Chapter 4
Aspen
Imanaged to make it to the couch before I completely lost it. My heart was breaking, and I didn’t know how to fix it.
There were a few harsh truths I had to face before I could agree to be Cole’s fake fiancée.
The first was that I wasn’t surprised enough by the betrayal.
I had already known that Darcy and Sadie had some sort of plan to take them away from me.
She might have acted like it was no big deal and that we were friends, but the truth that my pack refused to see was that Sadie wanted her best friend to be with them.
If they were scent-compatible, they’d be together already. Yet, I had to commend the omegas for not giving up, I guess.
It went beyond knowing that she wanted them and into the fact that they couldn’t seem to remove her from their lives. I was never enough for them to leave her behind, to cut ties and give us the space we deserved as a pack.
The constant drop-ins from Sadie and Darcy seemed to coincide with every date night we ever planned. It was constant and frustrating that no matter what we did, they were always there.
All I wanted was to get closer to my pack, to spend time with them, and yet someone was always disrupting our plans.
They were always “busy” when I needed them to do something with me, an excuse falling from their lips the moment I would ask. My own work events were ignored. If I was sick they all but left me there alone. There was very little that showed they were my chosen mates.
The more I considered everything, the more I realized what an idiot I’d been, how silly it was of me to simply let them walk all over me.
Omegas were supposed to be a priority in their pack, yet mine had treated me like everything I did was an annoyance.
They were never outright rude, but they would make comments about my style when we went out on dates.
All because I liked bright colors and I loved thrift shopping at vintage stores.
Me finding joy in giving new life to old things was, apparently, not something to be proud of.
The red flags were piling up by the second. How had I let the idea of the pack blind me?
If it wasn’t for the fact that we had all been swamped at work the last two weeks, and I’d just had my health screening, I’d be going to get tested.
If they cheated on me once, what was to say they hadn’t before?
Thank God I made them wear protection.
This is what I got for not waiting for scent-matches. I convinced myself that since we were compatible, that was enough.
During our courting phase, they were incredible. Things had settled down a bit once we’d agreed to become a pack, but I just wrote it off as everyday life getting in the way.
My chest ached sharply with the betrayal. They’d led me on for years, betrayed me, and still had no intention of telling me.
It wasn’t just my heart at risk here, but my health and future.
I’d thrown myself into my studies, then work, then this pack, to the point that I never cultivated friendships properly.
I was used to relying on myself, and I’d effectively kept it that way.
They had to fill my bridal party. And now, I had no one to call and talk to, no one to ask for advice on a situation like this.
I ended up alone yet again, betrayed in a way I didn’t see coming.
With a sigh, I forced myself to get up, stripping out of the Santa suit and heading for the shower so I could wash the product off my face and out of my hair.
When I finally stepped out of my long, hot shower, and slid on my pajamas, I looked like myself again.
Curiosity had me grabbing my phone from the table where I left it. There were only three missed calls, one from each of my pack members. I didn’t call them back or look at the text messages. I just clicked on the voicemails.
My alpha’s voice echoed through, far too calm for the situation. Especially for a man who should be concerned for his omega.
“I’m disappointed that this is how you chose to handle our wedding, omega. We gave you everything, and this is how you repay us? You humiliated us. You have two days to get your things out of our place before we throw them out. We’re done.”
Short and sweet. I rolled my eyes and clicked on the next, ignoring the hurt echoing through me.
“Sadie mentioned that you were acting weird. Is this about Darcy again? I don’t know why you’re so obsessed with her, but you need to let it go. We chose to marry you and you ruined it. Now all bets are off, omega. Enjoy your fucked-up, lonely life. You were never good enough for us anyway.”
A tear leaked free as his last words hit me. He knew that I didn’t like being alone and had used it against me. The way he brought up Darcy felt a bit like a guilty conscience. It was far too quick.
The final message was simply a one-sentence warning to come get my things and return my ring.
They were acting like I was simply throwing a tantrum. Clearly, the assholes had no clue that I had found out about their relationship with Darcy.
The tears were gone now, leaving only anger behind. They’d shown me their true colors and I refused to shed another tear over a pack that had no morals.
I grabbed one of the moving boxes that still lay empty and started to throw any remnants of my pack into it: a note they left me in the kitchen, a book my beta had left behind.
One by one, I filled it with the few things they had left here.
It shouldn’t have taken so little time, but I felt better once I had it gathered.
The omega clinic in town had programs for helping omegas leave situations like mine. There would be someone to help me gather my things tomorrow.
For tonight, I needed sleep.
I watched from behind the tinted windows of the omega escort vehicle as the police approached the pack house that I was never going to set foot in again. Thank God for the Omega Network and their quick response, otherwise I never would have gotten my belongings.
The police quickly escorted my three former pack members out of the way, all looking furious. As if they could sense me watching, they turned to face the SUV I was hiding in. I knew they couldn’t see me, the staff had promised me as much, but that didn’t stop me from cowering in my seat.
The advocate next to me reached over and rested a hand on my leg. “It’s okay. They can’t see you, Aspen. You’re done with them,” she promised.
“Will they have any trouble getting my things?”
“No,” she said quickly. “The alphas, by law, are forced to cooperate. You gave a list of the things you wanted to the staff, so they know what to look for. They’ll get everything from your list, to essentials, and important documents.
