Chapter 2
Chapter Two
As much as I wanted to get that batch of star ornaments made today, I knew I wouldn’t be able to focus.
At least checking on Sable’s antique shop early has given me plenty of time to clean up.
When she went into heat recently, Bee and I covered for her.
With her newly bonded, I told her I’d check on the place again today to give her some more alone time with her guys.
I’ve been here for several hours now, doing as much cleaning as physically possible. The glass shelving takes the longest to dust, but it’s a good mind-numbing distraction from my earlier thoughts. I’m about to restock her homemade candles when the metal bell over the door jingles.
I grin to myself as I hustle to the front to greet my new victim—I mean, potential customer. One of my favorite pastimes is upselling to the townspeople that wander in here while I’m covering. Sable tends to leave people be, but I could sell a red feather to a blue jay.
She thinks everyone in this town hates her, that they still think of her as a rebellious teen, but that's only true for a handful of the judgier bitches. Most of the town are too busy worrying about themselves. A lot of it is just her own self-doubt, but thankfully she seems like she’s doing better now.
“Hey there! Welcome to Gravewood Harvest and Hollow Antiques! Sable’s out sick, but I’m more than happy to—” I falter mid-step when I see who’s just walked in.
Mother. Fucking. Kai.
I glare at the beta before me, crossing my arms over my chest. Why, and I cannot emphasize this enough, the fuck is he here—in my best friend’s shop?
He knows damn well Sable runs this place now.
His mother’s best friend was Sable’s Grams for seventy years; there’s no damn way he doesn’t know it’s hers now.
Which means he came by looking for me, because Sable would chase him off if she were here.
He had to know I’d be here covering for Sable. He was at the Halloween party last night, where Sable’s alphas asked her and her omega partner to bond with them. He couldn’t have missed it.
This isn’t good. Last night, I had an easy out. Right now, I’m trapped. Alone. No exit route, and no innocent alpha bystanders to hide behind. I consider grabbing objects from the freshly-dusted shelves to start throwing at his head, but I don’t think Sable would appreciate that very much.
“Sweet Plum, what are you doing here? I was expecting Sable,” Kai says with a grin that only confirms every fucking word is a lie.
His mother is the only other person with keys to this place, and if Kai asked, I know damn well Bee would tell him I’m here. Not even because she’s trying to help him with whatever evil plan he’s cooking up, but just because it’s the truth. If Bee isn’t covering for Sable, it’s because I’m here.
She might not conspire with her son to help him win me back, but I doubt she’d try to hinder him either. She’s lucky that I love her so damn much.
“Get your lying ass out of this store before I hex you,” I hiss, hating how handsome he is.
He looks strong. Clearly, he’s been working out since he left five years ago; his biceps look like they’re trying to break free of his stupid long-sleeve white button-up shirt. I bet he wore a size too small just to get that effect. Showoff.
Suddenly, I’m very glad I wore this white, low-cut sundress.
It hits mid-thigh and makes my boobs look fucking fantastic.
It’s starting to get cold out, so I wanted to wear it one last time this year.
I know I look good in it, and it’s only fair he should have to suffer seeing what he can’t have—what he fucking walked away from.
His dark navy blue slacks are tight around his thighs, and I have to force myself to hold eye contact with him. If he realizes I still find him sexy as hell, I’ll never get a moment's peace again. When he crosses his arms over his wide chest, I refuse to glance down.
He’s a heartbreaker. A liar. Not an ungodly sexy beta.
“You know I love it when you’re mean. What’s that saying?
‘Don’t bully me, I’ll cum.’ That’s me.” He smirks, flashing those unfair dimples he knows were once my weakness.
“I like it when you threaten me, or did you forget?” Kai steps toward me, and I step back.
I need to keep distance between us, or I’ll catch a lungful of his unbelievable scent.
Balsam and cedarwood heaven, it’s like cuddling up by the fireplace in front of a Christmas tree.
“It’s been five years, Kai. Why would I remember anything about you or what you like?” I grumble, hoping my words sting as badly as the wound he’s trying to rip open inside me does. I turn away from him when he doesn’t even blink.
I can’t look at him for another second.
