Page 21 of The Omega's Bloodline: Part One

This was so dumb. He already had a cat lover on tap. I said as much and he turned his wide, saucer eyes at me.

I don’t have the brain power in this body to feel how miserable it’s going to be to leave you. It already sucks. Please don’t make it harder for me.

“Shutting up might make it easier for you, but not for me.” I sighed and carried him to the car. “My stance is clear. Come back whenever you want, okay?”

He settled onto my lap once I was buckled in, refusing to meet my gaze.

“Are you going to ignore me to make it easier for yourself?”

Lo, please.

My heart softened at the short name and the way he nuzzled his head on my stomach.

Just let me love you quietly while I can, okay?

I bit my lip and sucked back the sob that tried to climb up my throat. “Okay.”

My mood was painfully low as we drove to collect Caden, and he sensed it immediately when he climbed in. “What’s wrong?”

I’m staying here, Seth answered for me.

Caden looked only mildly conflicted about the news. “In your old territory?”

Seth nodded.I don’t know if I’ll stick around. I have friends up and down the coast if I need somewhere else to go.

He squeaked and I realized I’d been squeezing him. “Sorry.”

“Keep up with check-ins and don’t get eaten.” Caden patted Seth on the butt.

“You’re not worried about him?”

“Well, sure, but he’s survived this long.”

I scoffed. “Yeah, because surviving is exactly what you were both doing when I found you hiding in my front yard?”

I’ll be fine.

“He’s right,” said Caden. “Try not to worry too much. In my experience he’ll pop up like a whack-a-mole when you least expect it.”

I white-knuckled the steering wheel on the drive into Lower Roxbury. It was only about ten minutes from where we were and I briefly contemplated doing a loop around the city instead, or driving straight to Salem and stuffing Seth in my suitcase for the drive to Syracuse, but he’d leave anyway.

I had to accept his terrible choices whether I liked them or not.

My heart broke when we pulled to a stop on a quiet street and Seth gave me one final cheek rub before hopping out of the rolled-down window.

I hated myself for driving away.

What if he changed his mind?

As if reading my thoughts, Caden reached for me. “The Boston nest has my contact information if he wants to reach out later.”

“I don’t get it. What did he do that was so bad he couldn't stay with us?”

Caden sighed. “If I tell you, you’re going to think differently about him. Are you sure you want to know?”

I chewed my lip. “I dunno. He said something similar, too.”

“I understand your curiosity, and I do want to tell you. Just…maybe not this soon. Let yourself enjoy the version of him that you know.”

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