Chapter 21 Thea
THEA
My head is pounding. The last thing I remember is being in the woods and crying my eyes out with Keelan.
I glance at him, now sitting next to me on this sectional.
I’m still annoyed with him, because he just pushed and pushed.
I didn’t need that today. Let’s be honest, the slightest push would’ve broken me today.
Looking around I see all of them. I didn’t know they were all pack, even Jake.
I haven’t even really met Micah, who I can only assume is the man standing off to the side by the doorway.
He’s an intimidating alpha, tall like the rest of them, dressed in a three-piece suit, his reddish-brown hair styled perfectly to match his trimmed beard.
They’re all looking at me and it makes me feel like I’m under a microscope and being examined for every tiny reaction I have.
Parker is sitting on the floor next to my legs, looking up at me with the saddest green eyes.
I’m surrounded by all of their scents and it’s messing with me.
My instincts make me want to bury myself in them but I need to get out of here.
I move to get up but my eye catches on the laptop next to Parker.
It has a picture of Connor on it—his obituary.
I feel the color drain from my face and suddenly feel lightheaded.
How do they know about him? Can whatever they searched lead him to me? I really do need to leave.
“Whoa, easy there you don’t look good. Liam, what’s wrong with her?
” Keelan says but it sounds far away. Suddenly Liam is in front of me, his green eyes catching my attention.
He’s saying something but I can’t hear it.
My ears are ringing and black spots are dotting my vision.
He’s going to find me. That’s the single thought running through my head over and over.
The scents in the room are suddenly stronger, my limbs are relaxing as I take them in more.
Liam is still talking but doing an exaggerated breathing motion which I begin to mimic.
After a few minutes of this the ringing in my ears fades away and my vision is back to normal.
My body feels all floppy, like it’ll take a lot of effort to just lift my arm.
I’m now leaning back, resting against the back of the couch.
Liam is sitting on my left now, taking my pulse.
“That’s a lot better. Your pulse isn’t racing like it was a few minutes ago,” he says.
Looking around, I see almost everyone has moved closer to the couch.
Ben, Jake, and Eli are standing behind the couch over me.
Keelan and Liam are still sitting next to me with Parker in the same spot on the floor.
Micah, the only one I really haven’t met beyond what Rebecca told me, has moved from the doorway to a nearby chair.
“Can you tell us what panicked you so bad just now?” Ben asks gently.
I look back to the laptop and some of the panic returns. Liam seems to follow my line of sight and reaches down to close the laptop. Parker lets out a choked sound, I swear it’s almost a whimper.
“That was it, right?” Liam says.
I nod. Talking seems like more than I can do right now.
I don’t know how they found out about him, but they condemned me by looking him up.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to invade your privacy like that.
It’s just you told Keelan about him earlier and Ben mentioned you were originally from Florida.
I just wanted to know what happened, why you were so upset,” Parker says as if I’m going to berate him for it.
I wouldn’t. I gaze at him softly and stretch my hand out, palm up, hoping he takes it.
He does, a little tightly but I don’t mind.
It doesn’t erase the fact that I still need to leave, not just this house but this town.
Start over somewhere again. Just the thought makes me want to scream in frustration.
I move to the edge of the couch, planning to get up and leave.
“You can’t get up yet, you need to take some time to rest. You almost passed out,” Liam says sternly, which earns him a glare from me.
“I need to leave, let me up,” I say with not much strength behind my words.
“No, you need to rest, at least for a few minutes.” Liam frowns slightly at me.
Panic is starting to rise. I don’t feel unsafe with them but I need to leave.
They don’t understand. Standing, I ignore him and Keelan’s protests.
They’re both bracing me which I begrudgingly lean into.
I can’t be weak like this, not with everything I need to do.
Pack up the house as quick as possible, get a new burner phone.
I think I have a backup in my go-bag. My mind is racing as I stay standing.
Come on legs, move. It’s like moving through quicksand.
I take the smallest step before Liam is once again in front of me, now looking pissed off.
“You stubborn woman. Sit down; you’re going to collapse. If you haven’t noticed Keelan is keeping you upright,” Liam growls.
I look to Keelan and yup he’s holding on to me. I didn’t pass out, but why is my body so weak like I did? “I need to leave,” I say softly, more to myself.
“Why?” Keelan whispers to me but I’m sure the others hear.
I look at him. His strong jaw is covered in his thick beard, and his eyes are full of concern. His scent and the others are overwhelming me. Safe. Protected. Free. Peace. Joy. Hope. The last is so faint but it breaks something in me.
“He’s going to find me,” I say before falling back to the couch. Keelan is still standing, now looking angry. Jake’s voice has a hard edge to it. “Who?”
I’ll be leaving anyways so telling them won’t mean anything.
I’m so tired. “My stalker.” A chorus of growls fill the room.
I have no idea who they’re from besides Keelan since he’s right next to me.
Hands are jostling me suddenly until I’m positioned in Keelan’s lap.
I huff at the sudden movement before looking at him.
He looks mad but I can tell he’s scared.
This giant alpha is scared. I reach up, putting my hand on his cheek, my fingers running through his dirty blond beard.
“Hey, it’ll be okay. I just need to start over somewhere new. I’ve done it before, don’t worry.”
That does not reassure him. He hugs me to him tightly, a low growl emitting from his chest. “Keelan, let her go. We need more information,” Jake says.
Keelan remains still. Jake adds, “So we can fix it and she doesn’t have to leave.
” That seems to crack whatever is going on in his head and he lets me go but not moving me from his lap.
I’m now sitting sideways so I can see the rest of the room.
Everyone is in front of the couch now. Jake is sitting next to us.
“There’s no fixing it. It’s just how it is. They couldn’t figure out who he was before. Nothing’s changed,” I mutter, resigned.
“With all due respect Thea that’s bullshit and I know you don’t know us well, but we will find this guy and make sure you’re safe,” Jake says, his hands clenching against the couch cushion.
“Will you tell us what happened?” Eli says.
He’s moved to sit on the arm of the couch.
His usual bright smile is nowhere to be seen.
I really don’t want to talk about this. Keelan’s scent, compared to others’, is all I’m scenting.
I feel protected. Why do their scents lower my guards like this?
I shouldn’t be so relaxed with near-strangers.
A tiny voice reminds me that when I met Connor it was the same feeling.
“Please. We just want to help,” Parker begs from the same spot on the floor.
Sheesh this man and those puppy-like eyes.
Speaking of puppies, I haven’t seen Duke in all this craziness.
Because that’s the priority right now, Thea.
I look over all of them again. They seem so worried.
It wouldn’t be the end of the world if they knew.
Making my decision, I take a deep breath before I begin with what happened starting fifteen months ago.