Page 63

Eventually, I’m at risk of turning into a raisin for life, so I wash off, happy to still smell the pack on me. Connor was right about the bath products. Wonder if he was the one to bathe me before.

Stop thinking about him.

I reach for the towel, only to startle when I find an alpha leaning against the wall beside the rack. A scream echoes in theempty space and my slick feet disappear from under me. Before I can hit the floor and really cement this as the worst end to a heat ever, Connor’s there. Arms behind my back, carefully keeping me upright.

I’ve soaked his clothes, but he doesn’t step back until he’s sure I’m stable. “You okay?”

His voice rumbles through me and I try to ignore how everything tightens because of it. “I think I’d prefer you let me die. The embarrassment would’ve been someone else’s problem.”

Eye crinkled, wearing the world’s smallest smile, Con helps me onto the bathmat with careful hands. I don’t understand what’s going on. This man practically bolted at the idea of showering with me, only to take up a post at the door. Makes no fucking sense.

Neither does when he looks me in the eye and asks, “Can I stay?”

I see the question for what it is. An offhand acknowledgement of the hurt he’s caused. Weirdly, it makes me feel better to know it’s not just me.

“Sure.”

We don’t mention the crying as dries me off, wrapping a fresh towel around my body while he slathers lotion on my dehydrated skin. My curls drip across my shoulder since I didn’t bring anything to plop them with, but I don’t mind.

Except Connor strips off his tee and hands it to me.

When all I do is blink, he points to his head awkwardly. “For your hair.”

“You want me to use your shirt for my curls?”

“Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do? The website I read said so.” There’s a ruddiness across Connor’s cheeks and oh my god. How is this aloof alpha blushing right now and why do I want to make him do it again?

“It’s perfect.” A fraction of the ease we had in the heat comes back as we smile at each other. “Thank you, alpha.”

Just like that, whatever friendliness was there is stolen away with a slip of my tongue. Connor’s eyes widen, breath picking up as he backs for the door. “I’ll let you get ready.”

He gives me a wave that’s more suited to passing a neighbor, before slamming the door behind him.

I’m alone again. Always alone.

And I can admit, things feel different now that he’s gone. Like he stole some of the warmth when he left.

Ten minutes of berating myself later, I tighten the bath sheet and head into the bedroom, only to stop dead at the door.Something’s not right.

My heart races. It smells like us, but not nearly strong enough.

My clothes are gone. Another glance says they aren’t the only things missing. So are the sheets. The pillows, clothes; the fucking rugs.Everythingis gone, including the alphas.

If I thought Connor’s shit made me feel bad, this is so much worse. Realistically, I know the room needs to be cleaned before someone else can use it, but I’ve been up for an hour, and they’ve wiped my existence like it was never there.

And where the hellarethey? Did the alphas leave me here to find my own way home? I wouldn’t be surprised. That’s exactly the type of shit Pack Parker would’ve done.

I thought they were different.

Instead of falling into hysterics like the prickling in my eyes wants me to do—seriously,fuckbeing an omega sometimes—I grab my phone, thankful for whoever charged it. Revelry has rideshares for omegas. I’ll charge it to the pack’s card as a fuck you for bailing.

Before I can go into the app, I find my notifications overflowing.

Kai

Check in or I’ll break the fucking door down.

Me