Page 21 of Rugged Hearts: Part One

“If that’s the case why weren’t they bonded? Something isn’t right here,” Micah interjects.

“You don’t know they weren’t bonded.” I glare at him. Why does he have to assume the worst? Well, I know why but I wish he wouldn’t.

“The obituary said ‘omega partner’ not ‘bonded omega.’ That’s how we know they weren’t bonded,” Jake says softly, gazing at Thea. Micah nods in agreement.

“Who cares why they didn’t bond; she’s grieving, that’s what matters. We have to help her through this.” Eli paces behind the couch.Most of us nod in agreement, Micah notably doesn’t and Liam looks too deep in thought to register what Eli said. Is this part of what he knew about when he did her physical?

“Liam, what are you thinking?” I ask.

“Huh? Oh, uhm, yes we should help her with dealing with that,” he says. I’m not the only one looking at him waiting for him to say what he’s really thinking. He doesn’t. I decide to let it go. It’s not the priority at the moment.

“We have to tell her about the scent matches when she wakes up,” Ben says suddenly.

I know Parker and Eli will be on board with that. But… “It might be too much all at once. Maybe we should wait,” I say.

“She deserves the truth. How do you think it would go if we get to know her another month or longer and don’t say anything? We need to do this right. She’s our scent match,” Ben says and Micah scoffs at the last part, which earns him a glare from our beta.

“Ben’s right. She needs to know today. We can’t wait.” Liam stands and walks over to where she’s lying down, looking her over from his spot behind the couch. His expression is concerned as he looks at her. What the fuck is going on with her that he’s so worried? Suddenly I hear her moving lightly. She’s waking up. I nearly push Parker out of the way as I rush to her side. I don’t want her to freak out being in a strange place. I was the last person she saw. If she sees one of the others she probably will.

Her eyes open and I’m surprised by the relief coursing through me to see her hazel eyes again. Her brows scrunch together as she looks at me. She tries to sit up.

“Easy you cried yourself to exhaustion earlier,” I tell her as I help her to a seated position, and sit next to her in the now-empty cushion. Her eyes widen as she looks around the room and sees our entire pack, her scent tinged with panic.

21

THEA

My head is pounding. The last thing I remember is being in the woods and crying my eyes out with Keelan. I glance at him, now sitting next to me on this sectional. I’m still annoyed with him, because he just pushed and pushed. I didn’t need that today. Let’s be honest, the slightest push would’ve broken me today.

Looking around I see all of them. I didn’t know they were all pack, even Jake. I haven’t even really met Micah, who I can only assume is the man standing off to the side by the doorway. He’s an intimidating alpha, tall like the rest of them, dressed in a three-piece suit, his reddish-brown hair styled perfectly to match his trimmed beard. They’re all looking at me and it makes me feel like I’m under a microscope and being examined for every tiny reaction I have. Parker is sitting on the floor next to my legs, looking up at me with the saddest green eyes. I’m surrounded by all of their scents and it’s messing with me. My instincts make me want to bury myself in them but I need to get out of here. I move to get up but my eye catches on the laptop next to Parker. It has a picture of Connor on it—his obituary.I feel the color drain from my face and suddenly feel lightheaded. How do they know abouthim? Can whatever they searched leadhimto me? I really do need to leave.

“Whoa, easy there you don’t look good. Liam, what’s wrong with her?” Keelan says but it sounds far away.Suddenly Liam is in front of me, his green eyes catching my attention. He’s saying something but I can’t hear it. My ears are ringing and black spots are dotting my vision. He’s going to find me. That’s the single thought running through my head over and over. The scents in the room are suddenly stronger, my limbs are relaxing as I take them in more. Liam is still talking but doing an exaggerated breathing motion which I begin to mimic. After a few minutes of this the ringing in my ears fades away and my vision is back to normal. My body feels all floppy, like it’ll take a lot of effort to just lift my arm. I’m now leaning back, resting against the back of the couch. Liam is sitting on my left now, taking my pulse.

“That’s a lot better. Your pulse isn’t racing like it was a few minutes ago,” he says. Looking around, I see almost everyone has moved closer to the couch. Ben, Jake, and Eli are standing behind the couch over me. Keelan and Liam are still sitting next to me with Parker in the same spot on the floor. Micah, the only one I really haven’t met beyond what Rebecca told me, has moved from the doorway to a nearby chair.

“Can you tell us what panicked you so bad just now?” Ben asks gently.

I look back to the laptop and some of the panic returns. Liam seems to follow my line of sight and reaches down to close the laptop. Parker lets out a choked sound, I swear it’s almost a whimper.

“That was it, right?” Liam says.

I nod. Talking seems like more than I can do right now. I don’t know how they found out about him, but they condemned me by looking him up. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to invade your privacy like that. It’s just you told Keelan about him earlier and Ben mentioned you were originally from Florida. I just wanted toknow what happened, why you were so upset,” Parker says as if I’m going to berate him for it. I wouldn’t. I gaze at him softly and stretch my hand out, palm up, hoping he takes it. He does, a little tightly but I don’t mind. It doesn’t erase the fact that I still need to leave, not just this house but this town. Start over somewhere again. Just the thought makes me want to scream in frustration. I move to the edge of the couch, planning to get up and leave.

“You can’t get up yet, you need to take some time to rest. You almost passed out,” Liam says sternly, which earns him a glare from me.

“I need to leave, let me up,” I say with not much strength behind my words.

“No, you need to rest, at least for a few minutes.” Liam frowns slightly at me.

Panic is starting to rise. I don’t feel unsafe with them but I need to leave. They don’t understand. Standing, I ignore him and Keelan’s protests. They’re both bracing me which I begrudgingly lean into. I can’t be weak like this, not with everything I need to do. Pack up the house as quick as possible, get a new burner phone. I think I have a backup in my go-bag. My mind is racing as I stay standing. Come on legs,move. It’s like moving through quicksand. I take the smallest step before Liam is once again in front of me, now looking pissed off.

“You stubborn woman. Sit down; you’re going to collapse. If you haven’t noticed Keelan is keeping you upright,” Liam growls.

I look to Keelan and yup he’s holding on to me. I didn’t pass out, but why is my body so weak like I did? “I need to leave,” I say softly, more to myself.

“Why?” Keelan whispers to me but I’m sure the others hear.

I look at him. His strong jaw is covered in his thick beard, and his eyes are full of concern. His scent and the others are overwhelming me. Safe. Protected. Free. Peace. Joy. Hope. The last is so faint but it breaks something in me.