Chapter 14 Abel
ABEL
I gasp awake. Light streams in from an unfamiliar window. Where the fuck am I? My heart pounds with my head and I groan before flopping back onto the soft pillow beneath me.
I made a fool out of myself last night. I throw the covers off me and search for my shoes. Buckle and Perry didn’t strip me and I’m glad for it, but my belt is missing. My heart warms that they thought to remove it. But I have to get out of here.
My shoes are by the door and I shove them on my feet and find my keys, phone, and wallet on the nightstand. I have to go. My mouth feels like I’ve licked something wooly and I hate it.
The soft sound of snoring come from Buckle’s room. I hesitate before bolting. Last night was fun, but I screwed it up.
I’m tempted to shift, but I don’t want to leave my things here for Buckle to bring to me. He shouldn’t have to chase me down to deliver my belongings.
I can’t lock both locks when I leave, since one is a deadbolt, but I lock what I can.
The cold air bites my face and the wind whips. I should have woken Buckle up. Should have asked him to drive me home.
“Hey!”
I startle and turn to face Paxton Rising.
“Are you okay? Do you need help?” He looks up to Buckle’s trailer.
“I’m fine.” My teeth chatter. “Can you drive me home? I hate to ask, but I can’t go back in there.”
Pax tips his head. “Did Buckle do something?”
I shake my head. “I did.”
“Getting drunk is pretty much a rite of passage around him.” Pax grins.
“You saw?” I press my hands to my face to hide.
“I saw them struggle to get you out of the truck. Then the three of you stumbling in.”
“My head hurts and I’m so embarrassed.”
“I have a key if you want to go back inside?”
I shake my head.
“He’s not going to make you feel bad. Promise. He’s waited a long time to find his Fated. He’s so excited he has two. He’ll want to take care of you.”
I check the time on my phone. “I don’t have time to be taken care of. I’m already going to be late and I need to shower and change my clothes.” I fist my hand. “I’m so irresponsible.”
“Hey. Hey.” Pax tips my chin up. “Text Riley that you’ll be late and take your time. I’m sure he’ll understand. He trusts you.”
“I never do anything like this.”
“You’re allowed to live a little, kid.” He scrubs a hand through my hair and looks to Buckle’s house again.
“Not a kid.” But I don’t hate it.
“I know. And you have two mates that look concerned.” He tips his head toward them. “Text Riley. Take a breath and take your time.”
“Okay,” I mumble. Buckle and Perry join us. It’s the look on Buckle’s face that cracks me. “I’m sorry for leaving.” But my heart pounds so hard, I need to get to work. “I’m sorry.”
In seconds I’m in my hawk form and in the sky. I have to get home. Have to shower. Have to get dressed. Have to get to work.
“We’ll meet you at your place,” Buckle shouts.
Why? Why? Why?
I push myself hard and fast. The chill in the air tries to shatter my resolve, but I force myself to keep going. If I get home in record time, I can shower and dress and just make it to work. Riley won’t have to know.
Just as I see my building in the distance, Buckle’s truck comes into view. Now my hawk wants to race. Great.
We push and push and land on the steps to the apartment building just as Buckle parks. I have a key on the roof, but it’s easier to wait for Buckle. He has my keys, phone, clothes, and shoes in his arms. I hop on the stairs. I need inside and I refuse to shift naked in public.
“We need to talk,” Perry says next to Buckle.
I make a noise and as soon as the outer door to the building opens I shift, snag my possessions and force the door closed again so they can’t follow me to my apartment.
“Can’t talk,” I shout and rush to my door. This is going to cut things so close. But I can make it.
The moment I open the door, I know something’s wrong. A scent I haven’t smelled in years fills the air.
My legs tremble.
“Ah, there you are,” Anya says, coming into view.
Her long black hair is streaked with silver.
It’s pulled into a low ponytail. She’s in her self-imposed uniform of a navy blue pantsuit with a pearl necklace and pearl earrings.
The red lipstick makes her mouth look bigger than it is.
She’s a raven and the only one I trust from Hawk Ridge.
I sag and catch myself on the wall. Not them.
“Auntie.” I grin and launch myself at her, but she holds me at arm’s length. “Why are you here?” And why do you smell like my parents?
Her face goes stoney, and she crosses her arms. “You missed your check-in. We had an agreement, Abel. You text me every day at the same time. You’ve missed three check-ins. You can’t miss another one.”
“I—I won’t! I never meant to slip. I’m sorry.” I drop to my knees and cling to her hand.
“Get up.” She snatches her hand back. “You’re still the Kettle heir even if you’re a pathetic Beta.”
I flinch. She’s never talked to me like that.
“And why do you smell like that?” She wipes at her nose. “You reek of Alpha and Omega.” She eyes me. “Are you some married couple’s whore now?”
“No! I’ve never even been kissed.” I can’t tell her about Buckle and Perry. The Kettle can’t know I have Fated mates that aren’t hawks. They can’t know they’re prey animals. I have to protect them.
“You don’t have to kiss to fuck.”
I flinch again.
“Your parents are going to be pissed if you’re not a virgin when they marry you off.”
I scoff as my face goes hot. “They want nothing to do with me. Otherwise, why did they send me away?”
“You’re still the Kettle heir. Even though you’re a pathetic Beta.”
I bite my tongue to keep from flinching yet again. “You were kind to me once,” I whisper.
“Kindness runs out when your hopes do.”
I fight off tears. “It’s not our fault the Kettle looks down on Betas. We’re… we’re not useless.”
“You are useless. You can’t fuck a baby into anyone and you can’t carry a baby.
Useless. At least Betas with cunts between their legs can carry babies.
” She presses a palm to my cheek. “But Betas like you, are only good to act as servants for the rest of us. The fact that you’re Kettle heir sickens me.
” She pinches my cheek so hard I’m sure there’ll be a bruise.
“But it doesn’t really matter. Your parents are finding you a suitable match, then you’ll be out of our hair. ”
My stomach goes sour. I swallow over and over. I won’t be married off. “I’m already out of your hair. You don’t need to punish me.”
She sneers. “You’re lucky you have a hawk form. If you didn’t, you would have been pushed from the nest and killed a long time ago. You’re only alive because your parents have hope whoever they marry you off to pays well for the privilege.”
“Shut. Up. Please.”
Her eyes go wide and she pokes his chest. “You little shit.”
It takes everything in me not to flinch. “Leave. Please. I’ll be sure to make my check-in tomorrow.”
“Good.” And in a blink, she’s out of my apartment.
I collapse in a heap. As an enforcer, her magic is always overwhelming. I wish I’d never begged her for help when the Kettle kicked me out.