Page 28 of Lightning Strikes

“What’s Tom up to today?” I ask Ella as I stare out the window overlooking the edge of my property and listening to the construction. Adam wired me the money and I immediately put the calls in to neighboring packs that needed work. The next day, three trucks pulled up with the new windows and wood for the floors along with the list of all of the furniture and appliances I needed. They are also going to patch up the walls, install new doors and locks, and painting the interior. All I have left to do is replace my TV, knickknacks, linens, and clothes. If I even should… I want to move as soon as possible.

“He’s been in meetings with Adam all day… The kid got a bug up his butt to fix the pack and finally asked the elder members for help.” She smirks at me as I tighten my lips with a glare. “None of that, Angela Miller. I know that he has deeply wronged you and this pack, but people can change.” I sigh and stare back down at the tan, granite countertops, tapping my nails against it.

“Fine. I’m going to go lay down and call Mac.” She chuckles at me as I walk to the living room and scoop up Scout, bringing her with me to Mac’s guest room. As much as Mac wants us to throw ourselves into a relationship, I want to go slow. For the first time ever.

We’ve lived together before. Have had plenty of sex in the past… and I know he will be good to me… I just want to make sure that he’s positive about this going forward. If he wants to help raise the pup as a father figure… He can’t change his mind and walk away in five years when he figures out he wants one of his own, or wants a mate that will covet only him for the rest of our long lives… I wasn’t even sure I ever wanted pups in the first place.

Scout blinks her sightless green gaze up towards my face and I lean down and kiss her wet nose. “Let’s feed you, munchkin. Time for a nap.” I circle back to the kitchen and heat up the bottle before kissing Ella’s cheek and heading to the guest room. Finally.

I sit down on the bed and feed the kitten as I gaze around. The room is plain, yet spacious and has everything I need. A bed, walk-in closet, and an ensuite bathroom complete with a bath and separate shower. The walls are bare and white, the linens are all a drab gray… Yet adorned with soft silk sheets and the most comfortable mattress I’ve ever lain upon. I get settled on the bed, curling Scout around my neck, and try to calm my mind.

Almost out of here. Carolina is gone. My cabin will be back in working order in a few days… Adam is stepping up to fix the pack for the others that are staying here. My clinic will be in capable hands. I’m not sure if I should even buy another car since the New York pack is offering me a free one… I don’t mind driving around Ella’s suburban anyway.

I’m still refusing to think about Cal being anything but a shifty human because when I think about him being a shifter, I spiral. A darkness that is so damn hard to crawl out of… Fuck him for changing his number and having a post office box in the middle of the California desert. Fuck him for covering up his scent. Fuck him for probably being a part of whatever the fuck is happening around the world on pack lands.

Fuck him. And if I ever see him again, I’m going to kill him.

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