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“Two hours, Ronni. That’s how long I’ll cover for you. If you’re not back here, ready for the conversation that I’m sure Darrell wants to have, then I’m telling him you left.” Dash steps away as I open my eyes.
“Thank you.” I kiss him on the cheek and make my way to the window, where I had planned on escaping from. Darrell threatened to cut the tree down that stood so close to my window if he ever found anyone in my room. Little does he know that I never used it to have someone come up here. It’s always been my escape route.
Once I push the window open, I look back at Dash who stands there. “Two hours. I’ll burn the library to the ground, Ronni.” He threatens me so he knows I’ll come back.
I just offer him a slight nod and a soft smile. I turn my focus back to the tree and climb out of the window. Grabbing the thick branch above my window, I use it to shift my weight, putting a foot on the thicker branch below it. Carefully I descend down the tree until I finally reach the last branch. I jump, feeling my feet hit the ground, and run.
Chapter Seven
The library offers solidarity, but it also offers me the kindness of strangers. The cool metal feels like home when I pull the door open. “Hello, Veronica.” I hear Neill say. I look up to see Neill, one of the librarians, sitting behind the desk.
“Hi, Neill.” The second I say his name I see her. “Hey, Mandy.” The two people in this world that are always ready and willing to help me find my next escape.
“Did you bring the books back?” Mandy asks, crossing her arms over her chest.
“No, I haven’t finished them all yet. I’m just here to get away today,” I say, offering them a wave as I find myself wandering over to my secret spot. The back corner of the fantasy section, where a black bean bag awaits me.
The instant smell of leather and paper brings me peace, reminding me that everything can be escaped within the covers of a book. I drop my purse on the bean bag and find myself walking down an aisle with a finger grazing the spines of all the books on that shelf. “Where do we want to go today?” I ask myself quietly as I see the titles of famous books. I could go on an adventure fighting orcs or travel through a wardrobe.
I find a book that I’ve never heard of before I grab it off the shelf. I’ve been in a world of confusion for days at this point. I understand next to nothing when it comes to the Alphas of my house, other than the fact that they’ve all claimed me. Whatever that truly means.
Protection. Love.
Do I love them though? They marked me, and I can’t deny the feeling my body has when they’re around. Especially when I was in heat. But I’m not in heat now, and I just want to run away.
“VV.” I hear my childish nickname, which forces me to look around. “VV.” I hear it again, whispering in the book stacks.
I hold the book to my chest as I walk slowly out of the stack toward my bean bag. I look around, not seeing anyone. Sadie Clemmons started that nickname shortly after she announced to the entire class that she was fucking the star quarterback. David Beckins. Suddenly she was the popular girl in school, all the guys fawning after her. I could see the fakeness in her demeanor, the way she carried herself and tried to make everyone think she was better than them. I could always see through her facade, she was my best friend once.
When David dumped her for as he called it ‘whoring around’ she set her eyes on Dash. Which made things hilarious considering he wouldn’t even respond to her. She tried once to get on my good side again, hoping I would help her land Dash, the golden boy. But when I told her that I wouldn’t help her sleep with my brother because I didn’t want her diseases in my house, she made my life hell.
Before I knew it, all the girls would chant ‘VV’ when I walked into the locker room. The guys didn’t really jump on the train of making fun of me, I never figured out why. But if I was a betting woman, I’d say Colson and Dash had something to do with that, knowing what I know now. They probably also had a hand in why I was never asked to anything, ever. Not one school dance, or activity.
“VV.” The whisper is louder as I sit in the bean bag chair. This was the one place I was left alone in. The only place that was for me. And here someone is ruining that.
Sadie pops up beside me, inhaling like a wild animal. “You smell different,” she growls.
“Go away, Sadie.” I try to pretend like what she just said doesn’t bother me. But it does, I smell different. What the hell does that mean?
“You smell like them.” She inhales again. “All of them.”
“Fuck off, Sadie.” I push at her chest, but she doesn't budge.
“You’re an omega, in a house full of Alphas,” she whispers. “I bet they had a field day when you went into heat.”
“What would you know about my life?” I try to stand up, but she pushes me back down.
“I’m an Alpha, Veronica. Sit down until I’m done with you.” She kneels down between my legs. “I can smell them.” She pauses. “You’ve been marked.” She pulls at the neck of my sweater, revealing the mark Mitch left.
“How many of them? I know I can smell Dash and Colson. I’ve been able to smell them before. But there’s other scents here. Did you let the other brother fuck you too.” She inhales again. “Oh, what about their dad? God you’re more of a whore than I am.”
“Enough.” I hear another voice. “You need to leave. There won’t be any of this here.” I look up to see Neill standing over us.
Sadie stands up, puffing her chest out. “You’re nothing but a Beta. What’ll you do about it?”
“I’ll call your father,” Neill says. I watch as Sadie takes a step back. “Yes, I know who your father is. Don’t make me bring him back here because you can’t keep your fucking manners in check. Now, leave the library and never return.” Neill throws a hand up, pointing to the exit.
Sadie does just that, leaves without another word. I turn my attention to Neill. “What was that?”
