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I just know it was selfish.

“No,” he eventually says, as everyone else quietly observes us. “You’re better than I ever could be. Don’t stop being you.”

11

AERIN

Ilay quietly on my side, waiting for Shane to fall asleep.

After the intimidating meal with the Raleighs in the dining room, we returned to our room and got into bed. With only one bed and hardwood floor to choose from, Shane snapped at me to stop being stupid and get into the bed when I hesitated, reminding me of how he’d treated me before.

That’s the Shane I’m used to. Not the one who cared.

His soft snoring fills the room. It’s even and steady, signs he’s sleeping deeply, but I wait for another five minutes, just to be sure he’s deep,deepasleep, before I lift the cover and slide out from under the sheets.

I move slowly, carefully placing one foot on the floor, then the other, trying not to make the tiniest sound.

There was no way I was going to sleep in one of Shane’s T-shirts when he offered. I refused and got under the sheets fully dressed.

I’d closed my eyes, held my breath, and waited to see what he would do.

He hadn’t tried to touch me.

All he’d done was get into the other side of the bed—I’d known when the mattress springs had squeaked—and shifted around for a bit.

I hadn’t expected to fall asleep.

I’d known I would wait for him to fall asleep then get up, return to the same room where the omegas were, and get us all out of here.

But the last twenty-four hours must have exhausted me more than I’d realized.

I have no clue what time it is. Just that moonlight is spilling in from the thin curtains covering the balcony window, and it’s night.

I tiptoe to the door, which creeping and sneaking while six months pregnant isnoteasy.

Especially when, inches away, Shane is snoring.

Slowly, I curl my fingers around the door handle, holding my breath as I turn it and pull.

As I pull the door the rest of the way open and place one foot into the dark, quiet hallway, a door creaks open and I instantly yank my foot back inside and close the door.

I stand there, straining to listen. Still with my hand gripping the handle, waiting for whoever is out there to go away.

Someone coughs in the hallway. Not close to my door, but they might still hear me if I leave now.

Behind me, Shane continues to snore, but that could change any moment.

I’m frozen by indecision.

What do I do?

Risk running into whoever that was in the hallway or do I go out through the balcony window?

More coughing sounds from the hallway and I mentally curse whoever it is because they are showing no sign of returning to their room or going away.

I give it another thirty seconds. When another cough comes, I close the door and twist around to look at the balcony window.

I didn’t want to leave without the omegas, but I might have to.

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