I shrug nonchalantly. Having confirmation won’t hurt, but I don’t see how more information will change anything.
“I’ll be right back.” She strolls into the hallway to make the call.
“I’m so sorry, Faye.” Delilah snuggles up next to me. “I don’t know what to say. I really thought Damon was a good guy.”
“Me too,” I murmur.
Damon’s an intimidating alpha, but I didn’t think he would ever harm an omega. How could we all have been so wrong?
Part of me is also clinging onto a small scrap of hope that this is all a silly mistake or joke. A few days ago, I had a glimpse of what my life would be like with the Silverwoods. I could spend days reading and talking about books with Ren in front of the fire, playing games with Laz, teasing Cole by making a mess in the kitchen, and Damon.
A few minutes later, Kady returns, her mouth pressed into a grim line that isn’t a good omen.
“Well?” Sabs prompts. “What did he say? There must be some kind of misunderstanding, right?”
“I wish it was,” Kady huffs, sitting down. “The PI accessed the police records easily enough, but the files are sealed. Cole’s dad did a good job of making sure no one ever finds out what happened, but my guy has a way around the system.” She grimaces. “Unfortunately, what he found corroborates Damon’s story. An omega got hurt badly, and Damon was the only alpha involved.”
“This is my fault!” Sabs wails, covering her face. “I vouched for them. I know Laz is easily influenced, but I can’t believe he’d cover up for Damon like that. I’ll never speak to him again. Either of them.”
“I don’t want to cause a family rift,” I blurt. That’d only make things worse. “Honestly, I’ll be okay. The main thing is that I know the truth now, and we can just move forward. Pretend none of this ever happened.”
“But they’re your scent matches, Faye,” Delilah reminds me.
“It doesn’t matter,” I insist. “Me and Gram have spent years campaigning for omega rights. That means more to me than anything.”
Even if they were the only alphas left on Earth, I wouldn’t go near them. My principles are more important. I’d rather go through life knowing that I’ve upheld what matters most thanselling out simply because the Silverwoods smell amazing, took great care of me, and know how to use their knots.
“What can we do, Faye?” Sabs takes the seat on my other side, her eyes glistening with guilt. “How can we help?”
“I just want to carry on like normal and do what I came here for,” I reply. “I’ve been distracted by the Silverwood Pack since I got to SVU. I just want to focus on my classes and studying hard. Starting today.”
“Are you sure you’re well enough to attend class?” Delilah asks dubiously. “You’re only just getting over your first heat.”
“Professor Grub has barely seen me since I arrived,” I point out. So far, I’ve only attended one of his classes, where he made it clear I was his least favorite student. “If I don’t go, I’ll fall further behind. Besides, I can’t sit here and mope around forever.”
No matter how much I may want to.
“At least let us walk you to class?” Kady suggests. “I don’t want the Silverwoods or any alphas anywhere near you when you’re still so vulnerable. We can take shifts, like your own personal omega bodyguards. If those alphas get within a foot of you, I’ll tear off their knots myself, okay? Even if it ruins my fresh manicure.”
Hopefully, Ren is too busy in the library to be in the greenhouse today.
“I don’t think maiming will be necessary, but thank you.” I smile wearily. “And I’d appreciate that—for now anyway. If it’s not too much trouble. Until things are less raw.”
“Of course!” Delilah hugs me, enveloping me in her fluffy, pink cardigan. “We’re scent sisters, Faye. We’ll always look out for each other, remember?”
I feign a smile, but I don’t feel happy. In fact, I’m not sure if I’ll ever feel true happiness again. How can I when I can never be with the men who were made for me? Ugh, I have to dust myselfoff and carry on. Gram taught me the importance of endurance. After Mom died, she never closed the teashop, not even for one day. She threw herself into the business. It was her way of coping, and her strength is a trait I inherited from her. Hard work will be a welcome distraction.
“Your health botany class starts at 10am, right?” Kady checks her watch. “That gives us an hour. I’ll be walking in that direction to the library, so I’ll go with you. Will you be ready in thirty?”
I guess I’ll have to be.
“We’ll have a girls’ night later,” Sabs promises. “Movies, hot chocolate, pajamas, face masks. Sound good?”
My cheeks hurt from fake smiling. “Sounds great.”
After they depart and I have a quick shower, I douse myself in so much scent blocker that I have a coughing fit. I grab my straw hat with the widest brim then throw on old overalls that are covered in stubborn soil stains.
Kady’s already waiting when I come downstairs. Unlike me, she looks flawless in a gray blazer and tight jeans with cute boots. Her sleek blonde hair is tied in a neat bun at the base of her neck. She’s tall for an omega with willowy limbs, while I look like a dumpy garden gnome in comparison.
