Chapter 29 Bonnie
Bonnie
Ithink over what I’ve discovered, and my temper sizzles then ignites. Nothing really enrages me like a rapist. And I’ve had three of them with me this whole time.
How unfortunate.
Dad must not have known; he wouldn’t have sent them, even if he did think I could handle it. He’s an alpha who believes that what you learn on the journey is the most important part, but there are some crimes for which there is no forgiveness.
I stare at Rojer’s back as we make the last few dozen feet of our trip. Once we’re back, my responsibility for them ends. And I am not responsible for anything that happens, and I can’t wait to get rid of these assholes.
Well then, a few more minutes to go, and then I can walk away from it all.
It’s been a long, arduous trip, and the last couple of days have been fraught with accusation and suspicion. I was surprised they think that it’s me trying to kill them.
Ridiculous.
I’ve kept them alive all this time. I worked my butt off to stop Pack Prince killing them. All my skills have been employed to prevent their demise. I went to war with these alphas, and I won.
Nathan, Kevin, and Rojer stomp into the clearing where we first set off, bitterly complaining and threatening lawsuits. The cars aren’t here, but they will be here in about two hours or whenever I decide to make the call.
The cabin is sitting there so familiar. But it feels like a lifetime ago.
So much has changed, and the peace here that I normally feel hasn’t manifested.
Instead, there’s a pain and a hurt, and I don’t want to look at this cabin or this clearing.
I don’t want to see the markers or the trail entrance.
I don’t want to look at the signs or see the cars.
Especially my car, with its phone and reality.
The betas go to the cabin and collapse on the porch, groaning as they pull their arms free of their backpacks. I quickly pull out the hidden key from under the porch railing and open the cabin. I go inside and retrieve my car keys and several cold drinks, which I set down on the porch.
For a second, I stand there, staring at them. The Prince pack must feel me watching them, they look up and stare at me. There’s a whole lot of words not being said, and I know we need to have a discussion at some point.
It’s over, and I don’t think any of us were ready for it to be.
Since the accusation was made, I've remained distant with them, resolutely keeping myself apart from the entire group, and I know that they resent it. Truthfully, standing here in the light of day, I can still feel the tingle of Kota’s lips pressed to my neck, and it almost breaks my resolve.
I swallow hard and look away, frustrated and a little afraid of the despair that’s gripping me. They will go back to their lives, and I will go back to mine. We don’t belong together.
I’m not the omega they need.
And yet, the last three weeks have had me wondering if I could be wrong. If maybe we’re more suited than I ever dreamed.
I don’t want to miss them again.
“Who wants a hot shower?” I ask, forcing myself to stop thinking about the non-existent future. “We’ve got three stalls behind the cabin. I’m going to ring for the cars and get some coffee and food ready. Just relax, take it easy. Two more hours, and we’re all free.”
The alpha asshole trio look at me in expectation. Of course, they are going to pounce on it.
“We want it!” Kevin barks, glaring around, almost daring anyone to argue with him.
“Have at it,” I say and wave them towards the shower.
I turn away, and Pack Prince follow me. I can feel them the way I can feel my family's dogs at my heels when I walk.
The betas groan and chat softly in their exhaustion while the alphas make their way to the shower.
Pack Prince lean on the rails, carefully putting their bags down and watching me warily.
Vale opens his mouth, but I turn on my heel, walking away before he can speak. I don’t know if I have the strength to say goodbye to them.
“I want a hamburger,” Quincy says, laughing.
“I want a beer,” Justin says.
Quincy, Kendall, and Justin sit together and laugh. It’s one of my favourite parts of the trip, seeing how they have gotten quiet in their souls, how happy they are for the simple things in life.
I walk over to my Land Rover, opening it and searching until I find my other phone.
I power it up, leaning in the car so I don’t have to look at them, then dig into the glove box and pull out a suppressant patch, slapping it on my arm and effectively muting my scent in seconds.
I will never admit that Alpha Wise has created an absolute godsend of a gift when they created these patches.
I find it ironic that they were created what helped me hide all these years.
I like this pack. I don’t want this to end, and yet, here we are at the finale, and it’s time to say goodbye again.
“Hey, can you send in the cars?” I growl into the phone when someone answers. “God, send the cars and save me.”
“You're alive!” Meg cries out and pretends to sob.
“I won’t be for long.”
“Sure, you will. How did it go?”
I let out a long-suffering sigh. “It has been an effort in control and tolerance and not exploding in temper.”
“Aw, poor baby, do you need some TLC? Should I let your dad know you are getting too old for this life?”
“Oh, my god, don’t you dare; he will never let me hear the end of it. Just be a nice person and send the cars, you bitch.”
Meg laughs. “Kay, see you soon, princess.”
I hang up on her, exasperated all over again but relieved to hear her voice.
I turn and gasp when I find the four alphas I have been dodging so effectively right up in my space. Dakota reaches out and bracelets my wrist, tugging me into his chest.
