Chapter 19 Kady
NINETEEN
Kady
“Are you sure you don’t want company?” Delilah looks up from the book she’s reading at the breakfast bar while monitoring her bread baking in the oven. “I can come with you.”
“I’ll be fine.” I throw back my shoulders, psyching myself up. “I have to go out eventually. I can’t fall behind in my classes.”
“Remember, I’m just a phone call away if you need me.”
I bid her goodbye then head out. A plume of white bursts from my lips, telling me winter is closing on SVU.
I tighten the lumpy, green scarf wrapped around my neck.
Delilah knitted it for me last Christmas.
It’s not my usual chic style, but her face lights up every time she sees me wearing it, and it does a good job of keeping out the cold breeze whistling down from the mountains.
I inhale the crisp morning air. It’s the first time I’ve set foot outside in days.
Margie waves as she trudges past, garbage bag in hand. “It’s good to see you again, Kady.”
“Thanks.” I hug my body, rubbing up and down my arms to stay warm. “I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”
“Don’t mention it.” She waves her arm. “Between us, I was glad when I read The Valley Voice article this morning and saw that your courtship with the Blandon Pack has ended. They’re not good enough for you.”
I force a smile as I wave goodbye, signing onto The Valley Voice’s website the moment she’s out of eyesight. Yesterday, Lindsay gave me advance warning that news of my breakup was being published. Skimming The Valley Voice article, it looks like they’ve basically regurgitated the same story.
Kady Sinclair and the Blandon Pack - Courtship is DEAD!
Speculations are running as to why, though this courtship was never going to last…
There are already over a hundred comments on it. The general consensus is that the Blandon Pack are jerks, and I’m an entitled rich girl who’ll do anything for publicity. I groan, stuffing my phone into my bag.
Calmness washes over me as I step into the quiet library.
How I’ve missed it here. The comforting silence.
The smell of bound books. The muted turning of pages.
I make my way to my favorite section—a snug spot on the third floor, nestled between shelves in front of a window looking out over the treetops.
Few people come up here for the mathematical theory books.
After assembling a pile of books by my side, I lose myself in the world of international criminal law. I’m happily consumed by what I’m reading when an icy voice comes from behind me, sending chills down my spine. “So you finally decided to leave Omega Village.”
I spin to find Tyler leering at me, leaning against the shelves. I didn’t even have to turn; I’d recognize his nose-stinging sterile scent anywhere.
“You’ve been ignoring my calls.”
“There’s nothing left to say.” I keep my gaze fixed on my work. “Our arrangement is off.”
“But you didn’t fulfill your end of the deal.”
I huff, reluctantly tearing my eyes away from my book. “What are you talking about?”
“You said we’d have our pick of an omega.” He sounds like a pathetic child. “But everyone thinks we did something wrong, causing you to dump us. We’re a campus laughingstock.”
“If omegas don’t find you desirable, that’s not my problem.” I check my nails, making a mental note to book myself a manicure. “But I did get you some attention. That has to count for something.”
“We’re the pack that Kady Sinclair cast aside. You need to make a statement.” He’s blathering under his breath so fast that I can’t catch every word. “Say it was your fault! Tell them how well we treated you.”
“How well you treated me?” I scoff. “You made me look like a simpering high schooler in the press. Besides, you got a front page cover and national attention. We’re more than even. Let’s just draw a line under this and move on, okay?”
“I could tell the papers how you’re an awful omega, tell them why no pack wants you.” His sallow cheeks redden. “If you don’t do as I say and help change people’s minds about us, then—”
“Is that a threat?” I arch an eyebrow. “My father’s press team made sure you signed an NDA. You cannot say one word against me unless you want to feel the full weight of the Sinclair legal team. Don’t be stupid, Tyler.”
“You…” He scowls, arms shaking in anger as he shoots me a look of pure hatred.
I thought that Kyro and Shea were the ones to watch out for, but seeing this side of Tyler has me thinking differently. While the Cockburn twins are the pack muscle, he’s the driving force, the puppet master pulling the strings.
“I think you should probably go.” The low growl from behind the bookshelf causes Tyler to jump back in surprise.
He staggers, quickly composing himself as Riven rounds the corner, casting Tyler in a dark shadow.
“Who are you?” Tyler lifts his chin and squares his shoulders, trying to act tough, but the sweat patches soaking through his shirt give him away. “I can talk to my omega however I—”
“I am not your omega.” I don’t let him finish. “I never have been.”
“You should listen to her.” Riven leans back against the wall, crossing his ankles.
