“Is that why you got so mean after that kiss?”
The legendary kiss. We were sophomores in high school, and Raven came to a party at Orion’s. It was his birthday. Their parents were friends or something, so she got an invite even though we didn’t really hang out. I had a crush on Orion and pitched the idea of us all playing spin the bottle. I never expected it to land on the scrawny little nerd who wasn’t supposed to be there.
What surprised me even more was how right it felt kissing her, how desperate I was for more. I felt powerless, out of control. And I hated it.
“You scared me so damn much.” Unable to resist touching her any longer, I brush her hair out of her face and tuck it behind her ear. “I didn’t want to want you, so I did the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. I pretended to hate you.”
“You told everyone I had onion breath and kissed like awet log.” There are tears glistening in her eyes. “No one wanted to kiss me after that. Not one person.”
My laugh is dark. “That’s a lie, sweetheart. Junior year, I punched a guy on the hockey team because he fabricated a story about kissing you.”
“How do you know it wasn’t true?”
“He confessed under duress.” Not my proudest moment, for sure. “I doubled down on making sure everyone thought you were disgusting and no one wanted you. But senior year, I caught some of the other curlers on our team talking about breaking you in, betting on who could get Rigid Raven to melt first. I got them all expelled.”
“For what?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“So I’m supposed to believe that your bullying me was just some sort of misplaced protection? Is that supposed to make it better?”
I sigh, dropping my chin to my chest. “No. If anything, it makes it worse. I just… I need you to know that it was never because I didn’t want you.”
I search her expression as we stand silent, hoping,prayingI see even a glimmer of forgiveness in her eyes.
It’s like the rest of the party is miles away. It’s just us here in this moment, Raven and me. The boy who hurt her and the man who wants a second chance. She’d be foolish to give it, but I can’t help wanting her forgiveness.
Slowly, something flows through the bond from her to me, complex emotions I couldn’t begin to name, but the strongest is something like hope.
51
RAVEN
Tanner’s still holding both my hands in his, when I spot three of the other omega Olympians across the room, and all the hope I was feeling morphs into dread. What if someone tampered with their meds too?
“I need to…” I gently remove my hands from Tanner’s grip and point toward the omegas. “They should know what’s going on.”
“Of course,” he says, but his expression falls.
Impulsively, I lift to my toes and kiss his cheek. “Thank you for sharing what you did. I…” The words I want to say get caught in my throat. Do I forgive him? I think I might, but this all feels so fast. I believe what Tanner told me and that they’ve all changed. And I’m surprised to find I trust them. But is that the same as forgiving them? I’m not sure. “Just thank you,” I finish lamely before hurrying away to the huddled group of omegas.
They smile as I approach, but their expressions quickly morph into unease when they see the concern on my face.
“I’m so glad you’re here. We needto talk.” I grab Min-ji’s arm and motion for Lucy and Maryann to follow us into the hall. I don’t see the other omegas, but we’ll have to talk to them too.
“What’s going on?” Lucy asks.
“Is everything okay?” Maryann’s lips turn down in concern.
“You look a little sick?” Min-ji takes a step back.
“I’m not sick. I’m… don’t worry about it.” I fan myself with my hand, trying to cool off after the encounter with Tanner. I really wish I could pull my hair up off my neck, but I can’t risk anyone seeing Orion’s bite. I take a deep breath and focus on the women in front of me. “You need to check your suppressants. Someone messed with mine.” Usually I’d be more tactful, but it’s better to just rip the bandaid off in this case. I can’t risk anyone interrupting us.
“How do you know?’ Maryann asks.
“How will we know if ours have been tampered with?” Min-ji questions simultaneously, already digging around in her purse.
“I had a heat spike—” The omegas all gasp loudly, and I hold my hands up to show them I’m not done. “I had a spike, and I never miss taking my pills. We went to a local doctor who said for the prescription the Olympic committee mandated, the genuine manufactured pills should have 405-O on them. If yours don’t, you need to get a new prescription as soon as possible.”
