I blink at Landon, uncomprehending.
“What?” I say finally, turning to look at River. His expression is just as serious as Landon’s, and I realize I don’t have an ally in this situation.
“You’re safer at home,” River says stoically. “There’s something going on, but we’re not sure exactly what it is. But three Omegas going missing in under a month is a fucking red flag.”
“Okay,” I say slowly. “I’ll be more vigilant. I’m not just staying home, though. I have to be at work. The café needs me.”
“You have a whole staff that I’m sure would be able to cover for you,” Landon says gently. “And technically, you’re still getting over a concussion.”
I look at him incredulously. “You weren’t worried about my concussion when I was in Heat. What are you talking about?”
Panic bubbles in me.
“What are you talking about?” River snaps. “Of course, we were worried about that. We’re always worried about you,” he says intensely. “And right now, you need to listen to us.”
I have to get off the couch.
They can’t make me stay home.
I can’t be trapped in this house alone, pacing around, doing nothing.
I stand up and turn around to face them. “I am listening,” I say softly, my gaze drifting from Landon to River’s. “And I know it’s dangerous. But I’ll just always have someone walk me to my car. I’ll keep pepper spray on me. I’ll do whatever. But you cannot stop me from going to work.”
The Alphas look at each other, silently communicating.
“Besides, what about Devyn? You haven’t said anything about her needing to stay home, right?” I demand, starting to pace nervously. “If it was a big issue, wouldn’t there be a curfew or public warning?”
“This isn’t public yet, sweetheart,” Landon says. “And it’s probably only going to get worse.”
“I don’t care about Devyn,” River says immediately afterwards. “I care about you.”
Landon glares at him as I chuckle humorlessly and shake my head. “You’re an asshole,” I mutter. “She’s my friend.”
This night is slowly unraveling.
“Fuck,” River growls, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. It’s not safe for her, either, and we can have Ben talk to her. But you’re not going back to the café until we figure out exactly what’s going on.”
I freeze.
“Sorry,” I say finally, “but you don’t get to dictate what I do and don’t do.”
My hands are shaking, and I fight the instinct to lash out at them.
But the café is what I have left of April. It’s where I can put all my nervous, erratic energy and channel it into something good.
I walk around the couch and head into the kitchen, wringing my hands.
“It’s not that simple,” Landon says as I open my cupboard. I pull out the glass containers and run my fingers over the labels.
Almond flour. Sugar.
There’s a hand on my shoulder, and I jump.
“Hey,” River says, and I shrug away his touch. “This is serious.”
I whirl around to face him. “I cannot stay here,” I snap. “I can’t just stop what I do. I have to keep telling people about April—”
“You have to stay safe,” he snaps, his eyes narrowing. “You’re not listening. Two Omegas went missing, just twenty minutes from you!”
“River—” Landon says, standing up from the couch.
“Every time you step outside, you put yourself at risk,” River hisses. “And I can’t lose you.”
His scent is overpowering, now more peppery now that it’s mixed with his anger.
“And I can’t lose April,” I whisper.
Landon sighs. “Skylar…” his voice trails off as he shakes his head.
River reaches for me again, but I shake his hand away. “You think she’s dead,” I realize with horror. My eyes lock with Landon’s, and his expression is somber.
“If there’s a pattern of missing Omegas, that’s something that we need to consider,” Landon says solemnly.
I look back at River. “No,” I whisper, shaking my head. “No. That’s not possible.”
“Nothing’s for certain,” he says. “Not yet. But I’ll be damned if you go missing, too.”
“NO!” I yell, and both of the Alphas flinch. “You promised,” I half snarl, half sob as I point at Landon accusingly. “You promised me you’d find her!”
“You did what?” River snaps, turning to him. “You never promise something like that, you idiot!”
Landon’s brown eyes widen as I storm over to him. “You remember that?” he murmurs.
“Yes,” I choke out. “In bed. During my Heat. You promised.”
Suddenly, Landon and River are screaming at each other.
The walls are closing in.
This is too much.
I put my hands to my face and take slow, deep breaths.
A sob threatens to form, but I force myself to keep it down.
“You’re asking me to give up the one thing I have left of her,” I say. “And I can’t. I won’t.”
River growls and slams his hand on the counter. “Damn it, Skylar, you need to listen! This isn’t about making cookies and selling coffee. This is about keeping you safe!”
“You think this is all about running the café?” I gasp. “It’s mine and April’s place! It’s the last bit I have of her!”
“And I don’t want it to be the last bit we have of you!” River yells.
“He’s right,” Landon says, his voice low. “This is serious, Skylar. I’m sorry it has to be like this, but you have to lay low.”
They’re taking her away from me, I think wildly.
“She’s my family,” I snap. “You’re not.”
The room goes quiet, and their scents change into something muddled and dark.
I laugh bitterly to fight off the tears that threaten to spill as I tear myself open. “I have two people that I cherish in this world: April and her mother. Everyone else has left. Do you understand that?”
I don’t want to have this conversation now. It’s something I try not to think about too much, and loneliness pricks at my chest as I open myself up to them.
