Page 40 of Talk About… Secrets
“Fuck my career, look where it got me,” he scoffed, gesturing at the limp I hadn’t noticed before as he paced the floor. “Hurt, permanently retired, and lost out on years with you. The woman I could never forget.”
I let my eyes drift shut, refusing to cry right now. I’d done enough of that already.
“You know, all I ever wanted to do was embrace my omega side. To build a home I loved and was comfortable in, one that was in a town I adored with men who were content being therewith me and letting me spread my cozy things all over. Now we have to figure out how to meld three sets of different lives.”
“No one ever said becoming a pack was going to be easy,” Cade said with a shrug. “Life would be boring if everything fell into place. We’ll figure it out, muse.”
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes for you, Grace,” Drew promised. I couldn’t help but study his handsome face. He was tan from years in the sun, bigger than ever, but there was still that familiar softness to his eyes. The slight crinkle and smile lines a sign he’d laughed often. They were the perfect hints at the boy I used to know.
“You left me once.” It wasn’t fair, but it was real. I needed to say it or I’d never move on. “I wasn’t enough for you to stay then. Why am I now? Am I just the backup plan?”
“That’s a valid question,” Beck agreed, voice gruff and eyes menacing as he turned them on Drew.
“Not helping,” Spencer muttered to him but the alpha didn’t budge.
“She wanted me to stay, and I knew if I did I’d lose everything I worked hard for. My entire life was football,” he admitted, not bothering to hold back or make excuses.
“And I had no right to try and take that from you,” I sighed. “As much as I wanted to be chosen, it wasn’t a fair ultimatum to give. This is the exact reason I struggled with you all being from the city and having a well-established life there.”
“You cut me out, too,” Drew said, voice full of pain. I’d all but wrote him off, worked hard to forget him, and he’d been thinking of me.
The guilt was awful.
I hadn’t expected the mirror to shift to me, but now I couldn’t help but hate myself a little for it. It wasn’t fair what I did to him, either.
“I did. I couldn’t pine for you,” I admitted. “I convinced myself you were wrong, that our scents weren’t right, and forced myself to move on.”
“And now you have a pack.” It was a whispered, somber observation that hit me like a punch to the gut.
“We just met, if that helps,” Cade offered. “This wedding brought us all here together.”
“Now what? The wedding is obviously not happening,” I pointed out. “Where do we go from here?”
What I needed was for someone to figure this out and take charge. I was tired of asking that damn question.
“Well, we aren’t leaving you and going back to our lives,” Beck said, a side eye sent to Drew who ignored it.
“I’m following you to Rockwood Valley. It’s about time I returned home,” Drew said easily, as if there was no other choice. “I’ve been looking for pack houses.”
I hated that it felt like a forced choice. Though, I knew I wasn’t in the headspace to make any sort of judgment or decisions.
“Right now, I think I just need some girl time,” I admitted.
Then, I stood up and walked out like the coward I was. Suddenly, I was that girl years ago, just graduated high school, and broken hearted all over again. I needed to live in this pain a moment before I unfairly cast him aside to protect myself.
I pulled out my phone as I hurried outside, taking the back halls once again to avoid my mom and family.
Grace: SOS
Sidney: We’re on the dock, do we need to come to you?
Grace: No, on my way.
They were all looking my way when I wound around the building. I’d meant to get fresh air, it was just plain good luck they also had the same idea.
“Whose ass do we need to kick?” Sidney asked, a few of their pack mates perking up, especially the Whitaker brothers.
“Down, boys, I’m alright,” I said as I collapsed on the worn planks next to my friends. “Apparently, I have another mate.”
