The Alpha's Gamble - Chapter 24: Chapter 24

How do I remember to breathe? I’ve forgotten how it works. The air is supposed to come out, right? Well, it’s stuck in my lungs, and when a breath manages to escape, it’s blocked by a thick lump of terror that’s building and growing in my throat.
A tremble starts its way up my fingers, and my ribs, although healed, are compressing and crushing me from within.
“Madeline?” his voice echoed through my mind in waves, and the familiar sound brought back memories that I had fought to bury.
“Maddie, are you okay?” What a stupid question. His green eyes bored into mine, and his features twisted in fear, with his brows furrowing in confusion over his daughter breaking apart in front of his eyes. He never saw me cry, not since I was a kid, and he never, ever, saw me weak. I had no one to protect me so I learned to protect myself from everyone. From him and his inadequacies.
I felt his touch as he reached for my hand, and I wanted to pull back, but I was paralyzed; nothing moved as I screamed for it to.
Holy fuck, breathe Maddie. Just take a damn breath. Okay, one breath came out and it was followed by another but they were too quick, rapidly pulsating in and out. That’s not breathing, that’s a panic attack, get your shit together!
“Come on, let’s go inside,” he said and gently wrapped his hand in mine. I wanted to yell NO, but the word was stuck on my numb tongue, and through tunnel vision, I only saw his blurry face, not paying attention to the others around us.
My dad yanked my arm and walked me back- that’s when I saw Landon’s glum face from the corner of my eye and the pride in his eyes glimmering under the streaks of the sun.
I couldn’t fight or object, so I followed like the docile girl I didn’t want to be, shifting on my feet as I took the first step- but a rough slam and my father’s hand being ripped from mine pushed me back against a hard chest. A large figure stepped between us, someone stood behind me and I was oblivious to whatever the fuck was happening around us at that moment.
A large hand rested on my shoulder, his fingers wrapping around me and squeezing roughly until my mind focused on the pressure instead of the anxiety and panic that flooded me.
Tilting my head back, I looked up and saw Logan’s dark eyes boring into my father’s. With the sun drawing a shadow over his cheek and his eyes illuminated by the rays, he leaned down and touched his chin on the back of his resting hand.
“Breathe.” He whispered without averting his gaze.
“Noah Reed, it’s been a long time.” The noticeable edge in my father’s tone was impossible to miss. But despite the growing pleasure of seeing him crack in front of Noah, there’s a sight even more glorious. Landon stood on the side, his eyes bulging out of their sockets, watching Noah and my father, a shock-ridden face that he couldn’t hide if he tried.
Clouds stitched over our heads, choking the light that had been a refuge, and now the melancholy feel of the darkness swept over us. It was like the air pushed from the warrior’s lungs as they stepped back. Was it a fear of the weather or of the tense push of power in front of me?
They looked around like there had never been a dark cloud over the Obsidian pack before, there had, many times, and usually I loved it but not right now. What in the deepest part of hell was my dad doing back here? After two years, he just waltzes in like nothing’s changed. After two years without a single phone call, text, or letter. Not even a postcard.
Noah’s head shifted to the side and everyone stiffened to resemble trees in a dense forest, with raised chins and puffed-out chests.
“Leave us.” His order rang out, and they didn’t spare a second to think before they scattered like frightened mice.
My dad looked over Noah’s shoulder, his eyes landing on mine, and now that the panic had settled, if even so slightly, I could see the hurt that swam in the deep green.
But the pleasure of seeing his pain was cut short when Noah blocked his view with one step and he challenged my father with his authority.
A loud sigh slipped from my dad’s lips and he hung his head.
“Your brother was the one who invited me.”
I stiffened, suddenly more aware than ever that Logan’s hand still rested on my shoulder and when I took a step to break the contact, he squeezed it again and pulled me back.
“Stand still.” He urged quietly.
“No thank you,” I pushed forward, noticing how stiff Logan was behind me and the beating of his heart picking up. Why was he nervous? This was all his fault. I managed to push off a little to hard and bumped into Noah’s back. One swift turn and a hard glare in his brown eyes had me choking on my next retort.
“Get back in the house.” He ordered.
“What is with you two? Am I standing on all fours with a collar around my neck?” I asked, narrowing my eyes to slits against his power show.
“Are you implying we think you’re a dog?” he asked, a hint of amusement played in his eyes, and he left it there.
“It only gets better when you explain it,” I said dryly.
“Maddie, go inside the house and stay there.” He slowly reached out and rested his hand on my waist, giving it a light squeeze. Fuck don’t moan and don’t close your eyes.
“That’s an order to my pack member, not a dog.”
I puffed a breath and choked on a groan when he removed his hand, something I prayed he didn’t notice.
I shook my head, threw one last glare at my father, and walked back the flattened path to the house.
The house was fortunately empty when I made it in and just in time before the first roar of thunder broke out outside. I hurried to my room, ready to slam the door and lock it hard, going into hermit mode. But that nagging need for solitude was cut short when I stepped inside, and her loud squeals screeched through the large room.
“You look so much better!” She skipped across the floor and wrapped her arms around me. It felt like I was being strangled by a snake, which I guess I was.
“Tilly,” I said and raised a heavy hand to her back, imagining there was a knife in my palm it with a blade pointing at her spine.