Chapter 3
CHAPTER
THREE
Marigold
Islip away from Reece as Derrick closes the distance, my heart spiking into my throat.
“I’m sorry my brother has forgotten his place, Miss Gardener,” he says, though his glare is fixed on Reece. “I’ll make sure he remembers.”
A stinging frustration burns in my chest and sharpens the longer I look at him. The longer I think about everything he represents.
“Nothing happened,” I say, eyeing the way Derrick’s hands curl into fists. Getting Reece in trouble is the last thing I want to do. “I was in here because I needed a quiet place to draw.”
Derrick’s gaze doesn’t leave his brother. “Reece has work to do. He shouldn’t be in the shed messing around with…” He glances at the workbench. “With whatever garbage he’s picked out of the neighbors’ cans today.”
“Not garbage. Mrs. Gardener wanted me to figure out why the yard lights weren’t working,” Reece insists through clenched teeth.
“Sure.” Derrick isn’t convinced but at least his shoulders relax. He doesn’t look like he’s going to pummel his brother. At least while I’m around.
I know we shouldn’t have been so close. Touching the way we did. But…but we’re friends and have been since the Calder brothers first arrived.
Things change when an Omega’s Season begins.
I have to remember that what used to be seen as innocent friendly exchanges, according to society, are different now. They can be seen as other things, even when they aren’t.
“Ma-ri!” Rue’s sing-song voice rings out from somewhere outside the shed. We all stop and turn to the door. “Ma-ri, where are you?”
“You should get back to the party, Miss Gardener,” Derrick says with a wicked smile. “I’ll deal with my lazy brother.”
I hesitate. That’s what I’m afraid of.
“Mari!”
My name is more aggressive now from Rue and getting louder. I want to stay, but explaining why I’m alone with two Delta men to my youngest sister would be complicated and probably involve bribes.
So with one more glance at Reece, I leave, just as Rue comes flying down the stone path.
“There you are!” she shrieks and looks me up and down. “You look good. You’re so lucky you don’t need makeup. Maybe a little mascara to play up your eyes, but tonight you can get away with not wearing any. Come on. Pen is here! I love Pen! I want to be Pen when I grow up.”
I tuck her arm in mine and paste on my biggest smile, as if everything in the shed never happened. “You want to be an Alpha?”
“How cool is that? A girl Alpha can rule the world.”
“So can an Omega,” I say to her, “if she puts her mind to it.”
“Oh yeah, definitely,” she says, tugging me toward the house. “We can be anything we want to be. Problem is I’m a whole lotta people squeezed into one.”
Truer words have never been spoken.
The party is in full swing by the time we get inside. Maybe party isn’t the right word for this. It’s more like a small get-together, made up of mostly family, neighbors, and close friends. So naturally the Hydes are here, since they make up two of those things.
Heath taunts Quinn, as usual, and she taunts him back. Mom tells him to behave, which sends him storming into his office.
I stifle a laugh.
He seems old-fashioned, a pillar of the community, the kind of man to lead a household, but I can’t shake the idea he’s doing this to make things easier on Mom and the family. When really, he wants more, too.
Then again, I could be wrong.
Or maybe we’re more alike than I thought…the ship stays steady because of us. Vi didn’t do that. She was the shining dock, the solid ground, the all-around perfect girl. Hell, she still is. One who’s found true love.
Like Iris with her two men, but Iris would rather flip the boat upside down and risk drowning than keep it afloat.
Speaking of, as Rue and I make our way to the front living room, we spot Iris kissing Killian and Xavier, one then the other. Big, bold. Open-mouthed.
An older woman gasps at the sight before the Alphas step away from Iris and go their separate ways. “Riff-raff,” the woman breathes.
I slide her a look. She’s a stalwart member of society and the only reason she’s here is because she lives in a grand mansion down the road. Also her great granddaughter is staying with her for the summer to have her Season on Sabine.
Xavier scoops up Emmie, who squeals and hugs her beloved Papa tight before he plops her down next to Vi on the couch. Then he disappears down the hall, cigarettes already in hand as he goes outside to smoke.
“Disgusting,” the old lady continues. “A brute like that.”
“He’s charming,” I say to her, smiling as Mom hurries over. “You should try a conversation with him.”
She snaps out her fan and flaps it.
“Lady Highbridge,” Mom says, arriving in the nick of time, a glass of sparkling wine in one hand.
It’s darker than usual, and instead of the notes of fermented grapes and fruit comes something richer to match the color, a hint of riper fruits, vanilla, and something potent.
“This is for you. It’s something I know you’ll like. ”
Highbridge House is only a few doors down, and if I remember right, Heath and one of this woman’s grandsons used to play lacrosse together in school. Back before heats and mates and balls were on anyone’s minds.
