Chapter 1 - Faye #3
“There are six apartments in Stella House, but there are only four of us here now, including you. I know this house seems huge, but SVU recognizes that omegas need extra space to account for their nests.” Sabs tosses the cupcake wrapper into the trash.
“That’s the beauty of the scent test too!
They don’t just lump any omega in together.
Some years, the house is full, other years we may get no students.
I’m in my third year, and the others—Kady and Delilah—are both in their second year.
There are two apartments in the basement, the other four are spread over the two floors above, and we have our cuddle den in the attic.
You’ll see that soon enough. Wanna see where you’ll be sleeping? ”
I nod, dazed, letting all the information wash over me.
“Me and Kady live in the basement.” Sabs points at a door, which I assume leads to a staircase below.
“When I’m home, I usually hang in the living room.
Kady’s protective of her own space and doesn’t like people in her apartment.
” She notices my change in expression and adds quickly, “It’s not because Kady’s not friendly.
She’s a bit OCD about her nest and keeping her space scent-clear.
You’ll love her. She does have a crazy cat called Larry, though.
” Sabs pulls a face. “He’s pretty territorial.
If you don’t want to be clawed, it’s best to steer clear of the ginger devil when you see him prowling around. ”
Before I can ask any questions, Sabs continues talking, barely taking a breath.
“Delilah is a total sweetheart who knows a recipe for any occasion. She also has the most amazing voice. She’ll never sing in public, but if you catch her singing when she’s baking, you’re in for a treat.
Kady is super driven. She wants to be a hot shot lawyer, and woe betide any alpha who thinks she’s here for anything other than studying.
Oh, and Kady’s a Sinclair. Yes, as in the Sinclair’s, but I’d avoid mentioning her family. Things are a little complicated.”
Woah, I’m boarding with Richard Sinclair’s daughter? Although I’ve basically lived under a rock most of my life, everyone knows about Richard Sinclair. He owns pretty much everything, including all the global news channels.
“Sorry, I don’t know when to shut up sometimes. You’re going to fit right in!” She squeezes my arm reassuringly. “I just know it!”
“I hope so.” I suck in a deep breath.
“Are you going to let the poor girl see her room or not, Sabs?” a crisp voice comes from behind us.
The girl standing at the bottom of the stairs has blonde, almost silver, pin-straight hair that’s clipped back off her face. Her white skin is so flawless that it looks airbrushed. Even though she’s only wearing a plain, white tee over jeans, it’s tailored to perfection. She’s effortlessly stylish.
I pull at the edges of my frayed, sun-bleached summer dress, instantly feeling shabby and self-conscious.
“Hi.” The girl marches forward, offering her hand in a confident thrust. “I’m Kady.”
“Faye.” I clasp her hand, almost grimacing at the tightness of her grip.
I can’t stop myself from inhaling deeply, intrigued by her scent. She smells like a breath of fresh air, with something faintly floral.
“White tea, bergamot and freesia.” She smiles, like she knows what I’m thinking. “An odd combination, but it pairs well together. Or so I’m told.”
“Sorry.” I feel my cheeks heat. “I didn’t mean—”
“Don’t worry about it.” Kady waves her hand. “It’s great to meet you. We were surprised to hear we’d be getting a new student.”
“I didn’t accept my place until a few weeks ago,” I confess.
Kady studies me with her inquisitive blue eyes, sensing there’s a story behind my hesitation, but she doesn’t press.
“We’re happy to have you here.” She flashes me her perfectly white teeth.
“I hope you’ll find your room comfortable.
We cleaned it up before you arrived and added a few touches to make it feel homier, but get rid of anything you don’t like.
” Her stare lands on my duffle bag by the door.
“Are the rest of your things arriving later?”
“Um…” I shift on my feet. “That’s all I have. I guess I’m a light packer.”
I can already tell Kady will make a brilliant lawyer one day. She has eyes that cut right through you, but she doesn’t make me uncomfortable. There’s a curiosity in her gaze.
“Fucking Kyro was sniffing around when she first arrived.” Sabs makes a retching noise. “He offered to help carry Faye’s bag.”
“Unbelievable.” Kady rolls her eyes. “He did exactly the same with Delilah last year. I’m sure there’s something in the SVU handbook that prohibits alphas from...” Her eyes ping-pong around the room like her mind’s whirring while she counts off a silent list on her fingers. “Leave it to me.”
“It’s fine. Honestly!” The last thing I want is to cause a fuss. “He was only trying to help.”
“I doubt that,” Kady mutters darkly. “I’ll catch up with you both later.” Her expression brightens. “I’ve got a letter to write.”
I watch as she pads away downstairs.