“Bonnie, we want to talk to you,” he says in a hush.
“Really? Now? Don’t you have a job to finish?” I say the words bitterly and regret it immediately.
Vale’s eyes sharpen.
“You know, your merger,” I say with outward calm while, inside, I’m quaking. How do they make me so nervous? I’m not afraid of anyone or anything, but these four turn me into a bumbling omega catching her first alpha scent again.
“We have it handled,” Cyn says in a soft murmur.
“I’m so glad you guys came. Honestly. I am glad we got to know each other.”
“You are?” Rory asks.
“Of course, I hated the way we left things. Now we can go our separate ways peacefully. Like a chapter that’s closed.”
“I-” Vale starts to say, but he’s interrupted by a strangled scream.
I see movement beyond the pack and let out a cry as I lunge towards a very naked Rojer. His face is swollen, his eyes and lips puffy. He collapses to his knees, and I see that half his body is covered in bee stings.
“Oh, god, shit. What happened?” I shake my head. “Just lie down, try to keep breathing,” I say urgently.
His eyes are wide and terrified.
“Where’s your EpiPen?” I ask him, then twist around, looking at the frozen betas. “Call an ambulance. My phone is in my truck.”
He gurgles, and his eyes look around wildly. Whatever hope he had flares and fades as he remembers.
“Your pack?” I prompt.
He nods.
I turn, “Where’s his pack?” I ask Quincy, who vomits. We waste precious seconds while he struggles to stop.
“It disappeared at the cliffs, remember,” Cyn says. He can’t take his eyes off Rojer.
I whip around again, looking at the pack. “Does anyone have an EpiPen?”
“No.”
No one does.
How absolutely terrible.
I sit with Rojer, holding his hand.
When he gets close, I lean down and whisper in his ear.
“I hope you suffer in your next life as much as you made those girls suffer.” His eyes widen, and he thrashes, panicking, but there’s nothing he can do. Nothing anyone can do. He quickly passes away.
When he’s still, I get up and wipe my eyes and go sit on the porch.
“Are you okay, Bonnie?” Quincy whispers and pats my back. “It’s not your fault.”
My eyes widen, and I whirl around. “Where is Nathan and Kevin?” I ask in a horrified whisper.
“They didn’t make it,” Quincy says, weeping. “Oh, god, they didn’t make it either.”
“What?” I shriek and rush around the back of the cabin, seeing the mass of swarming bees and the two swollen and bloated bodies lying on the ground.
“Oh, god!” I cry out.
Rory pulls me into his arms and drags me away from the site.
He holds me in his embrace as if he’s protecting me from the world.
I can hear the noise around us, but I ignore it all, letting it wash over me and just breathe in the scent of him.
He’s so strong and warm. I close my eyes, the scents of the pack wrapping around us.
This is it. This is goodbye.
The cars and ambulances arrive, but Vale pulls me onto his lap, holding me while the coroner inspects them, and finally packs up the bodies.
“It was just an accident. A tragic, tragic accident,” the police officer says to me and pats my back in sympathy.
The police leave, the ambulances with them, leaving just the two limos and my car.
I stand up, watching as Quincy, Justin, and Kendall get into their limo and leave.
Now it’s just me and them. The silence around us is thick, and I have to fight hard to blink back tears.
Vale makes a sound, and I turn to him, knowing I look awful.
“I am so sorry it ended this way,” I whisper.
He steps into me, wrapping his arms around me. “Bonnie, it wasn’t your fault.”
I wrap my arms around him and inhale that deep scent of him.
This is it. This is the end. I have my revenge. I’ve had my fun. It’s time to let go.
“I know,” I say with cool confidence.
I step back and look them over one by one.
“It wasn’t my fault. I hear you. It was good to meet you and get to know you, Pack Prince. Have a wonderful life.” I sound coldly professional, trying and fighting to maintain the distance I need to survive this.
Vale shakes his head. “This isn’t the end.”
I toss my hair over my shoulder. “Yes, it is. You are not my alphas. And this game was a hell of a lot of fun, but it’s over, and you lost.”
Dakota is confused. He’s staring at me, and I can see him figuring it all out. He’s my smart alpha.
“Happy hunting, Alphas,” I blow them a kiss, get into my car, and drive away. When I look back in the rear view mirror, they are still watching.
“And that is how you get the job done, boys.”
My phone rings, and I put it on speaker. “Mission complete, darling?”
“Yes, Dad. It’s taken care of. And I got to steal their mark,” I let out a giggle and pull my hair tie out, letting my hair loose.
“Good job. Come home, your mother’s got a new recipe she’s perfected just for you. I can’t wait to hear all about your adventures.”
“I’ll be there in two hours. I just want to stop and have a shower at Meg’s house before I swing home.”
“No worries, and, baby, did you have fun?”
I think about the alphas and their frustration when their murderous attempts failed. The challenge and excitement and the triumph when I stole their kills. “I really did.”