Page 57 of The Librarian and Her Alphas

“All right,” I sigh, standing up from the bed. “Give me a minute.”

I return a moment later with my laptop and the picture of Zorin pulled up on the screen. I sit again and turn the screen to face her.

Lena’s face pales instantly, and she slams the laptop shut.What the hell?

“Lena? Is everything okay, darling?” I ask tentatively, wondering why she had such a visceral reaction. She ignores me, turning away and tucking the comforter more tightly around her. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

She remains silent, her gaze fixed firmly on the comforter. Concern wells in my chest as I watch her.

“Do you know him?” I prod again, unable to let this go. “Is he the one who was in your kitchen this morning? Does he?—”

“No, I don’t know him,” she snaps, pushing my hand off her waist.

I sit back and watch her roll onto her side, completely shutting me out. Her reaction to the picture of Zorin confuses me, and I want to push her for answers, but I know she will only isolate me further if I do. A dozen questions race through my mind, and a burning need for answers overwhelms me.

Does she have a pack? If not, why is she so determined to be alone? Was Zorin her alpha before I found her?

Her breathing deepens, and I realize she’s either fallen back asleep or is pretending to sleep. Knowing I won’t get anything from her at this moment, I sigh and leave the room, shutting the door gently behind me.

* * *

Hours later,I’m struggling to fall asleep, tossing and turning in my bed as I think about the day and the trespasser on my property.

I’m sure everything is linked, but I don’t know the connection. Suddenly, a soft knock sounds on my door, and I sit up and switch on the bedside table lamp.

Lena stands in the doorway in her pajamas, looking at me with uncertainty.

“Lena?” I say, completely surprised to see her there.

“I can’t sleep,” she mumbles, fiddling with the oversized white shirt she’s wearing from one of us. “May I stay here with you tonight?”

“Of course,” I say, throwing the bed covers open. She climbs in and snuggles into my side.

“I’m sorry for snapping at you earlier,” she says softly a few minutes later. “The things you want to know about me... they’re hard to talk about. I don’t like bringing them up because it’s a touchy subject.”

“I understand,” I soothe, stroking her hair. “I’m sorry for pushing you. If you don’t want to talk about it yet, I can respect that decision.”

“Thank you,” she says, nuzzling into my chest. “I don’t like it when we fight.”

“Oh, that wasn’t a fight at all, sweetness,” I say, chuckling softly in the dark as I pull her closer, hugging her soft body against me.

After a couple of minutes, my body finally relaxes with my omega by my side, allowing me to fall asleep at last.

* * *

Lena

Sunlight filtersthrough the curtains in Damon’s bedroom, and I crack my eyes open, stretching leisurely when I find myself in bed alone. My ankle throbs, but the pain isn’t as intense as it was yesterday, and I know that today, I should be able to walk on it a bit more.

A familiar pink suitcase sits at the end of the bed, and I sit up to look at it properly, my stomach sinking when I realize it contains the clothes and toiletries that Max had brought for me from home.

Damon was serious about me staying with them, especially since I’m pregnant. I haven’t had a chance to process the pregnancy, and I place a hand over my belly, thinking about being a mother.

The thought fills me with dread. If I stay here, I’m less likely to leave eventually, and I don’t want that.

I need to be on my own, where I know I’ll be safer, and to keep the baby safe.

Having made up my mind, I get up and dress, determined to leave the pack house today. I wheel my suitcase into the kitchen moments later, and all three alphas stop eating their breakfast to stare at me.

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