“Giving Kady a reason to write an angry letter is the key to an instant friendship. She’s a writer for the Valley Voice—the SVU student newspaper—and can make a pretty compelling argument.” Sabs grins, slinging my bag over her back. “Let’s get you moved in.”
I follow Sabs upstairs. On the landing, a large stained-glass window casts mesmerizing patterns across a striking floral rug.
“You’re the next floor up.” Sabs continues up a spiral staircase to the next floor. “The rooms are a little bigger up here. Better bathrooms too.”
There are two doors on both sides of the corridor. One is plain while the other is lilac with hand-painted, white lilies swirling across it, which I’m guessing is Delilah’s.
“You can decorate however you like.” Sabs stops at my plain door.
“I’ll leave you to make yourself at home.
Me and the girls are heading to a mixer tonight, so you’re welcome to join us.
Although, I totally understand if you want to crash or cozy up in a bubble bath.
You’ve had a long day, and there’ll be loads of other events to go to. ”
“I think I’ll stay in tonight.” I hope I’m not offending her. “You’ve been so welcoming, and I promise, I’m not being rude, but I’m pretty beat. I’ve been up since 4am.” My eyes already feel heavy—not just from the journey, but from the new surroundings and reams of information.
“I thought you might say that. Delilah was exactly the same when she first arrived.” Sabs sets my bag in front of my door.
“You should have everything you need for tonight, at least. We can go shopping for anything else tomorrow. It’d be good if we could swap numbers, and I’ll add you to the Stella group chat. We look out for each other here.”
Grateful for her understanding, we swap numbers, then Sabs heads off, humming to an offbeat tune.
I grasp the door handle. It’s now or never…
My jaw drops when I walk into my new mini living room.
It’s all open plan with a seating area and television.
In the corner of the room is another stunning, stained glass, circular window directly in front of a desk and window seat.
There’s a kitchenette to my right—it’s small, compared to downstairs, but it has all the necessities, including a kettle! It even has a dining table for two.
I cross the room to pass through another door leading into the bedroom.
The bed itself is absolutely massive. It’s neatly made with a white linen duvet, has a walk-in wardrobe, and a dressing table.
There are two tall floor lamps on either side of the bed as well as a small reading lamp propped on a dresser.
Fabric pinned to the ceiling flows like drapes, making it extra comfy.
It’ll need a few extra blankets and cushions to make it into a proper nest, but it’s an amazing start.
To the right is a bathroom that looks like it belongs in an expensive hotel, complete with a deep tub and huge shower. Rows of colorful bottles of soaps, shampoo, and conditioner are lined up neatly on shelves, and there’s a cupboard filled with fluffy towels.
How can this be my dorm room? Excited butterflies flutter in my stomach as I excitedly snap a few photographs then send them to Gram. This is even better than I imagined.
I return to the living area and notice a wicker hamper on the kitchen counter. A note tucked inside it reads:
Welcome to Stella House!
Love, your new BFFs x
PS. Enjoy the treats! The cookies were made fresh today!
It’s overflowing with candy bars, pretzels, and a batch of homemade gooey cookies.
Unable to help myself, I sink my teeth into one of the cookies then let out a small moan.
They have a perfect balance of white and dark chocolate chips that melt on the tongue.
If Delilah’s as nice as her cookies, we’re going to be friends for life.
As well as snacks, someone has put in a stash of notebooks and pens—I’m guessing Kady—which are balanced on top of a pink bathrobe that smells faintly of Sabs with ‘Stella’ embroidered over the back and a sparkly silver ’S’ on the breast pocket.
They’ve also popped in a number of takeout menus with items circled that are, presumably, the best dishes.
Tears well in my eyes. I can’t believe how welcoming everyone has been. I was only in public school for a few years before Gram pulled me out to homeschool after not meshing with the other kids. For years, Gram was all I needed. Perhaps I didn’t know what I was missing.
Feeling fuzzy, I unpack. It won’t take long.
I carefully place a framed photo of Mom and Dad on my desk.
Would they be proud if they could see me now, or would they have been happier if I’d stayed in my comfort zone?
Seeing their faces causes my mind to stray, worrying about how many alphas attend SVU and the risks they can pose to omegas.
The alpha I ran into earlier pops into my mind, I try to shake it away.
Get a grip of yourself, Faye. You can’t avoid alphas forever!
I gently unwrap my most prized possession: a soft scrap of fabric that was part of Mom’s nest. I raise it to my face.
Even years later, I can still smell her on it—thanks to one of Gram’s special Scent-Everlast sprays.
I tuck it carefully into my bed, instantly feeling more at ease and comforted.
I just need to get used to being around different designations, that’s all.
Not all alphas are bad, right?