Time
A few hours later, my phone dinged.
I patted the mattress, my fingers searching through the discarded snack wrappers until I found it. A text from my Mother. She was summoning me home. I’d been gone too long, and according to her, the house was a wreck.
The bubble had burst.
I slowly eased away from Dane’s heavy arm and navigated around Kade’s sprawled legs. I paused, crouched beside him in the dark, barely breathing. His face was peaceful in sleep—no manic grin, no chaotic energy. Just a man who’d let me into his safe space.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, knowing he couldn’t hear me. Knowing that made it easier to say.
Don’t run when the blanket comes down.
But I was. I was running before the sun could rise and burn away the safety of the fort. Before they could wake up and see the truth all over my face—that I wanted this too much, and I didn’t know how to carry the weight of it.
When I finally stood outside Fort Ghost, the heat of them—of both of them—still followed me.
I looked back one last time, my chest tight. On impulse, I stole one of Dane’s hoodies from the chair, pulled it over my head, and tiptoed toward the door.
Kade’s scent clung to Dane’s like they were inseparable. Because they were. And I greedily wanted them both.
The further I got from them, the heavier my heart felt.
My Omega instincts screamed at me to wait until they woke—to let them know, or at least say goodbye—but I didn’t trust myself to leave if those grey eyes were on me.
Or if Kade’s trusting gaze locked on me.
I had to go now. I needed the distance to clear the fog in my head.
My chin trembled as I rushed out before I could change my mind.
The guards didn’t stop me, though they dipped their chins in a silent, knowing respect as I passed. I didn’t miss the look they shared. They knew exactly whose scent was clinging to the oversized hoodie I was drowning in.
I gripped the hem of the fabric as I hopped into the Wuber.
I’m not running away… I just need some time.
At least that’s what I told myself. I refused to look back as the Wuber driver sped away, leaving the Alpha and his ghost behind.