My mouth curved into a grin. “Fair enough.”
It wasn’t just the promise that finally made me relent. Poppy was soft-spoken and gentle, but he was anything but weak. Hell, he’d proven it over and over, not just in the last ten minutes, but across our lifetimes. While I retreated behind a spiky shell to push people away, Poppy opened his heart to let them in. That was his strength. His willpower and grace could conquer anything.
Jade cleared his throat. He’d stepped away to give us privacy, but of course, my older brother wanted to know what we’d decided. When I nodded him over, he returned.
“Well?” Jade asked.
Poppy and I exchanged a firm glance.
“We’re going to the tundra clan,” I told him. “Together.”
Jade didn’t look surprised that Poppy was coming along. Though that made sense, given his intimate experience with a pushy omega who never took ‘no’ for an answer. Or maybe he simply knew Poppy better than I thought he did.
“All right,” Jade replied, primly pushing up his glasses. “So, when should the rest of us arrive? Shortly after you?”
I frowned as a tendril of fear snaked down my back. “Now you’re pissing me off. I’d better not fucking see you there, Jade. Or anyone else. I’m serious. Don’t drag our family into my mess.”
“Viol, he wants to help,” Poppy said.
“It’s not safe,” I snapped at Jade. “What part of that don’t you understand?”
Jade didn’t flinch. “What exactly is your plan when you arrive? I assume you’re not going through with the exchange.”
“Of fucking course not!”
“Then you’ll abduct Sorrel and leave the remnants of the clan the way you find it?”
I gritted my teeth. Grudgingly, I saw his point. We couldn’t just rescue Sorrel and abandon the other omegas crushed beneath the heel of the tundra clan alphas.
Guilt and regret chewed at me. The last time I tried to save Sorrel, it didn’t end well. But I was a different person back then. I wouldn’t hesitate this time.
But Jade sighed like I was a difficult student who didn’t understand his lesson. “Viol, let me be clear. I trust you and Poppy to take whatever action you feel is best. My only concern is for what will happen after.”
“Huh?” I was confused. Jade actuallytrustedme?
Jade paused, then gave a thoughtful hum. “Actually, never mind. I’ll figure it out.”
That sounded more like the Jade I knew.
“Okay.” I jabbed a finger at him. “Don’t tell the others. Seriously. This isourfight.”
Poppy glanced at Jade, then at me, but said nothing.
Jade smiled at me, slipping a hand behind his back while the other pushed up his glasses. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” His expression turned serious. “But Viol... do be careful. You deeply worried us the last time you returned from that place. Please don’t make us suffer a repeat of that terrible day.”
I grimaced as his words weighed on my shoulders. The idea that I’d hurt my older brothers never crossed my mind then, but as an adult, it felt stupidnotto think of that. Back then, I was so tangled up in my own stormy feelings that I didn’t consider theirs. Seeing their brother so devastated—without an explanation why—couldn’t have been easy.
I owed them the truth. Not now, but someday.
“I’m sorry,” I muttered, flushing in shame as I stared at the ground. “I’ll come back normal this time, I swear.”
He smirked. “You don’t have to be normal. Just be you.” He winked at Poppy. “Take care of him, all right?”
Poppy beamed at Jade, affection shining from his face. “I will.”
Even my brother knew that between the two of us, Poppy was stronger.
16
