Page 51 of Drown My Sorrow

I flinch as he stares at my face and my scars for too long before his eyes travel down to my leg and stop on my cane. He’s an alpha who targets the weak. He’d be someone who pushed me down a set of stairs. Why is my alpha with this horrible person?

He leans into the golden alpha and says something awful. I would bet my life it’s cruel. He seems like the type, and, since getting my injury, I’ve become an excellent judge of character. I can spot the rescuers, the people who will pity me, the ones who will pretend they can’t see it. The people who don’t see my injuries are few and far between. My alpha couldn’t be like his friend, could he?

He, my alpha, looks at my cane in surprise. His eyebrows draw together, and then he looks at my face. No, not my face, my scars. He doesn’t see past the scars.

I cringe into the seat, wishing I could be anywhere else. Fear beats in my chest. Hurt drags me down into that black river again.

“I think you found your omega,” the brown-haired, older man says with a bark of laughter.

His voice is loud, too loud. Everyone is looking at us, between us. He’s perfect, and I’m little more than a wreck.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’d never take a less than perfect omega for a mate.”

The words hit me hard, destroying all hope. Destroying everything in me. My alpha refuses me. I’m not perfect. Of course. Whatever hope I had erupts into fire and dies, there is nothing left in this world for me now.

I try to stand up, but my leg spasms, and I collapse on the ground. I lay there panting while it twinges, and, as soon as I’m able, I pull myself up. Nobody comes to help me, but I can feel them staring.

I bite my cheek hard.

He’s laughing. I can hear it.

“A cripple for a mate. What a cosmic fucking joke.”

I manage to get up and get my cane. I’ve spilled my water all over the table, and it’s splashed onto my jeans.

“Oh, fuck, look! She slicked up for you!”

My face flames, and I duck my head, unable to even look in their direction. No one else is laughing, but no one is saying anything either. I look towards the toilets and see my mother’s white face staring in shock. She’s got tears running down her cheeks, but she’s not saying anything. She’s not coming to help me.

I’m alone.

I turn back around as I hear them approach.

“Do you even know who this is?”

I flinch away from the older man and shake my head.

“This is Kelly Raines. Your scent match is Kelly Raines, and you will never have him.”

I look up at Kelly. His eyes are the brightest blue green, and he’s laughing. He’s laughing at me. He’s beautiful, but, how he looks right now, it’s the most devastating sight I could see.

Okay. Fine.

I lift my chin just a fraction. “If you’ll excuse me.”

And then I limp away from my scent-matched alpha, leaving the scent of bitter night-blooming jasmine in the air.

And my devastated heart in pieces on the café floor.

PresentDay

I limp out and find, to my shock and horror, Kelly alone in the kitchen, staring out the window. He’s the last person I want to see, but just when I’m about to turn, he catches me, and I’m stuck. I do not want him to think I’m running from him.

Running would be cowardly.

“Hello,” I murmur with a bit of venom.

He doesn’t answer me.

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