Page 163 of Lonely Alpha

My pack didn’t seem to care that I never stopped moving. Dash was the same as me, even. He paced and twitched and his brain went in a thousand different directions. That was why he had so many things he knew how to do.

If I’d had access to more than a hand sewing kit, I might have learned a hundred things too.

We’d see, once I got through this night and Leighton had a talk with my father. If we were safe from him, I would be able to try out everything he’d never let me do. Being safe from my father wasn’t the same as being sheltered from Tobias’ hatred for me, but Leighton had convinced me we could take it one step at a time.

“The weather has been wonderful lately,” Leighton said into the heavy quiet. Only the general buzz of the restaurant was breaking our silence. If we were here to be watched, people would notice none of us were speaking a word. “Not oppressively hot, but a good temperature for a day at the beach.”

None of us had been going to the beach. I’d spent a few hours by the rooftop pool, but that was the closest I’d gotten to any body of water. I didn’t even know how to swim.

“Maybe one of our future dates will be a beach picnic,” Cordian said.

His charisma was flat today compared to the last date we’d been on.

Leighton was noticing it, too. Her unease was growing as mine was. Through my weak bonds, I felt Ambrose and Dash feeling the same.

Something was off, here.

I wanted to go home and bury myself in my nest until the heat hit for real.

“That would be a stellar date for a deserving omega,” Leighton said.

Her arm draped across the back of my chair, subtly shifting my seat closer. We were almost pressed together already, but she needed me nearer. I needed tobenearer. My hair was rising on the back of my neck, and my nose tickled.

I couldn’t tell if it was something to do with the heat, but every inhale made me more uncomfortable.

It became too much far too quickly, but when I pushed my chair back and tried to stand, I was stopped by a hand on my shoulder.

Another inhale, and I recognized why my nose was tingling.

Leighton growled, and the Ashby pack went ghostly pale.

“It’s too early for you to head out, little sister.”

Tobias’ familiar presence was flooding my senses. He was behind me. I trembled in place, remembering the last time I’d seen him. The black van and my knife slicing his arm.

All the times I’d seen him before that.

His cold laughter as he pushed me so hard I split my eyebrow on the table.

The exaggerated noises of delight when he stole my food, leaving me half-starved in the basement.

Him shoving me into the lounge with Jonathan, telling me I’d better behave—or they would keep me in the lounge until I did.

It was impossible for me to swallow because my throat was closed, panic sealing it shut.

I tried to grab onto my bonds.

Leighton was here, furious on my behalf. Dash and Ambrose’s bonds were tenuous, threatening to snap. It had been a day or two since I’d claimed them. The bond was only temporary. Mercury didn’t even have one, and it was like there was a gaping hole in my mind where he should be, but wasn’t.

Tobias pulled a chair over from a neighbouring table, sitting beside me. He kept his disgusting, sweaty hand on my bare shoulder. My skin was hot from my proximity to heat, but his touch made me feel cold and broken.

“Our father suggested I join you tonight. Make sure everyone is behaving, considering what happened the last time,” Tobias said casually.

No one else was so nonchalant. Leighton was ready to commit a murder. Cordian and the Ashby pack were stiff and glaring, their hatred for my brother almost as intense as my own. Dash had gotten halfway across the room before Ambrose caught up to him, holding him back.

They were causing a scene. Enough of one that the security guards were heading over to escort them out.

“I doubt this looks good for you,” Leighton said through gritted teeth. “You’re obviously siblings. Everyone will know she’s your sister.”

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