Page 29 of Pack Scratch Fever

PIPER

I manage to stumble into the passenger seat of Blair’s car with her help. The alcohol races through my blood, making me angrier and bolder than I expected.

Everything I said to them, I meant.

Every. Single. Word.

“Well, that went great,” Blair mumbles. “It looks like Travis is going to kick them out.”

“I like him,” I slur. “He’s cute for you.”

Blair shakes her head. “Nuh-uh,” she says. “None of that. We’re getting you home, and you’re sleeping this off. Then we’re going to figure out where to go from there.”

She drives me home in silence, and I zone out, listening to the dull purr of her car’s engine.

“I can’t believe he did that,” I whisper after a few minutes.

“I know.”

“We can’t afford it, Blair.”

“I know.”

“I really liked them.”

My best friend sighs. “I know , Piper. I’m sorry. You really did seem happy with them.”

Bitter tears prick at my eyes. “My mom and dad made it worse.”

I managed to tell Blair about their plan to sue me for my inheritance after Chet dropped off the new lease agreement. Her suggestion was I could use a drink.

She meant one drink, not four shots and three drinks.

“They’re not good people,” Blair agrees softly. “And I’m so sorry this all happened in one day. It’s a lot to deal with at once.”

“It affects you too,” I hiccup. “What are we going to do? What about Mister Whiskers? Al-Alvin…”

I burst into sobs.

Drunk me is a mess .

“We have until the end of the month,” Blair says, rubbing my shoulder with her free hand. “That’s more than three weeks to figure something out.”

But I know Blair is being more optimistic than she feels. I remember the way her face crumpled after she read the new agreement.

She loves the rescue as much as I do and needs it just as much.

“You’re resourceful,” she continues. “Both of us are. This won’t ruin the rescue, and it sounds like your pack wants to help?—”

“They’re not my pack,” I snap, harsher than I intended to be. “And they can’t help. Poe doesn’t know the first thing about cats, nor does he want to. Maddox and Avery are no better.”

More tears fall as I spit out their names.

Poe. Maddox. Avery.

They had meant something to me.

They were more than just Heat partners, more than just Alphas.

It felt as if they were my friends .

Sure, Maddox and Avery weren’t directly responsible for what Poe did, but they’re part of the pack.

They chose to be in a pack with him, which almost makes it worse.

Why would they willingly be packmates with someone who does horrible things, like screwing over renters?

I want nothing to do with them after this.

The thought makes me sob harder, and Blair remains silent the rest of the car ride to my apartment.

I’m too inebriated to be embarrassed as she helps me through my front door, not caring that she sees how pathetic my apartment is.

We both know I’m punishing myself for not doing enough.

I suspect that behavior will only worsen after tonight.

“I’m staying tonight,” she announces as I fumble out of my jeans and toss my sweater over my head.

“No,” I grumble. “I’m fine.”

I flop unceremoniously onto my mattress, burying my face in a pillow. I squeeze my eyes shut as the room spins from the alcohol.

“No, you’re not.” The mattress dips, and Blair plops down next to me, dressed in a pair of my sweatpants. “I’m staying until you sober up.”

Her gentle floral scent permeates the room as I turn to face her. She lies on her side; her brow furrowed with concern.

“Where’s my phone?” I croak.

She fumbles behind her and retrieves it off the floor. I take it and roll onto my back, groaning at the number of missed calls and text messages that fill my screen.

I scroll through them quickly, only checking to see who they’re from and not bothering to read them in detail.

It’s a bunch of apologies and explanations that mean nothing.

Poe, Maddox, and Avery have already proven they’re capable of hurting me, and I’m not going back down that route.

It’s better for me to have a clean break from them.

I’ve given people second and third chances—mainly my family, and they’ve done nothing but disappoint and hurt me.

So, without much more thought, I block the three Alphas before they can hurt me more. Then, I toss my phone across the room, curl onto my side facing away from Blair, and close my eyes.

My hand still aches from the scratch from Mister Whiskers, but it’s not enough to keep me from falling into a drunken slumber.

I’m handle everything tomorrow.

My parents, the rescue, the loss of a potential pack…

I’ll deal with it after I wake up.

My head aches.

I sit up with a groan as sunlight streams through my blinds and creates a dull throbbing behind my eyes.

My mouth is dry, and I swallow painfully.

I’m hungover, but I could swear it’s more than that.

Blair isn’t in my bed anymore, and her side is made, with only the remnants of her powdery scent left in my room.

It feels like it takes eons for me to reach my phone as I crawl slowly off my mattress. Sweat beads on my forehead, and chills wrack my body with every move I make.

When I finally grab my phone, there’s one new text from Blair.

Don’t come in today. Just rest. Mari and I have got it.

I couldn’t go into the rescue even if I wanted to.

Even moving across the room to my phone was agonizing. I sit against the wall, letting my head thud against it.

This has to be the worst hangover I’ve ever experienced in my life.

I manage to send Blair a text, telling her I feel awful, then stagger to the bathroom to change my bandage.

The scratch is inflamed and itchy. I rinse it quickly with soap under the sink, grimacing in pain, then slap a new bandage on it.

My head spins, chills wrack my body, and sweat clings to the back of my shirt.

Just get back into bed.

I stumble onto my mattress and collapse with an oof onto my back.

Then, I close my eyes and try to sleep.

But my inner Omega won’t stop screaming at me.

Go back to the Alphas! They’re our scent matches!

The despair I’ve tried to ignore comes creeping in, and hot tears spill out of my closed eyelids and down my cheeks.

I lost them.

I lost potential friendships and lifelong connections.

I’ve lost Avery, the kindest man I’ve ever met, with a passion for photography that rivals my love for cats.

His patience and tenderness had immediately put me at ease with him, and knowing his backstory about his sisters makes him even more endearing.

He has a big heart and a genuine goodness about him.

I no longer have Maddox, the wild boy with no parents who had to grow up quickly. The Alpha that’s smart, witty, and maybe too flirty, but still treated me like I was worthy.

I cover my mouth and stifle my sobs.

Then, there’s Poe.

I thought I had found my equal in him, that he understood what it’s like to punish yourself and never feel like enough.

I thought he understood me.

But instead, I’m losing the rescue because of him.

Maybe it wasn’t intentional, but he, and by extension, his pack, has damaged everything I’ve cared for.

My sobs echo in my bedroom as my head aches. I cry so hard I end up rolling onto my side and dry heaving, bile burning in my throat.

My inner Omega weeps as well, mourning something that could have been.

She grieves the chance to start over and find somewhere she could have belonged.

It’s all been ripped away.

Once I’m out of tears, I curl into a ball and wipe my eyes.

I eventually fall asleep; my body wracked with shivers and my heart breaking.