Page 52 of Talk About… Dramay

“Baby, please?”

My mouth opened and closed as I fought to make sense of this, of what I was hearing, seeing, and all the insanity that was this entire interaction.

“I…”

Then he stood, shaking his head. “No. Don’t answer yet. Let me prove to you that I’m worth your time.”

“Okay,” I breathed out despite myself. As much as I wanted to tell Cameron to fuck off, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. At the end of the day, he was my alpha, and the omega in me needed him to prove he could be what I needed.

Before my heat.

The clock was counting down, even if he didn’t know it, and my pack was a mess. Hell, half weren’t even pack.

“Okay?” his disbelief was chased away by a blinding smile that was reminiscent of the boy I fell in love with. My chest ached, the pain of years missed and what he’d done cracking me wide open.

It was a wound I’d bandaged over the years that was wrenched wide open once more.

I couldn’t hide from it. It was also impossible to breathe.

My eyes fell closed and it wasn’t until the scent of tea and honey and three warm bodies pressed into me, that I felt it go from blinding to a dull ache.

“Let’s go get that drink, Princess,” Lane offered. My eyes hadn’t left the alpha watching us. His smile had faded, pain etched on his features as he watched my pack give me what he refused to.

“Wait,” Cameron begged. “I’ve got this for you.”

My eyes lingered on the envelope in his hand. I took it, hand shaking, but let the guys lead me away. My omega fought me for every step, not wanting to leave him behind when he looked like his world was crashing around me.

But the petty part of me reminded her that he’d done far worse.

For now, I needed that drink… or ten. After the talk I was feeling far too vulnerable. They didn’t ask how I was as we drove closer to Whitaker Brews. It was busy but Hudson snagged a spot. I stared down at the envelope in my lap.

“Want to read it before we go in?” Roman asked, likely feeling my curiosity through our bond.

Instead of answering, I turned it over and pulled the envelope open. The letter inside was slightly crumpled and faded. The date at the top was thirteen years ago. It was only a week after I left.

Ori Baby,

I fucked up. God, I’ve been in so much pain, lost in this cloud of grief. I should have been stronger but I’ve cried so much I’m half numb and half insane.

My behavior was terrible. I treated you like a burden when you were a lifeline.

You were also a reminder that I had even more to lose and I wasn’t sure if I could survive that time.

Yet, I lost you anyway. I’m so fucking stupid. Everyone is looking at me with disgust and denial. Avery is crying harder and Maverick and Nash keep reminding me how stupid I am.

Though, I never needed to hear it. I knew it. Shame burns me from the inside out and the desperation to find you and fix this is killing me slowly.

Your dads wanted to beat my ass and fuck, Baby, I’d let them. If only they’d tell me where you went or how to reach you.

They said you needed space and I needed to get myself together.

How could I do that when I’ve lost you?

Don’t worry, Baby, I’ll keep trying. Every fucking day.

It was some of the same things he’d said in his new letter, just filled with way more self-loathing and pain.

“Why couldn’t he have come after me? Fought for answers and how to get a hold of me? Fixed this while it was still raw and repaired the damage?”