Chapter 37
Thirty-Seven
VIOLET
J asper’s hand is tight where it’s laced with mine as we take the first step out of the hallway and onto the rooftop. We pause just on the edge of the event proper, Jasper’s breath just as unsteady as mine.
For all my mom’s bullshit, she knows how to decorate to make a statement. Strands of large globe lights criss-cross above the space, complimenting the orange glow of the setting sun over the water just visible over the other downtown buildings. Large floral displays sit at the center of each of the tables, lavender and white roses and hydrangea forming a beautiful aroma that helps overlay the scents of the attending Alphas. It’s almost as impressive as the set up the Council used at the matching gala. A bar sits tucked into the far corner, the line for it decently long. On the opposite side of the rooftop, a string quartet plays and a simple music system sits unobtrusively nearby. It’s not set up for dancing, more so a speaker and probably a presentation of some kind once the sun is completely below the horizon.
“Are all your dads here?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Just Dad, I think. They haven’t done an event of this scale all together in a really long time.”
“Damn,” Jasper mutters. I manage a laugh, elbowing him. He looks down and smirks. “Kurt is fun at these things.”
I breathe through the ache in my chest at him remembering something from so long ago. His gaze softens on mine, and I manage a small smile. He rests his finger under my chin and tilts my face toward him, letting his lips brush across mine. Not enough to mess up the lipstick I’ve put on, but I can just barely taste the tang of his breath mint.
“There you are!”
My mom’s voice cuts over the quiet music of the quartet. It’s not the happy exasperation Faedra’s mom used at the graduation. Instead, it’s angry and a little disapproving. It reminds me of that asshole Alpha that cornered me the first time Rylan took me out. Jasper stiffens and pulls away from me.
Mom purses her lips as she takes me in. “Well, the color is perfect for the season, so I suppose it’ll do,” she mutters. She hands me a large glass of white wine. “Here’s this for you so you don’t have to stand in line.”
Jasper’s shoulders tighten, his grip firming around my hand. I lean into him, trying to keep him from saying something he’ll regret in the first ten minutes of us being here. I take the wine without comment, hiding my irritation at her taking the opportunity for me to get my own drink. I fucking hate white wine. Her gaze coasts over Jasper, an unfeeling once over that ends with her frowning.
“And where is your pack? You didn’t come unchaperoned, did you? That’s hardly safe.”
I’m wearing scent blockers and am nowhere near my heat starting. It’s more than safe for me to be here alone. She’s just making a point. I breathe through my nose, holding onto my control by a hair.
Jasper clears his throat. “The others are on their way and should be here soon. They had other prior commitments.”
I squeeze his hand. “Mom, you remember Jasper, right? He’s part of Pack Montegue.”
She doesn’t react to my question, her lips pursed. A man I don’t recognize comes up to my right, standing too close for my comfort. I lean into Jasper.
It’s like a switch flips in my mom. Gone is the cynical, critical judge, and in her place is Elle fucking Woods or some shit. She smiles brightly, her eyes crinkling as she turns to the man.
“Jack, how lovely to see you,” she says, her voice warming and softening. She angles her body until she essentially leaves Jasper out of the conversation. “I hope everything has been going well.”
The man smiles, though it doesn’t touch his eyes. I take a couple sips of the wine to keep my expression blank. I’ve mostly tuned out the conversation, staring at the fading sun over the ocean, when another man joins the conversation, his dark brown hair trimmed shorter than when I last saw him. My stomach clenches, and I have to breathe carefully to keep from panicking.
What the fuck is Eric doing here?
Jack rests a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve met my son, haven’t you?”
Oh no .
He’s already part of this fucking network of assholes? I force a swallow and try to calm my racing heart. Then he wasn’t pestering me to get in with my dad. He was pestering to get in me . I feel sick at just the thought, not to mention the memory of his floral scent. I take a larger gulp of the wine and squeeze Jasper’s hand. He murmurs something and then pulls me away from the trio, his gaze focused on the far corner of the roof.
“How upset will your dad be if we interrupt whatever conversation is happening right now?” he asks, dropping his lips until they brush my ear. A shiver races down my spine.
I follow his gaze. The person Dad’s chatting with is vaguely familiar. It takes me too long to realize it’s the president of one of the charities. I shake my head.
