Chapter 2
1777 Words
Lara
By the time I reached the Omega living quarters, I was desperate to forget the day I’d had.
I pushed open the door to Heidi’s room and immediately made myself comfortable on her bed.
I’d done it countless times before.
Heidi worked in the pack house kitchen, which meant her hours changed depending on how many hungry wolves needed feeding. Sometimes she finished early.
Sometimes she worked until late into the night.
Today, I had no idea when she’d be back.
And honestly?
I didn’t care.
I just needed somewhere that felt safe.
I had barely settled against the pillows when my father’s voice entered my mind through the pack link.
Are you at Heidi’s?
I sighed.
Yes. Why?
A pause.
You should stay there tonight.
I sat up slightly.
Is that an order?
Take it however you want. I have an interview tonight, so I’ll have guests at the house.
An interview?
Something about the way he’d said it made me suspicious.
An interview?
I’ll see you tomorrow.
The connection went dead.
I stared at the wall.
“Does he really have a meeting?” I muttered.
Phoenix stirred inside me.
Or he’s inviting Tiffany over.
I groaned.
“Please don’t even joke about that.”
Why? Imagine it. Tiffany moving into the Alpha residence. She could start redecorating tomorrow.
I shuddered.
“Don’t say that. Could you imagine actually living with her?”
I’d rather swim with piranhas.
I snorted.
“Piranhas?”
Yes.
“Absolutely not. There is no scenario in which I am swimming with piranhas. Alive, dead, or stuffed and mounted on someone’s wall.”
Phoenix laughed.
Fine. Then we’ll just have to tolerate Tiffany.
“I am not tolerating that gold-digging b***h in my house.”
There you go. Tell your father that. I’m sure he’ll take it really well.
I rolled my eyes.
“That would be a death wish, and you know it.”
Phoenix’s laughter echoed through my mind.
You’re probably right.
I sank back against the pillows.
For the first time since I’d left home, my shoulders began to relax.
Then the image returned.
Tiffany.
My father.
The laundry.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
“No.”
I rubbed my face.
I didn’t want to think about it.
I couldn’t.
But the harder I tried to push the memory away, the more vividly it seemed to replay in my mind.
“Please, Goddess. Make it stop.”
You were the one who said you had eyes.
“Phoenix!”
She laughed.
I’m just saying.
Before I could respond, the door opened.
Heidi walked in.
The moment she saw me sprawled across her bed, she grinned.
“Rough day?”
I opened one eye.
“What makes you think that?”
“Because whenever you’ve had a rough day, you come here and take over my bed.”
She dropped her things onto the floor.
“It’s actually hilarious. You live in the Alpha residence, but apparently you’re more comfortable down here with us peasants.”
I smiled weakly.
If only she knew, Phoenix murmured.
“It’s a long story,” I muttered.
Heidi’s smile faded slightly.
“So?”
“So what?”
“Rough day?”
I sat up.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
She walked over and sat beside me.
“Try me.”
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because the truth was sitting right there, clawing at my throat.
I couldn’t tell her.
I couldn’t tell anyone.
“Heidi, I just…”
I rubbed my hands over my face.
“I can’t.”
Her expression softened.
“Lara.”
She placed her hand gently on my forearm.
“How long have we been friends?”
I looked at her.
“Since we were kids.”
“Exactly.”
She squeezed my arm.
“You know you can tell me anything.”
“I know.”
“Then tell me.”
I looked away.
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because I love you.”
Her brow furrowed.
“That doesn’t exactly explain anything.”
“It explains everything.”
I gave her a weak smile.
“I can’t say anything that could put you in danger.”
Her expression changed.
“Lara…”
“Please.”
She stared at me for a long moment before finally nodding.
“Okay.”
She stood.
“I won’t push.”
She grabbed her things and headed toward the bathroom.
Before leaving, she turned back.
“Just remember something.”
I looked at her.
“You don’t have to deal with everything alone.”
My throat tightened.
“I know.”
She smiled.
“Good.”
Then she disappeared through the door.
I stared after her.
She had no idea how much I wished I could tell her.
But I wasn’t willing to risk her life.
Not for my secret.
Not for mine.
⸻
The problem was, I wasn’t even sure I was safe anymore.
Tiffany knew I knew.
And that terrified me.
I knew exactly what kind of woman she was.
Everyone did.
Tiffany had always been ambitious.
Power hungry.
A social climber.
Before she became Beta Scott’s mate, she’d spent years trying to work her way up the pack hierarchy.
