Chapter 10
Ten
Ethan
“ N o, Kendra,” Dad says, pacing. “Why can’t we get her out? It’s been three days!”
I swear, I’m living in Hell. My father is even more of a miserable bastard than usual, and he doesn’t have a release valve. He’s snapping at everyone, growling, and the only reason his lawyer hasn’t cut him loose is because she’s used to his attitude and he’s paying her really well.
“They’re saying she committed herself,” Kendra says over the speakerphone. “They won’t allow me access to the records, but I’m pushing for a judge to help us. Meanwhile, I have been digging into this place, and forced myself to go to brunch with some of my mother’s friends.”
Dad stops mid-stride in our living room, and I worry he’s going to bite her head off. If she mentioned this, it has to be for a good reason.
“What did you find out?” Dad asks, his voice strained.
Neither of us are sleeping well, the idea that Nina’s mother has been holding institutionalizing her over her head nauseating.
“Omegas are worth a lot of money in certain fiscal circles,” Kendra begins.
“The conversation made me glad to be an alpha to be honest. Omegas are sold off to packs, in the illusion of creating a strong marital bond between families. However, a lot of these blue blood packs want omegas to act a certain way. When families have omegas who they consider wild, they will commit them into these ‘mental institutions’ that are really reprogramming facilities.”
“Nina is eighteen,” I finally say, pitching my voice so Kendra can hear me.
I’ve been quiet this entire time, but I can’t hold myself still any longer.
“Her mother has tried to make her something she’s not ever since we were kids.
I always thought it was creepy when she’d stop fighting and just do as she was told.
I can’t imagine her being like that all of the time. It’s like being a Stepford wife.”
“Well, that’s what her mom wants her to be,” Kendra says. “I think breaking someone’s spirit and mind under the guise of mental health is disgusting, but I’m going to need a little more time to get her out of there. Is there anything else I need to know?”
“Kendra, she’s mine,” Dad sighs. “She’s my scent match, and we just figured it out when I found her again while she was sleeping in her car. We didn’t have time for solidifying the bond though.”
He was so happy in the short time we had her back in our lives. Everything just clicked for him, and he wasn’t as angry anymore. I mean fuck, she’s done the same for me.
“She’s mine too,” I grunt sadly. It was never odd to share her between us.
We need her back, or neither one of us will be able to survive without her. We’ll always pine for sugared mango and Nina.
“They’ll check her skin for bites so we can’t lie and say you’re bonded,” Kendra mutters.
“I’ll try to push that she’s met her scent matches, and insist they release Nina into your care.
We are about to go over the seventy-two hour mark.
It’s going to throw a corkscrew into your ex-wife’s plans to find her a pack. Unless…”
“What?” I ask. I can feel anxiety clawing at my throat, causing me to feel oxygen starved.
“No,” Dad’s lawyer says, gagging. “It’s so heinous, I won’t allow it to happen. I can’t even bring myself to say it.”
“Kendra, what?” Dad asks, panic beginning to bleed into his tone.
“If they have the ability to change someone’s behavior, it’s possible the doctors can make Nina forget you exist,” Kendra rasps.
“Maybe every time she is reminded of something you did or said that could trigger a memory, her mind punishes her for it until she forces herself to forget. The idea of reprogramming someone to that magnitude would leave lasting mental scars.”
“Fuck,” Dad breathes while I rub my chest.
The proper legal pathways aren’t yielding the results I want. There has to be another way, and I need to find it.
“Keep working on it, Kendra,” Dad says. “Thank you for subjecting yourself to brunch for us.”
“I’m going to need hazard alcohol after this,” Kendra mutters.
“I know your favorite kind, I’ll have it delivered to your house once this is over,” Dad promises.
Blowing out a breath as he hangs up, I grab my coat and start putting on my boots.
“Where are you going?” he asks, his hand scrubbing at his hair. It makes him look frazzled and pissed. He prides himself on keeping the undercurrent of his anger under wraps as much as possible, only coming out when students truly manage to piss him off.
Even then, that’s what Brooke was for. He doesn’t have that outlet anymore, and he’d never reach for it now that Nina is in the picture. It doesn’t matter that she’s stuck in an institution, Dad is loyal. He won’t want anyone else.
“I need to go see a friend,” I say, angrily tying my laces. I need to look at this from another angle. There has to be something we’re fucking missing.
