Page 146 of Drown My Sorrow

“Sorry, love, I’m not on the market right now. But have you met my friend Shawnnesy?”

Nat’s disappointment vanishes as she gets a good look at the not so smart but incredibly hot surfer who is making his debut.

“He is pretty.”

“Yep, and single.”

“Oh, my favourite, okay, darlin’, introduce me to your friend.”

I clink our glasses together and lead her over to the big man whose eyes light up like all his birthdays have come at once.

I, on the other hand, turn and walk away, leaving the pub behind me.

What was that smell?

PresentDay

The visitors start showing up on the day after our failed excursion.

Seeing the faces of people from the world I’d left long ago shocks me. Henry, Pol, and Tai look so different that when they arrive, it’s like I never even knew them.

They are dressed in shirts that cost more than all the clothes I wore on the islands and sip my parents' whiskey like its water.

“How was it? Surfing? I could not believe it when we found out,” Tai says and takes a seat, making himself comfortable.

“It was-”

I don’t get anything out before Pol stands up and rushes to a vase that is sitting indulgently on a tall, carved piece of wood. If I sold it, I could probably have paid Aspyn’s rent for the rest of her life.

“This is stunning. I had no idea your parents had this beauty.”

“Who cares about the vase? Tell us about the women. The omegas, the betas, the alphas? What were they like?”

“I had a pack,” I say sharply.

I remember the night I met Nat, though, at that exact moment. I’d forgotten we’d met before. It was so long ago. It was Aspyn’s scent on her.

Fate or Destiny. How many times did we almost meet?

Someone laughs loudly, drawing my attention back to my guests. How soon can I send these idiots packing?

“Yeah, but, surely, you weren’t just with them. I mean, being faithful to your pack is such an old school thing.”

I stare at Henry until he stops talking.

“We heard about your omega, such a tragedy. It’s so sad about her family and her injuries.”

“Thank you,” I say tightly.

“See, that there is what I’m talking about. She’s injured. I mean, how can six of you be satisfied with her? She’s got baggage and issues, man. Bond her, but find your pleasure elsewhere. That’s the way it’s done.”

“That’s not the way I do it,” I growl, glaring at Henry and wishing him dead.

This is what I ran from. This feeling of being boxed into a life where I end up hating myself as much as I hate these people.

“I have some things to attend to-”

I stand up, but before I can say anything, a group of seven walk in. They greet Henry, Pol, and Tai and then turn to me with expectant smiles.

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