Page 11

F aye

Two days later, I’m wincing as I pull an elegant, pale pink gown over my shoulders.

My lady’s maid helps me secure it in the back like I’m some kind of princess rather than the nobody I am.

My maid is cautious of my injuries, leaving it looser than normal so it doesn’t pull too tightly on my wounds.

They still ache, but they have healed well over the past four days, under the care of Eli’s healers.

It also probably didn’t hurt that I’ve barely left Eli’s bed.

Between Eli, Ezra, Cayson, Maverick, and Xander…

it’s been hard to even go to the bathroom without one of them carrying me.

It’s been sweet, and also a tiny bit annoying.

As someone used to being by herself, all this time and attention from five men is a lot to get used to.

“Are you sure Eli will be okay with you leaving his bed?” my maid asks, her voice trembling slightly. “I’m worried that?—”

“If any of them have something to say about it,” I say, meeting her eyes in the mirror, “then they can talk to me. Don’t worry about them taking it out on you.”

“Okay,” she says, dipping her head and letting out a breath.

I can’t imagine Eli punishing her for my decisions, but I know this will help to put her at ease.

The thing is, I kind of wish they hadn’t left her hovering over me, because I would’ve dressed myself, and she wouldn’t be involved in this at all.

Leaving my bed is definitely going to upset them, considering how concerned they’ve been about me, but I’m going to lose my mind if I don’t get out of this place, see something different, and get some fresh air.

Not that I’ll go far. I learned my lesson.

“Addilyn will be happy to see you,” the maid says, while brushing my hair.

I stiffen. “Is Addilyn here?”

Her back goes rigid. “I– uh, well, yes, miss. They weren’t sure if you were ready to have visitors, but she waited, just in case. I assumed they said something…”

They didn’t, but I don’t tell her that. “Where is she?”

“In the drawing room.”

I smile. “Then I’ll be heading there as soon as I’m ready.”

Once I’m properly dressed and my hair is done up nicely, I slide on some silk slippers and pad down to the drawing room, grinning when I see Addilyn sitting there.

Her eyes widen when they fall on me. She looks beautiful, as always.

Her light brown hair swept up in a braid that encircles her head, and she’s wearing a green dress that brings out the green in her hazel eyes.

“Faye!” she says when I wrap her in a hug.

Some of my cuts and bruises ache and groan in protest at the touch, but I ignore them, the feeling of her arms around me worth the pain. My closest friend, my only friend. It’s so good to see her. I’m just happy that after so long apart we’ve already reformed such a strong bond.

“Addilyn,” I say, feeling tears come to my eyes. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you, too,” she says, already wiping away tears from her face. “ Everyone is buzzing with gossip about what happened to you. There’s talk that you—well, that you?—”

“It’s probably true,” I say, taking a sharp breath, not wanting to talk about what happened just yet. “Do you want to eat lunch? And I can tell you about it?”

“Lunch sounds amazing!” she says, and I notice her gaze running over the luxurious room like she’s trying to picture just how good the food would be in a place like this.

My gaze meets with the butler, who is standing silently beside the door. “Would it be too much of a bother to have lunch in the dining room?”

The beta shifter gives me a little bow. Me. An omega. It’s something I’m still not used to. “Of course, miss, it will be brought right away.” Then he turns on his heel and strides away.

I smile at Addilyn. “Then we can properly talk about everything that happened.”

“You don’t have to, if you don’t want to,” she rushes out to say, which is really sweet of her and makes the thought of telling her a little easier.

“I don’t mind; I just want some food in me first,” I say, taking her hand and leading her from the drawing room into the dining room I’d spotted earlier.

Eli’s home is gorgeous and historical, and he’s made it clear that he has several more properties, each impressive in their own way, all handed down from a long line of powerful ultimas.

I can’t imagine owning more homes than this one.

The primary house is a mansion, with sprawling gardens and more rooms than I know what to do with.

Just today, I’d started exploring in my pajamas, before getting caught by a couple of servants and deciding to get dressed and see the place properly.

At least for the small window my men are distracted.

Now that I’ve escaped my bedrest, I want to spend as much time as I can seeing what other secrets such a beautiful home hides.