“Fair. I deserved that.” His voice is much closer than it should be, raising the hair at the back of my neck. The wood creaks under his feet as he takes another step closer, and with my next breath, his scent hits me.
It physically hurts, and I whimper pathetically as I press a hand to my chest, trying to fight back the pain. Fuck, he smells so good. Familiar in a way that brings back memories of acceptance and love. Things he ripped away from me the day he left.
“Please, leave,” I manage to whisper through the lump in my throat as I squeeze my eyes shut in an attempt to hold back tears.
“If we stay together, I’ll never leave, Plum. I’ll never go to school, and I’ll never make the kind of money that changes lives. You deserve to have everything you’ve ever wanted. A home, jewelry, cars. All of it.” Kai cries, tears falling down his cheeks, confusing me even more.
Is this hurting him too? If it is, then why is he leaving me?
“Why do you think you’re not enough to make me happy, Kai?
I’ve never needed those things before. This doesn’t make any sense,” I whisper, my heart shattering into broken shards at his feet.
I thought Kai was the kind of guy who would heal my broken pieces, not stomp them into the dirt.
“You’re breaking my heart,” I murmur, trying to keep my voice down in this stupid fucking restaurant.
Did he think dumping me here would stop me from causing a scene?
“I’m a beta, Plum! I’m already not good enough for you, but now I can’t even give you the one thing your body needs! I’m not enough for you. How could I ever be enough if I can’t even give you a good life?” Now he’s the one raising his voice. The one causing a scene.
I swallow thickly, as his scent floods my mind with crushing memories I've tried so fucking hard to run from.
“Please,” I beg again, but just like five years ago, he ignores my broken pleas.
He grips my arms to turn me toward him, and pulls me into his chest. It works, lowering my defenses long enough that I let him hold me as I breathe in his scent.
The very one that used to bring me endless comfort but now only reminds me of the second worst day of my life.
“I’m sorry, Plum. Fuck, I’m so sorry. Let me show you. Let me prove that I’m the man you deserve. I can be what you need—”
“No!” I cry. His words trigger a response neither of us expects as I shove myself out of his arms and stumble back. “No, Kai. You do not get to come back here after all this time, and…and just…” I wave my hands at him, gesturing wildly before swiping angrily at my tears.
“Buck up, buttercup.” That’s what Sable’s Grams would say. Fuck, I miss her. Thinking about her only ignites the fire in my chest into a full-on inferno.
“You just expect me to fucking fall for it! You left me, Kai. Now fucking deal with the consequences!” I’m shouting now, finally causing that fucking scene he was so scared of once upon a time.
“You have no fucking idea what I need after five years off in the big city you love so much. You don’t know anything about me, about who I am now, or what I want.
” I hiss, resenting the damn determination I see burning in his brown eyes despite my words.
“And like I said last night, I have a boyfriend now. You remember him, don’t you?
Benson? The alpha I left with.” My words are laced with venom as I spew them, desperate to get him to leave.
Something he’s historically good at doing when I’m having a total breakdown.
Maybe emphasizing the fact that Benson is an alpha is a low blow, but Kai being a beta was never something I cared about. He’s the one that had a fucking lobotomy the day he presented as a beta instead of an alpha, and then lost his ever-loving mind.
Sure, we were teens, and I could give him a little grace now that we’re adults.
Or… alternatively, fuck that and fuck him.
“Damn, Plumshine.” He sighs, looking slightly defeated and more than a little hurt by my words.
And, much to my annoyance, rather than feeling satisfied, I feel fucking guilty for trying to hurt him.
The omega curse of excess empathy strikes again.
“I thought maybe you were just lying to chase me off last night. I didn’t know you were serious. ”
“Well, I was. We are, I mean.” The skepticism in his eyes irks me, and I shrug. “We’re even planning to tell his family soon,” I impulsively add, crossing my arms over my chest as if I’m not lying through my fucking teeth right now and digging this grave even deeper.
For a long moment, I think he’s finally going to concede. There’s this look in his eyes, like he’s giving up, and I hold my breath. Instead, the fucker shakes it off, straightens his shoulders, and lifts his chin. His eyes meet mine again, and the grin he sends my way makes my knees weak.