Chapter 26 #2
“She does grass roots work for us on the streets. It’s pretty rare that she’s at the outreach center.
She’s great at working with people in the community, but she’s very passionate about everyone following the rules,” Mrs. Torres explains.
“She’s terrified we’re going to be shut down over something that’s preventable.
The police commissioner’s minions have picked her up twice and arrested her for loitering. ”
“I really hate that man and we’ve never even met before,” I growl.
“Lyle went down to the station and got her out the first time, and the next time she had to stay the weekend due to a clerical error. They refused her a phone call.”
The horror on my face is clear as day and she nods as if I had said something profound.
“She knew very well who was calling you when he began speaking. Erin wanted to know why you didn’t introduce yourself as his omega but—”
“Why is my worth only connected to who I’m bonded with?” I ask, the words bursting out of me.
Troy claps slowly for me and I bite my lip, embarrassed.
“You’re absolutely right. Please, name drop like crazy if it’ll keep you safe, Alisa. None of us mind at all. You are incredible, standing on your own two feet. I’m glad you know who the fuck you are.”
“Language,” Mrs. Torres says mildly. “How are you doing over there?”
“I have sixty done, but I didn’t realize how late it was. I think Troy and I can make another thirty if I show him how to make the bags and I fill them.”
“That’ll keep us busy for a while. Thanks, Alisa.”
Troy watches intently as I show him how to make the first bag, and then he’s off and running. He’s so good with his hands…
I think I’m officially alpha drunk. Is that a thing?
An hour later, we’re walking out of the building and I glance in the direction of the shelter.
“People found out he was here,” Troy says softly, talking about the doctor.
“He doesn’t want to leave and texted me while I was with you that he’ll take a ride share back.
I walked past the little clinic room on my way to check on you, and there was a long line.
Most of it is various types of skin infections and nasty coughs. ”
Thinking back to the bags, I remember the pairs of heavy socks I placed in them. The problem is they don’t last long in the elements, and then your shoes scrape along your heels. My heart hurts.
“I’m glad he’s there,” I rasp, my voice cracking.
“Me too. I think he’s considering coming in a couple of days a week.”
I hope he does.
Troy walks me to his vehicle, and I get in the passenger seat, ready to eat something before my therapy appointment.
“Hey, can you do me a favor?” Troy asks.
Laying my head back on the headrest, I turn to look at him and hum in agreement. Arguing with people makes my spoons disappear. I’ve been reading about masking and how difficult it can be to be yourself when you’re so used to pleasing others.
If that’s not me in a nut shell, I don’t know what is.
“Will you tell me if you like your therapist or not?”
“Of course.” He’s still having trouble sleeping yet he’s running around as if he’s well rested. I don’t understand how he can do it. “Doc promised to kill him for me if he steps out of line.”
“Definitely a step in the right direction then.” Troy grins at me as he drives us home. I know he needs to head straight to a game tonight after dropping me off, and then he’s on a bus for Nashville.
He’s burning the wick at both ends at this point.
“I’m walking you in and then grabbing my bags.” The vehicle rocks slightly as he puts it in park, and I push my door open. “Let me get the door, baby.”
Smiling, I watch as he turns off the car and jogs around the front of it to help me out. He snuggles me against his body as he locks up and we take the short walk up to the door.
“Home, sweet home,” he says, letting us in.
“I don’t think anyone is home,” I say, taking in the armed security system and how empty the house feels.
Putting in the numbers to disengage the system, I watch as Troy takes the stairs two at a time to get his things.
I have a gun at the base of my back and nothing else.
I’m used to there being someone at home typically, unless they’re going for a run.
The sun is beginning to set, and I don’t know why it’s creeping me out.
Pulling out my phone, I see there’s a text message in our pack chat.
Easton
I’m at work till late tonight. I wasn’t supposed to go in. I was planning to watch the game with you, Alisa. Angry face emoji
Silas
I’ll be home in forty minutes as long as I don’t kill the woman hosting this dinner party. I’m going to create a We Hate People club and once a week, we’re going to break shit in the shed. I’m almost ready to begin conducting meetings.
Giggling, I begin turning on lights as I move through the house. I already know Lyle is probably stuck at court. Someone would have told me already if he was sent to jail due to pissing off the judge. I’m going to have to be a big girl and be alright being home alone.
