Page 8

“What the fuck is wrong with you, Mia?” he demands, a mix of astonishment and anger in his voice.

Tears fill my eyes as I try to put some distance between us. “I’m sorry, Justin. Really. I’m just so tired. Why can’t you understand?!”

Before I even know what’s happening, Justin backhands me across the face. Pain and heat instantly bloom around my right eye.

Clutching my face, I backed away from him in shock.

A look of guilt momentarily flashes across Justin’s face as he reaches for me. When I pull away, though, the expression vanishes. “If you hadn’t been so disrespectful, this wouldn’t have happened, you know.”

I can barely hear his words.

He hit me. Heactuallyhit me.

Clutching my face, I fight back tears. The sting from myright eye intensifies, and I can already feel the discoloration and swelling starting.

Before he can say or do anything further, I flee to the safety of the bathroom. Quickly locking the door behind me, I let the tears flow freely. Vaguely, I hear Justin shouting after me to stop being so immature, but I tune him out.

How did my life get here?I had plans for the future. I was planning to major in history and pursue a master’s degree in the future. But I had to be the rebellious teenager. Dropping out of college and moving in with Justin was all an attempt to escape my abusive adoptive parents, who constantly told me that my birth parents didn’t give a shit about me.

My name isn’t on the lease, so I’m scared to start anything with him. He’s the only person I have in this world.

Sighing, I begin to wash off my makeup. It only makes my black eye look worse, and fresh tears spill down my cheeks.

I need to leave him. Deep down, I’ve always known that. But he was the only one who stood by me when I was all alone. He promised to take care of me.

Turning off the water, I stare at my reflection, droplets of tears still running down my face. I barely recognize this girl, and if I’m being honest, I’m a little disappointed in her.

I linger in the bathroom for a moment, unsure if I want to face Justin. But when I hear the front door open and slam shut, I realize it’s safe to exit. Still, I can’t help but tiptoe to the bedroom, just in case he’s still home.

The comforter feels warm and inviting as I slip into bed, my face still stinging. Tears soak the pillow as I cry myself to sleep, planning to leave Justin once and for all.

three

. . .

Finn

“Idon’t know how you talked me into this,” I say, shoving my hands into my jacket pockets.

At Jace’s insistence, I agreed to follow him to the café. Now that we’re here, though, my doubts are creeping back in.

“Quit complaining, Finn. She’s working today,” Jace says, his eyes glinting with a fanatical obsession. “Once you see her, you’ll get it.”

It’s as if being closer to this woman is igniting a fervor within him.

“I don’t know, man. It’s hard to believe there’s an omega out here, in the middle of D.C.”

Or without a pack. It’s unusual and unsafe.

The thought stirs an instinctual protectiveness within me. No alpha would be okay with an omega out here on her own. Even if this all turns out to be a fluke and Jace is just infatuated with a human, I can’t shake the sadness and fierce anger rising in me at the thought of an omega alone.

“Let’s head inside,” Jace says, opening the café door. He lowers his voice. “She gets here around this time, so she’ll be here soon.”

As we step into the café, the aroma of brewing coffee hits me in full force. I’m amazed that Jace can even notice a supposed scent amidst this onslaught of smells.

To avoid seeming suspicious, we each order a black coffee before claiming a table near the back. The hustle and bustle of the coffee shop clamor at my senses, and I tap my fingers on the table. This setting is uncomfortable at best.

There are too many variables and too many distractions.