Page 59 of Retribution

So I never bothered.

Breathing is difficult as I drive through the gates of the Reid residence. My chest feels tight, and my fingers twitch as I think about those two little words.

They don’t scare me in a very odd way, I just don’t know if I can say them back yet. When I first left Jefferson City in a blanket of death, I was hopeful to find a pack.

It just never happened until now.

Torturing my bottom lip, I stop at the end of the driveway to see three sleepy alphas and one wide eyed one standing on the front step.

Shoving the SUV into park, I leave the vehicle running as I get out.

“I can’t stay long,” I explain, moving toward them.

“Oliver said you had a job,” Lucas says, sleep leaving his eyes as he stands in socked feet in the cold.

“I do,” I say. “I’ll be gone for a day or two.”

Lucas’ hand grabs mine and he pulls me up to stand in front of him. My combat boots feel out of place next to his feet, and I vaguely think about how odd a thought that is.

“You’re shaking. What’s going on?” he asks.

My eyes cut over to Oliver and he smiles gently at me.

“Let’s try this again. You don’t have to say anything back, and yes I meant it. I said it without thinking as I hung up, but it doesn’t change anything,” he says.

“What?” Alesso asks, confused.

“I think we’re missing an important piece of this,” Grant says.

“I need to borrow our lovely omega for this,” Oliver says, taking my hand and pulling me away from Lucas. “Here we go.”

His arm wraps around my back as he pulls me closer to him, and his fingers tip my head back so he’ll have uninterrupted eyecontact. “I…love…you, Isolde. I don’t think I’ve ever said that to anyone outside my own mother before. Are you okay with that?”

There’s complete silence as I nod slowly. He answered everything that I was quietly freaking out about. The trembling quiets as he hugs my body to his chest, and I squeeze him in return. He’s solid, and feels really fucking good.

“I wanted to say goodbye before I left,” I finally breathe, pulling back. “I’m on a time crunch.”

“Then go and promise to come back to us,topolina,” Alesso says, sighing. “I don’t like it, but it is your job. I want this to be your first stop when you get back, please. Someone needs to feed you.”

A startled laugh escapes me, because I wasn’t expecting him to say that. I can be a little hopeless with this. I eat better when I have company. Somehow, it makes food taste better.

“I’ll come by,” I promise, my eyes bouncing between them. Suddenly, I don’t want to leave even though I have to.

Devon’s call put me under contractual obligation to kill his enemies. They’re being handed to me on a silver platter.

So instead, I try to memorize my alphas’ features.

“Don’t do that,” Grant growls. “We’ll be here. Don’t act like you’re not going to see us again.”

“I’ll postpone going to the city,” Lucas murmurs.

“You have a meeting today,” Grant corrects. “You don’t have to stay in the city afterward though.”

“There, I’ll be here when you’re done,” Lucas says, his voice deeper.

I feel another flush of heat despite how cold it is and nod, deciding that I have to leave before they notice how oddly I’m acting. Well, worse than usual. Do I need to increase my heat suppressants?

“Okay. I need to ask something,” I say, taking a step back. “Can heat suppressants, um, stop working because you’re around your alphas?”