Page 90 of Psycho Alphas: Part Two

“He is?”

“That’s what a Misfit is,” Petal said. “Been chewed up and spat out by those monsters who think they own us, and now we just don’t fit right anymore… anywhere else.”

“Like you?” Vance asked, eying me curiously.

I froze. “I don’t think… Well, Knox bought me, so it wasn’t like that.”

“Before Knox?” he asked.

Ace.

And then…

I swallowed.

“I don’t know,” I said. “It was different.” My eyes scanned the burns across Petal’s face. “It wasn’t…”

With Dan and his pack—if I’d just been more normal, kept my stupid instincts in check, Dad would have never had to send me to them…

“That’s what everyone says. But it doesn’t have to be like this—” Petal waved at her face “—to be a Misfit.”

They played for enough time after that that I think I’d figured out the game rules from watching. Seeing them squabble was entertaining enough that I didn’t even need to pull out my sketchbook to occupy myself.

At last, there was a knock on the door.

When I crossed the room to open it, I saw Rogue waiting a pace away. He looked almost awkward, fist caught in his palm, before spotting me and smiling. “We’re back. No one died—thank God, but your soul match is a real wild card.”

I grinned. I knew that.

I think they were bonding!

“We should make some plans, but you can come when you’re ready,” Rogue said. “No rush.”

“Oh. Yeah, I can come.”

I really liked the Misfits, but my social nerves were getting the better of me. Staying felt like the roll of a dice. How long before I said something really stupid and ruined it.

I should take the win and go.

“You sure you don’t want any before you leave?” Tanisha asked from the counter where she was serving herself another plate of strudel. Her eyes flickered from me, then up to Rogue, something odd in them. Her voice was the slightest bit stiff. “And uh, you too… if you wanted?”

I swear there was a flush at the base of Rogue’s neck. “No, I’m good—thanks.”

I waved my box of Poptarts at her.

Maybe next time.

Couldn’t steal their food on first visit, even if it did smell really fucking good.

“Well, we’ll see you both around,” Vance had followed me to the door, patting Bunny on the head before grinning at me. “You’re welcome to visit anytime.”

Anytime?

I looked back to Rogue. “They said I was a Misfit.”

“You sure are.”

“You’re one, too, right?”