Page 17

Ledger

“ I know old people hate technology and change is scary, but for fucks’ sake,” Myles complains, throwing his arms up in frustration. “Anything that could offer these people a little more protection they should pounce on if they're that afraid!”

Kiara snorts. “Don’t take it so personally, it’s not really about your tech.

It’s about trusting anything to protect us when the world has let us down every time it counts before now.

Could you imagine them simply accepting it worked and sending everyone off into the world?

Most of us don’t have a damn clue how to survive up here, hence why I didn’t leave before you guys showed up and offered to let me tag along. ”

She twists her arm so the sunlight glints off of her silver bracelet.

“And even if these do protect us from being bonded against our will, it doesn’t stop people from trying.

So try not to take it too personally. You created something amazing; they’ll come around eventually.

And if not,” she shrugs. “At least I appreciate your efforts.”

As the gas station comes into sight, I gently nudge Ever’s shoulder.

Lost in her head as she’s been since we landed in the wasteland, she startles, making me frown in concern.

“We don’t have to do this right now, you know.

We can come back whenever you’re ready. Tomorrow, next week, or never. No pressure.”

She sighs heavily, staring at the rundown town just visible behind the shriveling tree line. “No, I know. But… I need the truth at this point so I can let it go and move on. Otherwise my imagination will keep me up at night and drive me crazy.”

I take her hand, as much for me as for her.

Coming back here… it dredges up every shitty memory I’ve done my damndest to repress.

Having my mate step foot in the same zip code as the monster that tried to break me as a child is really fucking with my head, not to mention my control.

If anyone from this town so much as looks at her, let alone tries to touch her ?

All bets are off. They’re dead. In the most brutal, agonizing way possible to warn off every other idiot that thinks they can take her from me.

Won’t lose any sleep over defending her, but this place threatens to turn me into a feral beast I don’t want to be. That my mate wouldn’t recognize. If she ever flinched away from me in fear after seeing the brutality I’m capable of? I don’t know how I’d live with myself.

Taking one last deep breath, I open the door to the gas station that was more of a home than mine ever was, holding it until every single member of our makeshift family is safely tucked away inside.

Nothing’s changed in the last sixteen years.

The same tattered map is plastered to the wall, much worse for wear after being stabbed by countless, desperate dreams of escape from this wasteland.

The aisles are set up exactly the same as I remember too, and the old coolers hum as they work overtime to combat the late summer heat.

“Be with you in a minute!” Oscar rasps before rounding an aisle, rubbing his lower back and forcing a weary smile.

It hits me hard, seeing how much he’s aged since I’ve seen the man last. When I was a kid, he seemed larger than life; a permanent fixture of the town.

But seeing him now? I don’t know if it’s because time has caught up with him, or I’ve grown up enough that the rose colored glasses of childhood have faded away.

As soon as his gaze settles on Ever, Oscar’s lips part in surprise.

“You came back.” Voice breaking, he croaks, “You weren’t supposed to come back.

” When his gaze falls on Kiara, or namely, her tattoo marking her as a center, all the remaining color drains from his face, and his eyes swiftly dart to the clock on the wall, eyes filling with panic.

Hobbling forward, he tries to shoo us out, ushering us back towards the door. “You all need to leave. Now! ”

I plant my feet. “We're not going anywhere until we get answers.”

“You were supposed to send me a letter, not come back!” he growls, and my eyes widen in surprise. I can’t remember a single moment when Oscar ever lost his patience, let alone snapped at a single soul. “They aren't safe here! You need to leave, before-”

The bell above the door chimes, and in waltzes the one person I wished to never see again, flanked by two of his favorite lackeys.

The last sixteen years haven’t been kind to my father, but there’s no mistaking the man.

Over six feet of broad-chested muscle, he’s gained a beer belly, and there’s more grey in his hair than brown.

The one thing that’s stayed the same, though?

The cruel glint in his eyes, taking us in with contempt.

He comes to an abrupt stop, nostrils flaring before he sneers, looking down his nose at me.

“Well, well, the prodigal son returns.” His eyes flick to Ever and Kiara. “And he brought presents to worm his way back into the pack.”

