Epilogue
Kate
“ Y ou look good holding a baby.” Scarlett’s voice interrupts the intense stare down match I’m currently having with her ten week old son.
“I’ve also never seen him so focused on anything before.
He must like you.” She leans over from her spot on the sectional beside me, peering at the infant with that new mother’s glow about her.
“It’s just because I’m something new to look at.
” I shrug, feeling suddenly uncomfortable.
I shift and extend the baby in my arms back to my best friend.
She takes him with expert ease. The way she cuddles him to her chest makes it hard to believe she’s new at all of this.
She handles him like she’s been handling babies her whole life.
“You’re a natural at this mom thing. Pack life looks good on you. ”
There are dark circles under her eyes from typical newborn life adjustment, but her dark hazel irises sparkle with her joy.
“It helps having alphas willing to do anything to keep me and my boy happy and healthy.” She pauses, looking down at the now sleeping infant curled against her chest. Then, she asks what I know she really wants to ask.
“How about you? What’s it like having a pack at your beck and call? ”
I can’t help it when my smile drops, and my gaze wrenches away from her. My eyes burn, fists clenching and unclenching in my lap as I stare at them. Of course Scarlett would want to know about the alphas that have swept into my life, claiming I’m their scent matched mate.
She’s my best friend. I should want to spill every juicy detail to her. I should want to brag about finally finding my forever mates.
Except, I want none of those things. And it doesn’t matter what I want or don’t want, anyway. I made a promise to myself when I scrubbed my past clean ten years ago and escaped here to Black Tide Valley.
Scarlett reaches over then, resting a hand on my forearm.
Just then, Lark appears through a doorway that leads towards the kitchen.
When she looks over at him as my eyes meet his, her entire demeanor shifts.
The widest smile I’ve ever seen stretches her face.
There’s so much love and devotion shimmering in her dark eyes that it steals my breath away.
I’d give anything to feel like that about anyone again.
“How about I go give our boy his bath and you finish up your evening with Kate.” Lark bends forward, scooping their son up in his arms. The baby immediately snuggles against his dad’s chest, another sight that chips away at the solid iron encasing every messy emotion I no longer allow myself to feel.
It’s easier to hide behind the mask I’ve forged for myself. Sarcasm and humor are a hell of a lot better than longing and despair.
Leaning to the side, I elbow Scar gently and tease, “I’ll need you to teach me how to tame an alpha like that. Pretty sure if he wasn’t holding a baby, he’d be on his knees for you worshipping the ground you walk on.”
Lark flashes an easy grin at me before kissing his son’s head full of white, blonde hair. Scarlett starts to study me in a way that makes me feel uncomfortable and kind of like she can see right through my carefully crafted facade.
Shit. Maybe she can?
“Come get me when he gets hungry.” She says to him, but doesn’t take her all too knowing eyes off of me. I watch her alpha reach out and stroke his omega’s cheek in a reverent gesture, and then he leaves with the sleeping babe.
“Where are your other alphas?” I ask, trying my best to steer the conversation away from me and all of my drama.
I think she only answers the question to humor me.
“Apollo is busy with the super secret project he doesn’t want me to know about, even though I already know it’s a studio where we can work as a family on our art.
Wren is down at Raven handling some issues he had last week with a shipment or something.
Caito is currently having a meeting with Warrick. ”
That last bit has my head finally snapping in her direction, my heart skipping several beats at the mention of the alpha I’ve been avoiding like the plague. Well, one of them, anyway.
“Why is he having a meeting with Warrick? I thought he cut ties with the Infinity Ring?” It’s foolish to bring it up, but I want Scarlett to help ease my rising panic.
Fucking Fraser’s been leaving screwed up notes in my apartments mailbox hinting at some big surprise the pack has up their sleeve, and I hope like hell it’s not what I think it is.
Scarlett’s lips twitch as she takes in my features, no doubt noting the panic that must be smeared all over it. Not to mention my scent’s full on anxiety inducing level. Stress pheromones so potent that I’m surprised she isn’t gagging and running for the hills.
She watches me very carefully as she says, “Caito told me Warrick wants to set up his American base of ops here. In Black Tide Valley. Possibly because a certain omega was born here and might refuse to leave her home city.”
I curse, shaking my head and tearing my gaze away from hers. “Black Tide Valley isn’t my city. In fact, I’m seriously considering a move in my near future.”
Silence descends. It actually lasts so long that I’m the one that glances back over at my omega bestie to see if she’s even still breathing.
Her expression is neutral, and her next words are even more careful.
“You weren’t born here.” She makes it sound like a statement instead of a question.
She knows as well as I do why most people lay down roots in Black Tide Valley if they aren’t born here.
“You don’t need to tell me anything, Kate. I just want you to know that I care about you. My pack and I are at your disposal. You know that if there’s anything you need, you only have to ask.”
A lone tear slips free before I can stop it.
The dam holding back my emotions cracks, tiny fissures appearing where they shouldn’t be.
I squeeze my eyes shut. Before I can think better of it, I whisper, “I don’t think I can stay here if they move here permanently.
I’m barely hanging on by a thread as it is. I can’t be what they need.”
I can’t look at Scarlett, but she takes one of my clenched fists.
She gently pries it open until she can thread our fingers together and give my hand a firm squeeze.
It’s a large step for her, considering her touch aversion.
When I first met her, she didn’t even want me within five feet of her. Her space is special to her.
But now, she wraps an arm around my shoulders, tugging my head forward until I can lay my head against her warm body. Another traitorous tear escapes down my cheek to splash against our clasped hands between us.
“Tell me, Kate.” She murmurs softly. “I want to help you.”
I want to scream at her, but I bite back the pain and anger. Scarlett doesn’t deserve it. “You can’t help me. The only thing I can think of that’ll help is if I disappear. I can’t let them in. I’m not what they deserve.”
She’s quiet for a long moment. “What are you running from?”
I pull back from her comforting embrace, but I can’t look at her.
I can’t let her see me break as I say, “It’s not a what.
It’s a who . Ten years ago, I slit the throat of my step brother’s omega and fled.
If he finds me, he’ll destroy not only me, but everyone I love.
You aren’t safe with me, Scar, and neither are those alphas. That’s why I have to leave.”
The End