In the Alpha’s Arms

Stack Attack

Lita finished her drink in one swallow, Fuck it, she needed to rip off the band aid sunner or later, “I was in the car.”

“What car?”

*THEE cat….

James‘ car… that night… when he died.” It was like all the s heartbeat. All she could hear was blood rushing to her head.

sounds around her went out the window, giving way to that pulsing heat of her

Are hid his surprise well but the pity was harder to mask. He hugged her and didn’t say a thing. Then they just stood there, watching the city move below them as the weight of her words kind of floated in the air around them.

Thanks,” she whispered as the noise around them slowly filtered back into her, “I didn’t realize how much I needed to just say it.” He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She wasn’t crying. The grief hadn’t come back to swallow her whole. She just existed. A girl who’d watched her brother die and lived. The memories didn’t have to kill her. But what about the guilt?

“It was my fault,” she blurted.

her baggage wherever she went but there it was, the crux of her: her fucking guilt, her fucking misery. If no one had seen that bruise, her brother would still be alive, Lita just started talking, unsure

know it at the time. James always hated him apparently but I was young. Still in high school actually and he was older, probably older than he should have been. But I didn’t see any of the signs for what they were, didn’t

an arm around her waist to

didn’t see the car come over the divider until it was too late. And if he hadn’t been trying to do right by me, he wouldn’t be dead, you know. It’s

finally spoke, turning her back to face

say more but he didn’t really have to. The force of his words said it all. Lita understood him perfectly, shaking her head as she studied the

pulled her face back up, I can tell what you’re thinking. Nothing’s ruined. It’s okay to be a little fucked up. Bad shit happened. Happens to us all. Do you want

having fun before, you know,

11 take your mind off it. Let’s have more fun,” Ace set their drinks down and they retreated back into the main room, heading for the

hand, “Lita, blow on these for good luck okay? She rolled her eyes, laughing a little as she blew on the dice

yelled as applause

smiled, dimples on full display, “My little good luck

sent her thumbs up. She absent–mindedly thumbed her phone, wondering when Cole was going to arrive. Her and Ace had been at the party for

up at midnight but it wasn’t Cole. She stared at the message icon from Brian as if she were