Page 153 of Bred

"I think they're relieved that a respectable alpha pursued me so quickly. I'm no longer a burden to them."

Mina swatted my hip. "You have never been a burden, and you know it. Your parents adore you."

"And I adore them, but that doesn't stop alphas from being dangerous to unclaimed omegas." I squeezed my wrist. "I don't have any alpha kin to keep unruly suitors in their place, and I'm very lucky someone as respectable as Rowan chose to claim me."

"He's the one that's lucky." Mina crossed her arms. "You are a dream, and if he's smart, he'll know that too."

I smiled wide at her sweet compliment. Rowan truly was a treasure. So kind and loving toward me. I just prayed it wasn't an act.

"Lily," Summer's sweet voice pulled me from my thoughts. "You know Rowan would never hurt you." Her eyes fell down the length of my arm, watching me trace my scar. "My family knows him and his kin very well. They're all really good people. Not all alphas are bad."

I released my wrist and spoke in my most cheery voice, "I know.” My throat was suddenly very dry. "I adore Rowan. I really do. I just get nervous sometimes." I swallowed hard, trying like crazy not to become emotional. "I just don't know what it's like to live with an alpha. I don't know what to expect, and I'm…a little nervous,” I repeated.

"I think you'll be surprised to find how gentle alphas can be," Mina pushed my hair forward to fix the buttons at the top. "Have you and Rowan had a chance to get to know one another?"

I knew what she was asking, and my face warmed.

"I guess that is a much nicer way of asking if you've seen his thing." Summer let out a hearty laugh, not a drop of shame on her pretty face.

"You did not ask that!" Mina gasped.

"I did." Summer smirked, holding her head high. "And sherefusedto answer."

Mina tutted the young omega. "One day, you will find an alpha that will control that sass, and I do not envy him."

Summer winked at Mina before turning her fierce energy back to me. "I just can't believe Rowan hasn't snatched you up and ravished you in the temple gardens."

"Who does that?" I balked, my mouth hanging open in shock. Summer gave Mina a very pointed look, and my friend's cheeks went bright red. "Mina!" I gasped. I simply couldn't imagine anyone doing that where someone might see. "Your mate is a downright animal."

Mina smiled wide, despite the blush moving over her ears and down her neck. "Given that our mating was a little…sudden," she scrunched her nose up with pure bliss at the memory, "we've been making up for the things we missed. Ivor is eager. Not an animal," she quickly added, but the color in her cheeks said otherwise.

I crossed my arms, judging her. "You are scandalous. And Ivorisa beast. Everyone knows he took you during that snow storm, not the rushed, private bonding afterward."

She bit her bottom lip before continuing, "We might have skipped a few points of etiquette—"

"Like a ceremony," Summer cut in.

"But things were a little out of our control."

"Like your hormones," I shot.

"And I wouldn't change any of it for the world."

"Would you still have your mom walk in while Ivor was rutting you?" Summer smiled wide.

I laughed. I couldn't help it. I laughed until my ribs hurt.

"That is not what happened!" Mina smacked Summer's arm hard, making the youngling pout. "My mother did not walk in on us," she said in a harsh whisper, acting as if the whole village might overhear us.

"It's true," I doubled over, clutching my side. "My dad walked in on them!"

Summer and I fell into a full-on fit of giggles. Mina scowled, then bashfully smiled, finally laughing with us. "It was horribly embarrassing," she whined.

"And you call me a tart," Summer teased, sticking her tongue out.

A soft knock on the door made me jump. I rushed to it, worried we were being too loud. "Lily, sweetie," my mother said, slowly pushing the door open. "You have a visitor."

My heart thundered in my chest with both excitement and a flurry of nerves. My closest friends were sitting on my bed which meant there was only one other person it could be.