Page 84 of Scent of Home

Oh, fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I blink back tears and clear my throat.

“Locke!”

He ignores me and starts to frantically claw at the walls. He’s going to hurt himself.

“LOCKE!”

He still ignores me. I put the bite of my alpha bark into my voice, hating myself for doing it. Hating that it’s necessary.

“Locke, you are going to stop hurting yourself and trying to escape and face me. I want you to follow all my instructions.”

He turns back, his face full of resignation and fear. Full body tremors shake him while he shrinks in on himself. It’s worse than the blind panic and rage. So much worse.

I take his hand.

“Come with me.” I keep my voice even and calm.

I lead him from the room and through the house. When we get outside, I let go of his hand. Finn hands me a pair of his pants and his shoes. He yanks off his own hoodie and pulls it over Locke’s head.

With a growled command, I help him dress and then gesture to the forest.

“Let's go for a walk.”

Locke glances back at me. The panic is still there. My Locke is not in control yet. But I know a trick or two. I don’t let any judgement or emotion on my face, I just keep a calm voice and talk like nothing is wrong.

“Come on. No one will touch you. We can just walk.”

Locke’s grateful expression is so raw that it’s painful.

I glance back at Finn. “You need to clear the house and get rid of the scent of that before Bray and Shane get back or you’ll have two rabid alphas.”

“I’ve got it,” Finn says and jogs back into the house.

I turn and follow after my omega. Whatever he needs, I will give it to him. If he needs space and time to run, he can have it. If he needs me to hunt down whoever hurt him, I will do that, too. Willingly. With enthusiastic pleasure.

He leads us up the path Shane pointed out to us when we first came here. He talked about a waterfall at the top of the trail.

It’s picturesque, and any other day, I would enjoy it, but right now, I barely see it. The waterfall roars, and all around it is green. I find a fallen tree and perch on it whilst I watch him pace.

Locke stops and stares at the waterfall for a long time. I stand a few feet behind him, waiting. I’ll wait forever.

“Do you hate me now? Now you know I’m broken.” His voice is bitter, full of self-loathing.

“Nope.”

“Do you pity me?”

“Not at all.”

He makes a sound of disbelief. “I attacked my alphas.”

“You did.”

“And you don’t care? I’m unreliable, I’m dangerous.”

“So are we. And I’m impressed you managed to get Bray so hard. He wasn’t expecting it.”

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