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“Who’s your cousin?” I ask weakly.
I debate telling her everything, but my brain is too foggy to focus. Instead, I count my breaths, biting my lip to keep from screaming.
In. Out. In. Out.
“He’s a chef. Has a reality show and a bunch of cookbooks. He and his brother turned me intoEdenthe fucking week it opened.”
“Why?” I ask, dreading the answer.
Knowing the answer.
“I was in a bad place. My boyfriend dumped me, my cat died, and I dropped out of school all in the same week. I ended up at Brock’s house hysterical and suicidal—it was really fucking bad. I felt out of control, and he had no way of helping me. Apparently, he thought the best course of action would be to send me toEden, because they claimed to have the best mental health treatment for Omegas.”
I frown. I wasn’t aware of this part. “Really?”
“Yes,” she continues, taking a sip of her wine. “He brought me here on good faith. Even though I didn’t want to go, he believed at the time it was the best place to take me. And they advertisedallof that in the beginning, if you remember. I was supposed to get the best help possible here.”
“I remember the lies they told,” I say, recalling advertisements and public service announcements.
“Yeah. And Brock and Dylan fell for the propaganda.”
“That’s awful,” I whisper.
“Brock’s always been an asshole, but his intent has never been malicious. And I’m sure he’s seen the news now. And my face is famous, apparently. I’m assuming you saw my viral video.”
I grimace. “Yeah.”
“It was a low point,” she mutters, downing the rest of her glass. “I’m sure he feels awful after seeing it.”
“Do you hate him?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “I did at first. But I didn’t know they promised him visitations and phone calls, which he never got. He truly thought he was doing what was best for me. So, no. I don’t hate him anymore. I’ve forgiven both him and Dylan.”
I stare down into my glass. “Huh.”
“It doesn’t mean that if he shows up here tonight, I won’t punch him in his stupid blonde head.”
I laugh. “Yeah, that would be—”
But we all freeze as a group of Alphas walk in, laughing loudly and chatting.
And when Dylan enters the room, sporting his signature grin, my heart stops.