Everyone assumed becoming the Beta female would finally be enough.
Apparently, it wasn’t.
Now she wanted more.
She wanted the title of Luna.
She wanted the authority.
The prestige.
The power.
And if my father became her way of getting it, I had no doubt she’d take it.
The question was…
How long had it been going on?
Had she only started sleeping with my father recently?
Or had it started before my mother died?
The thought made my stomach twist.
I needed to know.
But I was terrified of what the answer might be.
And then there was Beta Scott.
I couldn’t understand how Tiffany could betray him so easily.
Scott worshipped the ground she walked on.
He treated her like a princess.
He’d given her everything he could.
And she had repaid him by sneaking around with his best friend.
My father.
That part almost made me angrier than anything else.
My father and Scott had been best friends since they were children.
How could he do this to him?
How could he look his best friend in the eyes every day while sleeping with his mate?
How could either of them live with themselves?
I didn’t understand people who had everything and still wanted more.
The Omegas had almost nothing.
They didn’t own beautiful homes.
They didn’t have wardrobes full of expensive clothes.
They didn’t have endless money.
They worked from dawn until their bodies ached just to earn food and a roof over their heads.
And yet somehow, some of them still managed to smile.
Still managed to laugh.
Still managed to find happiness.
Meanwhile, my father had everything.
Money.
Power.
Status.
A mansion.
An army of Omegas waiting on him.
And apparently, even that wasn’t enough.
I sighed.
Then my mind wandered to what would happen if I ever became an Omega.
The thought of sleeping outside sent a shiver through me.
I imagined spiders crawling over me.
Snakes hiding in the grass.
Mosquitoes buzzing around my ears.
I scratched my arm.
Then scratched it again.
Oh, for the love of the Goddess!
Phoenix’s voice snapped through my mind.
You’re making me itchy.
“Sorry.”
I feel like I’ve got an entire flea infestation living on my ass.
I burst out laughing.
“That’s disgusting.”
So are your thoughts.
“You’re supposed to be supportive.”
I am supportive. I’m supporting your decision to stop imagining yourself covered in bugs.
I shook my head.
“You’re impossible.”
And yet, you love me.
“Unfortunately.”
⸻
When Heidi returned from her shower, she took one look at me.
“If you keep thinking that hard, your brain is going to explode.”
“Good.”
She frowned.
“At least my death will be quick.”
Her smile disappeared.
“Okay. Seriously. What is going on with you?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re being weird.”
“I’m tired.”
“Lara.”
She sat beside me and looked directly into my eyes.
“You’re never this morbid.”
I smiled.
“Maybe I’m branching out.”
She didn’t smile back.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Liar.”
I sighed.
“Heidi, if I could tell you, I would.”
“Then why can’t you?”
“Because I won’t risk you.”
She stared at me.
“When have you ever done anything that could put me in danger?”
“Never.”
“Exactly.”
She reached over and squeezed my hand.
“So why would you start now?”
She thought about it for several seconds.
Then she sighed.
“You’re right.”
She leaned back against the wall.
“I shouldn’t push you.”
“Thank you.”
“Although, just so we’re clear, I reserve the right to annoy you until you finally crack.”
I laughed.
“Fair enough.”
I hesitated.
“Can I stay here tonight?”
Her expression immediately softened.
“Of course.”
“My father says he’s having guests at the house.”
“Then you’re definitely staying here.”
I smiled.
“Thank you.”
“Anytime.”
Heidi climbed onto her bed and reached for the book on her nightstand.
I glanced at the cover.
I laughed.
“Seriously?”
She looked at me.
“What?”
“The Call of the Wild?”
She shrugged.
“It’s a classic.”
“You’ve read that book approximately seven hundred times.”
“Seven hundred and twelve.”
I laughed.
“I’m pretty sure the book is older than both of us.”
“That’s why it’s good.”
I looked at the battered cover.
The pages were yellowed and dog-eared from years of being read and reread.
“Yep. Definitely well loved.”
She nudged me.
“Stop making fun of my book.”
“Never.”
She laughed and opened it.
Within minutes, she was absorbed in the story.
I watched her for a moment.
My best friend.
My safe place.
The one person in this pack who could make me forget who my father was.
I closed my eyes.
For the first time all day, I felt safe.
Safe enough to sleep.
But somewhere in the back of my mind, a tiny voice whispered a warning.
Tiffany knows.
And secrets like mine had a way of getting people killed.
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