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“I’m not letting you go.” He released me and paced, sharing a look of dark disbelief with Walden.

Ajax smoothed the hurt from his expression. I fought the urge to placate them and give in to the rising panic in my chest. They wanted me now, but what about when they realized how useless I was?

I couldn’t stand to be discarded again.

Be brave, Tully.

“You all said a lot of things to me these past three days.”

Lloyd scrubbed his hand down his face, and there was a suspicious sheen in his eyes. “Tully, I don’t know how to be clearer. I want you to be a part of this pack.” He spread his hands to his packmates. “It wasn’t heat-driven declarations if that’s your concern.”

Pan paced with frenetic energy, and Ajax swallowed hard.

I picked at my nails under the water until Walden laid his hand over the top of my trembling fingers. “Someone took advantage of my trust before. And I w-want to believe you but…”

The moment was serious enough to warrant silence. A pause while we all gathered our words. I was going to be as honest as I could without telling them who Chase was. My chest was tight as I waited for their response.

Don’t let me slip quietly from a storage room and out of your lives, I thought to myself.Don’t be like Chase.

“Your ex?” Now Lloyd was tearing at his nails, and I felt a pang of guilt at the stress I caused.

Pan halted and planted his hands on the table. His hazel eyes pierced through my sharp armor.

“You in trouble, angel?”

I inhaled a shuddered breath. Fixing what Chase broke would take an effort on my part. Did I think Baylark Pack was worth it? Yes. I fortified my lungs with fresh oxygen.

“He didn’t want to bond me.”Because I wasn’t rich like he thought.“But he also didn’t want anyone else to have me.”

Walden growled. “He wants to claim you?”

I squirmed on his lap, and Walden clamped his hands on my hips. A sharp edge of anger flashed from the unflappable alpha.

“Not exactly. It’s complicated.” I cringed as his low growl started again.

“You can trust us, Tully. We want to keep you safe,” Ajax hurried to add as curiosity jammed his eyebrows together.

Embarrassment churned in my stomach at the thought of admitting what I’d told no one. I’d never said aloud how foolish I’d been. The echo of my naivety shamed me still. I’d given Chase more than my body, and he’d used it to better himself.

“After my parents died, I was lost. This alpha told me I was special.” I swallowed a sharp knot in my throat. “Promised me his mark, and a place in his pack. Swore he loved me. But he bonded with someone else and wanted to keep me a secret. I refused, of course, but he wouldn’t give up. Tracked me everywhere and harassed me. Which is how I ended up living with Fenella. I thought, if I could leave for Astaly, I’d be free of him and my difficulties in Starhaven.”

“Give me his name, Tully.” Walden’s order rumbled my ribs.

His fingers dug into my thighs, but I welcomed the harsh touch. It meant he still wanted me. My chest felt light for the first time in months.

“So, he can call me a liar?” I scoffed and my insides wobbled. “They’d say it was a jealous, unbound omega who let her emotions get away from her.”

“Let him try. You don’t want to use your name, but it has power,” Ajax argued.

Power I didn’t know how to use. Power that crushed me under its weight. I wasn’t skilled enough to wield the Hartlock name, and the thought of even trying made my stomach flip.

“You seem to think I—”

“Oh, I understand. You don’t want to stay in Starhaven and be some rich alpha’s pet, so you’ll run to Astaly and be one there instead.” Pan curled his hand over Ajax’s shoulder.

It was the first time I’d seen him offer comfort to his brother, and it startled Ajax as well. He shot Pan an open-mouthed look of confusion before turning back to me. He was ready to debate with me. How did I recognize that furrowed line between his brow after such a short amount of time?

“I-I don’t know, okay?” I covered my face with my hands. “Last week I had nothing and no one in my corner. Astaly seemed like it was the best option.”