Page 27

I’m sweating in the sun, but she looks as perfect as ever in her long camel coat. Beneath, her sleeveless dress beneath is stylish and functional. Her typical stilettos that could kill a man if she ever pulled her nose from between his cheeks.

Possibly, I’m a little bitter, but watching your parents support your abusers in court will do that to a person. “What, no Happy Birthday, Mother?”

She looks down at her watch with a practiced frown. “Oh, is it that time again?”

As if she doesn’t remember spending two days in labor with me.

Wanting to get this over so I can break down in my nest, I ask what I want to know. “Did they tell you they were coming for Nymph?”

“Oh, they won’t touch your little store, Daphne. It’s just to get your attention.”

“Then they should’ve gone through my lawyer.”

She scoffs, waving prettily as someone she recognizes passes nearby. States away and she still knows everyone. “Your pack has agreed to put this whole thing to rest if you come home. Yourstore will be safe and your reputation intact. They’ve even agreed to bond immediately and try for a baby. It’s a very kind offer, Daphne.”

The thought of sleeping with any Parker makes me ill. “Pretty sure forcing me to raise Satan’s spawn is against your religion.”

Mother fingers her string of blue pearls and looks around with a practiced smile.Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.When she’s sure we aren’t being overheard, she leans in and digs those dagger nails into my arm. “Daphne Renee, I swear to all things holy, if you can’t make up with your pack and set this to rights, we’re going to have serious issues.”

“More serious than my family disowning me?”

“If you would just do what you’re told, we wouldn’t have to do it this way.”

Pulling away leaves me with a few scratches, but it’s better than having her hands on me. Funny how the touch I’ve always craved leaves me hurting. “It’s wild how you say the quiet part out loud and still don’t understand the problem, Mother.”

I’ve officially reached the end of Lorelai’s patience. She straightens her shoulders, staring down her nose at me despite being four inches shorter, even in heels. “I suggest you think this through, Daphne. The Parkers won’t let this go until they get what they want. Jacob, in particular, is looking forward to having you back.”

That sends a shiver down my spine. Before I blocked them, he sent the vilest texts. Truly heinous things about putting me in my place and taking me in hand like he should have years ago. How he’d break me for real next time. Yet, they weren’t admissible in court because we couldn’t prove they were from him.

Pro tip: Don’t divorce lawyers. They know how to get away with everything.

I step close, swallowing the space between us. “Listen, Mother, because I only want to say this once. I’m not going back to them. One day, when I’m ready, I’ll find a pack that treats me right and I’ll forget they ever existed.”

People in our circles practice the art of subtle digs over tea like it’s going out of style. Mother is no different.

She looks me over with a curled lip, laughing like I’ve just told her the funniest joke. “Oh, darling. I never realized you were so naïve. No one’s going to choose an omega when her own alphas wouldn’t bond her.”

Because I’m emotional, I’m weak. Because they kept me sheltered, I’m a moron. Because I’m not doing what they say, I’m naïve.

“Maybe you’re right, but I’d rather be happy and alone than stuck in that hell hole, Mother.”

“You’ll change your mind. The question is how long it takes before your alphas decide to fix things themselves.” I hate her for the fear that slips beneath my skin and how she revels in it. “I’m off to the spa. Have a fun timeworking, darling.” After another round of bullshit air kisses, Mother sashays away in a cloud of nauseating synthetic perfume and the air of a desperate housewife.

I know I should block her number and ignore these interludes she insists we have, but I can’t seem to do it. I’ve tried so many times, but despite her many,manyflaws, I’m not ready to cut ties. What if I regret walking away in the future? What if she needs me one day and I’m not there?

Love is unconditional and as much as I wish it weren’t true, there’s still some in me with her name on it.

For now, anyway. Who knows what the future holds if things continue like this?

Sweat trickles down my spine, my skin itches and I just can’t be here anymore. I have to figure out how to tell my friendstheir savings are gone and so is my business. That my exes are determined to ruin everything I’ve built for myself.

Because if they can’t have me, no one can.

Worry dogs me the entire way home. The fear I’ve ruined my friends’ lives makes it so hard to breathe, I have to pull over twice. By the time I step inside my new place, all I want is to curl up in bed to sleep.

Never in any of our conversations did Sasha and I plan for the Parkers coming after Nymph. It’s always been below them, or so we thought. I should’ve known they’d go after my business when they couldn’t get to me.

Slipping off my heels at the door and letting my hair down from its confined bun feels like a relief I desperately need. Even after weeks of living in the townhouse, empty boxes still line the edges of the main room, but it still feels like home in a way nowhere else has.