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Both of my Mates have been doing whatever they can to take care of me all evening—plying me with tea and snacks, bringing me soft blankets, and checking on me almost obsessively.

“Are you hungry? You didn’t eat the almonds; are they too salty? You need to eat something light so you don’t get sick.”

“Are you thirsty? Do you want more tea? Water? Was it hot enough?”

“If you’re too cold, we can move to the kitchen. Are the blankets soft enough? What fabrics do you like most? What about textures?”

Maybe another Omega would have been annoyed by the first dozen questions, but I can’t imagine ever getting tired of feeling this way. It’s like a dream—an impossibility.

The topics we’ve been discussing have been tough, but their care bolsters me. Makes me feel like it’s okay to exist, even if we still don’t know who I am or what’s happening to me and why. Even my Omega has crept out from her fortress. Warily, of course, but she’s interested. Cautiously optimistic.

Soren, Caelan, Kane, and even Gavran have been encouraging me to speak up. To actively participate in conversations. It’s… strange.

I just wish I had more to say. Mostly, I listen as each male—and Branwen— chimes in, adding pieces to the conversation with their own knowledge. I finally discovered how Caelan found vials of blood in my father’s study and how that blood led them to Doctor Albertson’s.

Then I listened, horrified, as Daxen described what they found in his home.

The evidence board.

The notes.

The photos.

The plans to inject my DNA into kidnapped Omegas and breed them.

Since the other night, I’ve known he’s been using my blood to hurt other Omegas. I knew it had something to do with what—or who—I am, but I didn’t know any specifics.

Now that I do, it’s tearing me apart.

Everyone keeps telling me it’s not my fault—even Vae and Daxen, shockingly— but it’s hard to believe them. A few days ago, almost everyone in this room hated me. Now that they know I was telling the truth, they suddenly think I’m blameless? And I’m supposed to simply take them at their word?

I can’t help thinking that if I’d asked more questions, found the courage to stand up for myself, or tried to run away sooner or anything…

Maybe I could have saved those Omegas.

Is this ultimately my fault because I was too much of a coward to act sooner? If my blood is being used for something so horrific, what does that make me? Am I dangerous, just like Dax said I was? Does it even matter if I try to do good in this world if my very existence causes harm?

A cool hand brushes the back of my neck. I glance to my right and give Caelan a reassuring smile, but my lower lip starts to tremble, and I bite down on it so I don’t burst into tears.

His hand gathers my hair and pulls it off my shoulders, running a soothing hand down my back. “Are you alright? We can stop for the night.”

I shake my head. Physically, I’m fine.

No. That’s a lie.

I’m exhausted. My body aches. My head is pounding. And quite honestly, there’s not much I’d do for a hot bath now that I can finally have one.

But I’ve learned to live with discomfort. I’ve mastered ignoring physical aches to function, and that is important.

“I’m fine,” I reassure him. “I promise.”

This would be much easier if I could figure out how to ignore the ache in my soul every time Dax or Vae speak. Truthfully, the hardest part about being here is the way my Bonds perk up every time they so much as look my way. I have to figure something out because Bonding those Alphas is never going to happen.

It’s only a matter of time before one of them scents my Omega perfume. So far I’ve been lucky. They haven’t even thought to question it. Probably because they assume my Bond with Caelan functions the same way as a Bloodmate or Moonmate Bond. While Scent-Match Bonds will always apply to the whole Pack—assuming the Pack is Fated as well—the Species-specific Bonds don’t.

There’s a very good chance both Alphas will outright reject me when the time comes, but even if they don’t, the result will be the same.

I will never tie myself to Alphas who would never love or want me without a Fated Bond. I won’t spend the rest of my life attached to a male out of obligation.