Page 78 of Isla

“I’m here for you always, you know that.”

“I do.” My voice was barely a whisper, but I knew if I spoke louder, she would hear the sadness in my voice.

She gave me a weak smile, and I knew she wanted me to stay, but this was her family, they needed their time together and not listen to a snotty-nosed, red-eyed omega who spectacularly failed at every attempt she had with alphas.

Tilly took my hand, stroking it lightly. “If you need anything, I’m a phone call away.”

Today I had to go home. I needed to get back to work. My boss already refused to extend my leave again. And I needed the job.

But I would miss being here. Apart from being pestered by Aiden with non-stop chattering, which at any other time was nice, but this time, he wore me down with his requests. On the whole, Tilly’s home was peaceful, and her gardens were the perfect place to think as I tried to process everything that had happened.

But in all honesty, I was embarrassed that I walked away from a man who had fooled me, only to be talked into a pack that made a fool of me again. Making me believe they were more than they claimed.

But today I was stronger than I was two weeks ago, probably stronger than I was in my life. Certainly brave enough to go home and tackle my life again.

“Are you ready?” Cruz asked, half an hour later when I stood with my suitcase at the door.

I nodded as Tilly squeezed my hand.

“You can stay as long as you want,” she emphasised. “We’ve got like a million bedrooms. Or stay in the penthouse. It’s close to your work and Noah doesn’t know about it.”

I laughed and dragged her to me for a hug. “Tilly stop. I have to get on with my life. But thank you, you helped me heal and now I need to get on with the rest of my life as best I can.”

After Cruz and Luca left my apartment, I stood in the middle of my small living area and glanced around, unsure what got into my head about having a baby in the first place. I was so fired up for having a child in my life, I never thought of the consequences of doing it alone.

Especially in this cramped apartment and having a shit paid job and parents that wouldn’t help once they realised there was no alpha in my life.

It must have been the wedding that muddied my mind or Noah desperately scanning my heat calendar, meticulously going over my cycles to make sure we planned the wedding at the exact time, but now, as I looked at my tiny apartment I was never in the right place, head or physical space to bring up a baby.

Not on my own.

Divine intervention took place. Someone up there knew I wouldn’t be a wonderful mother, omega or not.

I sucked in a small sob, splaying my hand over my chest as I tried to rein in the sudden pain in my chest. I collapsed on the floor, my spine curved as I leaned my elbows onto my knees and held my head in my hands and let it all flow.

I didn’t know how long I was there for, sobbing, my shoulders shaking until I ached everywhere.

It was just me now.

Me and my shitty job, maybe I could be an advocate for all omegas out there. How not to do it.

Fuck... what have I done?

I shook off those thoughts and walked to my bedroom, got cleaned up, and took out my crisp white shirt and pencil skirt for my shift. Pinned my name badge on my shirt and dragged my hair into a high ponytail and twisted it into a bun.

The din of the building doorbell chimed. I pressed the camera to see who was there.

Noah.

What the fuck did he want?

If he thought he was entitled to an explanation, an apology. He was sadly mistaken.

I wanted nothing more to do with him, a cheating, lying bastard that used me to fulfil the wishes of his father.

Never again.

It rang again. This time, his voice screamed over the tannoy.

---