and neither do I. My guy gave me a heads up as a courtesy, since it relates to you.” He nods at Skylar, then turns back to me. “Do you want us to look into it?”
I swallow.
“We got all we could out of that asshole, anyway,” River mutters. “Good riddance to that piece of shit. He ratted on everyone; I’m not surprised his ass got jumped.”
“It could have been anyone,” Vincent adds, giving me a knowing look. “He had a lot of enemies. If you want us to look into it, we can. If not…I would sleep a bit better knowing that fucker is in the ground.”
I start to spiral.
There’s no way that Pack Axton could be involved, right?
They wouldn’t be complicit in murder, right?
Vincent has a point, though.
I will sleep better knowing he’s in the ground.
So, I shake my head. “No need to look into it. Thank you for telling me.”
Skylar lets out a sigh of relief, but Devyn frowns as she looks at me, worried.
But instead of screaming at all my friends, I keep my frustration inside.
They do it because they care about me, but the looks of pity still hurt.
I almost head back to Skylar’s house when I see the car that’s parked on the curb next to my home.
I’m furious, but most of all, I’m hurt.
Donovan said Hunter could become obsessed with anyone.
I’m not special, and I’m not good for him.
I park in the driveway and head to the front door as quickly as I can.
“April. Wait.”
Hunter’s voice stops me, and I freeze in place.
I should get into the house and lock the door behind me.
But I haven’t scented him in more than a week, and his essence is impossible to ignore.
“Go away,” I grit out, staring angrily at my front door, refusing to turn to look at him. “I have nothing to say to you.”
“You haven’t responded to my texts, sweetheart.” His voice is barely above a whisper and only inches from my ear. “And I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
Okay.
There’s that damn word again.
I drop my purse on the ground and turn around to face Hunter, my heart breaking when I see his handsome face. There are dark circles under his eyes, like he hasn’t slept in days, but he’s just as breathtaking as ever. The black sweater is almost a size too small, showing off the definition of his muscles.
He’s perfection, but he’s also infuriating.
“Am I okay?” I snarl at him, ignoring the flash of hurt and flicker of surprise in his eyes. His scent spikes with rich cinnamon as I continue to unleash my frustration. “No, I’m not okay. Did you ever stop to think that maybe I didn’t respond to you for a reason?”
“Yes, baby, I thought it was because your phone was broken.” He fishes something out of his jeans pocket and hands it to me. “Bought a new one just for you. Only my number is programmed in it, and only I know the phone number to it.”
I stare at the phone in my hand, my mouth open.
He could become obsessed with anybody. You’re not special.
Hunter has the audacity to grin at my shock. “You know you can’t escape me forever, right? Oh, I also put some games in there, so we can play together. That cat game we played has a digital version.”
My mouth falls open in surprise.
What. The. Fuck.
I try to hand the phone back to him. “We’re not dating.” I want to take the stupid two thousand dollar phone and smash it into the ground, because Hunter is absolutely insane.
His grin slightly fades. “Yes, we are. I believe this is what’s called a lover’s spat .”
I shake my head. “You could become obsessed with anyone,” I mumble, and his smile falls completely.
“What the fuck, baby?” He takes a step closer, and I move back until I’m pressed against the door. “What are you talking about?”
Donovan’s cold, cruel eyes flash in my mind as I look into Hunter’s entertained ones. “You have an obsessive personality. It would be easy for you to find…someone else. Someone good for you.”
He stops and cocks his head. “You truly are crazy,” he breathes. “ Good for me,” he repeats. He shakes his head, and a small smile returns to his face. “Baby, there is no one else.”
His chest is almost touching mine, and there’s not much room for me to move back.
“Please, just take the phone and go,” I whisper. “I’ve had a hard day; I can’t do this right now.”
“Yeah, baby? Well, I’ve had a hard week ever since my girlfriend left without saying goodbye.”
“Stop it!” I shout, shoving at his chest. He doesn’t budge. “Go away, Hunter! Please! We’re not dating! We never were!”
I can’t even look at him. If I do, I’ll collapse into his arms. I squint my eyes shut, still shoving at him, until he finally steps away.
“I don’t care what Donovan tells you,” he rasps, and I open my eyes as a tear slips free. “He’s wrong, April. He’s stupid, and he’s?—”
“But he’s your pack leader, Hunter,” I whisper. “And he made his intentions clear about what he wants for the three of you.”
“But he doesn’t have to be,” Hunter snarls. “Fuck him, and fuck Liam. I just want you. ”
I let out a sob, a sound of frustration and heartbreak. I didn’t want to cry in front of him. I wanted to wait until he left to weep peacefully in my room.
“You are not breaking up your pack because of me,” I choke out as Hunter shakes his head. “I can’t let you do that. Not because of me. ”
“Baby—”
“Donovan is your best friend, along with Liam. You are Pack Axton, and me, a fucking nobody , will not break you up.”
Hunter’s eyes narrow. “Don’t say that shit about yourself. You are not ?—”
“If you respect me at all, you will leave ,” I choke out, my voice rough. “If you care about me at all, you will go back to the packhouse. I swear, Hunter, take one more step toward me, and I won’t forgive you.”
So dramatic, my inner voice chastises me.
But my heart is about to shatter and I’m a moment from collapsing on the ground.