Even if it might rain and I hate thunder and lightning that isn’t attached to my alpha. Fuck. I wonder if my therapist will judge me if I take his video call under a blanket fort?
Rolling my eyes at myself, I step into the bright kitchen and begin to make myself a girl dinner. Protein and cheese should hold me over with a lemon square.
It’ll have to.
Silas
Should I make the shed a sign for our club?
Easton and Silas have a new hobby it seems. They have taken to driving past thrift stores and garage sales to pick up items for the ‘rage’ shed. Silas cleaned it all out, stripped the wood, and is even painting it too.
Me
Does a bear shit in the woods?
Troy says this and it always makes me laugh. Taking my plate with me, I hunt down my tumbler and refill that as well.
“Headed out, baby! Love you!” Troy calls out. I notice he does it with the door closed so no one will hear and I wave as he unlocks the door. He looks like a pack mule, despite only leaving for a night. “Please reset the alarm?”
Placing everything out on the table, I hurry over to him and give him a kiss, moving near the key pad to do as he asks.
“You’re the best. Bye, baby.”
Between one blink and the next, he’s gone, and the lock turns behind him. Pressing the numbers for the alarm, I sigh with relief as it beeps and the light turns on to tell me it’s active. This thing always makes me nervous.
Frowning as rain begins to ping against the window panes, I glance out the window to find that Troy’s vehicle is already gone. I guess I stood here thinking longer than I realized.
Walking back to the living room, I curl up on the couch and pop a piece of cheese into my mouth before checking my phone again.
Easton
This saying has Troy written all over it. I heard thunder outside. Is it raining at the house yet?
Me
Just started. I need to login for my appointment soon. Fuck, that one was loud.
Silas
That’s it, I’m going to cause a city-wide war and kill Donna Ilaria and her son.
Me
Silas! Put the butter knife away!
I can’t stop grinning as I watch the rain come down in the backyard. I’m sitting on the couch along the side of the room, allowing me to see everything still. I’m on edge and this at least helps me watch my back.
Checking the phone, I take a sip of my water before taking a deep breath and logging into the appointment. It’s a video chat, and I watch the time hour glass spin as I wait for Dr. Kyrell Mac Cárthaigh to hop into the call.
Lightning fills the room, causing me to jump, and I scream as the thunder follows soon after.
“Damn. You good?”
Breathing hard, my eyes move to the screen to see concerned hazel eyes watching me.
“I don’t like storms when I’m home alone,” I breathe. “Use that information against me and I’ll be pissed.”
“I need to know that,” Dr. Mac Cárthaigh grunts. “Let me grab the ear plugs in case those screams happen again.”
My eyes widen until I see the mischief sparkling back at me and roll them instead.
“Hilarious. I’m laughing on the inside.”
“Good. You have snark. Dr. Walsh said he couldn’t tell me much about you, because he preferred I figure it out on the fly.”
“Of course he did,” I mutter.
“What do you think you need?”
“I want to be able to learn how not to freeze when someone is trying to make me feel small,” I sigh. The rain has me on edge, and it’s making me more truthful than normal. “I used to be able to dish it out with the best of them, but I can’t anymore. I don’t want to be that person anymore.”
“What kind of person is that?”
“The one who hurts others.”
“Setting a boundary for how you want to be treated isn’t going to hurt anyone. If it does, then the issue doesn’t lie with you.”
“Maybe…”
“Give me an example of this?”
“I can either give you the one where I melted down and went into emotional shock or the one today where someone thought I was a high school student and began interrogating me for helping at a homeless shelter.”
“Ah. Both sound as if they sucked.”
“Hmm. Well I’m definitely not sixteen anymore,” I muse. “That age seriously sucked. Thank fuck it’s over.”
“You’re supposed to be a kid at sixteen, Alisa. How did it suck?”
“No comment and also, that was judgemental,” I reply. “A lot of things have sucked for me and that’s not up for debate.”
“And there you have a boundary. I didn’t burst into flames and I can damn well tell you my feelings aren’t hurt.”
“Huh.” He’s right, he didn’t burst into flames.
His button down shirt, suspenders, and glasses all seem to be just fine.
Even his dirty blonde hair isn’t on fire.
That’s all I can see as he’s behind his desk, smiling smugly as he sips what could be sweet tea.
I doubt he’d be drinking whiskey during a call. “Go on.”
Maybe he isn’t a quack after all.