Back when my father was still alive.
An ache spreads from my heart.
Lady Highbridge’s mouth turns down in a frown. “You should know, Rose, I don’t drink—” The smell clearly hits her, and she smiles, taking a sip. “Delicious.”
“It’s an invention of my daughter’s mate, Xavier. He just stepped out for some air,” Mom says with a pleased smile.
The lady glances at me. “Oh, well. I might enjoy a conversation with him after all.”
“And where is your granddaughter?” Mom prods. “Is she here tonight?”
“She only arrived a few days ago. She’s been a little overwhelmed by the changes, but she may stop in later. Everly is a good girl.”
“Would she enjoy a small visit if I drop by, introduce myself?” I offer, keeping my smile in place. “I could do a portrait of the two of you.”
“Lovely, dear.” Lady Highbridge isn’t listening as she looks into her empty cup and then glances around for a waiter.
Mom leans close. “Thank you, Marigold. That drink should keep her happy. She likes to keep to herself until there’s something of interest. But now that Everly is having her Season…” Then she turns back to the woman. “Let me refill that for you.”
I drift around and call hello to several groups of partygoers, itching to catch up with my sisters.
There are some other Season first-timers in attendance, and then there are people like Alicia, who ended last summer mate-less again despite being the Monarch’s Luxe. She lingers against the wall, trying to look like she’s having a good time, and I think most are fooled.
Whispers carrying her name follow when I breeze by. How bitchy she is, how stuck up. How confident.
But if I was drawing her, she’d be the beauty she is, a belle of any ball, but I’d show the truth: the dragging weight of the Seasons and no mate, the fear of being left with the dregs. Her self-consciousness. The deep loneliness.
I’d never draw something so private unless asked, no matter how my fingers beg for a piece of charcoal.
Someone thumps into my back and the sweet–musky spice of Iris surrounds me. She hugs me from behind. “Excited, bi-yatch?”
“Mmm…” I frown. “About what?”
“About it being your turn on the chopping block,” Iris says, letting me go. “It sucks.”
“Don’t scare her, Iris,” Violet adds, coming up to me with the cutest baby ever. Not that I’m biased or anything. “Mari’s going to navigate her Season better than any of us did.”
“Hi, Oddie.” I kiss Alder’s dark, soft, warm head. He smells of milk and baby powder and his mom. “You’re looking skinny, Vi. When’s the next baby happening?”
“I’m not thinking about that yet. I’m just enjoying my time with my baby boy.” Violet smiles. “And with Stephan.”
Iris chuckles. “Isn’t that how babies are made?”
Violet blushes, right as Rue appears.
“Ooh, can I? Can I? Can I? Please, can I?” Rue holds out her arms to Violet.
“Can you what?” Violet asks with an arched brow.
Rue rolls her eyes. “Can I take Alder to my room? Mom’s made it the designated ‘kid room’ so there are a couple of kids in there already and four nannies. He’ll be totally safe. Emmie’s coming, too.”
Violet hesitates, but only because she was born to be a mom, and leaving her baby isn’t something she’s used to. She’s always been beautiful. Now she’s a shining Madonna, all peace and contentment and love.
This, her expression…this I’ll draw. Later.
Finally she hands Alder to Rue, and he tugs on her long hair, blowing raspberries.
When Rue walks away, I ask Iris, “How’s the Council?” She’s been so busy with her new job that it’s hard to get in touch with her nowadays. I miss our talks, our time together.
She shrugs. “Trying to change the world for the better is taking longer than I’d like, and it’s totally frustrating.”
“You’ve never been a patient one,” Violet teases.
“Definitely not,” I add.
“And why should I?” Iris sighs. “We don’t live forever.”
My two older sisters gush about their lives, falling into an easy rhythm, and I’m happy for them. I really am. My mind strays back to the shed and the almost.
It’s hard to get into this. The party, the purpose of it… Even knowing my sisters went through the same thing and were able to find their Alphas and have the lives they’ve always dreamed of.
Alphas.
Not Deltas. Alphas.
Right.
After a few minutes, I make excuses and wander off into the library, having shown my face and thus done my duty. The space is warmly lit and snug, a sanctuary for people to escape to, if need be. What surprises me is that there’s only one other person in here.
Not just a person.
A long shawl drapes over her shoulders, but even with her body mostly covered and her back to me, I know exactly who she is. There’s only one woman other than Pen who has that absolute confidence in her stance.
The Monarch.
Sophine.
As if sensing my arrival, she turns.
“I’m sorry,” I say, taking a step back.