“Are you one of them?” Tyler looks Riven up and down. “The pack she was fucking while dating us?”
A warm flush trickles up my neck as Riven stands there in all his gorgeous Viking-like glory, tilting his head to the side, watching Tyler with apparent curiosity, like he’s studying a germ on a Petri dish.
“We have friends in Forestville,” Tyler continues. “Your father might have swept your ‘kidnapping’ away, but I know that you were with other alphas. Was he one of them?”
Riven folds his arms across his muscular chest. “I don’t think where Kady goes is any of your business, is it?”
“So you are one of them!” Tyler declares with a flourish, like a crackpot detective declaring he knows the identity of a murderer. He glares at Riven. “You ruined everything. You and your pack are going to pay.”
“Are you done yet?” I roll my eyes. “I have to study.”
Tyler’s nostrils flare. His face is now so red that it looks like the little hair he has on his head may blow off at any second, like a rocket about to launch.
I get that he’s angry about how things worked out, but I’ve done more than enough for him and his pack.
Tyler throws me a look of pure venom before turning on his heel. As he passes, he tries barging into Riven’s shoulder. Riven doesn’t budge, so Tyler awkwardly bounces off him
“This isn’t over,” Tyler hisses.
Riven doesn’t seem to hear him, his gaze fixed on me as his forehead wrinkles. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I nod curtly, grateful to be able to breathe fresh air again. “You didn’t need to step in.”
Riven rakes a hand through his wavy, blonde hair. Half of it is scooped up into a man bun that looks scruffy in a “come-to-bed” way. “Um, I was…”
“Are you stalking me too?” I throw up my arms. “I already have assholes like Tyler to worry about.”
Chewing on the inside of his cheek sheepishly, Riven picks up a book from the nearest shelf. “Actually, I came for this book.”
“Axiomatic theory?” I squint at the cover. “No one reads that.”
He looks bashfully down at his feet and murmurs, “I do.”
My gaze softens. “Sorry.” I let out a puff of air. “I didn’t mean to be rude. It’s just been a long week, you know?”
“How have you…?” He looks unsure of what to say next, like he’s carefully rehearsing the words in his head. “Been?”
“Much better than you, I suspect.” I laugh wryly. “I wasn’t the one who ended up in jail.”
“It wasn’t so bad.” He shrugs as his lips quirk up, making my stomach flip. That smile makes me want to crawl up into his lap and forget all about the reading I’m doing. “They fed us. We had cake.”
“Who knew the criminals of Forestville ate so well?” Am I blushing? No. Kady Sinclair does not blush. “I am sorry, though. About the whole situation. I really didn’t mean to bring trouble to your door. I owe you all an apology.”
“Maybe we could talk over dinner? All of us are meeting at Marco’s in Forestville at 8pm. You should join us.”
“I was thinking more of sending a card or a muffin basket.”
Riven’s face falls, the same look of disappointment you’d see on a wounded puppy, making me instantly backpedal. “Oh.”
“I’ll think about it, okay?”
“Great!” His blue eyes light up. “It’s a date. Well, not a date-date.” He scrunches his nose. “You know what I mean, right?”
“Got it.” I nod. “A not date-date.”
“With pizza. Really good pizza.” He holds up his book, using it to motion toward the elevator. “I better get to class, unless…”
My heart pounds, images of being bent over my desk flashing through my mind. My throat goes dry. “Yes?”
“After what happened with that alpha, I can stay with you, if you don’t want to be alone?”
While his thoughtfulness is sweet, his presence is only going to distract me from hitting the books.
“Don’t skip your class. I can handle alphas like Tyler.” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “He’s all bark and no bite. I can take care of myself, but thank you.”
“Okay.” Riven shifts from one foot to the other. “I guess I’ll go, then.”
I return to my book, still aware of his gigantic presence behind me.
“Kady?” I pretend to be so engrossed in my book that I can’t hear him. “Just because you can take care of yourself doesn’t mean you always have to.”
When I turn back, he’s already gone, leaving me feeling strangely empty in one of the places I used to feel happiest. And with a sudden craving for pizza.
The wind nips my cheeks as I leave the warmth of the library.
I walk fast due to the chilly weather, though knowing the house will be empty, I’m in no rush to get home.
Delilah’s out with her book club, and Sabs is training hard for her next volleyball match, meaning Larry will be my only company tonight.
My fur baby has been extra cranky lately.
I don’t know what’s got into him. This morning, he refused to eat his favorite cat food and completely shunned his belly tickles.