“He would have intervened if it had gone any further.”
“Oh, he would have? What a fuckingheroyou have a for a mate.” I shake my head and shove the stool I’m perched on back from the counter. “You told me to steer clear of your alphas when I moved in… I can assure you,thatwon’t be a problem.”
“Oh, sit down. You’re being purposefully obtuse and it’s unbecoming. Jaime infiltrated Rad’s inner circle their freshman year at the behest of his father and mine. Since then, he’s earned Rad’s complete trust, but he’s had to do some regrettable things to maintain that trust. And he does regret them, Juniper. Especially his hand in what Rad tried to do to you. But he risks himself every day, more so now that we’re mated. Rad doesn’t know about me and Jaime. If he knew…”
Saints, is that why she’s afraid? Is that why I saw Rad with his hand over her mouth, his scribe at the pale column of her throat?
“Let’s just say I’m counting on you to keep my confidence in this matter.”
I thunk back down on the stool, propping my elbows on the counter. “I mean, sure, confidence kept, but I don’t know why you’re telling me any of this.”
She drops a tea bag into each of two mugs and fills them with boiling water. “Context only. I wanted you to understand where the information I’m about to tell you is coming from. A source I trust.” Her eyes flick to the open door of the omega lodge and then back to me.
I frown, dropping my chin down in my hands, but nod at her to continue.
She sighs and hops up on the counter across from me as the tea steeps. “It’s about Rad. There’s no easy way to say this and his fathers buried itveryeffectively. Our family fixer could honestly learn a thing or two…” She taps the silver ring on her thumb against the counter. “Look, I’m telling you this as a friend and at great personal risk. Stay as far away from Andrew Radcliffe as possible. Never let him get you alone.”
I let out a ragged breath. “He did yesterday. He’s… he’s unhinged. He thinks we’re going to be mated.”
Trinity shudders. “Juniper, you have to get out of his sights. He killed an omega his freshman year.”
The stool sways beneath me—or is that the world around me spinning? “Wh-what?”
Trinity sighs. “Look, it was covered up. Ruled a suicide. I don’t know if he planned to murder her or lost his temper, but the body was practically beyond recognition when it washed ashore. There was an investigation, but they weren’t able to trace anything back to him except for one thing: he coveted Heather.”
Just like he covets me. Just like no accusation sticks to him now, the golden boy of Fairhaven Academy, a future titan of industry, an alpha above all others. Saints, I feel fucking sick.
“And I suppose she didn’t return his feelings?” I ask, my voice faint.
Trinity smiles tightly. “She didn’t have half the spine you seem to, but she stood up to him.”
My head swims and I shove my hands into my hair, dragging steadying breaths into my lungs. “And Jaime told you this?”
Trinity nods. “It was before I came to Fairhaven and I swear, Juniper, don’t bother going looking. You won’t find anything.” She looks toward the door where Marcus paces and chews her lower lip between her teeth. “Rad put Heather’s honor guard in the hospital. He was in a coma for weeks before he passed.”
I steal a look at Marcus and squeeze my eyes shut. “Jaime knows all of this about Rad—about everything he’s done—and he still hasn’t gotten him put away in prison yet?”
Trinity scowls. “You don’t think he’s tried?”
“He’s a Soldier of Saint Aldous!”
“And more dangerous than ever. Untouchable, unpredictable, and dangerous. Stay away from him, Juniper. If I thought it’d do any good, I’d tell you to drop out.” She frowns and considers me for a moment. “As dangerous as it may be, I’m glad you stayed.”
She snatches her mug of tea up off the counter, nods to me, and disappears out of the omega lodge, into the drizzly day, leaving behind a trace of her fear-tinged scent and a hundred more questions than I had before.
CHAPTER7
“How much did you hear?” I ask Marcus as I pull the double doors of the omega lodge shut behind me.
“All of it.” He shakes his head. “Juniper, this is even worse than I thought. It’s not safe for you here.”
“It’s not safe for me anywhere else either,” I say, my throat burning, thick with the threat of tears.
“There are sanctuaries…”
“I’d never make it out of the country alive. You know my father’s reach. His power. The lengths he’s willing to go to. Fuck, the lengths he’s already gone to.” I hesitate as we step out into the mist, wishing Marcus could be my alpha. That I could let my instincts take over, let them propel me into his arms where I could be protected. My designation has never been without its challenges, but not this many, not like the ones I’m facing right now. One of the most dangerous alphas I’ve ever crossed covets me, scares me so much I consider running back to an alpha who scares me even more: my father.
All because I’m an omega.
