“If we hear of Jasmine Philips being harmed in any way, we will hunt down the persons responsible and deal with them according to pack law,” Owen’s voice had said through the radio.
I’d been sitting in the dark, terrified that someone was going to come burn down my house and kill my family to getto me. But after that day, the pack’s bullying pulled back and became only verbal.
Now, Owen finally lifted his head. He glared at me with such hatred that I backed up a step, my shoulders hunching upward. I wanted to tell him that this wasn’t my choice, that the Goddess had decreed it, but I still couldn’t speak.
Jace was the first alpha to move. He stepped past me, then in front of me, as though there was some part of him trying to shield me from the pack’s looks. I could well imagine the hatred burning in their eyes. Nearby, the priestess watched with a frown furrowing her brow. How much of this was she aware of?
“The Goddess has spoken,” Jace declared.
I turned to look at him. His shoulders were thrown back, the confidence in his posture almost setting me at ease. I folded my arms over my chest as I tried to breathe and control my face.
It was true that it had been years since the bullying fell off. Once the four of them assumed leadership of the pack, they started ignoring me. Even Owen didn’t go out of his way anymore. It was limited to the occasional barb thrown at me, and then only when there weren’t witnesses.
It was, I supposed, their way of offering protection. If the alphas were seen to particularly dislike someone, it didn’t matter how much they told people to stay back. Someone would have gotten it into their head to sacrifice themselves for the good of the pack and stab me in some dark alley.
“The marriage ritual will take place in two days,” Jace continued. “Our Goddess is wise and merciful. She has a plan for us and has granted us this instruction for her blessing. We must not question the Goddess.”
Ironically, I thought that was directed as much at himself as it was the pack. Maybe it was for me, too. The Goddess had spoken with such finality that I couldn’t question that this is what she really meant, and yet, I couldn’t help but wonder why. I’d had some relief these last few years, with the alphas’ attention elsewhere.
But being married to them? Bound to them so fully? Then dealing with the resentment that would no doubt form on top of that…
I shook my head slightly, trying to focus on Jace’s words. He was saying something about banding together and having hope. His words sounded like they came from far away. When he was done speaking, he turned back toward me and the others. His gaze lingered on me for half a beat too long before he stepped away.
Then, to my relief, he offered me his hand. I took it, the heat of his skin almost painful against my frigid fingers, and allowed him to lead me away. The others followed after silently. The pack parted, and I was glad I wasn’t being forced to stay behind and interact with anyone.
I didn’t even question where we were going until after we were away from the others and Jace dropped my hand. “What happens now?”
He shot me a look that was thankfully more neutral than hateful. “We’re going to the alpha house. We’ve got an extra room that you can stay in. We’ll move your things over after the wedding.”
“The old dorms,” I murmured. “Does it have a shared bathroom?”
Jace snorted. “That’s the first thing you ask?”
“I’m used to having my own bathroom. I don’t want to share with a bunch of men,” I answered defensively.
“What makes you think we’d want to share with you?” Owen snapped from behind me.
I sucked in a deep breath, biting down on dual, opposing urges. One to cower and beg for forgiveness, the other to sucker-punch him in the gut and tell him to get the fuck over himself. Neither would be very productive. “I never said you would. I’m asking what the situation is, nothing more.”
Jace moved me to his other side, putting himself between me and Owen. “Every room has their own bathroom. There’s a shared kitchen.”
I nodded once. I could work with that.
“Can’t believe this is happening,” Owen grumbled. “Out of all the omegas in the pack…”
He trailed off. I kept my eyes straight ahead as we kept walking. We were almost to the building where they lived.
Penelope marrying the four alphas over in Burgess had given me hope for the state of the omegas in Maplewood. Even though I’d been tormented here in Tyrell, I had long believed that change would come eventually. It was the one thing I was most certain of, even when everything else seemed to be falling apart around me.
When Penelope married her alphas, and things changed dramatically for the omegas, I had hoped that it would quickly trickle into the other packs. I’d never suspected that the Goddess would come here and tell me to marry my bullies.
But maybe this would have the same effect here as Penelope had there. I wasn’t sure I could be as strong as she was, but there had to be a reason I was chosen.
Maybe it was because I was psychic. Nothing major, nothing that had changed the course of my life, but sometimes I had visions of events that were to come. It did help with preparing for my future, even if I couldn’t change it. I’d seen my parents’ deaths the week before it happened. I’d tried to warn them. They ignored me, but when they did die, I was prepared. I had already planned out what I was going to do next.
It was that gift, if it was a gift, that had kept me here in Tyrell all these years. Every time I’d thought of leaving, I had a vision of me staying right where I was, accompanied by a sense of hope and peace. That was why I stayed. It was why, even during that brief time when I actively feared for my life, I knew somewhere in my bones that it would work out.
I never imagined that it would be because of this. Because the Goddess had such a pivotal role planned for me.
