Page 54 of Petals and Strings
My mind was on high-alert, though. My alpha snarling in my head, ready to defend us.
More footsteps joined the first set. Then another. A soft, taunting whisper chased after me even as they continued their own controlled steps.
“Rydelllll.”
The words ended on a low, menacing growl. One that promised pain.
This moment was inevitable. The pack of feral alphas that thought they ran this school had me in their sights, had taunted me for weeks.
It started the moment I’d walked in these doors.
We all knew I was stronger than any of them, but when they banded together, even if I caused damage, they knew they could win.
They’d started with taunts, then sessions of kicking my ass.
I wasn’t sure what else they’d try to do. We were all half-feral here, some more than others, and I knew the darkness and rage that simmered just under the surface.
They were all full of animalistic instinct, territorial to a fault.
I guess my existence challenged that.
Even ifIdidn’t.
They waited just long enough for my heart to pound frantically in my chest. My hands, fisted but sweaty.
Knowing what was coming, I unleashed my alpha.
He barely left any of them alive.
That was the first fight, the one that turned me into even more of a target. They were too proud to let that slide, and for the next three years, all the way until the night they broke me, I was their only focus.
Chapter Nineteen
Audrey
“You look like you could use this.” Kane’s voice startled me from staring off at nothing in particular. There was a book open in my lap but I’d lost my concentration not long after starting.
All I could think about was Rydell. I couldn’t imagine sitting alone in that room. I didn’t even need to see it to know it was lifeless and cold.
The beta put a tray down on the table and slid a cup of tea my way. His smile was open and kind, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. His scent was stronger today, parchment, sweet pear, and Earl Grey tea. It stood apart from the tea I had in my hand. It was comforting and gentle, something that I was grateful for right now.
“How do you take it?”
“Just a little honey,” I said, reaching for the small bottle but he picked it up before I could, giving it a stir before mixing it into the cup.
He sat down next to me, a cup of his own in hand. They weren’t comforting mugs, but plain paper cups. I’d take what I could get at the moment, though.
After a long gardening session today and a shower, I was exhausted and numb. I didn’t slip into any depression or spiral like I would have before, my meds at least kept those in check.
Rydell had been missing for days now. They reassured me he was alright, that he was in isolation to calm down, but I was ready to snap.
He wouldn’t be the first of us to disappear.
My omega demanded that I find him. She wasn’t considering the fact I’d be locked in with him if I barged in and started making demands.
Kane studied me as I breathed in deep again, a mix of him and tea. “Thank you, Kane. I needed this.”
His smile was soft. “I could tell. My memory is… shit. But I feel like this is something I’ve done before for people. I just felt like I should make you a cup, so I did. Trying to give in more to those feelings and find out what I’ve been missing.”