One of his men makes no effort to hide his slow perusal of my mate. “Damn fine gift, though.”

My wolf surges to the surface, a warning snarl ripping from my lips.

Fuck it. If Ever can accept Arson as one of her mates, she won’t bat an eye if I tear their hearts out through their throats.

Before I can take a single step, Oscar puts himself between me and my father, stealing the wind from my sails. I have a good hundred and fifty pounds and nearly two feet on the old man, yet he’s putting himself in the line of fire to try and diffuse the situation.

“Here, Alpha. On the house.” He hands my father a six pack of beer. “Anything else you’d like me to pack up for you before you three head out?”

My father scowls, snatching the beer out of his hands and shoving it at one of the leeches he calls a friend. “You’re behind on rent.”

Oscar stiffens. “I paid last week.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Consider it an extra fee for harboring a traitor then. Three hundred.”

Oscar’s fist clenches, the only sign of his rage at the injustice, and takes a steadying breath. “I’ve made maybe sixty-two dollars today. That's all I have in the register.”

With a flick of his wrist, my father pops open one of the beer bottles and drains half of it in one long pull. “I’m nothing if not reasonable, payments are fine. Sixty a day for the next two weeks.”

“That’s outrageous!” I snap. “Way more than your bullshit extra tax.”

He chuckles, the sound dark and malicious. “You’ve forgotten how it works around here, son. I make the rules, and people fall in line. Or else.”

My skin suddenly feels too tight, thin fissures spreading as I fight back my shift tooth and nail. “Because anyone that doesn’t agree with your bullshit deserves to be killed like Mom, is that it?”

Bellamy frowns in confusion, but I’ll fill him in later.

“You should thank me for getting rid of her,” my father drawls. “She was making you weak.” He gestures at me, like that sums up his point. “Looks like you were finally able to man up without her holding you back.” Leering at Ever and Kiara, he adds, “And found some pretty company to keep you busy.”

I step in front of them, tucking Ever firmly behind me, and snarl, “Don’t even fucking look at them.”

A grin lights up his face. “Oooh, protective, are we? All the better. Davies?”

One of his men takes a step toward Ever like he’s going to restrain her, for them to use her against me.

But he doesn’t make it more than two steps before Bellamy is there, wrenching Davies’ arm behind his back and slamming his face into the cooler.

“Try it, and your shoulder will be out of its socket before you can blink. You don’t so much as breathe in her direction, understood? ”

My father barks a laugh, looking down his nose at me.

“You always did need other people to fight your battles for you. Clearly, my lessons didn’t stick and you need a refresher of how powerless you really are here.

” He drains the rest of his beer and tosses the bottle over his shoulder.

“I think I’ll start with that pretty little thing you seem so fond of.

What do you say, sweetheart? Time to trade up to a real alpha, don’t you think? ”

A feral haze envelops me and I snap. In the next heartbeat, my fist is on a collision course to break his fucking jaw.

And the bastard blocks it.

In the next instant, he’s throwing one back at me, quicker than I expected for his age.

But years of getting my ass beat as a kid has hardened me, and I barely even feel it as he lands a brutal hit on my ribs.

With sick satisfaction, I savor the moment he tries to shift and realizes he can't, eyes widening in surprise before darkening with rage and utter loathing. He studies Ever’s face over my shoulder and lets out a pissed off, animalistic snarl before whipping his face toward Oscar.

“You told me the whelp died in the wreck!”

Oscar audibly swallows his nerves, positioning himself between his furious alpha and my mate. “Of course I did. I couldn’t let her grow up in this Fates’ forsaken place.”

“She’s an abomination, just like her mother,” my father spits, my heart sinking at the implications. “She shouldn’t exist. ”

Ever lets out a strangled sound, staring at my father with both loathing, and a desperation for answers.

I meet Myles’ gaze, silently pleading for him to get the women out of here, and he takes point as Ever protests.

“He’ll be distracted as long as you’re here,” Myles murmurs, ushering her out the door. “The best thing we can do for him is to give him room to let loose without having to worry about us getting caught in the crossfire, trust me.”