Page 99 of Believe it or Knot

How none of that mattered at the first sign of trouble, that I might not be as steady on that pedestal they put me on.

They listen, make outraged noises on my behalf at all the right moments, ask questions and mutter vows to castrate the Cordova pack under their breath. It’s… exactly what I needed. Verification that I’m not crazy for being so hurt, so heartbroken. Vindication for the anger rolling through me at how easily all of them could just set me aside.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell us any of this,” Vee says, narrowing her eyes at me. “Why didn’t you tell us this was happening?”

“I sent you a text-”

“A hypothetical text about maybe having a no holds barred sex romp with a celebrity,” Sadie cuts in. “Nothing about dating them, about joining their pack.”

I gnaw on my lip, not meeting either of their gazes.

“Why didn’t you say anything, babe?” Vee prompts.

I sigh and tip my head back, staring at the ceiling as I say, “you’ve both been busy with your packs and your lives and all the bullshit with Apex. I didn’t want… if it didn’t work out, I didn’t want to bother you, get your hopes up.”

“Sorrel Madeline Forbes!” Sadie sounds well and truly pissed. “Were you going to keep it a secret from us, your very bestest of friends, if it didn’t work out?”

I roll my eyes and motion around the room in her pack’s penthouse. “Obviously not. I came to you as soon as it ended, Sade.”

“As you should!”

“You don’t have to do everything alone, Sore,” Vee says much more gently.

I nod and hug a pillow to my chest. “Yeah, I know. I know that, but sometimes… it feels like I do. A lot of times it feels like… that’s all I do, push forward alone to not inconvenience anyone else. And I guess that’s what I have to do now.”

Vee frowns. “You aren’t alone. You have us, babe. And Gage-”

“Gage wasn’t even willing to try for me. He wasn’t willing to fight to stay with me,” I say, and they both make sounds of agreement.

“His way of fighting for you was to test you, test your loyalty to him, and when he didn’t get the answer he wanted, he lashed out,” Vee says, resting her head on my shoulder. “He’s got to be regretting it now.”

Sadie nods. “I’m sure if you reached out-”

“I can’t go back to Gage,” I say, shaking my head. “He’ll think the only reason I do is because they broke things off with me. I don’t want him to think that.”

“If he does, he’s an idiot,” Sadie says, looking up at me from where her head rests on my shoulder. “And the Cordova pack are a bunch of bigger fucking idiots.”

Vee laces her fingers with mine. “What do you want to do, babe?”

“Besides wallow,” Sadie adds. “You’re definitely going to keep wallowing for as long as you need.”

I nod. “Yeah, I’m going to wallow, but then I have to… The restaurant’s been running on shortened hours with just Annie and Jeremy. I need to get back to work.” Especially since I’ll need the income now that I have to figure out a way to pay off Grayson’s company faster than I had intended. No way do I want that debt hanging over me.

“How stupid of me,” I mutter, shaking my head. “Believing them. Throwing myself all in with them. I thought…” I thought I wouldn’t have to live this life that I hate anymore. I thought I’d finally be free, but I was wrong.

“No, Sor,” Vee says softly. “No. You aren’t stupid. You’re a dreamer and smart and talented, and you always see the best in people no matter what.”

I snort. “And look where that got me.”

Sadie nuzzles closer to me. “This sucks, babe. It does. No one is saying otherwise. But this will not break you. You’re stronger than that. And you will not let this change who you are at your core.”

Vee nods. “We love who you are at your core.”

“And sometime soon, you’re going to find a pack who adores your core, too.”

I take a deep breath through my nose, inhaling their sweet omega scents and letting them calm me. It’s almost as good as Gage and the Cordova pack’s scents all mingled together. Almost, but not quite.

I don’t bother telling them I don’t think that’s the case. That I think my pack will never exist. Not anymore. I’ll be alone until the end of my days, an auntie to all the kids they’re going to have, but never a mother myself.

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