Trinity took a step closer, her expression a mix of fury and incredulity. "You think you can come here and just steal him away?" She gestured between Oliver and me, her voice rising in pitch. "You think he wants you when he could have me?"
I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat growing. "I’m not—,” I started, desperate to clarify, but no words came out. How had I gotten pulled into this? I wasn’t trying to steal anythingfrom anyone; I was just trying to live my life, quiet and uncomplicated.
Oliver took a step forward, his presence commanding as he looked between us. "So what if she is. It isn’t your business who we court. You need to stop this." His voice was firm, authoritative. I wanted to shrink into the background, to disappear like a shadow in the midday sun. The confrontation felt surreal, the kind of scene I’d always observed from a distance, not participated in. Oliver’s stance was firm, yet I could see the flicker of discomfort dancing in his eyes as he stood up for me, for my presence here in this small town drama.
Trinity’s expression morphed from anger to disbelief, and I could feel the scrutiny of the crowd pressing down harder than before. The murmurs around us felt like a rising tide, threatening to sweep me away. I stood rooted to the spot, heart racing, unsure if I wanted to fight back or run.
“Oliver,” Trinity said, her voice a mix of desperation and disbelief. “You can’t be serious. She is a nobody!”
“Have I ever cared about family names…,” he replied, his tone sharp but not unkind. “You need to respect my choices and that of my pack.”
The words hung in the air, heavy and charged. My breath felt shallow, as if the very atmosphere had shifted, making it difficult to draw in enough air. I wanted to say something, to defend myself, but the words eluded me. My mind swirled in confusion, grappling with the implication that I had somehow become involved in this mess—a mess I never wanted any part of.
Just as I opened my mouth to speak, Garett was making his way over, a frown on his face as he stopped close to us, “Oliver….” He paused, glancing at me, “Daphne…is there a problem here?”
I felt my heart drop into my stomach at Garrett’s words, the way he stepped into the chaos as if he had some claim to me.My pulse quickened, a mix of confusion and irritation coursing through me. Had I inadvertently been pulled into this weird, tangled web of Alphas and their dramas?
I glanced between Garrett and Oliver, trying to decipher the subtleties of their exchange. There was an unspoken understanding between them, a camaraderie that made my stomach twist uncomfortably. What role did Garrett think I played in this? Did he see me as someone who would be swept along with whatever was happening?
Trinity’s eyes were wide, her mouth agape as she attempted to process Garrett’s arrival. “You know her?” she echoed, incredulity lacing her tone. The way she turned toward him, desperation clawing at her features, made something twist deep inside me. It was uncomfortable, witnessing this raw emotion on full display—over something that didn’t even involve me.
“Yeah,” Garrett said simply, his gaze locked onto mine, as if trying to gauge my reaction. The connection tugged at me, pulling me into the intensity of the moment, but I resisted the urge to lean into it. I didn’t want to be part of this spectacle. I just wanted to vanish back into my solitude, where I felt safest.
Trinity straightened, gaining a little of her composure back. “So what? You’re really courting this bitch?” Her voice was sharp, an edge of accusation that made my skin prickle. Why was she directing all of this at me? I was just a bystander. I didn’t want any part of this mess.
“It isn’t any of your business if we are.” Garrett narrowed his eyes, shifting closer to me, “Now go about your own business.” He turned toward me, and found myself being led away. Yet in my dazed state I could still process the screams and curses from Trinity. This wasn’t how today was supposed to go.
Chapter Five
Daphne
Ilet myself be led away from the chaos, the thrumming tension of the market slowly fading behind me as Garrett walked beside me, his presence both comforting and confusing. The events had unfolded too quickly, like a sudden storm that leaves you drenched before you even realize it’s raining. I could still hear Trinity’s voice in the back of my mind, echoing with disbelief and the sharp edge of accusation. A “bitch.” The word lingered like a bitter taste, and I hated that it had come from her mouth, aimed at me as if I were the threat in all of this.
“Are you okay?” Garrett asked, his voice low, concern threading through it. I glanced sideways at him, surprised by the genuine warmth in his gaze amidst the chaos.
“I’m fine,” I said, perhaps a little too quickly, trying to regain some semblance of control over my spiraling thoughts. “Just… not how I expected today to go.”
He nodded, his expression growing more serious. “I didn’t mean to pull you into that. Trinity can be… intense, especially when she thinks she has a chance with someone.” The way he said it made me realize there was more to this than I had initiallyunderstood. His words held a weight that suggested he knew the dynamics of pack life better than I did.
“What was that about?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as I glanced to Garrett and then to Oliver, who was still silent a few steps behind me.
He sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. “Trinity has a history with Oliver. She’s been chasing him for a while now….and since we formed a pack with our other friends she has been trying it with us as well… I didn’t think she’d escalate it in public like that.”
I was an omega, I understood the draw to Alphas, but I also wasn’t desperate for attention.
“I didn’t realize it was that complicated,” I admitted, my voice barely above a murmur. The weight of the situation pressed down on me, feeling heavier with each passing moment. I had always thought of pack dynamics as something distant, an abstract concept that existed outside my solitary life. Yet here I was, caught up in the whirlwind of it all, and I felt utterly unprepared.
Garrett glanced at me, assessing my reaction. “It can be. Especially when there are strong personalities involved. Oliver’s not one to back down easily, and Trinity… well, she doesn’t take rejection well.” He looked back toward the market, where voices continued to rise and fall amidst a backdrop of laughter and conversation, as if nothing out of the ordinary had just unfolded.
“Do you think…” I hesitated, wrestling with the words. “Do you think she’ll escalate this further? I mean, if she’s really determined…” I trailed off, the thought of Trinity pursuing Oliver—or anyone in their pack—filled me with unease. I was still processing the anger she’d aimed at me; her words rattled in my mind like a loose stone.
Garrett’s expression hardened slightly as he looked over to Oliver who had been silent but watching our interaction. Oliversighed before he spoke up. “If she does, we’ll deal with it. There are ways of handling things in a pack, but I want to make sure you’re okay.”
I took a slow breath, absorbing Garrett’s words. Could I trust him? The tension in the air buzzed around me, making it hard to focus on anything but the escalating situation. “I just don’t want to be dragged into whatever mess Trinity creates next,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
Garrett glanced at me, an eyebrow raised as he walked beside me, keeping a few steps ahead, his presence somehow calming amidst the chaos. “You won’t be,” he assured me. “If it comes down to it, we can handle her.” His confidence eased a small knot in my stomach, but it didn’t erase the turmoil.
I felt a strange mix of gratitude and apprehension. “But why should I have to deal with her at all? I didn’t ask for any of this.” The frustration bubbled up again, the anger I had felt during Trinity's outburst rising like bile in my throat. It felt unfair to be caught in this whirlwind when I had specifically chosen to live away from the drama of pack life.
