"You were seven, baby."
I catch Julian's eye and mouth "adorable." He glares, but his mouth twitches.
The afternoon passes easily after that. Simple dinner at the kitchen table, everyone squeezed in, dishes being passed, conversation flowing. Pen talks about gymnastics, Rebecca asks about Elderwood, Julian relaxes incrementally as the evening progresses.
At one point, helping clear dishes, Rebecca touches my shoulder. "You fit here," she says quietly. "You all do."
We're pulling on coats when Pen hugs me tight. "Text me," she demands. "Like, actually text me. I'm going to have questions."
"I promise."
"And if I present omega and freak out?—"
"Call me immediately."
She squeezes tighter. "You're my sister now. Okay?"
"Okay."
Rebecca's next, pulling me close. "Thank you for making my son happy." She pulls back, cups my face briefly. "Welcome to the family, daughter."
The wordlands soft and solid at once.
She turns to Calder and Tyler. "Take care of them. And let them take care of you too."
"Yes ma'am," Tyler says, genuine and warm.
To Julian, privately by the door: "You don't have to save us, baby. We're okay. You're allowed to be happy."
He nods, throat working. "I love you, Mom."
"I love you too. Now go. Before Pen cries and makes it a whole thing."
"I'm not going to cry!" Pen calls from the living room.
"Sure you're not, honey."
34
ELOWEN
With the family visits done,it suddenly hits me like a sledgehammer.
Four days remaining.
If Gideon’s information is correct, the other omegas all died within fourteen days of their heat. And we’re still no closer to finding our main suspect. Professor Robbins is opposed to multi-alpha bonds, but she isn’t alone in this. Although she does have access to heat schedules.
My head aches. Would traditional beliefs be enough motive for a professor to murder students? And what about Officer Brennan? He called at the heat suite when I was in heat.
Panic sets in slowly like congealing custard in my stomach making me feel nauseous.
The day after the visit to Julian’s family, we’re eating breakfast in the dining hall when I peer out of the window and spot Olivia with her friend James. I smile. Olivia was safe because she’s in a traditional pack: one alpha, one omega.
I sip my tea, but when I look back out the window, Olivia is kissing James.
I stop, my hand trembling. Patrick is her alpha. He was there in the infirmary when I visited her. She told me that he stayed with her during her heat.
I think back to conversations with Olivia, about how close she and James are, and realization settles inside me. She kept it quiet because she didn’t want anyone to know that she was bonded with two alphas. Sure enough, when I peer outside, they’re walking away, James’ arm around her shoulders.
