Chapter 28 Faye
TWENTY-EIGHT
Faye
Since arriving home in the middle of the night two days ago, I’ve spent most of my time in the bath or sleeping. Instead of begging for knots, I battled my urges, breathing through the pain and regretting every second I spent trusting the Silverwood Pack.
“Faye?” Sabs calls, gently tapping on my bedroom door. “Are you awake?”
She and the other Stellas have been amazing.
None of them have probed me for more information about what happened, just being helpful.
Kady got me an emergency prescription of pain medication to help with the worst cramps, Delilah’s kept me well-fed by preparing regular meals, and Sabs has sat on the other side of my door for hours, talking about anything and everything to keep me company while giving me physical space.
I haven’t said a lot in response, but her presence has been comforting nonetheless.
“Uh-huh,” I reply feebly.
I’m weak. Although my heat seems to be over, I’m exhausted. The mental toll hit me even harder than the physical one.
“The three of us are here,” Sabs warns me. “Can we come in?”
“Yes.”
Delilah enters holding out a freshly baked apple pie and a tub of ice cream. “You look like you could use some company, and maybe something sweet for breakfast?”
I must look like a total mess. I’m curled up on the sofa, curtains drawn, wrapped up in a blanket igloo.
I’ve been up since 5am, with the TV playing Friends re-reruns that I’ve already watched a thousand times.
My wet hair is piled into a scruffy bun on the top of my head.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve bathed, my skin is red and raw from trying to scrub the scent of the Silverwoods away.
I’ve been clutching the scrap of blanket from Mom’s nest, but it doesn’t bring me as much comfort as it usually does.
“How are you feeling?” Kady puts her hand on my forehead. “Your temperature has gone down.”
“Still tired,” I sigh. “But I’m through it now.”
Delilah grabs a plate then serves up a big slice of pie, waving the golden crust under my nose. “Why don’t you eat some of this?”
“Maybe later,” I murmur.
“Now we know it’s bad,” Sabs teases. “Refusing Del’s apple pie is serious shit. We’re worried about you.”
“I’ll be fine.” I wave off their concerns. “Honestly, you don’t need to worry about me.”
Their expressions say otherwise.
“Do you want to talk about what happened with the Silverwoods?” Delilah probes gently. “I’ve never known an omega to leave her alphas during a heat before, especially scent matches.”
“They’re not my alphas.” I look down, stroking Mom’s piece of blanket. “At least not anymore.”
“What did my brother do?” Sabs growls. “I’ll kill him if he hurt you. He’s been calling me around the clock, but I’ve been ignoring him because I wanted to hear from you first.”
She’s such a good friend.
“They didn’t tell me the whole truth,” I admit. “They hid something from me. Something bad.”
“How bad?” Kady asks.
I need to talk about it to someone, or I’ll go insane.
“Damon told me that he was arrested.” I take a deep breath. “For hurting an omega.”
They all look equal parts horrified and stunned.
“What? When? I’ve known Damon pretty much my whole life. He’s gotten into fights with other alphas, but an omega?” Sabs shakes her head. “It must be a mistake.”
“They kept it from you too. Damon told me himself. Cole’s dad covered it up.
He put an omega in the hospital for a month, and now she’s blind in one eye.
” The smell of the apple pie and the thought of what that poor omega had to go through turn my stomach.
“I know no more than that, and I don’t need to.
He wanted me to know the truth before I bonded with the pack. ”
“Why is Cole keeping him around?” Sabs sounds furious. Which is understandable; they betrayed her trust too. “And what about Laz? I’ll tear his fluffy ginger curls right out of his stupid head. How could he?!”
“My father has a private detective on retainer.” Kady taps her chin, deep in thought. “I can find out more, see if his story checks out?”
I shrug nonchalantly. Having confirmation won’t hurt, but I don’t see how more information will change anything.
“I’ll be right back.” She strolls into the hallway to make the call.
“I’m so sorry, Faye.” Delilah snuggles up next to me. “I don’t know what to say. I really thought Damon was a good guy.”
“Me too,” I murmur.
Damon’s an intimidating alpha, but I didn’t think he would ever harm an omega. How could we all have been so wrong?
Part of me is also clinging onto a small scrap of hope that this is all a silly mistake or joke.
A few days ago, I had a glimpse of what my life would be like with the Silverwoods.
I could spend days reading and talking about books with Ren in front of the fire, playing games with Laz, teasing Cole by making a mess in the kitchen, and Damon.