And if Hunter comes any closer, I know I’ll throw myself into his arms.
Hunter stands there, hands in his pockets, watching me with pained eyes. “Fuck, I just…I miss you, April.”
I close my eyes and exhale slowly, Donovan’s words in my head.
I’m not special.
He’ll find someone else to be obsessed with.
I’m not special to Donovan, so why would I think his packmates would find me suitable?
“Go, Hunter.”
He holds my gaze and his scent sours slightly, the spice becoming muted. His eyes grow pained, but he nods and heads to his car.
I burst through the door the moment I hear the engine start, head into the living room, and collapse on the couch.
It’s eleven at night. He has a four-hour drive ahead of him.
I should at least have offered to let him sleep on the couch.
I put my head in my hands and start to cry.
I’m going to have to say goodbye to all three of them soon.
The wedding is only weeks away, and after that, the contract is over.
I keep my sobs quiet, only the occasional sniffle giving anything away.
“April?”
My mom enters the room, and I wipe at my eyes.
“Sorry,” I sniffle. “Did I wake you up?”
My mom, clad in a long sleep shirt and cotton pants, joins me. “No. I’ve been upstairs reading. What’s going on?”
Oh, nothing, just realized everything I want in life I can’t have.
I feel the phone Hunter gave me buzz in my pocket, but I ignore it.
I wipe at my tears, wondering how much I can share with my mother.
“Um,” I sniff, desperately trying to figure out what to tell her while still sounding truthful. “Vincent told me that he’s dead.”
That’s partly why I’m crying, at least.
“Who’s dead?” My mother’s voice is deathly serious.
“ Him , Mom.” I wipe another tear away. “Vincent told me tonight. He was jumped in prison, and it’s a lot to take in.”
“Do they know who?—”
“No, they don’t,” I interrupt her. “But he had a lot of enemies, so they’re not surprised.”
She nods slowly. “That’s…heavy,” she says eventually, sighing. “That’s a lot to process, honey.”
My mind swirls around what Vincent said. The guys that jumped my captor were bribed.
I wonder who bribed them.
“I heard you shouting outside,” she adds. “Hunter was just here.”
I freeze.
“That’s not the only reason you were crying, was it?” she asks gently.
I swallow. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
How much did she hear?
“You don’t have to say anything,” she continues. “But I’m going to say something, and you can listen.”
I turn to her, dreading her next words. But her eyes are soft and knowing, and she reaches out to wipe a tear from my cheek.
“That anonymous donation we received weeks ago was from Donovan.”
I blink, careful to keep my face neutral. “What makes you say that?”
She raises an eyebrow, as if challenging me to deny it. “Context clues. You’ve been photographed at their charity events, by the way. It’s clear they’re showing the world you’re their girlfriend.”
I swallow.
“I think,” my mom continues, “that they were so busy with their lives that they didn’t have time for a partner, but their social circle expected it. And they found you, a brilliant woman that could be their Omega, at least for show.”
I shake my head. “That’s not?—”
“I said you don’t have to say anything,” she says harshly. “And that includes lying to me.”
I close my mouth.
“And now I think feelings are involved, all around,” she adds, a bit softer. “I think you bit off more than you can chew, and you’re starting to see what it’s like when it’s not just for show and turning into something real.”
I stare at my hands in my lap.
Of course, she figured it all out.
“How long have you thought this was going on?” I murmur. “Not that I’m saying you’re correct.”
“For a good while,” she says. “But I also wasn’t kidding when I said Liam and Hunter are in love with you.”
I scoff. “ Don’t .”
“I know what I see, April. I know what it’s like when someone looks at my daughter with love in their eyes.”
“And what about Donovan?” I ask quietly, picking at my fingernails. “What do you see when you look at him?”
“An infuriating young man,” she mutters, and I bark out a harsh laugh.
“That’s one way to put it.” I blink away tears that form in my eyes.
The phone Hunter gave me buzzes in my pocket again, but I ignore it.
Regardless of my mom’s words, it doesn’t change what Donovan said.
Hunter could be become obsessed with anyone. Liam could fall for anyone.
I am not special.
“I assume you have another event with them?” my mother asks, frowning at whatever she sees on my face.
I nod. “Soon. A charity ball.”
I know I can’t show up with heartbreak all over my face.
I signed a contract with them—to be the perfect, doting Omega, and I can play that part with a broken heart.
I can be maliciously compliant, as Skylar would call it.
I’ll be the best damn girlfriend they could want—all fake smiles and meaningless words.
And afterwards, I’ll be able to let the three of them go.
Maybe I’ll find my own pack one day, a real one that wants to be with me?—
“April.”
My mom interrupts my train of thought.
“I’m always here for you. Don’t forget it.”
Guilt bubbles in my chest. “I know.”
“Sometimes I think you forget, honey.”
Another urge to cry hits me, and I say goodnight to my mother quickly. She graciously doesn’t try to continue the conversation.
Once in my bedroom, I change into a sleep shirt and cotton shorts and crawl under the covers, curling up into a tight ball.
Hunter’s scent still lingers on me, and my mating gland throbs with sensitivity.
“Fuck, I just miss you, April.”
His words echo in my head.
Foolishly, I reach for the phone he gave me, which I left on the nightstand.
I read the two texts he sent earlier.
I’m not giving up, sweetheart.
Ever.