“Gideon Stockwell.” Calder’s mouth is set into a grim line. “If he’s right, that means someone killed those omegas.” His voice drops to a growl. “I’d like to see them try.”
“I doubt that’s true,” Julian says. “But I’m with you anyway. No one gets near Elowen while we’re around.”
It helps knowing we’re all there for her, but the uneasiness lingers.
21
ELOWEN
I'm brushingmy teeth when someone knocks. The specific rhythm that means Lila.
I open the door mid-rinse. She's holding two mugs of tea and wearing her "we need to talk" expression, lips pursed, eyes wide.
"Saw you come in twenty minutes ago looking dazed," she says, pushing past me into the room. "Figured you could use a chat."
In the bathroom, I spit and rinse before joining her. She's already claimed my desk chair, leaving me the bed.
"I don't look dazed."
"Elowen, you look like someone who spent the day being thoroughly romanced by three different alphas and doesn't know what to do about it." She hands me a mug, grinning. Chamomile, because she pays attention too. "So. Spill."
I wrap both hands around the warm ceramic, stalling. "There's nothing to spill."
"Tyler was grinning like an idiot at dinner. Julian actually smiled in the library… people noticed. And Calder looked like he wanted to fight the world or cry. Possibly both." Lila raises an eyebrow. "That's definitely something to spill."
Heat climbs my neck. "We just... spent time together. That's all."
"Uh-huh. And?"
"And nothing. We talked. Walked. Had coffee."
"Elowen." Lila sets down her mug, leans forward. "I've known you for over two months. You don't get that look on your face from coffee and conversation."
"What look?"
"The 'I want something and it terrifies me' look." She squeezes my hand and sniffs the air. "What's going on?"
No point trying to deny it now. "My heat's coming. Two weeks, maybe."
"O-kay…" She sits back.
"And I don't know what I want. From them."
"What are the options?" She’s practical-Lila now.
"Well, alone, like last time. Which is familiar." I stare into my tea like it holds the answers. "Or... with my pack. Which is terrifying and new and feels right in a way that scares me more than being alone ever did."
Lila nods slowly. "What do they say?"
"It's my choice. No pressure. They'll follow my lead."
"Good answer." She pauses. "So why do you look like the world's ending?"
"Because…" The words stick. I force them out. "Because we're closer than ever. Physical intimacy is building, emotional intimacy is deepening. Everything should be perfect."
"But?"
"But something feels like it's about to shift. And I can't tell if it's just pre-heat anxiety or actual intuition."