A few minutes later, Kady returns, her mouth pressed into a grim line that isn’t a good omen.
“Well?” Sabs prompts. “What did he say? There must be some kind of misunderstanding, right?”
“I wish it was,” Kady huffs, sitting down.
“The PI accessed the police records easily enough, but the files are sealed. Cole’s dad did a good job of making sure no one ever finds out what happened, but my guy has a way around the system.
” She grimaces. “Unfortunately, what he found corroborates Damon’s story.
An omega got hurt badly, and Damon was the only alpha involved. ”
“This is my fault!” Sabs wails, covering her face. “I vouched for them. I know Laz is easily influenced, but I can’t believe he’d cover up for Damon like that. I’ll never speak to him again. Either of them.”
“I don’t want to cause a family rift,” I blurt. That’d only make things worse. “Honestly, I’ll be okay. The main thing is that I know the truth now, and we can just move forward. Pretend none of this ever happened.”
“But they’re your scent matches, Faye,” Delilah reminds me.
“It doesn’t matter,” I insist. “Me and Gram have spent years campaigning for omega rights. That means more to me than anything.”
Even if they were the only alphas left on Earth, I wouldn’t go near them. My principles are more important. I’d rather go through life knowing that I’ve upheld what matters most than selling out simply because the Silverwoods smell amazing, took great care of me, and know how to use their knots.
“What can we do, Faye?” Sabs takes the seat on my other side, her eyes glistening with guilt. “How can we help?”
“I just want to carry on like normal and do what I came here for,” I reply. “I’ve been distracted by the Silverwood Pack since I got to SVU. I just want to focus on my classes and studying hard. Starting today.”
“Are you sure you’re well enough to attend class?” Delilah asks dubiously. “You’re only just getting over your first heat.”
“Professor Grub has barely seen me since I arrived,” I point out. So far, I’ve only attended one of his classes, where he made it clear I was his least favorite student. “If I don’t go, I’ll fall further behind. Besides, I can’t sit here and mope around forever.”
No matter how much I may want to.
“At least let us walk you to class?” Kady suggests.
“I don’t want the Silverwoods or any alphas anywhere near you when you’re still so vulnerable.
We can take shifts, like your own personal omega bodyguards.
If those alphas get within a foot of you, I’ll tear off their knots myself, okay? Even if it ruins my fresh manicure.”
Hopefully, Ren is too busy in the library to be in the greenhouse today.
“I don’t think maiming will be necessary, but thank you.” I smile wearily. “And I’d appreciate that—for now anyway. If it’s not too much trouble. Until things are less raw.”
“Of course!” Delilah hugs me, enveloping me in her fluffy, pink cardigan. “We’re scent sisters, Faye. We’ll always look out for each other, remember?”
I feign a smile, but I don’t feel happy.
In fact, I’m not sure if I’ll ever feel true happiness again.
How can I when I can never be with the men who were made for me?
Ugh, I have to dust myself off and carry on.
Gram taught me the importance of endurance.
After Mom died, she never closed the teashop, not even for one day.
She threw herself into the business. It was her way of coping, and her strength is a trait I inherited from her.
Hard work will be a welcome distraction.
“Your health botany class starts at 10am, right?” Kady checks her watch. “That gives us an hour. I’ll be walking in that direction to the library, so I’ll go with you. Will you be ready in thirty?”
I guess I’ll have to be.
“We’ll have a girls’ night later,” Sabs promises. “Movies, hot chocolate, pajamas, face masks. Sound good?”
My cheeks hurt from fake smiling. “Sounds great.”
After they depart and I have a quick shower, I douse myself in so much scent blocker that I have a coughing fit. I grab my straw hat with the widest brim then throw on old overalls that are covered in stubborn soil stains.
Kady’s already waiting when I come downstairs. Unlike me, she looks flawless in a gray blazer and tight jeans with cute boots. Her sleek blonde hair is tied in a neat bun at the base of her neck. She’s tall for an omega with willowy limbs, while I look like a dumpy garden gnome in comparison.
She smiles brightly. “Ready to go?”
“All set.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Her hand pauses on the door handle. “If you’re not ready, that’s okay.”
“I want to,” I lie. I don’t want to, but I need to. I have to get back to normality at some point, right?
We set out into the sunny morning. It’s been a few days since I’ve been outside, so it takes a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the brightness.