Page 136 of Puck My Life

“Vae-”

“I destroyed my nest. I shattered something inside me. Mal, I tried so hard for so long to be the person you needed, and I needed you. I was vulnerable. You were my alphas; you were supposed to be mine.”

His arms tighten around me. “Vae, we were always yours. She had photos.”

“You should have released the photos and stayed with me. We would have weathered the storm together, like we always do. I could have handled it. I handled everything else.”

Malcolm’s arms loosen and fall away from me.

“You would have wanted us to see our fans rip you apart?”

“I would have wanted you to give me a choice. You have no idea how awful, how completely shattering it was to come home and see my alphas, the guys I loved more than anyone else, my best friends, my lovers, the only people I callfamily, kissing the omega who made my life hell, just after we went through a heat.”

I turn to face him. He’s pale, and he’s retreated three steps. As I advance, he retreats again.

“You should have asked me what to do. You should have told me what was happening. Instead, you let me come home to see her all over you, in my house, with my nest.”

“Vae, please. We thought we could protect you.”

I bark a laugh. “I don’t need protecting. I’ve been taking care of you three all my life. I’ve never needed protecting.”

“Vae,” he whispers my name.

“You ruined her. She’s no longer a threat. That’s great. I’m really happy for you, but I’m broken in a way I have never been and,” I pause, my eyes filling with tears, “I just don’t trust you with me anymore.” I take a breath and hold it before I let it out slowly. “I need you to leave.”

He opens his mouth and closes it before his jaw flexes, and he gives a tight nod. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but he’s giving in and listening to me.

“I’m so sorry, Vae.”

I don’t say anything as he walks out and disappears. As soon as he’s gone, I rush to the door and lock it before going in the back and leaning over a sink being quietly but thoroughly sick.

The shakes return, and I end up sitting on a stool in the back, staring at the floor with my arms wrapped tight around me.

Did I make the right decision?

I let out a sob and then press a fist to my mouth. No more tears, not over them. I throw myself into cleaning, ignoring everything. When the cake is done, I pull it out of the trays and wait while they cool down.

It’s close to dawn when I finish decorating it and put it in the display counter. It’s a chocolate and pear cake that I don’t have an exact recipe for but is a cross between a sponge and a mud cake.

I fall asleep until my alarm goes off and jump in the shower. Jansen is waiting for me when I walk outside.

“Morning, my lovely.”

“Hi,” I grunt.

“Oh, we are in fine spirits today.”

I growl at him, but he just laughs and helps me into his car.

“What happened?”

“Mal came after you left.”

“Oh, you made up…” he stills, reading my face. “You didn’t make up?”

I shake my head. “Nope, I said what I said, and he left.”

“He just left?”