She holds up her hand. "Let me talk."
James stands. "Del—"
She scrunches up her face. "All of you. Please. I need… even if my words aren't perfect… I gotta get this out."
My mouth is dry. I can't move. Shame pulses from Ralph through the bond.
Dellie raises her chin and lets her eyes sink closed. "I… I'm sorry for not leaving a note."
I force myself to nod.
She pushes out a breath. "And… and I…" She swallows loudly. "I'm sorry I… I got it wrong. I just never connected with anyone like I did with you. Ever. My omega is just so selfish, see. She's greedy. And… I don't think she could have coped… but it's your life and you've worked so hard to build it…"
She takes a shuddering sigh. "I didn't mean to take away your choices. I just—I didn't want to force mine on you."
Zeke grumbles from behind me. "But you did."
She nods, wiping away a tear. "And now I have to give them back."
Chapter 30
I wipe away a tear. "And now I have to give them back." My voice sounds strange. Almost not like mine. I'm shaking, but I'm still standing. I want to close my eyes, but I force them open.
Zeke is glaring at me in a way that makes me want to cry. "You ran away." His voice is flat, edged with ice. His lavender scent feels dry and musty.
I nod, fighting the urge to flinch. My eyes flick to Allen. He hasn't moved. He looks almost… haunted.
Zeke's lips pinch. "You didn't tell us where you were going. Or why."
I feel my face flushing. "I guess I just—I knew, um, that I can't act… I couldn't make you, um… any reason I gave, um, I don't know—you'd see through it… I didn't know how to stop you throwing everything away."
Zeke sighs. "So you ran." He sounds more resigned than angry now.
Every part of my body is screaming at me to run as shame burns through me. I curl my toes in my shoes, forcing my muscles to still. "I—I just, I…"
I drop my head. Nothing's coming out of my mouth.
"You hurt us." The veins in Zeke's neck are standing out, his jaw barely moving as he forces the words out. His eyes won't meet mine.
My eyes search around the room, even though I don't know what they are looking for. Wetness is spilling down my face. I rub my sleeve roughly over my eyes. "You're right. I didn't mean… I'm sorry. That's valid." My voice is getting higher and quieter as fresh tears roll down my cheeks. "I really didn't mean to…"
No more words come out. My mind is a turbulent mess. I close my eyes, unable to bring myself to look.
Seb clears his throat. "Words, Omega. Use six of 'em, if you want."
A sound that's half sob, half laugh bursts out. "Yes." My voice burns in the back of my throat.
Everything is blurry with tears when I crack open one of my eyes, but I can just make out a glint of warmth in Seb's expression that pulls a faint pinprick of hope into my chest.
Seb clears his throat. "You… you had coffee with Ralph's mom. Voluntarily."
Ralph's minty scent unfurls a little in the air as he shoots Seb a glare. "Was that because you wanted to see her?"
My cheeks feel hot. "No."
"Was it because you wanted to find a way to talk to us?"
That little flicker of hope is growing a tiny bit brighter. "Yes."
