Page 108 of His Forsaken Alpha

Sober?The idea of being sober was terrifying. Cav pulled his flask out of his jacket pocket and snuck a drink before Marlo snatched it out of his hands.

“Get it together, Cavanaugh,” Marlo snapped.

13

Cav woke up in the limo as it pulled in front of the hotel, shocked he’d slept at all. Minutes was all it could’ve been and nothing in the face of his deprivation. After getting him upstairs, Marlo and Gregory fed him—while he poured more minibar liquor down his throat at every chance—tossed him in a shower once back in his hotel room, and then helped him pass out across the bed soon after. When he awoke the following morning with a hellacious hangover, memories from the day before were vague. He got up, washed his face and teeth, and as he brushed his hair and looked into the mirror, a memory rose out of the muck in his mind.

He stared at his reflection, sure it had been a nightmare.

Wynter? Alive?

Cav walked straight to the minibar, pulled out the last two whiskeys left inside, and poured them into the tumbler he’d used the night before.

And then he stared at the glass, unable to lift it to his lips.

Memories replayed. Gregory and Marlo had promised to help find his omega so he could face the man sober. He sure as hell didn’t want to be sober, but he needed to be—not that his head was all that clear that morning. Lifting the tumbler, he crossed to the bathroom and dumped the contents into the sink, rinsing it after. Cav stood there a moment, watching the drain as if the liquid might reappear and he’d have to refuse once more.

He glanced in the mirror and was disgusted by what he saw.

He needed to get his life in order. After he dragged on some clothes, he crossed the hall and knocked on Gregory and Marlo’s shared room. No one answered, so he ambled down to the hotel’s restaurant, where he found them most mornings after he’d slept off a drunken night. They were seated in a booth near the entryway, looking over the brunch menu.

“About time you woke up,” Marlo murmured as Cav slid into the booth beside Gregory.

“Please tell me that the memory I have of yesterday didn’t really happen and that it was a nightmare.”

Gregory and Marlo shared a look.

“Fucking tell me it wasn’t real,”Cav mumbled, tears burning the backs of his eyes.

“Do you want the truth or for us to tell you it wasn’t real?” Marlo asked, lowering the menu.

“Fuck, Marlo… couldn’t you have just let him think it was a nightmare and moved on?” Gregory muttered.

Cav closed his eyes, too close to tears in a public space. He fought them, barely winning. When he finally had control of his emotions, he eyed the only people he considered friends outsideof his brothers, though they were barely that. They put up with his shit because he made them money. “I need to find Wynter before we leave the province. I need answers.”

“I know we promised to help,” Gregory said. “But the situation has changed.”

“I think you need to walk away… for your own sanity,” Marlo added. “And safety.”

“Safety?”Cavanaugh asked, gaze flicking up.

“Two massive, muscled betas came to our door last night. They said you best leave the province tonight or else you’d be forcefully ejected. If you attempt to contact your omega, they’ll have you arrested and incarcerated,” Marlo said.

“For what?”Cav asked.

“They said your travel documents have been revoked,” Gregory replied.

“I’ve already called the provincial government and it’s true,” Marlo said. “If you stay in Alexandria, theycanimprison you—and will.”

“I’ve already rescheduled the jet for this evening,” Gregory said. “I’ve cancelled the other two signings here. We move on to the next province. I’ve put out a couple of feelers to possibly add a couple of signings in Erieberg since we’ll arrive early.”

“Maybe we give him a couple of days to decompress instead?” Marlo asked.

“Maybe,” Gregory murmured. “Might not hurt, though. Leaving him with nothing to do but drink all day and night isn’t wise, either.”

“True,” Marlo said on a sigh.

“Do I get a say inanyof this?” Cav asked. Threats or no, he needed to see Wynter before he left. When he could think clearly—or else he couldn’t be sure what he’d seen. He had to see his omega’s face and get some answers.

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