Chapter 11 Sophie #2
I flush instantly, nearly spilling my coffee, sure my face is as red as a summer sunset. “It’s not like that. They’re just helping me with the inn,” I say, though I know the lie is plain on my face. My voice wavers slightly. “It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Mm hmm,” Lily replies, her smirk unmistakable. “Because three Alphas circling you like a pack of horny frat boys doesn’t mean anything.” She raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying my denial. “And in case you forgot, my brother is an open book.”
I roll my eyes, but the tightness in my chest won’t ease. “They’ve been helping me with the inn, that’s all. And Ethan…well, things are complicated,” I mutter, unsure why I’m trying to hide the truth from her. It feels too raw, too new, and I barely understand it myself.
“Complicated how?” she presses, her voice softer now, losing the teasing edge.
I hesitate, taking a long sip of my coffee to stall. How do I even explain the mess in my head and body? How do I explain the way my skin heats when any of them are near, the way my thoughts spin out of control, or the deep ache that’s settled low in my belly and refuses to go away.
“It’s…a lot,” I finally admit, setting my coffee down and fiddling with the hem of my sweater. “I’ve never really felt like much of an Omega before, you know? But lately…” My words trail off as my throat tightens.
Lily tilts her head, her green eyes sharp yet kind. “Have you ever had a pack? Like, while you were away?” she asks gently, her tone careful, like she doesn’t want to push too hard.
“No,” I say quickly, a rush of embarrassment heating my cheeks. “After I left, I just…I never met anyone, and when my nature didn’t really present itself, I kind of stopped looking.”
I can’t meet her gaze, the admission feeling heavy.
Lily stops walking and gently loops her arm through mine, pulling me close. Her warmth is comforting, like a steady anchor. “Soph, have you ever had a heat? Is that what’s happening?”
I nod, feeling my face flush even hotter. “I think so. I don’t know. I’ve never had one before. But it’s like my body’s on fire, and I can’t think straight when they’re around.”
I sigh, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “Fuck, I can’t think straight when they’re not around either. I feel crazy. Antsy. Obsessed.” The words tumble out before I can stop them, and I know I must be as red as a tomato.
Lily’s expression softens, a mix of understanding and sympathy lighting her eyes. “It makes sense, Sophie. You’re surrounded by strong Alphas, and you’ve been ignoring your Omega instincts for years. It was bound to catch up to you eventually.”
Her words hit too close to home, and I glance away, focusing on the colorful festival booths lining the path ahead. I don’t know what to say, so I don’t say anything.
We stroll in silence for a while, the chatter of the festival blending into a comforting hum around us. The scent of roasted nuts and sugary treats wafts through the air, but my focus keeps drifting back to the heat simmering under my skin.
Lily breaks the silence as we pass a booth selling cotton candy, its pink fluff catching the light. “You’re glowing, though,” she says, her voice warm.
I glance at her, startled by the sincerity in her tone. “Glowing?”
“Yeah,” she says with a soft smile. “Like you’re full of life. It’s good to see.”
Her words catch me off guard, and for a moment, I let them sink in. “Thanks,” I murmur, meaning it. I don’t feel like I’m glowing. I feel restless and overwhelmed, but somehow, her words ease the weight on my chest.
Lily nudges me gently with her elbow, her arm still looped with mine her grin returning. “And for the record, you’re allowed to want this, Soph. To want them.”
I swallow hard, the words sticking in my throat as my pulse quickens. “I don’t even know what I want,” I whisper.
She squeezes my arm, her voice firm but kind. “You’ll figure it out. Just don’t fight it so hard. Let yourself feel it.”
As we continue walking, her words linger in my mind, settling deep in a way I can’t shake. The festival around us is bright and loud, but all I can think about is the storm of emotions inside me—and the Alphas who are at the center of it all.
She snorts, breaking the tension. “You know pregnancy is weird… at first it’s all love and butterflies and now I’m sweaty and swollen and It’s always a long walk to pee,” she says as she lovingly caresses her belly.
We laugh, falling into an easy rhythm, and I realize how much I’ve missed this—missed her. The guilt bubbles up before I can stop it, and I blurt out, “I’m sorry.”
Lily looks at me, her brow furrowing. “For what?”
“For everything,” I say, my voice quiet but steady. “For leaving the way I did. For not being here when you needed me. For being a crappy friend.”
Her expression softens, and she squeezes my arm. “Sophie, you don’t have to apologize. I was mad, yeah, but I get it. Life’s messy, and sometimes it pulls us in directions we don’t expect.”
Tears sting my eyes, but I blink them away, nodding as we stop near a small vendor selling hot cider. I hug her tightly, holding on longer than I probably should.
“Thank you,” I whisper. I’m about to thank her when I feel it—a shift in the air, a familiar heat prickling at the back of my neck. My entire body snaps to awareness. I glance up and freeze.
When we pull apart, my gaze snags on a familiar figure approaching us. Ethan.