Page 6 of Talk About… History

“Doctors’ notes?” What the actual fuck?

“Yeah, they apparently signed forms as your alphas allowing them to remove your birth control at your last exam.”

“Oh my god,” I gasped, horror and fresh waves of betrayal crashing over me. I’d never felt more violated in my life.

“Tell me your heat hasn’t hit?” Maverick begged. “I’ll kill them.”

“No, it’s a month away,” I reassured him. “I may kill them myself. Why would a doctor do that without me asking for it? Hell, even discussing it with me.”

My mind flickered back to Brad filling out the paperwork because I was feeling off that day. He was asking questions out loud and writing down answers.

I fucking signed it at the bottom. Had trusted him completely. What an idiot.

“I’m going to be sick,” I managed to choke out before rushing down the hallway to the bathroom. I barely managed to open the toilet before I emptied the meager contents of my stomach.

It seemed like every second that passed in this place the more secrets were being revealed. They’d chosen me, used me, and if not for my brothers would have likely broken me completely.

Thank the universe I wasn’t pregnant and tied to them forever.

After I brushed my teeth again I finally walked out, my hands shaking and nerves completely shot.

“I want to leave.”

“The guys took down the first batch of boxes, about two more loads and we’re gone,” Sidney promised. She handed me a cup of water and urged me to sit down.

“Even after being a shit friend, you’re being amazing.”

She smiled sadly. “I was hurt when you left, but I understood. Now, I get why we’ve been so in and out of touch.”

“Yeah,” I managed, swallowing down another sip to avoid thinking about the shitshow that had become my life. “I have no job, Sidney. Nothing to bring home but a few boxes and the cold, hard truth I couldn’t see until tonight.”

“You have yourself and your dignity. You’re going to reclaim your life and start building a new one. You have history with us and in Rockwood. A family who loves you and old friends who will be so fucking happy to see you again.”

Every word she spoke helped chase a bit of the worry away. She continued telling me about the changes back home, from small gossip to stores opening, to things shutting down due to hard times.

“What about the corner bookstore?” I asked. It was our favorite hangout and I think we single-handedly kept it in business.

“Closed,” she sighed, not quite meeting my gaze. The guys came in to take some boxes, giving us the side eye at our somber looks but heading right back out.

I couldn’t shake Sidney’s words… just how bad had things gone in Rockwood after I left? Guilt started to build as I let those words sink in. My dads had started an Artisan Fair, a gathering twice a year that let a bunch of artisans gather and share their work. It started small, but grew over the years until it brought in people from states away.

Hell, it brought in new business as the town became known for the small businesses and hand-crafted treasures they could find here. It had taken Rockwood Valley from a tiny town, to a quaint tourist attraction. The money it brought in during the fair was amazing, the tourists that stopped in year round kept it thriving.

Apparently, it was bad now. After tragedy took my dads, the fair didn’t continue. I guess slowly the town started to suffer when no one stepped up to continue on the tradition. I’d been so lost in my own grief I never considered the ramifications of that.

I had my own issues to worry about now, but somehow it felt a whole lot less shitty to focus on Rockwood Valley’s problems.

The guys came up for a third time, only two boxes remaining.

“It’s time. Anything else you need to do?” Cameron asked.

I glanced around the apartment that now felt more like a prison than a home. My gaze landed on the notebook Brad kept on the counter for grocery lists and opened it. I clicked the pen and wrote the last thing I ever intended to say to them.

Fuck you. I hope you have miserable lives now that you’ve lost the one omega who will ever truly be loyal to assholes like you.

With that I dropped the pen, grabbed my purse, put my key on top of the note, and walked out of my old life forever.

Avery

---