Chapter 30 #2
The engine growls to life, headlights cutting twin paths through the darkness, and the wipers sweep the windshield, clearing the rain in rhythmic arcs.
I should step forward and wave her down. Ask where she’s taking him.
But my feet remain rooted to the concrete, cold water seeping into my shoes. The truck reverses out of its spot, turns, and pulls away.
Only when the taillights disappear around the corner do my muscles unlock. Rain soaks through my jacket, my hair, running in rivulets down my face. The cold penetrates deeper now, but it’s nothing compared to the chill that’s taken hold inside me.
What was I expecting? For her to spot me and walk away from Auren? For some instinct to kick in and pull her toward me instead?
A nurse hurries past, scrubs rustling beneath her raincoat, keys jangling in her hand. She gives me a curious look, but doesn’t stop.
The security guard returns, slowing as he spots me still standing there, soaked through. “You waiting for someone?”
“No.” The word makes the ache in my heart worse. “They already left.”
He continues his rounds, leaving me alone. I should find shelter and call another riseshare.
But what would be waiting for me at Emily’s cottage? I don’t think I could bear to return and find Auren in my room, reclaiming his space.
So instead, I turn toward the street, away from the hospital, putting one foot in front of the other, each step carrying me in the direction of the waterfront.
Street lamps cast pools of yellow light on empty sidewalks, the wet concrete reflecting their glow. My shoes squeak with each step, and the night air fills my lungs with the tang of the ocean, growing stronger as I approach the harbor.
I have nowhere specific to go, so I keep moving, as if motion itself might outpace the image burned into my mind of Emily’s hand on Auren’s head, guiding him into her truck with such care.
Storefronts stand dark and shuttered, the streets deserted at this hour, with most of Pinecrest tucked away in warm beds. A cat darts across an alley, its shadow stretching and compressing beneath a flickering light.
My thoughts cycle in endless loops. How could I have been so stupid? The workshop, the kiss, the confession— All of it meaningless compared to the years Emily spent with Auren. Their bond, toxic as it might be, runs deeper than anything she and I have built in these few short weeks.
A neon sign buzzes above a bar, casting blue and red reflections in the puddles. Should I bunker down at the docks and wait for sunrise to call my cousin, Kyle? I can sleep on the couch until I figure out a new place to stay.
“Hey, aren’t you that Alpha from the video?”
The shout cuts through the drizzle, and I freeze mid-step, water dripping from my hair into my eyes.
“Holy shit, it is!” Another voice, deeper than the first. “Predator boy!”
I turn toward the shout. Three men step from a recessed doorway, emerging from shadows into the bleeding colors of the neon sign. The tallest holds a phone, its screen illuminating him from below in ghostly blue light.
“Didn’t think we’d see you here, huh?” The one with the phone tilts his head, camera lens catching the streetlight. “Thought you’d slink back to whatever hole you crawled out of.”
I back up, hands raised, palms out. “I don’t want trouble.”
The shortest of the three snorts, vapor clouding from his nostrils in the cold air. “Should’ve thought about that before you went after an Omega.”
“That’s not what happened.” My pulse hammers, and I glance over my shoulder, only to find a chain-link fence blocking off the end of the alley. “There’s a video showing the truth—”
“We saw the truth.” Phone-guy steps closer, his breath reeking of beer and cigarettes. “Got a hundred thousand views, didn’t it, boys?”
The trio spreads out, forming a loose half-circle to block off escape. The back of my neck prickles with animal awareness of a trap closing.
“I’m just passing through.” I keep my tone non-threatening. “Let’s all go home and sleep it off.”
A shove comes from my right, the shortest man’s palms connecting with my shoulder. The contact seems almost playful, testing. I stumble but remain standing, water splashing around my feet.
“You hear that? He wants us to sleep it off.” The middle one laughs, the sound echoing off brick walls. “Like we’re the problem here.”
The second shove catches me off guard, harder than the first, fingers digging into muscle. My back hits the wall of a building, rough brick scraping through my wet jacket.
“Stop.” My hands rise again in a universal plea. “This isn’t necessary.”
Phone-guy moves in closer, the device in his hand tilted toward my face. “How about making some new content by apologizing to every Omega in town?”
His friends laugh, the sound ricocheting down the empty street.
“Please.” I try to keep eye contact, to humanize myself. “Those rumors are all lies.”
“Sure they are.” The tallest one’s lip curls. “We know what you did.”
“I didn’t—”
The shortest one cracks his knuckles one by one. “Sounds like he needs to be taught what happens to Alphas who touch Omegas.”
The first punch comes from the side, a flash of movement in my peripheral vision that connects with my jaw before I can duck. Pain explodes through my head, bright and metallic. My head snaps back, connecting with the brick, and stars burst behind my eyelids.
Blood fills my mouth, penny-bright on my tongue. My vision clears in time to see the second swing coming. I block this one, forearm connecting with forearm, the impact jarring up to my shoulder.
My fist drives into someone’s stomach, the middle guy, I think, and he grunts, doubling over. But then the shortest grabs my collar, fabric twisting in his grip, and slams me back against the wall.
His sour breath hits my face. “Not so tough now, huh?”
I try to speak, to reason with them, but words die as another fist drives into my ribs, and air whooshes from my lungs in a painful gasp.
“Smile for the camera.” Phone-guy continues filming. “Let’s see you look innocent now.”
Rain mixes with sweat and blood, running in rivulets down my neck, soaking my collar. Another blow lands on my cheek, splitting skin, and my knees buckle.
“Can’t even stand up for yourself.” The shortest man laughs. “Some Alpha you are.”
I push back, connecting once with a solid hit to someone’s jaw. Knuckles meet bone, pain shooting up my wrist, and a moment of satisfaction cuts through the fog of hurt.
Then a boot catches me in the side, and I fold over, gasping. The wet pavement rushes up to meet me, grit biting into my palms and knees. Water soaks through my jeans, cold as ice against bruised skin.
“Not such a big man now.” The tallest one circles me. “This is what happens when you mess with people who can’t fight back.”
The irony burns almost as much as my split lip. I try to rise, one knee lifting from the puddle, only to be knocked down again by another kick.
“Stay down if you know what’s good for you.” Phone-guy zooms in, lens inches from my bleeding face. “This is going viral, just like last time.”
Through the static rush of water and my own heartbeat, I hear an engine approaching. Tires hiss on wet asphalt, and headlights flood the alley, cutting through the misty dark.
A horn blares, long and insistent. The men freeze, heads turning toward the sound.
“Shit. Someone’s coming.” The middle one backs away first. “Let’s go.”
“Got enough footage anyway.” Phone-guy lowers his device, grinning down at me. “This’ll finish what the first video started.”
They scatter with trailing curses, footsteps splashing through puddles as they disappear down an alley.
Coughing, I collapse forward as pain lances through my ribs. One hand pressed to my side, I lean against the brick wall, breathing through clenched teeth.
A car door opens, and footsteps come running toward me.
Through the rain and the blood in my mouth, I raise my head as the figure stops beside me, breath loud in the dark. “What… what are you doing here?”