Page 7

Rumor

I bounded up the stairs as fast as I could. While this was my family, after the way they’d acted since I presented as an omega, I couldn’t get out of here fast enough.

Mostly packed, I stuffed the last of my things inside the bag and changed into some jeans and a worn but soft and comfortable sweatshirt. My sister and I used to be clothed in the best of the best outfits but once I emerged as an omega, I could no longer wear anything scratchy or itchy or not the correct texture. Lily assured me it was all part of being an omega. After that, I turned to my more worn items plus the ones Lily gave me. Things she’d thrifted or handed down to me.

I frantically looked around the room with a new excitement in my step. The alpha who came for me, Pendleton, or Penn, looked kind. He had nice eyes, and his smile melted me instantly.

The sound of footsteps coming up the stairs made me freeze. Ugh. They’d done the deal—so why couldn’t they leave me the hell alone?

“Rumor,” my mother said, coming in. I busied myself with packing up last-minute things like my hairbrush and toothpaste.

“Yes, Mother?”

“The deal has been made. I see you are almost all ready to go, but we need to go over some things before you leave.”

I stopped in my tracks and sat down to listen, but my eyes were darting around my room in case I missed anything. Like hell I would come back to get something even if I did.

“Tell me, please.”

“Fine. Just know this isn’t easy for any of us.”

She was so full of shit, but the faster I got out of here, the better, so I kept my lips zipped and nodded.

“You are going to the DarkShadow pack to be their omega. Their mate. Their…well, whatever they deem you to be. They have paid the money.”

“Okay.”

My mother sighed. “You have to be sure to make the best of it. Do whatever they say because at the end of the day, you belong to them. After you leave tonight, you are no longer welcome in this house and are banished from this pack. Your sister will have a hard enough time with being a new alpha without extra problems.”

“I understand.”

“Do you? Because you either make it work with this pack or…”

I knew the or . Was best friends with the or . There was no going rogue for an omega like me. I would be recognized because of the pack I came from, and no good would come from my discovery.

When I first presented as an omega, I tried to kill myself. That night. Swallowed a bunch of wolfsbane and sat in the bathtub and welcomed my fate. That was the or my mother was referring to. When Lily discovered me and saved my life, my mother looked disappointed, not because I was alive but because I hadn’t succeeded. Seemed I couldn’t even take my own life properly.

Even more of a rejection in her book.

I squared off my shoulders and invoked my emotionless tone. “I understand what you are saying. I will go with Penn and the DarkShadow pack and never return here. I am no longer your daughter and will not contact you from this point further.”

My mother got up and opened her arms. “One last hug?” she said.

“No.”

I grabbed my bags and headed down the stairs. No looking back. No touching the banister to brand the memories in my head one last time.

The memories I once held dear had morphed into trauma the moment I wasn’t what they wanted.

I was no longer their heir apparent. No longer their future alpha. No longer had my fated mates. I was nothing to them.

“Are you ready?” Penn asked, taking my bags from me.

“I am.”

My father stood for the first time since Penn walked in. “This is her without all the hairdos and fancy dress. She’s yours now. No refunds.”

Penn nodded. “I understand. Let’s go. Did you want to say goodbye to everyone?”

Then it dawned on me. I was going to be the omega of the DarkShadow pack. As the once future alpha of the Bronson pack, I knew their reputation. Ruthless bastards. Lawless rogues. Men without honor or a speck of kindness in their hearts.

“I…no. I don’t.”

“On the road, then. Follow me.”

Penn put my bags in the back seat of his truck. He opened the door for me and once I was in the seat, he shut the door behind me.

Once inside, he paused. Oh, Goddess, was he rethinking this? Rethinking me? Already?

“What?” I asked. A knot built in my chest.

“Your seat belt. Won’t move until you have it on.”

“Oh.” I scrambled to fasten it with shaking hands.

“Here. Let me.” He was careful not to touch me while he brought it over my chest and secured it. “There. It’s a long drive. You must be tired. I brought a few blankets and a pillow if you’d like to rest.”

“Thank you.”

When we passed through the gates, the tears fell. Penn looked over, and I straightened and swiped them away with my wrists.

“Cry if you want to, female. I would be in pain as well.”

I took him at his word and wept for at least an hour before passing out on the pillow he offered me. When I woke up, I was covered with a blanket and the cab was warm. The clock told me we were halfway through the trip.

Penn had pulled over at a gas station.

“I need to fill up. But first, let’s get you something to eat.”

“I…don’t want to be any trouble.”

He pursed his lips. They were full and supple-looking. I wondered if he would bother to kiss me with them before he and his pack ravaged me. “Feeding you when you’re hungry is no trouble. Come on. Show me what you like. Anything you want.”

We went into the dimly lit gas station. The attendant greeted us, and Penn kept a hand on my lower back while we walked. “I’m sorry I can’t get you anything better. It’s late at night, and this is the only thing open. They have sandwiches and chips.”

I grabbed one of the chicken-salad sandwiches from the cooler and a small bag of chips and shrugged at him.

“Really? That’s not enough for an ant, Rumor.” My name on his lips warmed my chest. I’d been cold for so long. He proceeded to gather a pile of sandwiches, chips, snacks, and goodies and put them all on the counter. He smiled. Smug male.

When the attendant told us the total, I nearly fainted. “It’s too much, but thank you.”

“The boys would kill me if I brought you back starving.”

“Would…would you tell me about your pack members?”

“Let me fill up the truck and then yes, absolutely.” Penn filled up the truck and got in. “Why aren’t you eating?”

“Oh. I was waiting for you.”

He nodded. “No need for that. Dig in.” We ate in record time, and I found myself yawning before I could get any more information about the pack I was destined to join. Or bought into.

As I fell asleep, I faintly noticed Penn brushing a strand of hair from my brow.