Page 9 of And Omega Makes Four
"What's the alternative?" River asks with a frown.
I hesitate because I don't want to scare him off by telling him the truth. But I also don't want to lie to him, so I'm not sure what to say. "It's complicated. We all came from the same pack originally and...something happened. Something awful. The three of us are the only ones left, and we agreed we'd never leave ourselves vulnerable like that ever again. Staying anywhere for too long is just bad news when you're a wolf."
He's horror-stricken as he looks right at me. "That's...that's terrible, Devon. I had no idea."
"Yeah, well, it's not something we like to talk about." Pack massacres don’t usually come up in early conversations with strangers. Or ever. "But that's why we're always on the move. We can't risk getting attached to anyone or anything because it'll just make it that much harder to leave when we have to."
"But you're letting me stay with you." River cocks his head, clearly confused. Join the club, kid. "Isn't that risky?"
"It is." And dumb. "But I trust my instincts. And right now, they're telling me that you're worth the risk."
River blushes and looks away, almost as surprised by my response as I am.
"Frankie, at the very least, agrees with me." I look over to where the other guys are working on the fire. "Otherwise, he'd have suggested you stay somewhere else."
"I don't want to be a burden," River says quietly. "I'll do whatever I can to help out."
"Good." I wink when he looks back at me. "Because we're gonna need all the help we can get."
As I turn back to the tent, I catch sight of movement out of the corner of my eye. My senses prickle and I’m immediately tense. There's something in the woods watching us. I can't see it, but I can feel it.
"What is it?" River steps closer to me, noticing my sudden change in demeanor.
"I don't know." The presence diminishes as quickly as it appeared, but my instincts are still on high alert. I glance at River and notice him trembling. Dammit, I didn't mean to frighten him. I'm used to being on edge all the time. Most of the time, stuff like this turns out to be nothing. "I'm sure it's nothing. Probably just a deer or rabbit."
"Right." River exhales with a nod, but he doesn't look convinced.
This is gonna be a long night. "Alright, let's get this tent set up." I focus on the distraction to keep that lingering feeling of being watched at bay. "We've got a lot to do tomorrow."
7
RIVER
I didn't think this was how my day would unfold. I certainly didn't picture myself crawling into bed between three of the most attractive alphas I've ever seen. The tent is warm, the blankets and pillows have made it actually quite comfy, and all the bodies curled up inside have made it an inviting environment.
Despite the pleasant surroundings, I'm still having trouble relaxing.
The sounds of the forest outside are intense. The wind rustling through the trees, the occasional hoot of an owl, the soft murmur of the three alphas sleeping peacefully around me. It's all so foreign to me. I've spent my entire life in the safety of the compound, surrounded by walls and the security of my pack.
I never realized how isolated I really was.
Rolling over, I sigh and try to find a comfortable position. My mind is racing with thoughts of what the future holds, and there’s no way I can sleep. I have no idea where I'm going or what I'm gonna do. I don't even know if I'm gonna survive the next few days. What was I thinking?
I'm scared.
I'm alone.
Closing my eyes, I try to steady my breathing so I can calm down. Relax.
Someone stirs beside me. It’s Frankie, I think. Before I know it, I’m being pulled back into a warm embrace. Muscular arms surround me and cuddle me against a broad chest. Almost immediately, I realize it's not Frankie—it's Kyle.
He must be dead asleep, because he wouldn’t do this if he were awake. He doesn't trust me, and he's made no secret of how much he resents having me around. But I push that to the back of my mind and just enjoy the moment. I can't remember the last time I truly felt safe and protected, but I do now, and I’m not gonna waste a second of this. It’s too good.
I take a deep breath and allow myself to relax. His scent surrounds me, enveloping me in a cocoon of warmth and comfort. My body naturally responds to his proximity. My heart rate slows, my muscles loosen, and my breathing becomes deeper and more regular.
Finally, I'm drifting off to sleep.
I'm safe.
