Chapter 39
ADAM
Not quite a week later, and I had my assets secured. Our offer on a nice little two-story brick home was accepted—sure, it was far from the manor I lived in now, but Fletcher was right; we didn’t need all of this stuff to be happy.
Things were moving along. Aria and I had been texting pretty much nonstop, and had spoken in detail over the phone twice since the day she’d ferreted out the truth.
Today, I was planning on breaking the news to my father that the wedding was off, and that my life plans had changed.
To say I was terrified was an understatement.
“Please be careful, Adam,” Aria pressed, her voice tinged with concern despite the slight crackle on the phone line. “I don’t know your father very well. In fact, I’ve only met him twice, but he gave me the vibe that he could be very dangerous, if provoked.”
Didn’t I know it… My stomach was in knots.
“Don’t worry, Aria. I’ll be careful,” I promised her. “Honestly, I’m a nervous wreck about the whole situation, but it needs to be done. Like ripping off a Band-Aid. I can’t just up and leave town without a word, even if I really want to.”
“You’re a good man, Adam,” she told me. “Text me later and tell me how it went. I won’t say anything to my father until you give the word.”
“You’re the best.”
“I know,” she said with a giggle, and we ended our call.
“Ready?” Fletcher asked me.
“Not really,” I admitted softly. “But I need to do this. For me. For us. I want to live a happy life with you, Fletcher Rose, and that won’t happen if my family keeps controlling my life.” I leaned down and kissed him chastely on the lips. “I’ll be back soon, I promise.”
“Good luck,” Fletcher called after me, but I was already making tracks for the door. I grabbed my coat off the rack on my way out, shrugging into it without bothering to zip it up. I wouldn’t be outside in the cold long.
I drove to my parents’ mansion, mentally preparing myself for Father’s temper-tantrum. He wasn’t going to take it well, I already knew. I pulled up the drive and parked, but let the car idle for a few moments, my hands hovering over the vents pouring out heat.
Once I’d gathered my bearings, I took a deep breath and went inside.
I said hello to Mother, who was washing dishes like a good Omega wife.
I waved to my little sister, Jillian, doing homework at the dining room table.
She bobbed her head, earbuds in her ears.
She didn’t even realize I was here, but then again, I’d never been that close with my siblings.
If Fletcher and I ever had kids, I wanted to make sure they grew up loving each other and sharing that sibling bond that I never got to experience.
I strode down the hall, towards the study, and knocked on the door.
“Come in, Adam,” Father called out.
I hesitated, then went in. “Father.”
“Have a seat,” he murmured, gesturing to the overstuffed brown leather chair.
“I’m not staying long—” I began, but he cut me off with a sharp look and a wave of Alpha power that hit me like an uppercut.
“I said, have a seat, son.”
I swallowed, my wolf growling just below the surface. Everything inside of me was screaming to sit, to cow down, to obey…but I held my ground. I locked my legs at the knees and crossed both arms over my chest, squaring my jaw in defiance.
“I’ve just come to tell you that Aria and I have decided to call off the wedding,” I said, sounding far more confident than I felt.
Father stared at me for a long moment, his golden eyes cold. And then he laughed. That laugh chilled me to the very bone. “Oh, that’s rich…” His voice was low, amused, but also carrying a hint of disappointment.
“Wh-What?” I bit out, standing a little straighter.
“I saw that coming from a mile away, you stupid pup,” he snapped. “Oh, that’s right. I know all about you and that little faggot of a roommate of yours.”
His words were a slap to the face. I jerked back with a hiss. Shit. How? When? We’d been so careful!
“What?”
Father snorted, shaking his head. “You know, I always knew you were off,” he said, his voice dripping with acid.
“Always the black sheep of the family. The one to bend the rules, to step outside the line, but only so far enough that you weren’t technically in the wrong.
I had my reservations about naming you heir, but you were the eldest son. The rightful one. But now?”
He laughed, sharp and bitter. “Hah! You have no right to the Sinclair name! You’re filth!
” Shaking his head in disdain, he looked at me like he couldn’t believe what he was truly seeing.
A disgrace to his bloodline. A bloody stain on his perfect lineage.
“It doesn’t matter though. You’ve finally crossed the line, and I promise you, I’ll strip you of everything—including that filthy feline whore of yours! ”
My throat grew tight. “What?” Was that the only word I could think of? Think, Adam, think! But my world was reeling, spun upside down on its axis, the rug yanked out from beneath my feet.
Father smirked. “By the time you get home, your precious little ‘groundskeeper’ will be long gone.”
My blood turned to ice in my veins. Unable to stop myself, I lurched forwards, slamming my hands palm-down against his desk. “What did you do?” I shouted.
“I took care of him,” he replied coldly. “Or rather, I had someone else do the dirty work for me. It’s sad, really, that when you said goodbye, it would end up truly being your last.”
I saw my beautiful Omega in my mind’s eye, crumpled on the ground, surrounded by a pool of blood. Completely motionless. Stolen away from me by this monster who’d controlled my life for far too long.
“I’ll kill you!” I swung my arm back and punched my father in the jaw, hard enough that his head snapped back. My wolf snarled, enraged and ready to tear into his Alpha, but my thoughts were locked on Fletcher. No! We need to save our mate!
I wheeled away and sprinted off down the hall, while Father screamed obscenities. “FAGGOT! YOU ARE NO SON OF MINE!”
Breathing hard, I yanked open my car door and slid into the driver’s seat. Fuck. Fuck! What did I do? Was I really too late? I stuck the keys in the ignition and revved the engine, fumbling to get my cell out of my jeans pocket before driving off.
That’s when I saw it: One missed call. One voicemail.
My heart hollowing out, I pushed the button to bring up my voicemail and brought the phone to my ear.
Fletcher’s cheery voice came onto the line.
“Hey, Adam, it’s me. I’m headed to the pharmacy to pick up that prescription you called in.
I’ll probably be back before you get home from your parents’, but just in case, I’ll be home soon. Love you, bye.”
No. No, no, no. My stomach sank. Prescription? There was no prescription, but at least I knew where to start looking.
Please, don’t let me be too late…