Page 22

VIOLET

The door creaked open a sliver.

“Can I come in?” Maggie asked softly. I stopped my growl before it escaped. It’d been getting popped open every so often for a while now. Sandalwood and leather mingled together, telling me exactly who it’d been the last few times. The digital clock on my nightstand told me it was close to midnight.

I pushed onto my elbows as she slid inside and shut the door as best she could with the broken latch.

“You bathed.” A laugh coated her words.

I sighed and plopped on my back again to stare at the ceiling. My hair was still damp from the shower.

“They’re not allowing anyone in this hall.” She jumped onto the bed next to me, causing the bed to jostle. She lowered her voice and leaned closer. “Graham only let me in here because I said I’d try to convince you to take it easy on him.” She snickered.

“I’m not going?—”

“Chill, chill, I’m team Violet.” The words hit me like bricks. I sniffled; she was on my side. Tears spilled from the corner of my eyes. “Oh my god,” she gasped, sitting up. “Don’t cry.”

The door bounced open to Graham standing at the threshold, staring at Maggie accusingly.

“Out, Maggie,” he snarled.

“Leave.” I grabbed a pillow and chucked it at the door, hitting it just right. The momentum caused it to slam shut.

Maggie’s eyes were wide and on me.

“I’ve never seen someone raise their voice at him,” she muttered. A grin spread across her lips. “You’re my new hero, don’t let those bastards walk all over you.” I had nothing to say to that. I pinched my nose and exhaled from my mouth, trying to get the waterworks under control.

“How does it feel to be an Omega?” she whispered. I rolled onto my side to face her and pulled my knees to my stomach.

“Stressful,” I muttered.

“They’ve been hovering by your door all evening. What did you say to them?” Her eyes glinted with interest.

“To leave me alone,” I mumbled.

Her eyebrow twitched.

“Well at least now we know why you couldn’t help but want my brother.”

“Feels a little too late,” I grumbled.

“Why? Because he was going to take Hester.”

My wolf surged forward, and a growl slipped between my lips.

She wrinkled her nose and sheepishly said, “Sorry.”

I scrubbed my palm over my face and groaned.

“What would you do in my shoes?” I asked.

“Hmmm . . .” She dropped her head on the pillow. “So, you have two mates. One is an alcoholic with a girlfriend. By the way, try to stay away from Amber, she’s a nasty bitch.” I wanted to burrow into the bed and hide forever. This was already too much. “ And you interrupted your other mate’s ‘chosen mate’ ceremony.”

She winced.

“That’s a shit hand, Vi.”

I wanted to crawl into their arms. I wasn’t going to, I didn’t want to be a pushover, but I was so confused. I hated attention and avoided conflict, but that was from a pure desire to remain out of the spotlight. Me being an Omega dashed all of that. The pack knew how different I was and there was no hiding it.

“What you’ve seen from them is fucked up and you’re valid.” A small growl left her mouth. Her spine straightened.

I sniffled and swiped my hand across my face.

“I have no interest in claiming them as my true mates.”

“Then what are you going to do?”

“My original plan stands.” I mouthed ‘I’m leaving’, in case they were still listening in. I would tell them to their face, I just didn’t want another ‘scene’.

Her eyes flicked to the door.

“Good luck doing that with the twenty-four-hour surveillance.”

I snorted. It wouldn’t be easy to escape, but I wasn’t planning to sneak out in the middle of the night.

Forget that and forget them. They deserved to know how deeply their choices injured me.

And they needed to suffer for it.

“But.” She cleared her throat with a frown. “I’ve been overhearing the elders talking. Being an Omega is dangerous. You need protection, and as shit as it is, my brother and Alpha Whitlock are known for their strength. One would be able to protect you, but with both?” She pursed her lips. “No one would be able to touch you.”

I hated how much sense she made.

I rubbed the spot over my chest. It throbbed like I’d been punt kicked. Graham’s ceremony, then Whitlock and his illicit texts. I wanted it all scrubbed from my brain. I wished they didn’t have a past. As illogical as that was considering they were a decade and some change older than me. At the very least, I never deserved having it shoved in my face.

I sucked in a deep breath and tucked my hair behind my ear. I wouldn’t be a coward. I’d take what I needed and learn what I had to from the elders.

“Enough about me, how’s it going with your mate?” I whispered. She blushed and a small grin played across her lips.

She liked him.

“He’s hot,” she groaned and flopped onto her back with her arms akimbo.