Page 79 of Trust No Alpha

“Yeah. I liked the Omega I paired with. He was nice and it wasn’t his first time so he was very patient. I might see him again.”

“Really?”

He nodded and his cheeks flushed. “So will you ever have a Burn? Or… well…”

His questions were personal, but fair. He was my brother after all.

“Yes. I already did. It lasted two days and Thorne saw me through it.”

“But—but…” He sputtered. “He’s an Alpha!”

“I know. It was wonderful.”

“I’m happy for you, Kris.”

I could feel the old kinship—our sibling bond—and I was truly grateful for Trigg’s company and loyalty. He was the only one who didn’t think differently of me, and it felt like the greatest of gifts.

“Will you tell Father? About your Burn, I mean, and how much Thorne means to you.”

“I will if he’ll talk to me. If he’ll listen.”

“Maybe I can help you.”

“You’re already are helping me by supporting me. Thank you, Trigg.”

He slid off the bed to stand. “I want to stay longer, but I can’t. If Father catches me--”

“I know.”

“Maybe Thorne will come for you and talk to Father himself.”

It was what I was hoping for, but I wasn’t sure if Father would even receive him.

After Trigg left, I watched the sun go down and stared into the dark out my window for a long time.

That first night, Father never came to see me.

*

I slept curled in a tight ball and did not get up until the sun was high in the sky.

No one visited me.

I rummaged through my kitchen to see if any food had been left there that wasn’t spoiled or thrown away. I found sodas and water still in the fridge. I found unopened snacks, as well as canned fruits and veggies. The freezer held ice cream and frozen goods. I was used to fresh meals all my life, and Thorne was also an excellent cook, but I couldn’t be picky now. I heated up a frozen breakfast burrito.

When I turned on my computer and tried to go online, the service didn’t work, of course. I’d been cut off entirely.

Not once since being taken from Thorne had I cried. But my heart felt dead in my chest. Broken. All I could think about was Thorne, how he’d taken me in and treated me with respect even after finding out I wasn’t a true Alpha. How he’d held me and brought me pleasure during my first Burn. How I’d fallen so deeply in love with him. If I couldn’t be near him I didn’t feel whole.

Whenever I thought I heard footsteps outside my door, I would stand and wait, hoping it was Father. I waited and waited for him to come to me. To ask me about my feelings. About what I wanted.

At some point, unless he intended to starve me, he would have to let someone bring me groceries. I didn’t expect to stay here but I didn’t know how soon I would find my way out of this, either.

Trigg had said he would try to help me, but I wasn’t sure what he meant by that. How could he help? Even though he was technically an adult Alpha now, he was not in charge in this house. In the spring, he would go away to school himself.

All day my thoughts wandered.

I played some games on the computer since I wasn’t able to go online, but I couldn’t concentrate.