CHAPTER EIGHT- MADELINE

“It's good to see you again,” Linc's voice is different than I remember it being. The teenage boy is usually all emotionless and cold but here he is, acting all happy and glad to see me.

Still, the last two weeks have been shit but I don't exactly mind seeing his face.

“Yeah,” I manage to let a smile come to my face. “It's good to see you too.”

I've never seen him in his wolf form before— Never wanted to, really but I'm sure if I did, he'd have his tail wagging with the way he's beaming at me right now. “You been okay, Mads?”

Okay? I don't think I even know what that word means anymore at this point. After I walked into the house after realizing the police were in there, I found my son standing in a corner with Adelaide holding him close to her body and some officers standing around in the living room.

At first, I was sure that it had something to do with Sam. I could taste it, sense it but it wasn't. Apparently, I was late on my rent and my landlord— Who's a coward by the way— Didn't feel comfortable enough to send me out himself so sent in some law enforcement because I was ‘troublesome’.

Yes, he and I had an altercation once. It was very little. He tried to get me to pay my rent on time by visiting Lucas's school to scare him. I vandalized his car. He would have reported me to the police but luckily, Lucas's teachers were ready to be witnesses in court that he was stalking my son so he let it go.

And now, he was deciding to go even lower than before.

I was able to convince them to take some money for the rent I already owe, telling them I'd pay the rest as soon as possible. Of course, the only reason they seemed to actually listen to me was because they saw my bandaged hand, assumed I was an omega and took pity on me but still, a win is a win.

I'm healed now but I still haven't been able to get a job, even one as simple as a cleaner. I feel like going insane when I think about it, especially with the deadline I'm on but Lucas was extremely distracting.

Just like always, he knew something was bothering me and made it a priority to keep me as happy as possible. Since I don't have a job now, we've been spending more time together. There are moments I can tell he feels a little guilty about enjoying all of my time now but I try my hardest to make him not feel that way.

Just like right now.

I turn to look at the swing set he's on now. All three of us are at an open park with Lucas only a few feet away from Linc and I. I wave at him, he smiles back. It's little but it's there. I find myself smiling too.

“I guess I am,”

“Even with the entire ‘Sam’ thing?”

A week ago, Gustavo had reached out to me through a voicemail, saying Sam had apparently closed down the restaurant and vanished in thin air. He asked if I was okay and anything had happened that night. I wanted to tell him the truth, I really did, but I didn't want him feeling like he owed me anything more so I said nothing.

He said that they'd all been a bit worried about what to do next but they got deposited a large sum of money; Three thousand dollars each, all from him apparently.

I tried not to think of the fact that it's… It feels a little too coincidental for me not to think it's connected to Damien but that'd be delusional. Why would he pay them any money? Why would he help me? He acted like he didn't know who I was anyway but what was going on?

And where is Sam?

“What do you want me to do?” I shrug, trying to let out a chuckle even though it comes out strangled now. “I was already gonna quit anyway so like… Yeah, this was like a stepping stone thing, you know?”

It wasn't, not even a little. I had no plans, nothing I wanted to do either. I was running out of money, could no longer afford Adelaide's services (she tried to tell me I didn't have to pay her now but no) and I was afraid the police would come again and investigate more.

A single mother with no pack and a job trying to take care of a pup? That wouldn't work.

Linc's eyes instantly went round. “I'm so sorry, Madeline. You don't deserve any of this, you're a good person.”

I try to wave the conversation away. “Nah, I don't—”

“Well, you are,” I can already tell what he's doing. He's trying to cheer me up but I know it's not going to work. “When Blake and Cassie had a fight, you helped get them together. You always made sure to take care of any injuries I had when I got into any fights. And Gustavo. You helped take care of his wife when he was sick, remember?”

I had forgotten but now, I did. We were our own small family. They were my pack, and now I was going to lose them.

I stand up from my seat now. “Excuse me, I have to use the toilet. Could you watch Lucas for me? I'll be right back.”

He's nodding when I leave and immediately after, I'm speeding out of the park as fast as I can so he doesn't see the tears that are falling out of my eyes. In fact, I'm moving so fast and trying to wipe the ones that fell before I slam into someone.

The second I hit them— Him, I already know who it is. I look up at him, my heart falling the second I breathe out his name. “Damien.”