He chuckles again, but the laughter quickly fades. “Carry the taser, Ren. Please. Haven’s been worried sick about you returning to work, and the rest of us aren’t too happy about it either. We’ll all breathe a little easier knowing you’re armed.”
“Fine,” I relent and he gives a satisfied smile. “That’s a low blow, bringing my very pregnant best friend into argument.”
He gives me a long look. “That wasn’t an argument, Florence. You were always going to carry that taser.”
I sigh and slip the weapon into my purse, not bothering to dignify that with an answer. We both know he’s right. Especially after what just happened. If Creed hadn’t been here, ready to drive me home, that situation with the angry alpha could have ended very badly for me.
Having a way to defend myself will help me breathe easier too.
Episode 3: Fracture in the Fairytale
Piers
Four weeks have passed since we left the Azure Bay Resort.
Four weeks since my pack picked Isadora as our omega.
Five weeks since we sent home Florence and broke her heart on national television, even if she was strong enough to pretend we didn’t. She handled herself beautifully, with dignity, thanking us for the opportunity, bowing her head in deference and keeping her shoulders straight as she walked away.
But there was a moment, before Forsythe had said anything but her name, a moment where from the tone of his voice alone, she knew exactly what was going to happen. And I swear with that realization, I heard her heart crack. Not shatter, not break completely, but fracture from the blow we dealt her.
I would have done anything to keep that from happening. I should have done more, argued more, fought more for her.
Especially after I promised her we weren’t going to send her home just that morning. In my defence, I genuinely believed that when I told her. How could I not when they encouragedus to take our relationship to the next level, when all of us worshiped her the night before.
But after Court and I saw to her needs, made certain she’d eaten and then left her in the capable hands of Petal and Tristan, the pack had pulled me aside, and told me what would be happening at the cutting ceremony that night.
Court argued against it, and Forsythe had run his hand down his face, bruised from Grieves’ fist and refused every argument. The Queen, it seems, had found out about our rendezvous with our omega, and stepped in to make sure it went no farther.
He didn’t give specifics, but he told us the old woman threatened not only Florence, but her family. I wanted to say that we could protect her—them—anyone the queen threatened to keep Forsythe in line, but I could tell that they’d already had this argument without me. That Thayer and Court and Grieves had gone over this with Forsythe and he stood firm on his decision.
A decision, I was not a part of.
In that moment, I had to wonder if they’d even thought about me at all, while deciding my future for me. Likely not.
The worst part is how they made me complicit in breaking her heart. All but ordered me to take our relationship physical, and then ordered me to stand aside while they sent her packing.
Not that I regret my actions on the night of Florence's date. I don’t think I could ever regret making her feel that good. Bringing her to the height of pleasure, listening to the sounds she made as she came undone.
I can still taste her on my tongue. Weeks later. Like a phantom limb.
But if I’d known they were going to send her home the very next fucking day?
I probably would have put up more of a fight. I would have… I don’t know, demanded that they tell her, be honest with her. I certainly wouldn’t have laid her out and tasted her. It wasn’t fair to her… or to me.
I want to believe that they didn’t know then what they were planning on doing the next day. That maybe they were considering keeping her and sending Isadora home instead.
I could ask.
Court would tell me the truth, I’m sure he would.
But I’m not positive I really want to know.
Because if I find out that they did know and they still let me do that...
I’m not sure how I would react to the realization.
Notwell.That’s for certain.
