I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge to hide my shaking. History and instinct told me to make myself smaller and quieter. To make her happy so she would leave me alone. But I couldn’t do that anymore. My Alphas had my back, and it had gone on long enough.
My voice still shook. “And I have done that.” Turning my neck, I gestured to the visible bite. “I’m not sure why you think you’re important enough for me tobondwith a pack just to spite you, but you’re not. You mean nothing to me.”
The water flew everywhere as she snatched the bottle and threw it in the sink. The flash of light followed by pain made me dizzy and sent me right back to those moments on the dock, full of mortal fear. She hit me. She almost never hit me before, and now…
I couldn’t quite see. My mind confused images of where I was with where I’d been. Terror and confusion and?—
Val was shoved forcefully away from me at the same time I was pulled back, straight into Logan’s chest. “Don’t you fucking touch her. You’re never going to touch her again, do you understand?”
Everyone cascaded into the kitchen in a wave. Paige went straight to Val, checking her, and Matt wasn’t far behind. Dad and Liz stood in the doorway, looking confused. The rest of the guys arranged themselves around me like a shield.
“What’s going on?” Dad asked.
“This was what Trinity was going to speak to you about. There’s more to tell you than her being our Omega,” Theo said.
Val froze. “No, there’s not.”
Logan subtly wrapped his arms around me, keeping me upright. Grounding me. Fury laced all our bonds, but none of it was aimed at me. And it had never felt so good to have someone back me up.
Their touch and their protection brought me back enough to focus on the present. And everyone was staring at me. Waiting.
I thought when this moment came that I would panic, feel sick, and possibly throw up before I could get any words out. Instead, I felt oddly calm. Because they were with me. No matter what happened, we were leaving this place and going home together.
But the kitchen was not the venue I’d imagined for this conversation.
“Bastian,” Dad said. “Please explain to me why you have your hands on a member of my pack?”
My Alpha had his hand on Val’s shoulder, keeping her against the counter so she couldn’t try to leave the room or come at me.
My father was stiff and standing tall. As tall as he could. Every one of my Alphas towered over him. Bastian snorted a laugh and looked at him. “Because she put hands on your daughter, and it’s not the first time.”
“What a horrible thing to say,” Val protested with a gasp. “You don’t know me.”
“We know enough. Andnoneof it is good.” Brooks also looked at my father. “Your pack isn’t who you think they are, sir.”
Dad looked at me, then at Val. “What is he talking about?”
“Nothing.” The word came out of Matt like a rocket. “He’s not talking about shit. Just more lies about us from your daughter. I’m sure she’s already told you enough.”
All the air disappeared from the room.
Val closed her eyes slowly, realizing how badly he’d just fucked up. Paige fidgeted, biting her lip and crossing her arms. She never did anything to me, but she let it happen. She did nothing to intervene. She watched.
The energy around Dad changed. He suddenly seemed a little taller and a little colder. “Morelies? What lies do you think Trinity has told me about you? Because Trinity rarely, if ever, speaks to me about the three of you.” He glanced at me. “Now I’m wondering why that is.”
My throat began to close. So much for calm. It was disappearing fast. I didn’t know if I could say it. How many times had I imagined telling him everything and letting it all pour out in a wave? Every day, back when I thought it might make a difference. The fantasy of releasing every pain and secret felt gorgeous and cathartic, and now that I was here, every reason why I’d never told him rose up and blocked the words.
Frustration burned beneath my skin.
“Trinity,” Logan said quietly. “Are you having trouble speaking right now?”
I nodded.
Dad’s eyebrows rose. “Why?”
“Would you like us to help?” Logan asked, ignoring him.
“Yes.” I managed the single word, melting into relief.
