The Fall

Chapter 15

Zoe- Present Day

The drive back to the hotel is marked by silence. Luke Combs's voice fills the car with a melancholic rendition of "Fast Car," the wind ruffling my hair as I stare out at the clear night sky. Something about the combination of the song, the breeze, and the weight of my recent revelations makes me feel disconnected from myself. When Kamden drops me off, I tell him I will see him in the morning. He looks like he doesn’t want to go, he looks like he has a million other things to say.

Instead of heading up to my room, I sit in my car for a while, before I drive aimlessly around town, passing familiar landmarks like Aurora High, the now-closed drive-in, and eventually, Tanner Spring Court—the trailer park where my family used to live, and where my parents met their tragic end. Pulling up to the lot where our trailer once stood, I'm met with the sight of a nondescript beige mobile RV. There's nothing here to remind anyone that this is where two lives were lost and a family shattered. I'm overcome by anger and sadness, emotions I thought I had long left behind. Learning about my sister's involvement in it all feels like a fresh betrayal, even though the wounds are far from fresh. It’s not fresh though, remember that.

I continue to drive, deep in thought, as I process everything I've learned tonight. The revelation of how Ava manipulated Kamden and took advantage of him doesn't sit well with me, but it's not entirely surprising given what I knew about her. What bothers me most is Eero's involvement. I replay that night in my mind when I was the one who practically threw myself at him. It was clear he liked me but was trying to exercise self-control. Kamden's words echo in my head, and I'm left with a simmering anger that Easton's father is some kind of drug lord with questionable ethics, and his one redeeming quality was that he didn't sell my virginity but took it for himself.

Maybe I shouldn’t have come back here. I’m a mess of tears when I stop to get gas at the only open station, It’s after 3 a.m. The neon sign for Squares looms in the distance, tempting me to take out my frustration on it, but I choose not to indulge in destructive impulses. Instead, I opt to drive back to the hotel, my mind swirling with emotions and unanswered questions.

It’s 9 when I wake up, I have a handful of texts. I Ignore the ones from Kamden. I chose to check in with Easton and Jenna first. I make instant coffee and think about what I want to do today. I decided reading poolside is a priority. Maybe I’ll make it over for the Alphas challenges, maybe I won't. Right now I’m just feeling a little confused and raw. I am putting on my bikini. Do you still want to go to your sister’s wedding? Not really. She owes me an apology and I’m not gonna get one on her wedding day. I think it would cause a scene. I think I will message her on f*******: though. Have a conversation with her, if she apologizes, takes some accountability, and admits she has changed. Then maybe we will go. Okay. How about Kamden? Let's look at those texts.

Kamden: I realize how heavy that convo got and feel like it probably was too much.

Kamden: Let’s keep the rest of the weekend light. No pressure, like I said I just want the honor of having your friendship.

Kamden: Good morning! Floating on the river today, headin out at around 11. See you soon!

He is nice. Kamden basically confessed his infatuation with me last night. I learned there was a plot to force me into the s*x trade and my sister sold drugs. Does any of it affect me now? No. Should I let it give me anxiety? No. It's the past and needs to stay in the past. Absolutely. As for what to do about Kamden, maybe he and I can have a friendship? My wolf laughs. What do you want with a small-town Alpha with a hard-on for you since high school? I don’t know. The boy couldn’t tell the difference between you and your sister at 16, give me a break. And with that, I am laughing. Go enjoy Solstice. Don’t let his confessions ruin our weekend. You just want to get laid. And?

I call Easton before I head out. He tells me Brock makes pancakes with chocolate chips and they are going swimming. Jenna casually reminds me I’ve called four times in less than 24 hours and that the point of my vacation is to have fun and not worry. I know Easton is in capable hands, to be honest, I just miss him. You make good babies. We should make more. I roll my eyes at my wolf.

My wolf convinces me to read riverside. When I arrive at the Smiths it's Alpha Porter who greets me. For a moment, I wonder if he's forgotten our earlier conversation about discussing sigmas, but it quickly becomes apparent that he hasn't. Instead, he leads me towards the riverbank, where they've set up a picnic area.

Alpha Porter takes the time to talk to me about the importance of finding a pack I'm comfortable running with. He mentions that even though sigmas often prefer solitude, they can benefit from being in proximity to other wolves. He emphasizes that sigmas can sometimes inadvertently stir up a rivalry between Alphas and that a little harmless competition might be witnessed during the gathering today.

He pretty much just wanted to offer me support and told me he knew a few Alphas in the DC metro area. It is another reminder of how much information I am withholding.

Floating on the river is a relaxing experience, and I can't help but notice the herd of Alphas that have grouped up and joined us. It's uncommon for Alphas, even those in waiting, to congregate together. Driven by their egos and the need for dominance, a group of Alpha’s can be a powder keg.

As the afternoon progresses, I become acutely aware of the special treatment I'm receiving. There's always cold water in my hand, lunch is served to me, and when I emerge from the water, I have multiple towels to choose from. Kari finds amusement in the boys' behavior, sharing smirks and eye rolls with me, especially when they engage in an overly competitive game of Marco Polo.

By 4 o'clock, we're packing up to head back to the clearing, where Alpha fights are the main attraction on Saturday night. Pigs are released, and bonfires are lit. The evening starts with Betas challenging a few alphas, who are quickly defeated. However, I notice that every Alpha who enters the ring, mated or not, pays some form of respect to me beforehand, whether it's a bow, a nod, a smile, or even Alpha Grant, who blows me a kiss. It's clear that I'm drawing the attention of every Alpha present.

When it comes time for Alphas-in-waiting to challenge, things start to get intense. Some of the younger Alphas, who had introduced themselves to me earlier, are now challenging those outside their weight class. Kamden's decision to challenge Alpha Porter catches me off guard, as I recall that Alphas in waiting usually only challenge their fathers for their roles. I'm puzzled by the move.

The fight between Kamden and Alpha Porter is brutal and relentless. It stretches on for 40 minutes, both of them becoming increasingly battered and winded. They circle each other, refusing to yield, until finally, Kamden lands a punch that sends Alpha Porter to the ground. He remains there, unable to get back up.

The crowd cheers, myself included. An Alpha-in-wait beating an Alpha has to be a big deal, right? The realization hits me that all of this fighting, all the challenges, have been carried out for my sake. It's a startling display of the power dynamics and territorial instincts among the Alphas, and I can't help but wonder how I've become the focal point of their competition. Sigma. When Kamden stumbles over to where I have set up. He seems a little concussed. I force him inside so I can check him over and dress his wounds. Somehow we end up watching Netflix and he falls asleep with his head in my lap.