Chapter 37 #2
I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know if I was supposed to say anything. He cut himself off again, pressing his lips together. Then, quieter, almost to himself, “Holy hell.”
“Maren knows I’m here.” The small confession was enough to make Rowan’s shoulders relax a tiny bit.
“And…she didn’t…fuck. What the hell is my brother getting himself into?”
He’s getting into my life, making things better, I thought, but didn’t say the words.
“He’ll be back soon.” My voice cracked as I pulled my legs even closer to my body.
Angry Alphas…. or in this case a Beta never ended well with me.
I think he may be a Beta. I didn’t know.
He acted like he could be, since he didn’t have that demanding power for him.
Not like Evy, who never took advantage of it.
“Right. That’s in…” he glanced at the clock that hung on the wall across the room. “In less than an hour.” His voice sounded distant, like he was doing math in his head, and none of the numbers were adding up.
“And Mom knows?”
I nodded once.
He let out a breath that was half laugh, half panicked.
“Does…. crap. I…. This isn’t possible. You look like him, yet…
. You don’t. You sure don’t act like…well anyone Van would hang out with.
He’s kind of stuck up and moody and…not all that thoughtful.
He used to be, but after…. He changed. Still Mama’s boy, but he’s not happy.
And for you to be here, looking like this… just…no.”
His eyes swept over me again, softer.
He dragged a hand down his face, muttering something under his breath that sounded like a prayer and a curse tangled together. Then he looked at me again and whatever he’d been about to say died on his tongue. ?
I must’ve looked worse than I realized. Because Rowan’s whole posture softened. He glanced at the couch, then at me, then at the empty stretch of floor a few feet away.
“Okay,” he murmured. “Okay. Don’t freak him out. Don’t be a giant. Calm down. There’s a good explanation for all of this.”
And then, suddenly, he just lowered himself onto the floor. Right there in the middle of the house. Cross legged, tool kit beside him, hands resting loosely on his knees.
He breathed out, long and steady. “I’ll just…wait for Van.” His voice was soft, almost apologetic.
Couldn’t he do that…like outside?
Rowan had gone quiet, too quiet for someone who looked like his brain was running a marathon. He sat there, elbows resting loosely on his knees, gaze fixed somewhere on the coffee table instead of me.
I hugged my knees tighter, trying to steady my breathing. Rowan didn’t move. Didn’t fidget. Didn’t even clear his throat. He was doing everything he could to make himself small and somehow that kept me from panicking.
Then, the front door opened again. Softly this time. Carefully, like someone easing it shut behind them so it wouldn’t make a noise.
My heart still jumped.
Rowans' head snapped up. “Van?”
Evander stepped inside, keys still in his hand, camera bag slung over a shoulder, eyes immediately scanning the room. He froze when he saw Rowan sitting on the floor.
“What the – Rowan?” His voice was sharp. “What are you doing here?”
Rowan lifted both hands, palms out, still seated. “Before you freak out, I didn’t do anything.”
Evander’s gaze flickered to me. “Kasey? You, okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
Rowan sighed. “I scared him. Since someone hasn’t mentioned having a double ganger in their house.”
“You didn’t think to call beforehand?” Evander gritted through his teeth, taking off his bag and setting it down before rounding the coffee table before kneeling in front of me.
“I’ve never had to before. You live alone. Or you did. Apparently. A few days. Really, Van. What the hell?”
Ignoring the brother in the room, Evander’s focus was on me. Only me. Like I was his entire world.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah.” I wasn’t hurt. I wasn’t panicking. I was just unsure.
“Van- “
“It’s up to you on what I tell him. Do you want him to know?”
Did I? Did it matter?
“Some, maybe? I don’t know.” My voice was small, smaller than I intended it to come out as.
“Okay. Do you trust me? Trust me enough to talk him down from exploding?”
I nodded. And I trusted him. Trusted him more than I probably should have, but I wasn’t ever all that smart.
“Good boy,” his hand cupped my cheek. Its warmth grounded me when I didn’t even know I needed it.
He let it stay there for a second before pulling it away. He didn’t go far, only sitting on the couch beside me after handing me the notebook, a raised brow as he did so.
“Rowan,” he sighed, like he was tired. “Next time you decide to come by, please call. And knock before entering.”
“It won’t happen again. Promise. But….” He trailed off, and although he said the words, he didn’t seem like he’d remember to do that.
“I found him at Lockswell. He was…wasn’t well. You know how I am. I see someone hurting, and I want to save them, to give them the world. So now, Kasey is my property, so to speak. I’ll care for him how I see fit.”
“But dude! He’s…”
“Yes. I’m well aware, Row. And he knows about the…situation.”
“And?”
“And what?” Evander tilted his head to the side, like he was in total control of it all.
“How? This is…I know you…. but I think this has gone too far.”
“I…. it’s not his fault.” I spoke up, making both of the men freeze. I froze myself, surprised by the words that came out. “I came from Lockswell. Now I’m here. Healing. And….and I’m Kasey. That’s all there’s to it.”
I hadn’t meant to speak, hadn’t meant to interrupt. Omegas were to be quiet, to stay out of the way, to not speak unless spoken to. But I wasn’t a trained Omega anymore. At least at the moment.
Rowan stared at me like I’d just rewritten the laws of the universe.
Evander blinked hard, like he needed to reset his brain. “Right.”
“And…” I glanced at Evander before dropping my eyes to my knees. “He’s not moody. He’s not stuck up. He’s Evy.” My Evy.
“That’s all you need to know, Rowan. I promise, when and if we want to share more, we will.”
“Okay.” His eyes didn’t stray from me as he said it. “Lockswell, really? Out of all the places…”
“There’s a lot to find out,” Evander said. “And I don’t want anyone to find out anything yet. Not until we can process some information. I don’t want anyone knowing.”
“Mom knows.”
“Mom knows nothing. I just have a very pretty blue-eyed boy in my care that may or may not be a ghost from the past.”
I ducked my head as heat filled my cheeks. Rowan laughed, a lighthearted type of sound as he pushed himself up to his feet. “Sweet little thing you got, Van. Just…be careful. I worry about you. We all do.”