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Mack left nearly fifteen minutes ago and there's still no sign of him.

Did they kill him like they killed Shane?

I debate what to do for another five minutes. Stay and wait a little longer or risk running into Franklin and have him carry out his threat when he warned me not to go wandering around?

Another minute passes and I can’t sit here anymore.

I’m levering myself up from the bed when the sound of footsteps heading down the hallway makes me pause.

Does that sound like it could be Mack?

Yes.

My stomach grumbles, and I place my hand over it when the sweet and savory scent of bacon and vanilla sugar awakens my hunger.

The footsteps stop right outside my door and it swings open, revealing Mack holding a wooden tray full of breakfast.

He smiles as he steps inside, nudging the door closed with his hip. “We have the usual suspects. A towering stack of crispy bacon—your favorite—pancakes with syrup, scrambled eggs, and orange juice.”

I chew my lip as he places the tray carefully on the bed. “How about we eat in bed and don’t care about crumbs?”

He’s the same cheerful Mack I fell in love with, but something is wrong.

Why does it feel like something is wrong?

Slowly, his smile fades. “Aerin?”

“Why are you here, Mack?” I whisper.

He crosses over to me as I stand beside the bed, rubbing his hands up and down my arms. “To be with you.”

“But—”

He kisses me. “Let me feed you, and we can share a shower after if you want. I was on the road for hours from Winter Lake and I wouldn’t mind a soak in a tub if there is one.”

When has Mack ever cared about soaking in the tub?

Easy. He hasn’t.

This feels an awful lot like distraction talking to me.

My unease grows. “You’re trying to avoid talking about something important. Aren’t you?”

“I’m avoiding talking about something that we can talk about later. And we will. But I just found you again after someone took you from me. I just want to enjoy you for a little while. How about it?”

“What about the omegas?” I ask him quietly, casting a glance at the closed door.

He gives me a reassuring smile. “I have a plan to get them out of here.”

Ishouldpush to know what he’s determined to avoid talking about. And thereisdefinitely avoidance going on here. But I want the same thing he wants. I want to eat with him, hold him, just enjoy being with him for a bit after the world turned upside down and inside out.

He went out to get food for us, and no one tried to kill him—at least, I hope not—which means Franklin must not have a problem with Mack being here.

For now.

“We’ll talk about it later?” I ask.

He laces his fingers with mine. “I promise. Let’s eat before everything gets cold.”

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