77. Chapter Seventy-Six
Chapter Seventy-Six
Xane
As far as mistakes go, letting Kian drag us out here feels pretty colossal, but it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever done wrong. By far, the worst was not listening to Riley when he needed me the most. I shrugged off his concerns because I didn’t want to think about that girl.
I never wanted to think about the night she was brought into our lives ever again.
I thought Riley was worried over nothing, afraid because of how she made him feel, not because of any actual fucking threat.
I told myself he’d get over it.
He just needed more time.
I should have listened.
If I had, maybe he wouldn’t be such a fucking mess now.
All the drinking and drugs we used to do when we partied hard, that was over a long time ago.
Those were binges, and they included women. Once or twice a week, we’d lose ourselves to all of that shit. None of it meant anything. It was all supposed to be fun.
Maybe it was.
She changed all of that.
A single teenager made me see how dangerous our actions were, and that wasn’t her intention at all. She had other reasons for what she did. Reasons we couldn’t see until it was too late.
Sighing, I check on Riley to find him still sleeping soundly, curled in a ball inside his tent.
Hopefully, he won’t wake up until the sun is rising.
I doubt I’ll be that lucky, but I can cross my fingers.
Trick follows Kian into their tent, and the lantern shows it’s a tight fit.
Can’t really sit up inside them, unless you’re right in the middle.
They’re bickering, obviously, because that’s what they do.
It’s always over nothing.
They aren’t talking about her.
She’s the only thing they can seem to agree on.
Scarlett Faris. Musician. Fan. Omega.
At least she’s age appropriate, but everything else about her is a massive red flag.
Why did she have to be a fucking Omega?
I almost believed she was fated to us.
But I don’t believe the fates would be cruel enough to send us Riley’s worst nightmare in a pretty package.
There’s no way in hell he would ever accept an Omega as our true mate.
Not after everything that girl put him through.
He kept himself away from Scarlett all day, and all night.
Almost as if he could sense what she was.
I trust his instincts more than I trust my own.
If he believes she’s bad news, she’s got to be bad news.
I sit back down between the tents, listening to Kian and Trick bicker, and Riley snore.
It’s on me to protect our pack. I’ll do whatever it takes.