16. No Friends
Seff realized as she padded to her room, that over the course of two days, she no longer had friends. Well, she did, but she doomed them both by trying to protect them. She chose Kiran to protect Allium, but now if Seff didn’t behave, he would take his anger at her out on Allium. Hawthorn outed his existence by calling out Seff’s name in final desperation, but it was Seff who revealed that maybe she did have feelings for another Alpha. Lesser Alpha or no, hours away or no, he was still a threat to Kiran’s property.
What could she do about it all? Nothing.
She curled up on the couch facing the windows and watched afternoon become evening, washing her room in bloody orange light. She did fall asleep, but not for long. She was awake for less than a minute before there was a knock on the door.
“Seff Bleize,” came Sol’s order. “Your presence is formally requested by Alpha Kiran.”
Could she ignore it all? Of course not.
Seff was still sugared with glitter and her hair was still presentable. She opened the door, thinking Sol would simply guide her there, but the older Beta looked scandalized by her appearance. “What are you thinking, wearing that?” she demanded.
“I have no other clothes,” Seff barked back, surprised by the outburst.
“Not your silks. Your clip. Take it off!”
Seff’s hand went to the magnolia hair clip she pinned to the back of her head. It was her one piece of home, the last piece of who she really belonged to—her Magnolia pack, her old life, the memories of her parents.
“And where is your ribbon? You’re to wear that for at least another month.”
“But…”
“‘But’ nothing,” Sol snapped, moving quickly to yank the hairpiece and slip past Seff. She tossed the clip on the couch and swipe the ribbon off the floor where Seff had dropped it. “Stay still.” Seff was stunned enough to let the collar be tied. “Now get going.”
She slapped Seff’s backside to jolt her into motion and shooed her down the hallway that led to a covered hallway into a connected building. It was one giant living room, overflowing with pillows, chaises, and thick blankets. And littered with silks and skimpy underwear, as if Kiran wanted the shed clothing to be a marker of how many Omegas he stripped naked.
The hanging lanterns with lit apple-scented candles gave off muted yellow light that was absorbed not by the gold furniture, but by the red furniture. Seff then smelled the scent of blood hidden beyond the apples.
“In there.” Sol shoved Seff toward a row of four doors on the opposite side of the room. Three were shut, but the far right was gaping open. Seff heard low voices. Allium.
Seff leapt across the room and caught herself in the doorway before she could fall on her face. This room was much smaller and only had two armchairs atop a black fur carpet. Seff had the terrible suspicion that the fur once belonged to a Moon wolf.
Kiran lounged in one, looking like a contented king. And Allium was perched on one thigh.
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