Page 78 of Alpha Theo

Sometimes it fucking hurts to look at my sister. The older she gets, the more she looks like Mom.

“Quinn, is that you?” Dad calls from the kitchen.

“Yeah!” she chirps as he appears in the doorway.

Dad looks from Quinn to me, gesturing. “C’mon, both of you can help me with dinner.”

I blow out a breath. I don’t know what kind of fucked up ‘family bonding’ Dad’s trying to force here, but it makes me anxious. When things are calm at home, I’m always waiting for the other shoe to drop. I follow Quinn into the kitchen and resume holding things for Dad while he preps the meal.

I can only think about one thing, though. The only girl I’ve ever really cared about, the one I lost before I ever had.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Brooke

It feels good to be home. It’s my safe place, my comfort zone. Even though the complex is technically ‘home’ now, it’s not the same as being back here where I grew up. I’ve always loved Summervale.

I haven’t left the house since my dad brought me here on Saturday morning. I think my parents can tell that something’s wrong, but thankfully they’ve given me space and haven’t pried. I’ve been trying to stay busy, cooking with Mom and watching baseball on TV with Dad. Anything to get my mind off of Theo.

At night, when I’m alone with my thoughts, I’m tortured by my memories. I keep replaying them over and over in my mind- how it felt to lay beside him and listen to music when we were in Denver, to let go and take that ski-lift ride up the mountain, that kiss…

I keep trying push out the good memories, to focus on the bad and turn my pain into anger. I have to make myself hate him, because that’s the only way it doesn’t hurt. He called me a bitch, left me stranded on the side of the road. Rather than coming back for me, he got drunk and hooked up with Sutton. Even if I could’ve gotten past the other stuff, that last infraction is unforgivable. It proves that I didn’t mean a thing to him.

He meant so much to me. More than I even realized, until it was all over. I feel so despondent, so numb, so broken. At least the full moon run’s tonight. For a few hours, I’ll be able to get out of my own head, give myself over to my wolf. Wander the forest alive and free.

“Brooke, you ready to go?” I hear my mom call up the stairs.

I roll over in my bed, throwing the covers off. I came up here to take a nap before the run, but sleep hasn’t come easily the past few nights. Theo’s texts have made it even harder. He keeps sending me messages saying that he’s sorry and wants to talk. I keep ignoring them.

“Yeah,” I call back, pulling myself out of bed. I head to the bathroom to put in my contact lenses before coming downstairs, finding my parents seated side by side on the living room couch.

“Alpha Anders has to be happy about it,” I hear my mom say to Dad as I walk up behind them. “Especially after he’s been away for so long.”

“Who?” I ask.

Mom turns to look at me over the back of the couch while Dad rises to his feet.

“Theo came back for the run,” she says casually.

I swear my heart stops beating.

“They’re going to make the announcement tonight about Cory taking Joe’s place as Beta, so he came to show his support.” Dad holds a hand out to Mom to help her up.

“I think it’s great!” Mom chirps, taking my dad’s hand and rising to stand. “I mean I’m sure the squad keeps him busy, but it’s nice that he was able to get away to celebrate the occasion with his pack.”

They keep talking, but I don’t hear it. My entire body has gone numb. My ears are ringing. My mind spins.Theo’s back for the run? Tonight? He’s here?I feel like I’m going to be sick.

“Honey? Are you okay?” My mom’s voice cuts through the white noise in my head as I draw a ragged breath, anchoring myself back in reality.

“Huh?” I blink.

She approaches me, sets a hand on my shoulder. “Are you alright?”

I swallow hard, nodding. My eyes meet hers and they’re clouded with concern.

“Yeah,” I breathe. “I’m, uh… I’m actually not feeling well. I think I’m gonna stay in tonight, skip the run.”

“Ah, come on,” Dad pipes up, walking over to join us. “You were so excited for the run!”

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