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“You look happy,” Rory comments as she saunters through the kitchen with bags hanging from her arms. I stand up to help her, trying not to show how happy I actually am by wiping the absentminded grin off my face.

After the emotional undoing the night before, Pack Pearson and I settled into a fun routine of cards, shots, and board games. After I got home, I went to sleep with a huge smile on my face.

I can’t remember the last time I was that happy after a night out.

“You’re not getting any details,” I tell her, which earns me a scoff. I came in late the night before, and luckily Rory had already gone to bed for the night. I wasn’t ready yet to disclose how wonderful the night went, or to admit how my life might change now that I’ve met my scent matches.

“We both know you’re going to tell me eventually, so you might as well start. I thought we agreed there’d be no more secrets.”

“Some things aren’t secrets , they’re private .”

“Privacy? What’s that?”

I huff a laugh while taking a bag from her. “You never wanted to hear certain things about?—”

She shoots me a warning glance.

“The almighty dickwad ,” I correct dramatically. “So, I don’t see how this is any different.”

“First, drop the almighty. It still makes him sound greater than when he is not .” She flicks my nose playfully before heading to the fridge. “Second, I didn’t want to hear anything because I absolutely hated him!”

I turn to look at her from the pantry. I’m not sure why I’m surprised. She was never discreet about her distaste for him. She told me many times that she thought he was bad news. I guess now that I finally agree with her, I can finally think back to all those times much differently.

“You must have thought I was so na?ve,” I state self-deprecatingly before continuing to shelf the snacks. I focus on the brand names a bit more intently in order to ground myself. I’ve been learning ways to not disconnect when triggered, and I’m almost certain that’s what I’m feeling right now.

I feel her come up behind me before she takes the pack of oreos from my hand. She sets them down before maneuvering me to face her.

“Not at all , Stacia,” She tells me, and I look into her eyes and see the sincerity of it.

Some of her dyed hair fans the front of her face as she turns back to the kitchen.

“I told myself that you knew him better than I did. That you probably saw better qualities in him than I could. Then I realized he was putting on an act for you. He was never kind to me when your back was turned. He was pretentiously obtuse.” She sighs softly.

“I never once thought less of you for not seeing through it. As an actor myself, I have to recognize that he was very good at it. I was just afraid that if I pushed too hard, you’d resent me, and then he would’ve succeeded in pushing you away from me. So… I dropped it.”

The anguish in her eyes is immense, and it hits me right in the chest. I never realized how much my messed up relationship had been affecting her, hurting her. She watched me suffer, unable to do anything at all because she wanted to guarantee that I would go to her when I was ready.

It was inevitable. My relationship was always going to fall apart beyond repair, and I was always going to need her. The sorcery that Derek held me under was meant to break away, so Rory was determined to be here when it did.

“I don’t know how to properly… express,” I choke slightly on the unexpected emotion, “how grateful I am that I have a friend as wonderful as you, Rory.”

She scoffs at me. “You don’t have to express shit .”

My eyes widen at her response as a saturated laugh comes out of me. “Your Sagittarius sun is showing, Cranny.”

“And your double Pisces is showing, you crybaby,” she jokes tenderly, swiping at my wet eyes.

“Fuck you, I have a lot of emotions.” I shove her shoulder with just as much affection. “Still, thank you.”

She waves me off. “Enough. Let’s get to the good stuff. Your scent matches.” She puts away the final item before resting her elbow on the counter. “I’m guessing they are, since you haven’t said a word about last night.”

I feel the excitement that I felt last night returning. It almost feels like a dream, one I’m going to wake up from any moment.

“Yeah, they are.” I try to smile casually.

Rory rolls her eyes. “You can be ecstatic, you know? It’s a wonderful thing. And you deserve wonderful things.”

She’s right. Of course she’s right. Even the guys said it last night, and I’m still practically a stranger to them.

But my inner adolescent still has a hard time believing it, especially when she remembers the months following her newly-awakened designation.

I don’t have to think too hard for my parents’ words to invade my thoughts.

They’re seared in me and replay on a loop: over and over and over while being pushed into my subconscious.

“Stacia, your phone is buzzing,” Rory tells me, and I finally register the soft vibrating against the counter. I blink away my negative thoughts before grabbing it.

Ciro (12:47 pm) The guys are bugging me for your number.

Ciro (12:47 pm) I told them no, not until I get your permission. I think they really want me to start a group chat already.

Ciro (12:48 pm) Fucking alphas, amiright?

I giggle softly at his texts, relieved to finally hear from him.

“I guess I know who that is,” Rory retorts with a chuckle. “Let me know if you guys make plans so I don’t have to hunt you down. I’ve got some revisions to do.” She makes her way out of the kitchen as I turn back to my phone.

Stacia (12:49 pm) What are we going to do with them?

Stacia (12:49 pm) You can give it to them, but let them know I’m not the best texter

Ciro (12:50 pm) I don’t think you give yourself enough credit. Any text from you would probably make them purr.

Ciro (12:51 pm) Don’t tell them I said that or they’ll punch me.

The text makes me giggle out loud.

Stacia (12:52 pm) Your secret is safe with me!

The dots show up and I wait, but it takes a few minutes for a new text to come through.

Ciro (12:56 pm) So, what are you doing tonight?

That’s it? I thought he was writing a whole manifesto.

Stacia (12:56 pm) No plans other than doing my homework. Bleh.

Ciro (12:57 pm) Awesome!

Ciro (12:58 pm) Not the homework. Sorry that text was impulsive. I wanted to see if you’d like to go to a party with me and Kendall tonight.

I stare at the message with concentration. I haven’t been to a party since that awful night, but I really want to spend time with them.

Stacia (1:00 pm) After the hockey game? You don’t even know if you’ll be celebrating yet.

Ciro (1:01 pm) They’re playing against St. Lawrence. It’ll be fine

I think he just made a hockey joke, but I’m not fully versed in the sport enough to confirm it.

Stacia (1:03 pm) I’d love to hang out with you two. Just let me know what time to be ready.