11. Saylor
Saylor
“Saylor? Are you all right?” Daisy asks.
I look up at the Omega then. Her eyes keep flicking toward her brothers, and it’s easy to figure out where her mind has gone.
Honestly, seeing them here has just put a damper on the evening, and that’s when I rise from my cushion. “I think I may head back to my lake house.”
Daisy smiles sadly, rising with me. “Okay. I will walk you back.”
Now we exit the patio, heading toward the path that cuts through the woods. It’s quite the walk, and I really wish I had worn more sensible shoes.
I guess it wasn’t smart to wear my new sandals after all.
“It’s okay,” Daisy sighs, wincing as her own shoes hurt her feet. “At least you didn’t have the smart idea to wear heels.”
Ouch.
She wraps her arms around herself next as a chilly wind brushes our way, and damn, that is cold.
And I know cold… I’m from Northern England, where it rains all year round.
Daisy and I wear thin summer dresses, and we’ll be blue by the time we return to our respective lake houses.
That’s when we hear a set of heavy footsteps, and we both turn to find one of Daisy’s Alphas, Ash, rushing up behind us.
He grins. “Can’t have you ladies walking alone in the dark now.”
Daisy snorts, pushing him aside playfully, and I look away from the happy couple next, trying to distract myself.
Daisy truly does have it all.
And don’t forget Noelle, too.
But it’s as I said. I don’t need Alphas to feel complete. But I won’t deny that it hurts as I think about what could have been.
If I hadn’t been too shy back at Silver Grove, then Emma may have never even had a chance.
I could have got to the pack first.
But she got there instead.
And I will forever live in her shadow as a result.
Another set of heavy footsteps approaches us yet again, and my heart rate spikes when I find Zale.
I turn my face away, folding my arms quickly.
The Alpha stops beside his sister, hands in his pockets as he regards me quietly. “Hi, Saylor.”
I hide my face behind my hair, remembering the way he caught me in his arms after Ryan tripped me up in the hallway. “Hi.”
Daisy smirks, regarding her brother suspiciously. “What are you doing here, Z?”
He glances at his sister, then shrugs. “Figured you could do with another Alpha for protection.” Zale looks at Ash then. “If that’s okay with you, Thorn?”
The dirty blond Alpha flusters, face burning bright red. “W-why would it be? Daisy is your sister, after all, and… and Saylor…”
He trails off, looking at me worriedly next. Daisy whacks him gently, shaking her head.
Well, this is awkward, and now the four of us walk back to the lake houses in silence.
As we reach the path that leads to my lake house, Daisy proceeds to accompany me to my door.
But Zale stops her.
“It’s okay. Allow me.”
Startled, Daisy glances my way. “Would that be okay with you, Saylor?”
Heart pounding, I hang my head, hiding behind my curtain of black hair yet again. “S-sure…”
I mean, he is just walking me to my door. It’s not a big deal, right?
Daisy nods, and if I’m not mistaken, she smiles proudly at her brother. Then she takes Ash’s hand, and now the two walk back to her house across the lake.
Zale stops them in their tracks. “Take good care of my sister now, Thorn.”
Ash stammers, burning red once again, and he’s an awfully shy Alpha. “Of… of course, Zale.”
Zale narrows his eyes at the other Alpha, and there’s no missing the thinly veiled threat.
Daisy scowls at him next, pursing her lips. Zale just shrugs, giving her that impish, brotherly smirk.
“And you take good care of my friend, Z,” Daisy adds pointedly, keeping her suspicious eyes on her brother.
Zale is tongue-tied now as he sighs, running his fingers through his long, dark hair.
I just want to run my own fingers through his shining locks then, and I turn away before my wanton thoughts take over.
Finally, Daisy and Ash vanish into the darkness, and now it’s just Zale and me.
My heart skips a beat as I look up at the Alpha. His gray eyes seem to glow as he waves his hand toward the path.
I nod, making a move for the house. We linger outside the door for a while once we arrive.
“So... will you go back to the party tonight?” I ask, trying to use small talk to break the awkward silence.
Zale thinks for a moment. “Probably. The last place I want to be is inside the same house as my sister while she shacks up with her Alpha.” His eyes fall down to mine, and his cheeks turn as red as Ash’s now. “Sorry. That was crude of me.”
I stifle a snort, grabbing my key as I slot it inside the door. “No, I get it. Even though I’m an only child.”
Zale chuckles. “You’re lucky. My siblings drive me nuts.”
I smile up at him then. “Yeah, but it can get lonely.”
The Alpha stops short at the word “lonely” the moment it slips free from my lips, and his eyes seem to shimmer in the faint light now.
Damn. Did I just get too personal?
The door opens, and I step inside, turning back to the Alpha.
Zale backs away down the path. “If you ever need a friend, S, don’t be afraid to reach out, all right? Perhaps then we can work on that loneliness of yours.”
He gives me an impish grin, but I’m too fixated on his nickname for me.
S.
My heart hiccups.
I nod, smiling up at the Alpha without meeting his eyes. “I will. T-thank you for walking me to my door.”
The Alpha smiles, showing his teeth again.
Once I shut the door, he remains outside for a while, and I’m half tempted to rip it back open so I can invite him inside. I’m perfuming yet again, and that’s when I reach up, wiping away the sweat on my forehead.
No matter what, I must resist.
This trip was supposed to be all about me, after all.
No Alphas.
But I suppose it’s Zale’s way of offering me a friendly olive branch.
Perhaps we can be friends. Who knows…
I lean back against the closed door for a while, pressing my palms over my burning cheeks.
Why am I smiling? It's just Zale.
He's only trying to be kind, though. Yet kindness doesn't erase ten years of hurt. It doesn't erase rejection.
I grab my tablet from the kitchen counter quickly, scribbling down a single sentence into my notes app. “Zale smiled at me today…”
I stare at the words in shock. Then I delete the entire sentence, feeling like an absolute fool.
Now my voice of reason scolds me: No distractions, Saylor. You're here to write. You’re not here for romance.
I sigh.
She’s right.
But she’s still not done with me, though.
Besides. That ship sailed long ago… you know it.
I do know it. But still…
It couldn’t hurt to at least try, right?