threw together. I stare at the ground between my feet, thinking over the conversation I had with my parents after dinner. All

but my mind was consumed by everything-it still is. There were a couple things I could focus on as she rummaged

ha dismisses my handler and brings me inside. I've never been

ything you nee

s wearing earlier. It feels strang

ng realized this was all just a dream," I sa

our mate. You're

okay. Keep your bed, David. I like to tak

his face. I've called him by his first name. "Besid

nt, he leaves me

d from home. My body lowers onto the guest bed after I shut of the ligh

can think about is how close he is. My arms wrap around the spare pillow with a deadly grip, wishing that life woul

lready seeping through my barriers? I ne

but I refuse to welc

a sleep schedule I may have had. My mind tilts back and forth between waking and sleeping until my body refuses to shut off one more time. My e

pretend to be asleep or not if whoever it is attempts to open it. The handl

enter then suddenly cut off. "Brig

mot

afternoon. Why ar

s right now," I mutter,

but we both know I am not. You are creating a ba

are what h

lankets from my body. But when she does finally speak, her voice is raw, free from attitude or judgment. My mother says, "I know this isn't what you wanted,

is is all just too much. I don'

wallow. You'll be packing your things to

htens. "So h

that's understandable. He must get back t

his? You don't care th

But your mate is an Alpha, and that means you'll have

so see the tears welling in her eyes. "I suppo

as she rests her hand on my blanket-covered

athe. "If the A

he seems lovely. He doesn't want to steal you aw

ou that?"

did. He's ju

m in here, then I do

re hidin

ether. "I'm not hid

ll, you've got to face the music. I need you home unles

riggers just a

her. I'm going to head back home,

hrough my tousled hair and say, "Y

act that he's down there. Do I play the game, or do I run? Could I even esca

ve to see her before the Alpha whisks me away; I ha

desires annoys me. I hate that I have to do it. I hate that I'm experiencing such things. But, if I want to go home, I have to get through this part. When I reach the bottom of the staircase, I walk down the

y and ease into the room. Th

her have her get you out

you're leavi

ving tomorrow, yes.

esponsibilities. You're busy, aren't you?" He watches me. "We

e peering to the floor. "I can

I breathe in. "Anyway, I'm going to go pack my things. Don't worry, my mother has been

already on me. "I'll be walking you

re ki

ad and walks out

n, my voice growing louder. "What am I going to do?

d opens the front doo

e're at your pack? If it is, you're going to have to drag

ays, "let's go.

ard. As I walk through the doo

to his hand on me. "What did you expect?" He asks. "Did you think you could just say the thing

g to run off,

," he says as his ey

ame i

of me,

home, and I try to stay two or three steps ahead of him, but it doesn't seem to help the suffocat

who may pass. I can't tell if it's because of his authority and beauty or my att

't have time to care for them," I mutter just as three fam

r you?" He asks from behind. "Or are you tryi

s if men could feel guilty fo

he firs

, David. I would say that I could live happily wit

to be nothing but empty promises. "You know, you co

otherwise? It gives you th

o read your mind to

ng. When my house appears in the distance, some relief comes

guest house after dinner," he reminds

my way to the front door. "So I

lpha

on, you know. I didn't start existing when yo

reaks away, turn

e," he say

he sadness as it pools in my gut because a part of me