Page 42 of Who We Were

Torn from her mates in the middle of the night.

Torn from the natural connection between person and instinct.

Torn between running to their front door and pleading to be loved or striking a match and burning their home to the ground for their rejection of a shattered mate.

Samuel knew, I realize.

Almost a week and they haven't shown themselves.

If that's not a whole pack rejection, I don't know what is.

I let the ringing drive me off the edge of madness and into the depths of numbness.

I'll just have to hope that this pain can't find me in my sleep.

29

SAMUEL

Idon't know why I'm home. I should really be hiding out at my office at this point. I've been working so damn hard to avoid my pack mates since last Saturday, and I'm pretty fucking sure my time is about up.

Like a shady ass teenager, I'm sitting on the edge of my bed with my head in my palms. I've had a constant headache since I tried to drown my sorrows at the damn karaoke bar, but it's probably because I've done my best to avoid being sober.

I don't know who I am anymore.

I can hardly make it through the mornings without throwing back a glass of whatever poison is closest. My office stash has never been so fucking low. It's embarrassing.

I'm a grown ass alpha, and I'm barely functioning. To make matters worse, I can't even fucking pinpoint what's wrong. I don't think I want to know.

My alpha is constantly battering against the cage I've shoved him into since seeing Amaya a few weeks ago. I should never have allowed her to sign those documents.

I mean, what the fuck?! Herdaddyhad to have told her I was her neighbor. Why the hell would he let her move in down the street after his alpha dad posturing over her childish tears?

"Open up, asshole!"

I sigh and stand with my handle of cheap whiskey in hand, having known this was going to happen.So much for staying in my room for the past three hours.

I'm too tired to give Oliver a glare, instead I push past him while gulping down another fiery sip.

"The fuck is that?"

Hissing at the burn, I trudge down the stairs into the main room. "None ya," I huff.Oh, look at that, I'm still a dick.

"God, you're an ass. Pack meeting," Oli growls before shoving me into my usual recliner. "Don't get comfortable."

In place of a snarky remark, I take another gulp, only to have my coping mechanism snatched out of my hands by Emmett.

"What the?—"

"Shut up!" my fellow alpha snaps. I raise a brow, annoyed and secretly impressed at his show of backbone. "Here's what's gonna happen."

I point at my bottle now looking lonely on the coffee table. "Can Ipleasehave that for this conversation?"

"No," Oliver says quickly, before turning his attention to Emmett.

Emmett glares at me while pacing the length of the living room. "We need to talk."

"And I can't do that with a drink?"

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