Page 139 of Marked By the Pack
I took a deep breath as I stopped on the walkway up to their house. I wanted this feeling in my chest to be temporary. I wasn’t used to feeling so much…doubt and uncertainty. Especially when I could see so clearly what I wanted.
This. Them.
I wanted them to ask me to move into their house. I wanted to fall asleep every night next to Otto. Or Huxley, Ace, or Bennett. They made me feel safe. And if I was being honest, it had been a really long time since I’dfelt that way. Ten years to be exact. Not since that sex tape got leaked.
It was like I had been walking on a tightrope, waiting for my life to implode ever since.
And I had the most horrible feeling that it was finally about to. I was going to lose them. I just knew it.
I felt a tear run down my cheek and I quickly brushed it away. I took another deep breath and opened their white picket fence. My camming had nothing to do with them. And yes, I probably should have stopped doing it as soon as I kissed Otto. But at the time I didn’t know where I stood with him. Or any of them. And now I did. So I was coming clean.
But only because Titan threatened me.I sighed.Fuck my life.
Nothing I said would explain it right. But I had to try. I knocked on their door.
I thought about waiting to tell the guys the truth until after I’d found the cure for them tonight. But I didn’t want them to choose me because they were grateful. I wanted them to choose me because I was…me. I wanted them to want me as much as I wanted them. And I’d never know for sure if I waited.
But when Titan opened the door with a scowl, I immediately regretted my choice. Part of me just wanted to turn right around and run away. But I refused to give him the satisfaction of blackmailing me. This ended now. I was done letting men take advantage of me. I wasn’t ashamed of what I did for a living. I was proud of who I was. I’d taken a terrible situation and made the best of it. And fuck Titan for trying to make me feel small. For making me feel guilty when I’d been nothing but brave since that tape got leaked.
“Zoey,” he said. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the doorjamb instead of letting me in.
“Mount Othrys.”
For just a moment he smiled. “This is unexpected. Are you here for one last fuck before I show them your video?”
Who was I kidding? I wasn’t brave. My stupid tears wanted to start falling again. I’d been threatened with a video before. I thought I’d be stronger this time. More prepared in some way. But I felt like that same girl I did ten years ago. I felt young, and naïve, and stupid. I felt completely alone.
When I didn’t respond, he frowned. Like my lack of reaction wounded him.
A tear fell down my cheek before I could lift my hand to hide it.Shit.I tried to wipe it away, but Titan had already seen it.
Titan’s frown deepened. “Zoey…”
“Zoey?” Otto’s familiar voice immediately made me feel better.
He appeared next to Titan in the doorway.
I smiled. God, it was so good to see him.
“I didn’t think you were coming tonight. But I’m glad you’re here. Come on in.”
I glanced at Titan. He was still frowning.
“Cut it out, man,” Otto said. “You’re scaring her.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me inside. “Ignore him,” he whispered to me.
It was a little hard to ignore Titan. But I felt calmer when Otto was holding my hand.
“I’m glad you came,” he said. “I missed you last night.”
“I missed you too. It’s easier to sleep when you’re beside me.”
“I know.” He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “We’re thinking of a solution, I promise. But in the meantime, what do you want for dinner?”
“Oh…um…”
“Just to clarify, I’m talking about where you want to order take out from. I’m a shit cook,” he said with a smile.
God, all I wanted to do was stay and eat his terrible cooking. “I’m not actually staying for the game. I just wanted to speak to all of you about something important.”
