“Oh, looks like you got yourself some contraband, kitten. I’m going to have to take advantage of these perks. I bet Theoden will give you your own phone if you let him fuck that sweet little ass of yours.” Beau grins with his words. It’s not that I haven’t thought about it. Especially when the three of us are together. It just hasn’t happened… Yet.
“I’m sure he’d give you one too if you bent over and took it for once.” I laugh and pucker my lips, making Beau’s eyes widen with embarrassment.
He shakes his head and scoops me up off my feet. “Keep talking like that and your ass will be mine.”
The phone chimes a second time, seeming impatient for my attention. I squirm and pull it from my pocket. Beau adjusts me on his hip, letting me twine my legs around him to stay in place.
My heart falters at the name flashing across the screen with a text message. I scroll up a bit to catch up on Theoden’s conversation.
Theoden:We’d love it if you could give us any information you have regarding Jade’s Pack. Dr. Black has some concerns about Amber and believes you can help. We just don’t want to get her hopes up after everything.
That first message was dated the same night Reyes from Pack Vega threatened us in the hallway. Theoden has been texting with my sisters. He never told me.
Scarlett:We’ll do what we can.
Violet:We’ve been worried sick about Amber.
Sapphire:I know what it’s like to have hormonal issues. Mama should’ve come to me sooner.
Raven:Fucking Mom.
Cyan:Let us know if there is anything we can do.
“I need to find Theoden,” I say, my heart pounding. I knew I missed my sisters, but I hadn’t realized just how much until I saw their names on his phone.
Beau grabs the phone and messes with it. “I think he—”
“Beau, you can’t be late for class.” Warden Black stands in the hallway outside of my dorm room. “And Amber, you have a visitation right now. I’m escorting you myself.”
Fuck, is it that time already? I flick my gaze from the warden to Beau, but he doesn’t say anything as he quietly sets me on my feet. I quickly set Theoden’s phone to silent then tuck it into my pocket. Warden Black runs this place with an iron fist, but it’s not without reason. She really does have everyone’s best interest at heart.
“Is there any chance I can say no? It’s my mother, isn’t it?” Just saying the words out loud knots my stomach in a very bad way.
“It’s going to be fine, Amber. You won’t need to grab your things. I have arranged for you to have the rest of the day off as well.” Warden Black holds out her hand to me, silently commanding me to take her arm. “Just relax. We won’t let anything happen again here.” Turning to Beau, she gives him a pointed look. “And Beau. Get to class. Now.”
She doesn’t wait, tugging me from the dorm. I stride to keep up with her quick pace, matching her steps as if afraid to be left behind. I’m frightened by everything these days, but nothing more so than dear old mom. We reach the visitation center within minutes. I hesitate outside the room, wondering if Warden Black would tackle me if I attempt to flee.
But then I smell them. The cherry-vanilla scent reminds me of my own, but something different lingers in the otherwise familiar air. Maybe it’s because I’m an alpha, and they’re omegas. Whatever the case, I don’t really care to puzzle it out just now.
My heart flutters in excitement and I dodge past Warden Black and into the visitation center completely empty apart from Scarlett and Violet sitting at a table. It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve seen them.
Scarlett stands first and opens her arms, her hands stained with what I’m sure is paint. Her belly bulges out from her dress. I hadn’t realized she was pregnant again, and my eyes begin to water in response to this joyous news.
“Golden girlie, come here. You look like you need a hug.” Scarlett uses the nickname she gave me long ago, but I’m no longer the perfect daughter I strived to be. I’m a fuck up.
“We’ve missed you,” Violet says, her voice softer than Scarlett’s. She sounds a lot like Jade, and I can’t bring myself to look at her just yet. Because Violet isn’t only my sister. She’s Jade’s twin, and she looks just like her, a living ghost of the one I killed, a ghost who also happened to witness everything. It could have just as easily been Violet who’d gotten in the way that day.
My eyes betray me, filling with tears, and I cover my mouth to stifle a sob. I didn’t think I’d see any of my sisters again. At least, not until I left Drakewood for good. I thought they’d turn their backs on me. I thought they would hate me for what I’d done. But here they are, smiling and holding their arms out to me.
I open and close my mouth. “H-how? How are you here?”
Scarlett envelopes me in a hug, squeezing me as Violet wraps her arms around the two of us. “You know my pack has strong ties with all Omega Preps and Alpha Academies. It was easy enough. I just wish I had known sooner that you were here.” Because Scarlett’s Pack has opened universities all over the country, inviting alphas and omegas to continue their education beyond the prep schools. They give people more of a purpose than just their pack hierarchy.
Violet eases away and rubs her hands on my cheeks, smearing away my grief. “Mom wouldn’t tell us anything. Sapphire was the one who finally managed to get something out of her, and once we knew you were here, we came rushing over to see you. How are you holding up?”
How amIholding up? That question seems ridiculous coming from Violet. I should be the one begging her for forgiveness. I should be the one hugging her and telling her I’m sorry for everything I’ve done.
But Violet was never one to hold things over me. And Scarlett? She understands better than anyone what it’s like to be a target of Mother’s cruel attention.