Page 78 of Drown My Sorrow

I am seeking money and fortune.

I tricked Kelly, Gael, and Ezy.

I accused them of heinous crimes to trap them.

I cheated on them. I am the villain in the Raines saga story.

How can twenty-four hours ruin a life so quickly? I thought I was already ruined.

The waves roll high, and, for once, I wish they would roll here and swallow me up and steal me away.

I must make a sound because Nat grips my hand tighter. She’s furious with Pack Raines, and I love her for it. She is the only rock holding me here right now. If I was alone, I might have just limped away and vanished out to the waves and certain death. They made me sleep in their room last night, on the couch. Nat only left because they threatened to send her home.

I’m not okay. Not even close. The feeling of being betrayed by Pack Raines and drowning in the guilt of what I did to the Daane is eating me alive like ants on a carcass.

“I’m okay,” I whisper.

“I’m just going to go get you a drink. Those idiots are going to be preening for a long time.”

August Raines tried to talk to me earlier today, but Nat cut her and her pack off with such a vicious tirade that they had retreated. I’m grateful to my best friend. I am so glad she’s here.

I am. I just feel like my soul has been cut to ribbons.

Kelly walks out of the ocean and onto the beach. He bumps fists with the other alphas and smiles as he flicks his hair. Why is he so happy to cause me such pain? Yesterday, I thought I could love him one day, but today, I feel nothing for him.

He might be my scent match, but I can hate him, I’ve discovered. I can hate them with the cold of all the oceans.

As soon as Nat disappears, the reporters brazen in, jostling to get in front of me. They take photos of my red-rimmed, swollen eyes and gleefully lap up my misery.

They are vultures without morals.

I hear laughter, the smell of sunscreen, and the salty scent of the ocean. The sun beats down on me, making my headache worse. I’m desperately thirsty. I’ve cried all the liquid out of me.

One of the reporters suddenly bumps into me, and I go sprawling. The sand burns. I feel suddenly so vulnerable with all these people around me, staring down.

It’s my worst nightmare.

Shale would be here. Keagan would have chased them off. Beau would have held me.

I am alone.

Why didn’t I take the chance before? Why did I let fear stop me?

Tears blind me as I push myself up, but when I get my balance, I’m jostled again and let out a cry as my leg seizes.

I writhe on the sand, my teeth clenched, unable to do anything but exist in the moment and then the next. The pain is agony.

Where are the Daane?

And no one comes.

My heart can’t take this.

“GET AWAY FROM HER!”

I’m barely aware of the sound of the beta’s rage as she pushes at the reporters. They scatter, and a huge alpha with sapphire eyes leans down and picks me up as if I weigh nothing.

The pain gets heated like a blast of fire along my nerves. I scream, my body arching.

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