Chapter 4 The Reunion

• "What the hell are you doing here? How are you even here?" My voice was sharp, low, almost a hiss. I looked over my shoulder, afraid that Nolan or Annabelle would hear me.
• Johnny was a ghost pulled out of the ground. His hair, once golden, was greasy, his clothes torn, and his skin pale. He reeked of blood, sweat, and weeks without soap. The sunken depressions beneath his eyes gave him the appearance of being older than twenty.
• "I—I had no other place to go," he whispered.
• My chest grew tight. "You are supposed to be dead."
• "He did not kill me..." His voice broke. “I surrendered. This is why the tether broke. That is why Scott was your Alpha.”
• I stared for a moment. His words were logical, but he was broken in every way.
• "Why the fuck did you come to me?" I tried to push him out of the house. "Do you want to get me killed?"
• "You are the only one I can trust.”
• "No. Not at all. You can never trust me, and I don't trust you.” I spoke with anger. "Scott is already sniffing. He believes I assisted you to escape. He believes I am helping you now.”
• Johnny frowned, confusion flitting. "Why should he think so?”
• "Because you are standing in front of me!" I snapped. "You appear here, and it makes me look guilty. You are pulling me down with you.”
• "Olivia, please…" he begged, his voice frayed. "I have no other place to go.”
• I suppressed a bitter laugh. "Perhaps, had you not started fights with every Alpha within a hundred miles, your father would not have burned his pack to the ground. He would be ashamed of you.”
• His face crumpled. The words were deep, but I did not regret them. They had to be said.
• "Where am I to go?" he whispered.
• "I don't fucking care. Not here. Just not here. Get through the guards, keep running, and disappear. I don't want you anywhere near me.”
• I turned and seized the window sill, but his hand was quicker, and he caught my wrist.
• "What can I say to make you help me?"
• “Nothing.” I tore loose. "I am not going to risk my life on your account. Not again. Go!”
• I crawled through the window, shut it, and pulled the curtains together, shutting him out of my life.
• Sleep never came.
• ***
• By daybreak, I was tired to the bone. I put on black tights and a loose gray shirt and ran. The obstacle course in the woods was my release—leaping, crawling, and making my body do parkour while my mind was in turmoil.
• On the way back I passed the entrance to a cave. There was a movement in the darkness.
• "Johnny?" I said, "I am not going to get you."
• He crawled out in a worse condition than ever.
• "You are fortunate I am not one of Arthur's warriors," I said coldly. "What the hell are you still here?"
• "I told you," he said. "I have no other place to go.”
• "You cannot remain on pack lands. They will track you down. And when they do, Scott will never believe I did not know."
• His voice broke. "Where should I go?"
• I pinched the bridge of my nose. Words came out against every instinct. "There is an old warehouse. Northeast border. No-man’s land. No one uses it. That is your best bet.”
• His eyes flared a moment. "Thanks...."
• I turned aside before I could regret it.
• ***
• At home I counted my money. Three thousand, eight hundred. Not nearly enough to start over, but it was something. Each dollar was a future without Annabelle. She had already padlocked the cabinets and locked up the fridge as though I were some thief. I was, perhaps, in her eyes.
• I heard her voice as I was leaving. "How did you get in last night?"
• "I unlocked the door.”
• "That is breaking and entering!”
• "Not here, not if I live here."
• "It is my home."
• "Then tell the Alpha." I smirked. "See what he says about you locking me out.”
• "Her face contorted. Never do it again....”
• I passed her, heart beating, but smiling. This time, she did not have the final word.
• ***
• At school, Harvey joined me.
• “Are you okay? Are you… preoccupied?”
• "Same old shit.”
• “Annabelle?”
• "Isn't it always?
• He hesitated. "You could tell the Alpha. He should do something.”
• I shook my head. “Drop it. I have plans of my own.”
• He did not insist, but his eyes remained anxious.
• ***
• I was late at the gym that night. Ralph was leaning over the mats, his forehead touching mine. His kindness, his gentle power—it helped me to endure the pain within.
• "Get out of the diner," he said. "Come work here, more hours. Higher wages.”
• It was a tempting but dangerous thought. "I like the concept. But we can spend so much time together; it will spoil us.”
• He nodded, and his eyes were full of understanding. I kissed him softly so that he would know he was important.
• But I drew back first. I never failed to do so. "I ought to get going. Annabelle has been acting strange. Worse.”
• “Olivia.” His hand covered mine. "When it becomes too much, you know where I live."
• I swallowed. “Yeah. I know.”
• ***
• Home.
• Annabelle was waiting in the hall, like a dark figure.
• "What now?" I muttered.
• The steps in the kitchen stopped me. Lighter than Nolan, more incisive.
• “Mom?” I gasped when I saw her—my mother, in our hallway. Serious-eyed, her arms around me for a moment, then drawing away.
• The air changed, and confusion swirled. Heavy. Dangerous.
• A second figure emerged out of the kitchen. Broad shoulders blocked the doorway. His hair was brown, his scar jagged down his cheek, and his goatee shadowed a face carved in menace. His eyes were fixed on me, cold and sharp.
• Six-foot-seven. The room itself appeared to contract under him.
• My heart sank to my stomach.
• "Alpha Scott.”
• The name stuck in my throat like a piece of broken glass.