"For everyone's well-being, she needs to go. You need to send her away."
I shrink further into myself, heat flooding my face.
"I didn't push her," I say quietly.
My voice sounds far away.
"But..." I swallow. My hands tighten together until my fingers ache. "Maybe she's right."
Every head snaps toward me.
"Maybe everyone would be better off if I just went back to the registry," I whisper. "If I wasn't... here."
The silence is brutal.
A low growl rolls through the room.
It's not loud. It doesn't need to be.
Marie freezes instantly, shoulders dropping, eyes snapping to Ragon.
Ragon uncrosses his arms and steps forward, his presence filling the space like a wall.
"That's enough," he says, voice low and final.
He doesn't look at Marie when he speaks next. His gaze stays on me.
"Vee is still part of my pack. She belongs here."
My chest tightens painfully.
"She isn't going anywhere," Ragon continues, finally turning his attention to Marie. "You need to accept that."
Marie opens her mouth, then closes it when his growl deepens a fraction.
"You are both my omegas," Ragon says. "And that is not going to change."
Marie's shoulders slump. The fight drains out of her all at once.
Arden steps in before the silence can fracture again.
"If you want to remain in shared spaces while Vee heals, you will need to work on your behavior. That includes how you speak to her, how you frame her actions, and how you manage your own insecurity."
Marie stiffens. "I'm not insecure."
Arden meets her gaze calmly. "You are."
He turns then, addressing the alphas as a whole.
"This responsibility doesn't rest solely on Marie. You failed both omegas by not establishing security and clarity from the beginning."
His eyes settle on Ragon.
"Marie is lashing out because her integration into your pack was handled poorly. That does not excuse her behavior—but it does explain it."
Ragon bristles, scent flaring sharp and defensive, but he doesn't argue.
"Neither omega should feel secondary. Neither should feel less valued. Equal footing is not optional. If one omega feels disposable, the entire structure is unstable."
