Page 39 of Daisy

I study his face in the soft midday light filtering through the curtains. He looks younger when he's asleep. Less guarded. There's a small scar through his left eyebrow, and his hands are rougher than I expected, like he works with them. Real work, not the polished softness of the elite alphas Uncle always paraded in front of me.

This man saved me. And I made him sleep in a chair.

A soft sound makes me look up, and my blood turns to ice.

Another alpha sits in the chair by the window. Cassian. He's awake, alert, watching the room like he's standing guard. His amber eyes find mine across the space, and something in his expression softens.

I can't help it. I shrink back against the pillows, pulling the covers higher. My scent must spike with fear because something flashes across his face that looks like pain.

He doesn't move, doesn't speak. Just makes himself smaller in the chair somehow. Like he's trying not to scare me.

He's protecting us while Gunner sleeps. And I'm being afraid of him like he's a monster.

The thought makes my chest hurt.

"Hey."

The soft voice makes me turn. August is awake in the other bed, propped up on his elbow. His scent reaches me—cedar and parchment with that hint of bergamot that makes everything in me settle.

"You okay?" he whispers.

I nod, then shake my head. My hands twist in the blanket.

"What's wrong?"

"Just... thinking." My voice cracks. "About the other omegas. From the Omega House. Are they safe? Or are they..." I can't finish. The thought of them with those rogue alphas makes me sick.

August's expression grows sad. "I don't know. I hope so."

I think about Camelia, so young and scared. About all of them. "I should have helped them."

"Daisy, you couldn't?—"

"I know." I take a shaky breath. "And I feel guilty about Gunner too. He drove all night. And I made him sleep there because I was scared."

"Hey." August's voice is gentle. "You don't have to feel guilty for being scared, okay?"

I look at Cassian again. He's still watching, patient. Like he understands I'm not ready and he's okay with that.

"He's scared too," August says quietly. "Scared you'll always be afraid of him."

"I don't want to be scared," I whisper. "But he's so..."

"Big? Intense?" August nods, a small smile crossing his face. "Yeah. But he'd never hurt you."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know him." August touches his throat where I can see the faint mark of a bite. "I can feel him in here. He's one of the good ones."

I want to believe him. But I feel broken.

"Why are you all being so kind?" The words slip out. I duck my head, embarrassed. "I just... I don't understand."

Cassian shifts in his chair, and my scent must spike with confusion. I can't say what I'm really thinking. How I was told alphas would just take what they wanted. How these ones haven't even tried to touch me.

"Not all alphas are the same," August says softly.

"I don't understand why you're helping me," I whisper. "I'm not... I'm not your responsibility."