Page 112 of Nest Of Lies

What if I say something, and they agree? What if they ditch me? They might decide they hate me. So I hold my silence and cling to the miserable knowledge that when the pack finds their omega, they will leave me for her.

Zaden is the voice of reason, trying to pull me out of it. But Valen just ignores my silence, pretending it isn’t even there.

As days bleed together, it gets easier to slip deeper into my mind. They get more desperate, and I want to soothe them, but I can’t. I’m so tired all the time.

After a week, I notice that they have all taken a step back. They keep whispering in corners. They are going to leave me soon.

I know they will. I would. The result is I just feel even lonelier, which has me retreating deeper. Why does loving someone hurt so much?

Mills comes to me first and gently pulls me to my feet. He leads me into the kitchen.

“I had it remodelled. I didn’t want you to have the memories here, but if it’s too much, we can leave. We can find somewhere else. It will be fine, Lia. I promise. We will protect you.”

He pauses and then seems to lose his words.

“Please, Lia. I’ll do anything. Whatever you need, I’ll give it to you.”

He takes me in his arms and pulls me into a hug, but I can’t lift my arms. I want to, but if I start to talk, I’ll shatter. I’ll break apart.

So, I stand there screaming on the inside.

Ranger sits opposite meand just stares. He looks awful, and he’s not smiling. It’s so wrong to see Ranger without a smile.

“We need to go for a drive.”

I shake my head, but he grabs my wrist and drags me out to a waiting car.

We don’t drive for long, but I recognise the hospital when we rock up. Is he committing me? I deserve it, after all, don’t I? I’m so scared they will leave me that I can’t even speak to them.

Ranger drags me up the steps and deep inside, where he stops outside a room. He opens it and pushes me inside.

It takes a moment for my brain to process what I’m seeing, but then my heart leaps, and I scramble to Kyle’s side. Tears run down my cheeks, and I hold on to his hand like it’s a life line.

“He’s in a medically-induced coma, but they are waking him up in a few days. Kyle survived, Lia.”

I don’t look at him, but the walls around me tremble.

“I will do anything you want…anything to make you happy…even this.”

And he backs out of the room. A minute later, two men walk inside, and I start crying even harder. Andy holds me tight and tells me everything is going to be all right.

Bailey smiles and teases me. I can see my eyes on him now. The multitude of similarities between us.

And Ranger stays outside the room aching. I am so hyper aware of him and his pain. It’s as if it’s inside me.

We don’t talk about my pack. Or what happened. I ask questions about Bailey, and I pretend like nothing else has happened, and the pair of them take their cues from me.

But at last, Ranger returns looking bruised and says we need to leave.

I shut down. If I asked to go with Andy, would they let me?

The bond thrums through me, Zaden’s indomitable strength pressing on me. I can’t leave them. He made sure of it.

But when will they leave me?

Ranger takes me home, I barely look at him when I murmur thank you.

“Anytime, Lia. Anything and anytime.”

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