Page 164 of Bred

"That so?" She pulled a paper fan from her side and popped it open, fanning herself. "We omegas aren't as easy to handle as alphas think, are we?"

"No, ma'am." I smiled at my grandmother. "Do you know Lily's family well?"

"Yes!" she beamed. "Lovely girl. Born to betas. That poor thing," she tutted. "Betas have no business raising omegas. No one to protect the sweet creatures."

I nodded, agreeing. "Do you know of anything happening between her and Luca? Or Da—"

"Who the hell is Luca?"

"Dage's son."

"Who?"

I forced down a groan. Granny and her twin sister, Helena, were the eldest members of the pack, having lived through four Pack Alphas in their time. They both also loved to gossip, filling our home with tall tales every chance she got. If something had happened to Lily, I knew my Gran would know.

"You should go home to your mate," she said, shaking her fan at me. "What kind of alpha abandons their mate so soon after bonding with them just to chat with an old lady?"

Shame and anger twisted inside me, but my wolf was too committed to protecting Lily just to return home. I needed to know what Dage or Luca had done. My pride as an alpha and as a mate demanded it.

"Poor thing isn't used to being alone," Granny scolded me. "Her parents never left her alone growing up. Especially after that alpha attacked her."

"What alpha?" The blood drained from my face, my fists tight. "Who attacked her? Was it Luca? Dage?"

A stern-looking service beta glared at me, her hands on her hips. "Keep it down or you'll have to leave."

I shot the beta a look, not caring for her tone. Leaning a little closer to my grandmother, I asked again, "Was it Luca?"

"I told you," she smacked me on the head with her fan, "I don't know him. But it doesn't matter now anyway. Lily's got you to keep her safe. Or she would if your butt wasn't sitting here, annoying me." She raised a wiry, gray brow. "And if you want to know so bad, ask the girl yourself. You are mated to her," she shot. "I assume you live together now, so you should be able to find her."

My wolf snarled, ready to leave. "You're right," I said respectfully. "I'll speak to Lily. Maybe I'll bring her to see you and Helena later this week."

"That would be lovely!" She smiled, displaying her gums. "Bring me some sweets from the sugar shop when you do. Helena likes that lemon shit." She grimaced. "So get that while you're there."

"Yes, ma'am," I bowed my head before leaving.

I didn't want to stress my mate, but I couldn't let it go. I could feel her very real fear pulsing in my head. I needed to fix this. I needed her to feel safe.

THE BED

LILY

Iwasfrozeninplace, staring at the bedroom door.

Rowan left me.

Not even twenty-four hours after he claimed me as his mate. The mark on my neck was still tender and raw, his orgasm from last night slowly leaking out of me, and he just left. Was he rejecting me? Leaving me? Would my parents take me back?

He was so sweet this morning. I honestly thought he was happy.

Staring at the massive bed around me, I rubbed the back of my neck. The need to nest was making my skin itch. My sex—or pussy, as Rowan called it—ached deep.

Restless, I stood up. The whole room suddenly felt so open and airy. All the space around me felt wrong. I was too exposed. I opened the closet door, searching for somewhere cozy, then immediately shut it. It was far too small. Unfortunately, the closets in the other rooms were the same size. On the verge of tears, I entered the kitchen. The urge to run back to my parent's house beat hard in my chest.

My eyes slid around the room, settling on a white, flimsy door next to the kitchen table. I pulled it open and let out a long breath of relief. The pantry was dark, long, and empty. It was perfect.

Thirty minutes later, every blanket and pillow in the house filled the tight space. I arranged and fluffed pillows, molded the blankets just so, then snuggled in deep. Rowan's cedar and moss scent clung to my favorite blanket, and I pressed it to my nose to it, inhaling deeply. The slight trace of his climax filled my lungs, and my body shivered involuntarily.

The front door opened, and I froze. Heavy feet moved down the hall. A door creaked, then after a moment, it shut. Two more doors opened and closed. Then the feet moved toward the kitchen.