Twenty One

She doesn’t convince me to stay; she doesn’t convince me of anything. All she does is smile softly as she places a hand on my arm.

“There’s a great deal of strength in you Aerin. Perhaps once you stop running, you might use some of it. Take it from someone who’s lived a long life, the power to create and heal will always be stronger than the power to destroy.”

Before I can work out what she means, or even ask her, she rises and heads for the door. “Now, don’t forget that book I gave you. The crutches too, and take care.”

After Adela closes the door gently behind her and I hear her soft tread on the stairs, I turn my gaze back to the window and the view I know I’m going to think about—and miss—for a long time once I’ve gone.

I wish I’d asked her about why Mack and his pack are here, and why he took the name Winters.

I want to know what happened to his mother, and whether her being an omega is the reason he’s able to read me so well. But mostly, I want to know why he didn’t tell me th