Page 44

A short while later, I slam the boot shut, the satisfying thud echoing in the stillness of the yard. The car’s packed – logs, clothes, guitars, water, snacks – everything we might need for the next few days. The storm’s coming, and we might not be able to make it back once it hits. Not that I plan on coming back here. I want to stay with Eviana, but I think having extra supplies on hand can’t hurt. Her place didn’t look the most well stocked, and as much as I’d like to bundle her up and bring her back to the cottage where we’ll all be safer, I just know she wouldn’t be comfortable with that.

I feel Xar’s eyes on me as I wipe my hands on my jeans, still buzzing with the need to do something more. Anything. To not feel so useless, leaving her behind like this.

“What are you doing?” Xar asks, voice low, leaning against the front door frame with his arms crossed. I can see the uncertainty in his expression, the same hesitation he’s had ever since we left Eviana behind.

I don’t hesitate, meeting his gaze with purpose. “I’m not letting the storm keep us from her. We’re going back tomorrow, as soon as it’s safe.”

Blaise appears in the doorway of the cottage, his brow furrowed. “You really think it’s a good idea to go back in this weather?”

I let out a deep breath. “I’m not saying we’re going now. We’re staying here tonight, as promised. But tomorrow, we’ll go back. I’m not leaving her out there alone. I don’t care if the storm’s bad.”

Xar nods slowly, chewing on his lip. “Right. I get it. She’s our responsibility now.”

“Exactly.” I give the car one last glance. “I just loaded up some basic supplies in the car for when that happens.”

Blaise sighs but finally relents, letting the tension in his shoulders ease. “Alright. Maybe I’ll grab some stuff too.”

A heavy silence settles over the group, and for a moment, I let myself breathe. The decision has been made. Eviana’s not alone anymore, not if I have a say in it.

“So, what’s the plan for tonight?” Xar asks, sounding almost desperate for something to take his mind off everything.

I turn towards the door, stepping inside the warmth of the cottage. The storm’s still brewing outside, but for now, we’re safe, at least. I shrug, glancing at Blaise, who’s already digging through the entertainment system. “We’re stuck with each other. We could watch a film. Or work on our music. Take our minds off everything before it all goes to shit.”

Blaise lets out a short laugh. “I’m in. Something mindless. I need a distraction.”

Xar grins. “As long as there’s no rom-com crap, I’m fine.”

I chuckle, sinking into one of the chairs by the fireplace. “Agreed. No chick flicks. Light a fire and set it up, I’ll take a quick shower and then join you.”

With a final glance toward the window, I force myself to relax, trying to let the normality of the situation lull me into a sense of calm. But the truth is, nothing feels normal right now. Nothing will until I’m back with Eviana, making sure she’s safe, no matter the storm.

EVIANA

The rain is starting to come down harder now, steady and relentless against the windows. It’s the kind of weather that makes the house feel colder than it already is, the wind howling through the cracks in the walls. I can feel the weight of it in my bones, the tension settling deeper into my shoulders as I move through the house, trying to make it feel a little more secure.

This week, since the guys barreled their way into my life, has been a blur of exhaustion, the kind that seeps into your body and doesn’t seem to leave. I haven’t been able to do much of anything, let alone the work around here I was planning on. Mostly, I’ve been curled up in bed or tucked up on the sofa, now wrapped in the new blanket the guys sent to me. Secretly, I love it. The only thing that would make the gift better, is if itwas drenched in their scents – which is a stupid omega thought, because I don’t even knowwhatthey smell like. They might smell horrible for all I know.

But I bet they don’t.

I guess I should feel better by now, but I don’t. My body aches, my head’s been heavy, and every time I move, it feels like I’m dragging the weight of the world along with me.

But the messages from the guys – those have been a small reprieve. I catch myself smiling at their words, even when the wind outside feels like it could tear the whole place apart. Their texts are like a lifeline, going on late into the night, each beep reminding me that I’m not alone.

It’s silly, maybe, but it’s been nice to hear from them, to know they’re thinking about me, especially with my own sisters too busy to reach out much. We probably only speak a couple of times a month usually, but it feels like it’s been even longer than that lately.

First things first – the locks.

I pull out the small toolkit I keep tucked away under the kitchen sink, the one I’ve used for years to patch up all the little things the farmhouse needs. It’s a routine, almost meditative. Tighten this, adjust that. The doorframe on the backdoor’s been shifting, so I spend extra time making sure the bolts are secure. There’s no sense in having a loose lock when there’s a storm brewing outside.

My hands shake a little as I work, the tension still creeping up my spine from earlier. I try to shake it off. I have work to do.

The chickens need feeding next. It’s always the small tasks that make me feel grounded. The world might be falling apart around me, but the animals need me. It wouldn’t hurt to check the perimeter either. I have deterrents set up on the land to keep predators away from the chickens, but maybe they’ll come in handy for keeping unwanted visitors away too.

Alphas are omegas’ predators, just like the foxes are for my chickens.

I shiver as I make my way to the back door, pulling on my wellington boots and stepping into the rain, the droplets hitting my skin like a thousand tiny needles, as I head out to the shed. The chickens are waiting in their nearby coop, clucking impatiently, so I toss their feed into the trough, watching them scramble for it.

But even as I do the mundane things, my thoughts drift back to them.