“Right now…” he drawls, dropping onto the couch next to me. “Are you going to see Riley?”
“How do you know…” I gaze at him in surprise. It doesn’t matter that he’s correct, I just don’t understand how he knows it.
“We’re very alike,” he says with a shrug. “I typically fuck out my frustration, but I can’t because of Nina. It would be wrong.”
“I wasn’t going over there to fuck him,” I grunt. “I don’t know what I’m going to tell him now that I know she’s my scent match if I’m being honest.”
“So you care about him…” Dad leans his forearms on his thighs, gazing at me knowingly.
“We’ve known each other for a long time, and we’ve kept it casual because I’m an asshole,” I say. “My moods are just as bad as yours are, Dad. I never want to subject people to them, which is why it’s rare that I go see my friends.”
“Of all the shit traits to inherit,” he says teasingly. “Look, I’m willing to table this for now, but if you want to continue whatever this is on a more serious level, you’re going to need to talk to Nina about it.”
Growling under my breath, I nod as I stand. “I understand. I’m not a cheater,” I say.
“Son, you’re being really argumentative,” he says, and I groan as I lock my hands behind my head.
This is my father telling me that I’m being a shithead. I have a lot of feelings surrounding Riley, and I need to take stock of them. The only way to keep him is if I admit the stolen moments between us were real and meant something.
“I know,” I grit out. “You know I never want to disappoint you.”
“Hold up,” Dad says, standing. It forces me to take a step back because of the space he occupies.
There’s also a strong aura of authority around him, which is why so many tread lightly.
“Fucking a man is not going disappoint me. I’ve made some pretty questionable decisions over the years, and not once have you called me out on them. ”
“Vivian wasn’t the best choice,” I admit. “It gave us Nina, so I guess that’s the trade off.”
“Don’t derail me,” he complains. “I’m not going to love you any less for being attracted to both men and women. In fact, I’m all about being fluid with your sexuality because scent matching doesn’t give a shit about who you think you’re attracted to.”
The heavy feeling in my lungs unclenches a bit, and I take a cleansing breath. Fuck, I didn’t realize how much I needed those words.
His eyes on mine, he nods. “Good now?” he asks.
“Better,” I agree, pulling on my coat. “The rest, I’ll figure out.”
Walking away without saying goodbye, I grab my keys and pull open the front door to the frozen elements waiting for me. Wincing as my eyes feel as if all the moisture in them is also turning into ice, I shudder as I step outside and lock the door.
I’m careful of the steps due to black ice, because the last thing I need is to break something. The outside of my car is iced over, and I have to spend a few extra minutes getting my vehicle into working condition.
Thankfully, my engine turns over easily, and it reminds me of how I was going to get Nina’s car serviced. We had so many plans to help get her on her feet, but they were all ripped away.
Swallowing hard, I call Riley as I shiver in the car, waiting for the heat to warm the air. I won’t be able to drive yet.
“ Ethan, I think I must be dreaming,” Riley says with a snicker. “ I didn’t think I’d speak to you for at least another few months.”
“I know, I’m an asshole,” I grumble. “Something happened, and I’m losing my mind about it. I don’t know if you can help or not. I really don’t know what I was thinking, but?—”
“ Woah, fucking breathe, Ethan ,” Riley says. I can hear the concern in his voice, but it’s somehow making it worse. I can’t breathe again, and my heart really hurts. “ Whatever it is, I’ll do what I can to help.”
Yanking the gear shift into drive, I put the phone on speaker and clip it into the mount on the dashboard. On a good day, I’m a dick while driving. I’m trying to ensure I don’t end up in an accident.
Carefully checking my blind spot, I pull onto the road, glad it’s quiet out right now.
“This is going to sound insane,” I warn him. “Remember Rainbow Brite?”
“ Yeah, the cute blonde you keep literally running into ,” Riley says. “ Did you find out who she is?”
“She’s my ex step-sister,” I grunt. “I haven’t seen her in years, so I didn’t recognize her. There’s a bunch of baggage attached to that, but I found her sleeping in her car in front of my house. Dad and I may have, ah, convinced her to stay with us in exchange for sex.”
“ That’s not what I was expecting to hear,” he snorts. “ Your dad is opportunistic, and you refuse to let go when you see something you want. I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“I did let go though,” I say softly, my throat clogging with emotion. “I didn’t think I’d lose her, and now I have.”
“ How?” he asks.