Page 35 of Forget

Handing me a paper plate and a slice of my favorite pepperoni and ham pizza, I take a bite by rote. If I don’t eat now, I probably won’t. Caelin holds in his questions even as his left leg jiggles from side to side with nerves.

He knows better than to push me, because I won’t say another word until we’re all together.

My jaw moves thoroughly as I chew, barely tasting my food as I finish each bite before taking another. It’s fuel and necessary, but I’m not enjoying it. I don’t deserve to with the conversation I need to have with my pack.

Evan and Domh race back down the stairs at the same time, pulling down T-shirts over basketball shorts. None of us plan to go out again, unless there’s an emergency. Tossing my emptyplate onto the coffee table, I slowly and methodically wipe my hands with my napkin, gathering my strength and composure.

Picking up a bottle of water on the table, I open the top and drink, my throat working as I swallow before standing.

“Why does it feel like someone died?” Evan asks, slowly sitting down. He doesn’t reach for a slice of pizza, his caramel gaze focused on me as he throws out a heavily tattooed arm, as if to tell me to get on with it.

God, we’re all so dramatic.

“No one died,” I grumble. Evan shrugs, folding his arms, letting me stare at the scruff on his face before I blow out a breath. “I owe you all an apology, though.”

Domh snorts, raking his fingers through his blonde slicked back hair. His tatted digits curl into a fist, though, the increasing tension affecting him. He can handle almost anything, but being at odds with us or fighting within the pack sets him off.

“For what?” Domh asks hoarsely. “What did you do?”

“I fucked over Caelin and my scent match almost a year ago,” I sigh. “She’s Cian’s daughter.”

“What? What did you do?” Caelin asks, eyes wild. This is how I die. Thank God only he and I have weapons on us right now.

I didn’t have a chance to put them up, and I wouldn’t ever use them on my family.

“I don’t know how badly I fucked up,” I say with a wince. “I’m no longer allowed in the room with her. I found her in Minneapolis in November of last year, because I recognized the birthmark on her hand. Her mother also enclosed an older photo of her with the letter the boss found, but there was no doubt in my mind that it was her. Remember, Cian’s wife chose to hide the letter, which was just really dumb on her part.”

At their nods, I continue. Cian was infuriated, and I helped kill her soon after we began looking for Aisling. There was noway that bitch was going to live in the same house as her and Cian.

“I followed her, and unfortunately scared her, because the wind brought her scent right to me. I got really territorial and growly, because I never expected the boss’ daughter would be meant for me. It was a cool day, and she had bags with her,” I say.

“It was her eighteenth birthday. Her shit went all over the sidewalk as I pinned her to the wall, but she held a knife to my throat. Fuck, all that blonde hair, with an attitude miles long. She was incredible.”

“So what’s the problem?” Domh asks slowly, seeing I’m not done.

“There were clothes, a blanket, and sex toys amongst her purchases. I got irrationally angry when I saw them,” I admit. “She didn’t show any sign that she knew I was her scent match, while I was dying to tell her. Except, I was there for the boss. Everything was changing too quickly for her as she spoke to him, and she ran.”

“You’re a big guy,” Caelin mutters, gazing up at my six-foot-five frame. I work out every day to stay in shape since I do a variety of jobs for Cian. My pack hasn’t ever complained, but I can see why I scared the shit out of Aisling.

She was alone for a long time.

“Cian and I convinced her to come to stay with him, but I was a dick the entire time she packed her shit. Everything about her tiny apartment pissed me off,” I grumble. “She had the smallest closet you could imagine, and shared the place with two other omegas, though they weren’t around when we went by.”

“You felt protective,” Caelin says slowly.

“Yes,” I growl, making the men in front of me shiver. I’m the largest alpha in our pack, and our pack leader. The shame that’scrawling through my body is cloying and claustrophobic. It feels as if it’s trying to asphyxiate me.

“I was so damn angry that this is how she was living. Homeless, unprotected, working two jobs.”

“Fuck,” Evan mutters, shaking his head. “What happened to her mom? No one ever talks about it.”

“It’s not a pretty story,” I tell him. “She was sick, which is why she reached out to Cian. Not long after, Aisling came home and found her dead. I guess it was an aneurysm. She picked up another job immediately, but didn’t tell anyone her mother had died.”

“Nope,” Domh grunts, standing. “I’m going to need to kill someone, aren’t I?”

“Her landlord kicked her out,” I rasp. “She was sixteen fucking years old. He let himself in because he hadn’t seen her mom recently. The landlord said that even though the rent was paid up, she wasn’t on the lease, and the police backed him up.”

“That’s not entirely the way the law reads on this,” Domh growls. “I’m sure he’s broken a million other laws. I want to make him choke on his mistakes.”

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