Page 41 of Talk About… Secrets
“Wait, what?” Ori gasped. “Who?”
“There was this guy in high school. We were close. Everyone thought we were just best friends, but we were more than that. Our scents weren’t right at the time, he had a future in football and I didn’t want to leave home. Blamed him for a long time for us falling apart, though I was just as stubborn then. I haven’t seen him since he left for college, and left me behind.”
“Until now,” Avery guessed, scooting closer to offer me comfort. It wasn’t hard to see the worry on my face and hear the waver in my voice.
“How did the other guys take it?” Wren asked with a frown.
“If that answer is anything but understanding from them, we might need to have a chat,” Maverick said. His normally stoic features were twisted into a frown, and with his arms crossed and muscles on display, he looked like he could scare most alphas into their place.
“Beck is a bit thrown off, challenging the alpha for walking away from me and not looking back, but not downright hostile,” I admitted with a defeated sigh.
“What can we do to help?” Sidney asked. It was a testament to how fragile I felt that she was still being so gentle. Usually, her sass would be out at full force.
“All I want is to go home,” I admitted. “This entire stay has been a disaster. I’m overwhelmed, far too vulnerable, and really don’t want witnesses to my life spinning out of control.”
“Then go home,” Sidney shrugged, like it was that easy. “Get your stuff packed, load your car, and drive home. Reclaim your life and let them figure out how they are going to fit into it.”
“It’s not playing hard to get,” Oriana said as gently as possible. “It’s you giving them a chance to prove they are the pack you need and deserve.”
It felt so petty. Just leaving and letting them follow. But god, I needed it.
I needed to feel in control, and I needed to know that they would keep their word.
And I needed to be far away from my family right now. I’d barely seen the brunt of their crazy now that Hailey wasn’t here.
“I’m going to go pack,” I said, standing up and brushing off my shorts.
“We’re heading back, too. As nice as the place is, I think I’d rather be in Rockwood Valley, too, if it means being stuck here with drama,” Avery admitted. “How about we plan a girl’s night tomorrow night? That’ll give us time to snuggle the kids and rest first.”
“Everyone can come out to our place,” Ori offered. “We can make a bunch of appetizers, drink some wine or sparkling juice if anyone needs, and watch some movies or something.”
“Sounds perfect. You guys are the best,” I said before heading inside.
The guys were all still in the suite when I walked in, Drew included. They all looked more settled now, but worried.
“I’m packing up and heading back to Rockwood Valley. I need to go house hunting, and honestly just need far away from my family and this wedding drama.”
The words hung in the air as the guys exchanged looks.
“Are you leaving because of us?” Beck asked. It was blunt and the way his eyes burned into me told me he was watching for signs that there was more to this.
“I don’t want to be here anymore,” I said, giving nothing else away.
“Then you don’t have to be,” Spencer reassured me. “We just need to go back to our place and wrap things up to move and pack. I’d love to look at places with you when we get back.”
I swallowed hard and nodded. It was a reasonable thing to do and I needed to not freak out over the separation.
“How long do you think it will take?”
Beck frowned and shifted uneasily. They shared a look and I just knew I’d hate this answer.
“Two weeks at most, I think. We have to make sure the company is running smoothly, get with our board and lawyers, and get someone to keep up with the loft for when we’re in town and get your room ready for that, too. I don’t want you visiting, even for short bursts, without a nest.”
“Company?” Drew asked.
“They own a scent company. PackSense.”
Drew laughed in shock. “Not just a scent company,thescent company.”
