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“Lovely,” my mother says. “Is Nina going to remain yourdirty little secret or are you going to submit paperwork to make this official?”

“I already submitted it,” Lyle says, a hint of danger in his tone. “You may want to rethink the accusation in your words, Miss Vivian.”

“You may have her for tonight to say goodbye, but we are coming back in the morning,” Easton warns. “We want her with us. You know it can be very dangerous to keep an omega from her alpha.”

Another warning, but it’s not what my mother thinks. Instead, it helps me breathe easier as her gaze rakes over my body.

“You must be sweltering in that outfit, Nina,” she says, ignoring Easton. “Come inside.”

“Miss Vivian,” Silas growls, his hand spasming against my hip to keep me in place. “We need verbal confirmation that you understand her alphas are returning for her in the morning.”

God, I really do adore these men. There’s no backing down, not one lie stated. Yet, a very different conversation is taking place between them. It’s also a balm for my soul as they remind me that Cooper, Ethan, and Riley are coming to get me.

“Yes, yes,” my mother sighs. “I’m just glad you’ve finally decided. I am well within my rights to ensure you’re treating my daughter well. She needs a nest, Silas. Have you taken all of this into consideration?”

“Of course,” he says. “Our home has had a nest since we became a pack. It’s been waiting for years.”

Years.I hate that they’ve been waiting for so long. I really hope they find their omega, because they deserve one who will adore them. They are such good alphas.

“Then as long as you can prove tomorrow that your claim has been accepted by the Healthy Pack Organization, I will gladly hand over my daughter’s care to you,” she says.

Grabbing my hand, she yanks me into the house as the three of them snarl at her. It’s immediately cooler in here but my jawdrops as she bids them a good day and slams the door shut in their faces.

The sun is already setting since hours have passed since I got on a plane to return here. Hopefully, that means I won’t have to wait very long before I can leave this house forever. I wouldn’t mind lighting this place on fire.

It’s no longer my childhood home, but a place where nightmares live and dreams are crushed.

“You certainly don’t waste any time,” she says, locking the door behind her.

“Did you have to be so rude?” I ask her, pulling my hand away from her. “I also don’t understand what you mean. You told me that I needed to find a pack. That’s exactly what I did.”

Technically, they found me, but that’s splitting hairs.

“You conned them into it,” she says, rolling her eyes. “Did you forget your heat suppressants on purpose, Nina?”

My mother wants to argue, which means there’s no reasoning with her. While I’m hungry and should eat, I eye the staircase because I want to escape more than I want to spend another moment in her presence. I should feel badly that part of the plan to get me out from under her thumb is to end her life, but I don’t.

Trauma has broken me of such silly things like empathy for her.

“I didn’t realize I’d forgotten them until later,” I admit.

“So you trapped that pack based on their primal instincts,” she says, twisting my words.

“I did no such thing,” I sniff. She’s wrong.

“Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night,” she laughs. “Those alphas looked as if they wanted to tear me apart. You’re clearly unable to think about things like where you’re going to sleep or stay if you haven’t asked about a nest.”

I press my lips together to hold back my words. It’s not worth it, and neither is she. Anything I have to say will just be turned around.

I don’t want to get beaten because I spoke out of turn. Just because she’s only hit me once in my life doesn’t mean it won’t happen again.

“Thank you, Mom,” I force out in dulcet tones.

“You’re so welcome,” she gushes, coming over to hug me.

Struggling not to push her away, I stay completely still until she lets me go.

“You should go rest,” she says. “I want you to think about how you made me a liar. The only reason those alphas would have bonded you so quickly is if you went into heat, Nina. Fucking them into an answer is all your youthful body is good for. You may as well use it to your advantage.”