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Shifty eyes are answer enough, but the hurt is a drop in the well at this point.

I grab the weekender and double fist the filled suitcase and an empty one before heading for the door. Corey hovers in the hall, probably hoping his brother can fix things for the lot of them. We all know he’s too weak to do it himself.

“Look, we fucked up,” he starts, glancing between his brother and me. “If you need to take some time at your friends’, that’s fine. When you get back, we’ll?—”

He cuts off as I open the door to my sewing room.

It’s my silent answer. They know there’s no way I’d pack my supplies if I were coming back.

Corey’s face drops in disbelief and panic. Jacob’s neck colors. The petty part of me is glad to see a reaction, even if it’s dangerous to bait an alpha with such little control.

“Be serious, Daphne. We made a mistake, but that’s no reason to be petulant. We’ll make it up to you.”

“Thiswasa make up night, Jacob. You know, the one you suggested after you forgot our anniversary, which was a makeup for when you left me here over the holidays while you went on the vacation that was supposed to be a makeup for forgetting my birthdaylast year.At this point, I’m not sure how you make it to court on time with all these missed appointments.”

He huffs, fiddling with his sleeve. “We’ve been working a lot. You know, it takes a lot of money to take care of an omega like you.”

So much so they never realized I stopped using the pack card two years ago. The lawyer I consulted suggested I wean myself off pack funds to make dissolution easier in the future if I went that route. Now, I’m glad I did. While it was an adjustment going from privileged princess to making my own money, I thrived under the responsibility. It taught me I can take care of myself, no partner required.

Taking the sewing supplies I absolutely can’t leave behind, I fill the second suitcase fast, then head for my machine. When it’s clicked into its case, I turn back to my exes. Jacob is glaring like he’s going to set my shit on fire, and Corey looks like someone’s ripped up his script and told him to improvise.

He reaches for my arms, running soft hands down my skin. The goosebumps are purely involuntary. I’m fucking repulsed by him. By all of them. “You can’t leave, Daph. Your parents will cut you off.”

Jacob steps forward, too. “And we’re not paying for an omega we don’t even see.”

Every time I’ve considered walking away in the last few years, the reminder of what I could lose stopped me. But my parents haven’t talked to me about anything but bonds and babies in ages. They barely call, tooashamedthat I haven’t given everyone the next generation they want, like I’m to blame.

I didn’t choose any of this.Theydid. If losing a relationship with my parents is the price I pay for my future, so be it.

Chin lifting, I stare my former alphas down. “I don’t need their money to survive, and I don’t need yours either.”

Jacob grits his teeth, scent flaring in agitation until I’m near choking. He’s never liked me putting my foot down. “Are you talking about your little panty line?”

The words roll off my back. My pack found out about Nymph last year, but they think it’s a hobby. I’m going to let them. They don’t need to know that my small business has three full-time employees under me or that I’m saving up for a space in town to create a little atelier. They don’t need to know anything about me ever again.

Corey steps too close, reeking of desperation. “Daphne, please. We don’t want to see you suffer.”

“Living with you threeissuffering.”

I make the mistake of turning my back on them, and that’s when Jacob makes his move. Manicured nails grip my arm until it mottles and I have no choice but to press against his body to avoid some of the hurt. Gross. “Here’s what’s going to happen, you ungrateful omega. We’ll forget that you pulled this stunt as long as you apologize or else?—”

“Or what?” My heart races as I jerk, throwing him off balance. He’s not expecting me to fight when I haven’t before. “Come on, Jacob. Tell me. What else could you possibly do to me that you haven’t already tried?”

The doorbell echoes through the halls, and the shrill tone of my phone falls between us like a bomb. Jacob’s fingers tighten, nearly pulling a whine from my throat. “Don’t you dare, Daphne Parker.”

Staring him dead in the eyes, I answer. “Hello?”

“Kai hired me to escort you out. Tell the alphas to open the door or I’ll break it down.” Maverick’s voice rolls across the line, and I’m suddenly so fucking grateful for Kai’s overprotectiveness. He’s a licensed bodyguard and one of my best friends. With him here, I know I’ll be okay, alpha rage or not.

“Jacob will be right there,” I say sweetly, watching my ex’s neck turn that awful shade of purple that comes just before an epictantrum.

“Don’t hang up.”

“He’s coming now,” I promise, stage whispering to Jacob. “Better hurry,darling.I know how much you care about the Prishett Oak doors.”

I swear he’s about to backhand me when Lance speaks from the hall. “Who’s here?”

“Daphne’s little beta friend,” Jacob spits.