Before I could respond, she slipped through the door that connected the lighthouse to the inside of the cottage.
Easton looked crushed, Finn looked irritated, and all I wanted to do was stand by the door, inhaling deeply in an effort to get Olive’s scent.
14
OLIVE
I groanedwhen I replayed how I’d awkwardly fled from the three alphas who were currently working inside the lighthouse. Easton, Lars, andFinn.
Finn, the large broody alpha with big hands, angular jaw, and dark hair that fell lazily in his face.
Finn, whose fingers had been inside me mere hours ago.
Finn, who had pretendednot to know me.
My little omega heart was all pathetic and crushed. I’d run to the living room, plopped down in an outdoor chair I’d found in the shed, and wrapped myself in blankets until only my eyes were exposed. My omega wanted to be closer to the alphas… evenhim, which told me everything I needed to know about her judgement.
Last night I’d stripped off my clothes the second I got home, throwing the dirty sweater in the trash.
And then I’d burst into tears.
My omega had panicked, needing the mystery alpha’s scent on us. So I’d fished the sweater out of the trash and tucked it into my nest. I didn’t want to admit that I’d slept better than I had since I’d moved here, surrounded by the sweet scent of maple candy. Now that alpha was just feet away, separated from me by a single door.
The moment he’d looked me straight in the eye like I was acomplete stranger replayed in my brain, and my tears quickly morphed into fury. How dare he treat me like that? Discard me after he’d gotten what he wanted? My omega was incensed, too. Finally, we were on the same page.
Something vibrated against my leg.
And again.
I groaned when I realized it was my phone. Hardly anyone contacted me except for the occasional scam call or political fundraising text. It took me a minute to free my arm enough to grab it out of my pocket.
Unknown Number
Hi Oli. This is Lucy. I hope it’s ok that I got your number from Easton. I wanted to apologize the other day for the welcome wagon.
I stared at the text. It was a group chat, with two other numbers.
Unknown Number 2
Yeah, that was probably really overwhelming. (This is Ivy)
Unknown Number 3
Did you like the pho?
Lucy
^ that’s Summer
I chewed my lip. Why were they texting me? They didn’t have to do that. Unless… unless Lucy had been serious when she said she wanted me in their group. To befriends. I had no experience with this. I’d always been painfully shy, and kids could be mean. Once I hit third grade, the bullying had intensified. My classmates made fun of me for being quiet. They stole my stuff, shoved me at recess, and laughed at me in class. After coming home crying for weeks in a row, my dad announced he couldn’t stand seeing his girl cry for one more second and that I would not be going back. I’d done an online school program, and my parents helped teach me as much as they could. They’d asked several times if Iwanted to try school again, but I didn’t. Online school allowed me to spend my days on the boat, which was the only place I really wanted to be. But it meant I didn’t have practice with real friends.
Olive
The pho was amazing. Thank you
After living off instant ramen, the soup Summer made me had literally featured in my dreams.
Olive
