Page 60 of Pack Down Bad

I need to do what I have to do to protect my peace, and that means making space for me to think about everything that has happened and how I feel about things before attempting to move forward. A few days alone would do me good, but first I need to smooth things over with Mia, reassure her that I’m genuinely not holding any grudges over Jason.

I pick up Percy’s phone and stand, offering them an apologetic smile. “I’ll just be a few minutes. Can you guys stick around? After I talk to Mia, I think the four of us should talk.”

The three of them nod solemnly. You’d think I just handed them personal invitations to the guillotine.

Even though they might be upset at first, I’m confident that with a little time that things will turn out okay. After all, fate led me straight to them for a reason.

ChapterThirty

Belle

My call with Mia goes more easily than expected. Luckily, I have her phone number memorized from the years when we went out more often and joked about learning each other’s phone numbers in case things got too crazy and we wound up getting arrested.

Of course, nothing even remotely that crazy ever happened. We usually just got tipsy and took a taxi back to one of our apartments for aSurvivormarathon. There’s nothing like watching people brave the elements from the comfort of your couch with a pint of ice cream in hand.

Mia picks up the phone after the first ring as if she’s been waiting by the phone for my call. She barely lets me get a few words in before she starts rambling about every single thought she had during her short visit to the cabin in her misguided attempt to rescue me initially.

Once she finally gets all the commentary about Knox’s attitude–and abs–out of her system, I rush to get a word in edgewise. I’m desperate to keep my own words short and sweet since I’m making my call from outside in the cold and I’m certain that Rhys is going to storm out and carry my butt back inside any minute.

I manage to spit out the favor I’m asking for, and she readily agrees to drive out here to give me a ride. Based on what I remember about the state of my car after doing the tango with a medium-sized tree, I’m going to need to find a tow truck and a reasonably priced mechanic to try to salvage the thing.

“And you’resureyou don’t need me to bring any police officers?” Mia asks, only half joking.

“Yes,” I reassure her, swallowing my exasperation. It’s not her fault that she doesn’t know the details yet of how I spent the last couple of days with the alphas at my beck and call throughout my heat.

The last thing I want to do is pretend I’ve been held here against my will. I’ve been a very enthusiastic, willing partner for all of the most important parts of this adventure of ours. And aside from the initial lies the guys told me, everything they’ve done and said has seemed sincere.

There’s never been a moment since Rhys rescued me that I’ve been in danger.

“Well, I started driving the moment I answered your call, so I’m already almost halfway there. Hope you have your bag packed!” Mia chirps before hanging up on me, the line going silent.

I drop my head and groan, knocking the phone against my temple a few times for good measure. As well as I know Mia, I should have guessed she would rush here the moment she caught wind of anything she could imagine was a call for help.

Maybe I should have talked to the packbeforemaking the call...

Too late to go back now.

Dread seeps into my pores and makes its home under my skin as I trudge back inside. The second I step through the front door, the guys all whip their heads toward me with worried eyes. They’ve gathered around the kitchen island in my absence.

“What’s going on?” Percy asks.

Knox grabs the edge of the counter so hard his knuckles turn white. He drops his gaze as if he can’t bear to look at me while he waits to hear what I have to say.

Crap, this is even harder than I thought.

“I... I asked Mia to pick me up and take me back to my apartment.” And it might be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. Watching their faces fall is nearly unbearable.

I want to rush over to them, drop to my knees, and beg them to let me stay instead. They would let me. They’ve made it clear there’s a place for me here.

But then what?

We can’t move forward together until I’ve taken stock of my life at home and figured out what I wantbeyondwanting them. A bond can be the most meaningful part of an omega’s life, but the bond can’t be everything.

“This is bullshit!” Rhys roars, his voice so thick with anger that he sounds more like Knox than himself.

I wince.

Percy takes a step forward as if to rush to comfort me, then catches himself. Freezing in place, instead. The sight of him second-guessing the urge to come to me is hard to swallow.

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