“He won’t.” Is my voice breathless? I can’t tell.
Fuck, it’s hot up here.
Jasper leads us over to him, a saccharine smile plastered to his face. I take another drink of the wine, though I’m not entirely sure why.
Dad smiles as we approach, holding out his hand until I set my palm against his. He pulls me into his side and kisses the top of my head.
“Lena, let me introduce you to my daughter, Violet.”
The woman smiles. Her black hair is pulled back in a low, decorative ponytail, and her brown eyes are warm. Her pale skin glows against the charcoal gray of her pencil skirt.
“Lovely to meet you,” she says. “I’ve heard wonderful things from Johnathan.”
I smile, not trusting my voice. My body is hot, and not in the way that means the room is too warm. It’s the way my body feels when I’m going into heat.
But that’s not possible.
Dad squeezes my hand as the woman walks away.
“You all right, Vi?” he asks, kissing the crown of my head again.
A shiver runs down my spine, and Jasper palms my waist.
“Let me take the wine,” he says, extracting the glass from my clenched hand. The small brush of his fingers against mine has my legs fucking clenching. “We should get you something to eat. We didn’t manage to have time to grab something on our way here.”
“I think I just need a second in the restroom,” I mutter. Both men look at me with worry in their eyes, identical frowns on their lips. It’d be hilarious if I weren’t freaking the fuck out right now.
How the hell am I feeling like I’m on the verge of my heat when it’s not supposed to happen for another three months? I offer a small smile and cross the space, opening one of the doors that leads back into the hotel hallway, cutting a quick line to the bathroom.
I drop my clutch on the counter before running my hands under the cold water, trying to get my body temperature lower. My heart races, my breath sawing out of me.
There’s no way. There’s absolutely no way this is fucking happening right now.
The door closes behind me before a lock clicks into place.
I force a swallow and glance up into the mirror, dread curling in my stomach as my mother’s hazel eyes—identical to mine—stare back at me. A cruel smirk graces her lips, and she crosses her arms, one eyebrow raised in silent, condescending question.
“You feeling all right, love ?” She twists the nickname into an insult. “You look like you’re a bit uncomfortable. Flushed, even.”
My mind spins, that telltale haze starting to settle over me. I force the faucet even colder and press my wrists to my chest, not worrying about the water ruining the silk neckline. I lick my lips, trying to calm my breathing, but it’s no use. My body is on fucking fire even with the ice cold water.
“It was a pain in the ass getting enough of that damn medication into the wine without Johnathan noticing. He’s been breathing down my neck since your graduation.” Her lips twist into a frown. “What lies did you tell them when they went to your little event? They’ve been absolutely abysmal to live with the last couple weeks. You always did make everything about you .”
It’s not the first tirade she’s had about how my dads dote on us—Scarlett, Cole, and me. She’s always hated that they love us and only tolerate her. My mind catches on her first comment, though.
“You drugged me?” My voice is breathy. There’s none of the outrage I feel. The force of the heat is overriding it. The pulses through my body worsen, a sharp stab in my belly with each one, and I grab the edge of the counter to keep from doubling over.
“I wouldn’t have had to do this at all if you hadn’t behaved like such a whore, going to the Haven,” she says with a scoff. She glances down my body, pursing her lips. “Be grateful I’m willing to clean up your mess, young woman.”
I’m too far gone to even keep track of what she’s going on about.
My mess? What mess? The Council matched me. It’s not like I had a hand in it. I spent an entire week agonizing over the pack that was selected before Jasper and I realized what she’d done to us.
Another wave of desire races through my body, and I whimper, tightening my grip.
“Oh, one more thing,” she says, completely calm and collected, like she does this every day of the week. Before I can even track what she’s doing, she grabs my hips, ripping the scent blockers at the seams without ripping the delicate silk of my dress. I gasp as my scent floods the small space. She smirks. “Handy trick to know when you want attention and they just won’t entertain you. Now be a good Omega and stay here while I fix your mistake.”
She unlocks the latch and walks out, leaving the door propped open.
It’s less than a minute before someone grunts in the hallway and footsteps pound toward me. Part of me hopes it’s Jasper, even though I realize it’s not likely. My heart drops as someone fills the doorway.
Oh no .