Hell, I struggled with some dark, primal urges when I held her unconscious body in the back of that SUV. The desire to bite down on her soft, warm flesh roared through me the entire time.
I shake my head as guilt and shame slam into me. “I’m sorry,” I blurt out.
Tansy’s head snaps up to me, her eyes wide with surprise.
“I’m sorry you ended up at the black market,” I say,suddenly feeling like shit. “I’m really fucking sorry that all of this happened to you. That you were there and…” My jaw tightens, too chicken shit to ask out loud if she was violated. “No one deserves that.”
My words feel inadequate, but they’re honest.
Tansy’s breath catches a little, and her eyes shine again, but this time she doesn’t look like she’s bracing for impact. She looks…happy?
“Thank you,” she says softly. “For saying that.”
I nod once, thankful that she’s kind enough to appease a bit of my guilt. “So, um,” I clear my throat. “How do you know all that stuff? About the prehistoric omegas?”
Tansy shifts slightly, sitting a little taller. “It was actually the focus of my thesis,” she says with a clear note of pride in her voice. “I just finished it a few weeks ago.”
A wild, involuntary grin spreads across my face as my mouth falls open with shock. “You went tocollege?”
She laughs softly at my reaction. “I was not actually accepted into college. I just took college courses through a remote program.” Then she laughs again. I’m sure it’s because of the goofy grin on my face, but I can’t help it.
The sheer, unexpected brilliance of this woman is intoxicating.
I feel a sudden surge of pride, followed by a deep, undeniable pull of attraction that has nothing to do with Tansy’s curves or her scent, and everything to do with how extraordinary everything about this woman is.
“That’s so fucking impressive,” I say, because it is. Because she is.
Tansy rolls her eyes as she snorts, the movement quick and practiced. “My mother didn’t think so,” she says dryly. “She said it was a waste of time.” She gives a little wave ofher hand like it’s no big deal. “That no one cares how smart an omega is.”
“Then your mother’s an idiot,” I say without missing a beat. The words are out of my mouth before I even think about softening them, and I instantly regret insulting Tansy’s family. “What I mean is,” I keep my tone even and cool. “Anyone who can’t see what an accomplishment that is, isn’t worth listening to.”
Tansy’s brows lift, surprise flickering across her face, and then she laughs. Really laughs this time. Not polite or restrained. And it does something dangerous inside my chest. “That’s very kind of you to say.” She beams at me.
“I’m serious," I say, feeling a little bolder. “School is hard, and anyone who tried to make you feel small for it can go fuck themselves.”
Tansy studies me for a second, her smile still in place. There’s something soft and stunned in her eyes, like she can’t believe I came to her defense. Then her shoulders relax a little.
“Well,” she says with a little sigh, “it’s nice to know someone thinks it matters.”
“It does matter,” I say firmly. “A lot. And I have half a mind to call up your mother and let her know.”
Tansy goes completely still, like every muscle in her body locks at once. The air shifts. Her fingers curl into the blanket again, knuckles whitening as she stares at nothing in particular.
“Am I…allowedto do that?” she asks quietly. “Can I call my mom?”
“Of course, you can,” I say without even needing to think about it.
Tansy’s eyes narrow slightly. “Casswould be okay with that?”
“We would never keep you from your family,” the pack alpha’s voice drifts from the doorway. “Ever.”
I hadn’t even heard him come in.
“You don’t need permission from me to talk to your mother,” Cass says, his cane braced at his side, posture careful but solid, his gaze fixed on Tansy. “You’re not a prisoner here.”
“Thank you,” Tansy smiles sweetly, before opening her mouth again, but then quickly closes it. The hope that lit up her face a second ago dims, replaced by a flicker of dread that makes my stomach sink. It’s so swift, it’s jarring.
Cass notices it at the same time I do. His gaze sharpens, a subtle tension running through his posture as he stares at Tansy’s face.
