Page 16

After a few minutes, we came up on a small pond, not big enough to hold fish or swim in. It was just a hole filled with water, plant life, and probably frog and mosquito eggs. We walked around it, carrying on until we saw a large rock and decided to climb it. I hadn’t been out doing something like this since I was a kid, and even then, it was a rare occurrence when an aunt or uncle took me camping for a weekend with my cousins. I never felt like it was because they wanted to, but because my grandma needed a break from raising me after my parents died.

Ellie climbed up first, settling on the top and looking over the area. I stayed on the layer beneath and did the same. The forest was alive with the sounds of bugs and the wind whipping through the branches. There was no sound or light pollution here, so I imagined it would be a wonderful place to be at night.

We stood there, taking in the fresh air and keeping our thoughts to ourselves for a few minutes. It was so nice to just exist for a moment and not let the worries of the outside world weigh me down. I knew whatever was going to happen would happen, so it was foolish to worry about it, but it was there in the back of my mind, telling me that Odie was wrong.

“We should have a picnic out here tomorrow,” Ellie whispered into the breeze with her eyes closed. “Make sandwiches, bring some juice, down an entire thing of strawberries and sugar, then nap right here on this rock.”

That sounded like exactly what we needed. I grabbed her hand, bringing her attention to me. When her eyes were focused on me, I let go.

I’d love that. I may need something stronger than juice though.

“My dad always had a collection of alcohol, but I don’t actually know if Cy and Odie drink.” Ellie frowned, realizing she didn’t know her sister as well as she thought.

It was an odd feeling, thinking you know someone really well, then all of a sudden, they aren’t who you thought they were.

Invite them. I’ll ask for alcohol and get that answer for you.

“Deal.” Ellie held out her hand, and we shook on it with a laugh.

Can I ask you something?

“That sounds ominous.”

I shrugged. You’re an Omega, right? Why didn’t you use your abilities? Does the Human world have incorrect information?

“Oh, you noticed that?” Ellie sat down, making us about eye level from where I was on the smaller rock. “My father’s pride and joy, heir to his position, can’t control her abilities no matter how hard she tries. It’s stupid.” She pulled her legs up to her chest and crossed her arms on top of her knees. “I’ve never understood why Odie doesn’t take his position. She was always better at these things than me. I know she’s an Alpha, but why does that matter? She could kick ass and do the job perfectly.”

Do you need the abilities to do the job?

“Not really. If I was going into a combat team like Cy and Odie, yeah, then it’d matter. I’d need to be able to control my team and anyone we came up against if needed, but my dad doesn’t handle those things. Any Alpha he commands is already willing to follow every order without issue. It’s just that they want me to be the perfect little Omega, and I’m not. I don’t want to be either.”

I thought maybe that had to do with Odie leaving and creating a space for Ellie here, but I wasn’t going to bring that up with Ellie. If it came up later, then fine, but I wasn’t bursting any bubble that Odie needed to burst herself.

I’m just a stupid Human with no powers, a curse that makes me mute, and a horrible string of luck in my wake. You’re doing better than you think.

“Curse?” Ellie gasped as rustling came from our left in the direction of the cabin.

“Yes, Mine, what curse?” Odie said as her and Cy walked toward us with matching scowls. Fucking Alphas and their grumpy attitudes. How the others in the hierarchy dealt with them, I had no idea.

Rolling my eyes, I explained. Bloodline curse from centuries or more ago. My entire bloodline is mute. That’s all.

“A Witch did this?” Odie asked.

I guess. No one was confident about the origin anymore. The story went that our ancestor pissed someone off, then they cursed them with a relic. The end.

“Has anyone tried to break it?” I looked at Cy like she was a dumbass, and she backtracked. “I take that as a yes and nothing worked.”

I clapped my hands together, applauding her swift deduction.

“Cy, you’re so smart,” Ellie teased from her perch.

“Yeah, yeah, you’re both hilarious. Now, what did I say about going off on your own?”

“That I had to have one of you with me, and I counted Mine as one of you because Odie was nowhere to be found.” Cy glanced at Odie after Ellie stopped talking, but Odie seemed to ignore it.

“You know exactly what Cy meant. It’s not safe out here.”

Oh yeah, we are in so much danger. Is a tree going to fall on us?