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I still don’t … especially after what happened today.
That’s how things go with Stella, though. She’s fiercely protective and loving, but she has no self-control. It’s impossible for her to keep her mouth shut when she has something to say.
So, I’ve found it’s best to remain neutral and not give her any reason to come at me.
“You know you can come live with me and Nick,” she says, her words coming out rapid fire and her pale skin turning pink. “You don’t have to stay here.”
“I could never leave Gran behind,” I reply solemnly. “Plus, you and Nick don’t have room for me in that little cottage.”
“But surely it would be better than staying here with my mother … and him.”
Ah, there it is.
“I don’t mind,” I mumble, looking down at the course green blanket and suddenly wishing she would leave.
“Hetty, he’ll never want you,” she says slowly, like I’m an idiot. “You have to realize that now, right?”
My ghost rattles around my chest in anger. Leave it to Stella to tell you exactly what she thinks.
“Don’t start,” I mutter grumpily, crossing my arms and staring up at the top bunk. “I’m really sick of fighting with you about this.”
“I just don’t want to see you get hurt.” She sticks out her lower lip sulkily. “You need to accept that some things will never change.”
“They changed for you, didn’t they?” I clip out before I can stop myself.
Stella was going crazy living under the same roof as her mother, and literally overnight, she called to Nick and was off living with him. And then in a matter of weeks, she was pregnant and domesticated, her life completely different than it once was.
It was almost like she manifested it.
“That’s different, and you know it,” she says dismissively.
My blood freezes in my veins. “Why’s that?”
“Because you’re just a be—” she cuts herself off, a pink blush rising on her cheeks, but it’s too late. I know what she was going to say—just a beta. Not deserving of the same happiness as an almighty omega.
“I know what I am, Stella,” I bite back angrily, my head whipping to face her.
Her eyes dart over my face anxiously, and when she speaks next, she at least has the decency to sound ashamed. “I’m sorry, Hetty. I know you’re different from other betas. I don’t want—”
“It’s fine,” I interrupt her tightly before releasing a loud, exaggerated yawn and fluttering my eyelids dramatically. “I know you’re only looking out for me… But I’m tired, and you should sneak out of here before your mother sees you.”
“All right,” she sighs, rising off the bed. “But I’ll see you soon, okay? This conversation isn’t over.”
“Okay,” I say in the sweet, placating beta tone that always calms her.
She shakes her head slowly as if she sees right through me. But it doesn’t stop her from leaning down to kiss me on top of the head.
“I’ll see you later,” she breathes out, shooting me a suspicious look as she turns toward the door.
I release a sigh of relief when she’s finally gone, turning to face the wall and scouring my mind for where I left off with my Noah dreams.
9
Empty Drawers
Noah
When Wyatt had returned to Goldenrod, he told fantastical stories of the outside world.