The dining room is massive, brightly lit, and is all white and golden wood. There’s a huge white table in the center of the room with two dozen white chairs, and a chandelier hanging above it. Fresh flowers line the table and sconces with flickering candles are on all the walls.

“Wow,” Addilyn murmurs.

“Right?”

“I can’t believe a place like this exists, and so close to The Selection.”

I squeeze her hand. “I guess Eli owns most of the property around here. I thought the council owned it, but they just own the lands just around the castle.”

She whistles. “I can’t believe Eli, Eli the ultima, let you stay here.”

I laugh, knowing she’s going to be shocked when I tell her about my newest mate. “You have no idea.”

We go to the table together and sit down across from each other.

“Tell me what’s been going on with you,” I say.

“With me ? You sure?” she asks in disbelief.

I laugh. “I’d love to know.”

She bites her lip, and a smile spreads her lips. “You know the alphas? The brothers I was telling you about?”

“Yes?”

“They’re my mates,” she says, the words exploding from her lips.

My jaw drops. “You’re kidding me?”

“No.” And then she starts babbling excitedly.

“Orion and Kai are amazing! They’re from Pack Iris.

They have three sisters and four fathers.

Apparently, their family is super fun, and their pack is amazing.

They can’t wait to bring me home to introduce me to their family, and I’m so excited about all of it.

I get to move to a beach town with two incredible men who hang on my every word.

I guess their moms had told them to go slow and not claim an omega right away, even though they’d felt drawn to me from the very beginning, but they couldn’t wait any more.

” She seems to run out of words, then squeals.

I smile. “I’m so happy for you.”

And I am. Addilyn deserves all the best in life.

Servants come in and set out plates and silverware. More servants come in, and I start to wonder just how many servants Eli has. And that’s just at this house. It’s insane.

“So,” I say, as one of the servants starts pouring us drinks as other servants come out with more food.

Addilyn watches in stunned silence as we’re waited on hand and foot. I already see some of my favorites: lobster salad, truffle pasta, duck breast with orange glaze, crab cakes, and avocado and burrata toast.

“You’ll love the orange duck,” I tell her as I spear a succulent piece with my fork.

“Orange duck.” She laughs. “I thought your favorite food was rabbit.”

I blush. “Yes, well, I might be adjusting to some different things since leaving home.”

“And you won’t miss these things when you go back?” Her eyes are shimmering, like she already knows the answer.

“Well, I guess there’s a lot for us to talk about.”

“Shoot,” she says, slowly picking up her fork, her eyes rising to meet mine.

I tell her the entire story, starting from the moment I received the fake letter. Her eyes get wider and wider, and by the time I get to Eli attacking Kurt and saving me, she’s gone several shades paler. She sets the fork down and reaches out to take my hand.

“Gods, Faye,” she says, tears in her eyes. “You were so brave.”

“That’s what everyone keeps saying,” I say and laugh, feeling awkward, “but all I did was run away.”

“Bravely,” Addilyn says, smiling gently.

“Back at the castle, people are talking. They say Kurt attacked you, but there are also rumors that you have an ultima mate. Both things seem equally important to everyone, since ultimas so rarely find their mates. So, I guess now that I know that Kurt attacking you was true, is it also true that you ended up with an ultima as your mate? Is it the one who owns this house?”

“Yes,” I say, nodding, hearing Eli’s voice in the back of my head saying It’s our house now, tiny mate. “My mate.”

She whistles low. “You’re one lucky omega.”

I laugh. “I guess.”

But the thing is, I’m not as lucky as she thinks. I still don’t know if Cayson and Ezra see me as their mate. I might be walking away from The Selection with three mates and a hole in my heart.

She flinches. “Right, sorry, I meant you were lucky to have an ultima as your mate, but not when it came to all the stuff that led to the ultima finding you as his mate.”

I eat, but it’s hard to taste the food when thinking about the man who nearly killed me.

“Well, Kurt is at the castle,” Addilyn says, pushing a piece of truffle pasta around on her plate.

“The healers are doing their best with him, but the ultima must have done a number. The council has been talking about what punishment is fit for Kurt, but they have to make sure he lives, first. They’re talking about how he lost an insane amount of blood, and how his legs may not function correctly from the muscle damage. ”

“It was gruesome,” I say, nodding, “but probably no better than what he planned to do to me.”

“I just?—”