“No, nothing is wrong with it,” I say, smiling sadly. “I’m sure it’s fine. My trust issues have nothing to do with you, I won’t drink anything I don’t open myself anymore.”
The rare occasion I do is when someone from my pack offers me a drink. We need each other enough that it wouldn’t make sense for them to try to kill me. My paranoia is riding me hard, and I force myself to take a deep breath.
It seems that I’m going to have to give up a piece of myself to get these people to trust me. So be it.
“I believe my father and his people have been drugging me since a little after I turned eighteen,” I finally say. “I’m aware this has nothing to do with you, however, my anxiety is through the roof as it is. I’d rather not choke down something and make things worse.”
“Leave her alone, Easton,” Silas growls. “I was wondering if you’d prefer something else. Not everyone enjoys sweet tea. Unfortunately, my pack mate thought I was upset by your untouched glass.”
“I’m going to get you a bottle of water,” Cassidy says, shoving back her chair. I open my mouth, and she shakes her head. “Silas, you have glass bottles, right?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replies, watching with a small smile as she disappears into the house. “You’re surrounded by alphas, Miss Rosalia. Our instincts are screaming because you’re not currently eating or drinking.”
Nico makes a small sound under his breath, and I realize he’s holding back laughter. It’s a little inappropriate to laugh at an important meeting, but whatever works for him.
“We don’t really stand on ceremony,” Cooper growls, his voice deep and gravelly. Turning to face him, I take in his darkeyes and almost insane expression, and realize he’s feral. It takes me a second to shove down the fear I feel, which began when Silas reminded me I’m surrounded by alphas. I was desperately trying to ignore that. “Speak plainly and explain yourself. Stop weighing every word.”
“Okay,” I say, swallowing hard. “This is a kill or be killed first situation for me.”
Turning to face the table, I think about what that means as Cassidy returns to the table with a sealed bottle of distilled water, an empty glass, and a cap lifter.
“Thank you,” I say, popping the top and filling my glass. I take a deliberate sip of water, happy to find it’s cold. “I know where many of my father’s bodies are buried, and while I could go the route of getting him put in prison, I still wouldn’t be safe. Even simply killing Papa wouldn’t end the problem, as once my uncles finished fighting for power, they’d come for me next. This only ends when the Accetta name becomes a whisper of what happens when you push the prized daughter too far.”
“I want to hear your idea, Verona, but I need to know more about the terrible things Renzo Accetta has done, Miss Rosalia,” Carter grunts. “I’m not asking for shits and giggles or to capitalize on your pain, but because we need to be emotionally invested in this. No fuck ups.”
I’m opening my mouth to speak when Silas narrows his eyes at me. The trembling is getting worse now, and I hide the hand that was on the table. It’s as if I can smell everything for the first time in years, and the alpha pheromones are making me feel dizzy.
“Rosalia,” Silas barks worriedly. I swallow back a scream, flinching, and he shoves back his chair. “Everyone up! Let’s give her some goddamned air. Poor girl is losing her everloving shit.”
I watch in horror and embarrassment as every one shoves back from the table and steps away.
“Grab your chairs and let’s make a large circle in the yard. There’s too many of us.”
No one says shit as they follow Silas’ instructions, and Nico glances worriedly at me as I close my eyes and take a breath that’s not tainted by alpha pheromones. Fuck. It’s like having had no sense of smell for years and then having the blockage removed all of a sudden.
I have absolutely no ability to cope. I fucking want to murder my father for doing this to me. It’s clear he’s been doing it for years, all to manipulate me. If I ever found my male scent match, I might have left him.
Papa was protecting his asset, not me.
Opening my eyes, I stand slowly, holding onto the edge of the table when my knees threaten to buckle.
Shit. Get it together, Rosa!
Stepping away from the table, my heels click along the pavers as I walk. The chairs are now arranged in a large circle, and Silas is having everyone bring out little tables for our drinks.
Verona stands next to me once I am in the small clearing of the yard, and her fingers intertwine with mine.
“They’re not like the Accetta’s or any of the men your father works with,” she whispers. “They’re good people, baby. Put it all on the table.”
“I can smell everything, and it got really overwhelming,” I rasp, tears threatening to spill over. I feel raw and stripped bare, and it reminds me of how I felt as a new omega.
Just standing next to Verona makes me slick, and I squeeze my thighs together as I hold back a whine.
“I’m a mess and a liability, Vero.”
“You’re Rosalina fucking Accetta,” she growls. “Clear your head by turning it toward the breeze. You haven’t had the chance to figure out how to handle being in a room with conflicting alpha scents. Be kind to yourself, sit upwind from the ground,and that’ll help. You’ve survived worse, baby girl. Get through this, and I’ll draw you a bubble bath, okay?”
“Will you get in with me?” I whisper, biting my lip as a tear finds its way down my skin.