“My own dad bailed on me as a teenager, and my mom is in a totally different state. They don’t want anything to do with me,” I continue, pacing. “The last Alpha I stupidly dated barely tolerated me and made it very clear I was only an accessory to his ego,” I admit, shame flushing my cheeks. “April is the only constant through all of it. She’s my sister, without the blood relation.”
I can’t help it anymore. I start to sob, my face in my hands as I cry. Landon curses and pulls me into his arms, and this time, I don’t push away. I bury my face in his chest, letting out every single pent-up emotion for the last month.
“I’ve got you,” he murmurs, his earthy scent washing over me. “I know, sweetheart. I know it’s hard.”
“Don’t ask me to do this,” I cry into his chest. “Please, don’t ask me to give up hope.”
“We’re not,” he says, pressing his lips to the top of my head. “I promise, we’re not.”
When I step back, wiping away the mess of tears, his expression hasn’t changed. “It’s important for you to remember, though,” he says, “you can only do so much for her. You’ve done more than enough already, Skylar. More than I’ve seen most people do.”
My stomach drops.
He still doesn’t get it. Neither of them does.
“There’s always more I can do,” I murmur.
“Not if she’s a ghost,” River mutters, and Landon turns to look at him sharply.
My eyes widen and it feels as if I’ve been struck.
“What did you say?” I whisper.
At that moment, he looks as sick as I feel, and he just shakes his head. “It doesn’t look good, Skylar. And we won’t let you be the next one. I’m sorry.”
My heart shatters.
The hope that they brought with them flickers and dies.
If they believe that she’s gone…
No.
No.
I stumble backwards in shock.
“Skylar,” Landon reaches for me, but I slap his hand away.
“Get the fuck out of my house,” I say slowly. “Both of you.”
“Skylar—” River tries, but I turn to him.
“You think she’s dead. You think this is pointless,” I say, my voice low. “How long have you thought that she’s a ghost?”
“It’s complicated,” he insists, his scent spiking.
I can’t breathe.
“It’s not just black or white,” Landon adds. “But statistics show—”
“You sound just like him,” I whisper. “Just like Vincent.”
“I am nothing like him,” Landon growls, startling me. “I’m simply telling you to be realistic about this.”
“Realistic,” I repeat slowly.
He nods, his scent spiking with anger.
“Realistically, I need you to get out of my house,” I snarl. “And if you really think she’s dead, leave me alone.”
Landon flinches. “Sweetheart, you need to listen—”
“I don’t have to do anything!” I yell. “You are not my Alphas!”
I’m dangerously close to breaking down and having a repeat of Valentine’s Day last year.
And I will not do it in front of them, the two allies I thought I had.
They think April’s dead. I can’t be around them anymore.
Part of me knows I’m not thinking straight. My inner Omega is heartbroken, betrayed by the two Alphas who gave me hope.
But all they did was help me through my Heat.
We’re not mated, and we’re certainly not even a partial pack.
I was messy, stupid, and emotional.
And it’s ending now.
“Like hell you’re not,” River snarls, and he hurries toward me. But I hold my hand out to stop him.
“If you respect me at all,” I say. “If you care about me, you will get out. Now.”
Their scents are thick and smokey, as if they’re going up in flames.
Landon is solemn while River is agitated.
I can’t be near them anymore.
“Out,” I say again. “Get out and leave me alone.”
I head to my bedroom, slam and lock the door behind me, and bury my face in a pillow.
Then I let out a muffled scream, letting tears wash over me again.
They think she’s dead.
When I finally hear the front door shut and the sound of cars driving away, I allow myself to stop being silent.
I let despair take over me, my body wracked with sobs until my throat hurts.
Time passes. It could be a few minutes or a few hours, but finally, I stop crying. My body is exhausted, and I curl up in a ball and sniffle.
I meant what I said. If Landon and River truly believe she’s…gone…there’s no point in them hanging around.
No matter if my heart thinks otherwise.
It wouldn’t have worked with them, anyway. They’re too busy. Their work is their life, and they made it very clear that they’re making an exception for me.
They would grow bored. Or I would want too much, just like last time.
I grab my phone and see unread text messages from both of them. I ignore them, unwilling to read whatever they sent.
But when I hear my front door open, I can’t help but feel a tiny bit hopeful.
I didn’t lock it after they left, so maybe they’re coming back to talk.
Talk about what, though?
They still don’t think April is coming back.
Still, I sit up and make my way to the bedroom door, unlocking it.
I make my way to the front room, but they’re not there.
My door is left wide open, the chilly night air blowing in from outside.
What the hell?
“River?” I call out hesitantly. “Landon?”
No response.
A chill runs down my spine.
Their scents are muted, and slowly fading from the wind.
They’re not here.
That’s fine. The door is only a few steps away.
I’m probably overreacting. I’m sure the wind blew it open.
But as I hurry to the front door to shut it, something covers my mouth, while an arm wraps around me and shoves me backwards.
I stumble into a broad chest and gasp in surprise as a chemical smell fills my nose.
I don’t have time to struggle. I can barely form a coherent thought as I slip out of consciousness, darkness invading my senses.
I start to fall, but I don’t register hitting the ground.
They were right, I think.
I surrender to the void.
