Page 97 of Alpha Ruined
Her hands gripthe steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turn white.
Cole doesn’t message her, and she tells herself it’s a good thing.
Even if she was entertaining the idea of being with him—which she’s not—she’s leaving tonight. She’ll leave her cell phone in the cabin so he can’t track her, and she’ll change her number when she’s back in Holden.
She will miss Darlene and Kyle, though. She plans to tell her goodbye after she’s double checked that she grabbed everything from the cabin.
But as she pulls up to the cabin, she hears a repeated high-pitched cry. She ignores it, thinking it must be a bird, but as she reaches the door, she stops and looks down.
A small orange kitten is meowing incessantly in front of her front door. It yells at her, tiny teeth and pink tongue giving off ferocious cries for her attention.
It’s a miniature replica of Oscar.
Her mouth falls open as she recalls Darlene’s words from the other day.
“He was a tomcat prowling around with those big cheeks. Probably the father of at least a million kittens, who knows.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t have time for you,” she tells the kitten, as she unlocks the door. It’s white and orange face weaves in between her legs, crying and whining. When it stands on its legs, digging tiny claws into her calf, she sighs and scoops it up.
“I can bring you to Darlene,” she whispers, as the kitten wiggles in her arms. “But I have to go.”
Her heart aches as she strokes the orange head. The cries subside, and the kitten’s blue eyes close in bliss.
“Darlene will have food for you,” she promises, as the cat climbs onto her chest and buries its face near her neck. “I can’t deal with this. I have toleave.”
But the creature clings to Bree, nestling its tiny body into her hold, and she sighs.
“Fine,” she mutters. “But after I load up the car, I’m bringing you to Darlene’s.”
She doesn’t have time for a kitten. She doesn’t have time for anything, except leaving Green Woods.
She’s about to grab a water bottle from the fridge when a figure approaches near the stairs, and she freezes.
The barrel of a shotgun is aimed at her as Eugene steps into view.
CHAPTER 34
BREE
She thoughtshe needed to be afraid of Cole.
But the real threat is standing in front of her, stinking of alcohol with a scowl on his greasy, bloated face.
Even the kitten quiets as Eugene stalks forward, keeping the shotgun pointed at her chest. Bree stands there frozen in fear, unable to move.
“Get out of my town,” he slurs. “Get out of my town, you stupid Omegaslut.”
“Eugene,” she chokes out, icy fear coursing through her veins. “Please—please stop pointing the gun at me. I’m leaving right now, okay?” her voice cracks. “I’m leaving, I promise. I’m never coming back. I’m leavingright now.”
The kitten squirms in her arms and Eugene sneers.
“Whore. Stupidwhore.” He staggers and lowers the gun slightly, keeping it pointed at Bree. “I heard you the other night with him. You two aredisgusting.”
“Okay,” she says, her voice shaky. “That’s okay, because I’m leaving. Eugene, please?—”
“Oh, shut the fuck up and stop whining, you annoyingcunt!” The kitten squeals, and tears fill Bree’s eyes as she tries to calm the little creature by patting its head. “And shut that fucking thing up, too!”
This is a nightmare. Tears flow freely down her cheeks as she trembles.