Page 71 of The Librarian and Her Alphas

Besides, I’ll always carry a little piece of the alphas with me wherever I go. I press a hand against my belly and think of my baby.

“I’ll keep you safe, little one,” I murmur, stroking my belly. “Nothing will ever hurt you.”

I don’t even realize I’m crying until the tears drip down my nose and onto my lap.

I let them fall, mourning the life I thought I would have and the uncertain future that awaits me. I know how I must look, sitting in the back of a taxi, crying over something that must have happened at the hotel I was picked up at, but I don’t care what anyone thinks anymore.

Thirty minutes later, James pulls up outside my apartment building.

“Thanks so much,” I say as I exit the car. He pulls away, and I wave briefly before hurrying inside, still checking my surroundings.

I rummage through my handbag for the house keys and open my front door when I find them, shutting it quickly behind me. Max had left my space neat and tidy—my mail was sitting on the kitchen table, and the groceries I’d bought had been put away. I’m grateful for his thoughtfulness, which makes leaving much harder.

I shower in record time, changing into leggings and an oversized sweatshirt that will be comfortable for travel. I check the time and move faster, knowing it won’t be long until Gunnar wakes up and the search for me begins.

Once my suitcase is packed with necessities and changes of clothes, I flick through my mail. None of it is essential, so I toss it back on the table and rush through my living room, grabbing a few photos of my sisters to put in my suitcase. My hands are shaking, my anxiety sky-high as I tuck the precious pictures between clothes to protect them.

I stop and take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down before I continue.

On a whim, I grab my scent blocker lotion and shove it in my handbag along with my heat suppressants, even though I’m pregnant. I don’t know if I will use them, but I pack them anyway to be safe.

Just in case.

As I take one last look around my apartment to make sure I haven’t missed anything, an overwhelming sense of sadness crashes over me. This little life, the one I built from scratch, is now over.

For some reason, I feel all alone again, and nothing feels more terrifying.

I hug myself around the middle as heavy, wracking sobs consume me, allowing myself just a moment to take it all in, to grieve the parts of myself that I’m leaving behind, before taking a deep breath and composing myself.

“I can do this,” I whisper as I leave the house.

* * *

Decidingto stop by a café first, I pull my laptop out of my backpack to buy a plane ticket to anywhere and book a rental home. Spending too much time at my apartment isn’t safe, so it’s better to do it here, where there were a lot of people around me.

“Hi, what can I get you to drink?” asks the barista, approaching me with a small notebook and a pen. I look up and notice a small bruise under her eye. Her name badge says ‘Mia’ on it.

She must be in an awful relationship, I think to myself instantly. Or maybe I’m just being paranoid, but I know the signs now.

“Just a coffee, extra sugar,” I say, and she nods timidly. “Thank you, Mia.”

“Your coffee will be right up!” she says, smiling brightly, covering the sad look in her eyes. I feel bad for her as I browse plane tickets for the cheapest deal. She must be dealing with domestic abuse of some kind.

I finally booked a one-way ticket to Little Rock, Arkansas, with no return date in sight. Once settled in and living there, I can start looking for apartments.

I sigh, knowing this has to be done. I’ve escaped an alpha pack before, and I know I can do it again.

“Here’s your coffee,” says the barista, returning to my table.

“Thank you,” I say as she sets the coffee down. “I used to be in your shoes. You should leave as soon as you can. It won’t be easy, but I promise it’s worth it.”

She pauses and looks at me for a moment before quietly walking away. So maybe I was right. A boyfriend or family member was mistreating her, but I got the message that it’s none of my business by the look she gave me.

Taking a sip of my coffee, I remembered how I didn’t listen to anyone but myself at the end of my relationship with Zorin until it was almost too late.

* * *

Hours later,I’m at the airport, and it’s a nightmare.

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