I promise you we’re doing everything we can to make this as seamless as possible. ”
“Thank you,” I said with a tight smile.
It took them nearly an hour to gather the boxes that were mine.
By the time they were closing the back doors of the moving truck, I’d managed not to cry once.
The police allowed my exes to walk back in.
Of course, they had Sadie and Darcy by their side, Trent wrapping his arm around Darcy, tucking her to his side like I used to be.
It was absolutely a move to hurt me, and yet, I felt oddly at peace with it. They truly deserved each other. I knew that now. All I could hope for was that they would move on and simply leave me alone.
My phone pinged with another message, and I glanced down. It was the third I’d received from Cole, and I knew I was avoiding him, but I’d been busy today.
“So, what are your plans for the holiday?” my advocate asked in her soft-spoken voice.
I glanced over and shrugged. “Still thinking about it,” I admitted.
“You don’t want to go spend it with family? Reconnect with them after this ordeal? You do have a support network, correct?”
My mind immediately went to Karina and Cole. Perhaps I was clinging to their presence as a way to calm my own nerves and reassure myself I wasn’t truly alone, but the reality was I had no real ties to them outside the lie that unfolded last night.
The weekend was only two days away. Two days to make my decision and pack, if that’s what I was going to do.
I should be figuring out what to do with my apartment and clothing, but that could wait until after the new year.
I finally glanced down at my phone, opening up the messages from Cole.
Cole
Are you alright?
Cole
Actually, ignore that. Of course you aren’t. We don’t have to do this if it’s going to be painful. I’ll figure it out.
Cole
Checking in again, could you let me know what you’ve decided?
I let out a sigh, not sure how to even respond. Everything Karina mentioned about Pine Ridge was running through my mind. It would be such an abrupt change of pace that it might be exactly what I needed to get those assholes out of my head.
A fresh start.
I had the time off from work, and my only other option was to sit here in the city, locked away in my apartment, avoiding everyone I knew.
Instead of texting Cole back, I hit the call button, holding the phone to my ear. He answered on the second ring, his voice that calm rumble I remembered a little too well.
“Aspen, is everything alright?”
He sounded so concerned. I liked that he was straightforward and direct with his words, and I felt like there was trust there that probably shouldn’t be.
The last thing I needed was a rebound relationship.
But I couldn’t get that kiss out of my head, or his genuine kindness as I dealt with all the curveballs thrown my way last night.
“Yes. I had to go to the omega network and have someone escort me to get my things from the packhouse.”
“I would’ve helped you, Aspen. Especially, since you’re helping me,” he said.
He meant every word of that, too.
“No, it’s fine. I needed to get this done my way. I didn’t want anything hanging over my head when we left the city.”
“Wait,” he said as the words hit him. “Does that mean you’re going home with me? I meant what I said in my message, Aspen. This is too much to ask of anyone. You don’t have to do this.”
“I know,” I said quickly. “But I’ve given it thought. Everything your mom said about Pine Ridge sounded like such a nice change of pace that I’m hoping it will help me make sense of this madness and figure out my next steps.”
“We can discuss your place in the company and your ambitions within it. I’ll admit I’ve been a little hands-off lately, but I promise you we can talk about how to better use your skills. Mom mentioned you liked it at Pack & Co. but had different ideas of what you’d like to write.”
“That would actually be great, Cole.”
“Then all we have left is to finalize our plans. I need just a day or two more to set up my own vacation time. I haven’t taken days off since I started this magazine. I’m sure they can do without me for the holidays. If it works for you, I’ll be by Friday morning to pick you up. Around ten?”
“What do I need to pack? I’m not really sure what to expect. Most of my stuff is in the back of this moving truck, so I’ll probably need the next two days to get it sorted anyway.”
“At the risk of sounding like a rich asshole, I was planning on having my assistant gather me some warmer clothes. We’re going to be in the mountains. I’d love it if I could have her call you for your sizing, and she’ll get most of what we need for us.”
I took a moment to respond. With my pack, everything was independent. I paid for my own things, and I was proud of that. With my future so up in the air, I couldn’t find a good reason to tell him no.
This was a favor to him, and if he wanted to make sure I was well equipped for whatever we were going to be doing, I was going to let him.
Especially because I didn’t have any ski suits or anything like that.
“That would be fine,” I finally said. “Thank you.”
“Shouldn’t I be the one thanking you?” he chuckled. “You, for some crazy reason, agreed to be my fake fiancée so my mom can have a good holiday. I know you’re also going to take advantage of the small-town quiet life to recover, but this really does mean the world to me.”
“Getting away from my asshole exes was good enough for me. And I look forward to talking about the magazine and what I can do,” I answered.
“Of course,” he promised. “I’ll see you Friday, Aspen.”
He hung up, and I tucked my phone back in my purse. When I glanced at the omega next to me, she gave me a knowing smile but said nothing else.
For once, I didn’t care what anyone else thought. I was going to embrace myself again. Wear what I wanted without wondering if it would get my pack’s approval, do what I wanted because I had no obligations outside of my promise to Cole.
Two short days, and I’d be away from this drama and embracing small-town life, even if it was temporary.
This was exactly the change I needed.