Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 114617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Nyx stepped forward. “Here, Nia, let me help you—”
“No!”
My back nearly snapped in half. Nia grabbed me, shoving me between her and Nyx, and hugging me in a death grip that nearly finished the job.
I held up my hand. “Nyx, I don’t think she wants to be alone with any more naked alpha boys,” I said, tone hard. “Do you?”
He winced. “Of course not. I’m sorry.”
In another surprising move, he stepped to the side. They all did.
“Get her out of here, Volana,” Badr said. “Take care of her.”
Slowly, I made for the door—taking Nia with me. I didn’t take my eyes off of Badr for a second, going so far as to turn my back toward the door, and keep him in sight as we left.
He looked back at me just as steadily. “This one, and only this one,” he gritted. “I’ll let you have for free.”
THAT CONFUSING SENTENCE, and their shocking caring and considerate response to Nia—rattled my brain for the rest of the night.
After we left the mess hall, I asked Nia if she wanted to go to the infirmary and got a rough headshake and more tears in response. I then asked if she wanted me to wake up her friends to be with her, and got another headshake.
“Just... take me to my room,” she rasped.
I didn’t fight her. I led the silent walk to her room, letting my nose guide me to the place where her scent was the strongest. There were locks and warning signs on the entrances to the alpha wing, but none for the omega wing. Together we entered a space that was nothing like the one we left.
Bare, asylum-white walls glared down on me. Beneath my feet spread out grimy, boring blue carpet—nothing like the gorgeous polished hardwood, or mural-painted walls in the alpha wing. I counted twenty metal doors going up and down both sides of the hallway, whereas the alpha wing only had five doors on each side of a hall the same length—meaning the rooms in the omega wing were much smaller. Stepping inside Nia’s room only proved it.
My nose wrinkled on first sight. Nowhere to be seen were the four-poster beds, fireplace, lounge chairs, plushy rugs, desk, antique wardrobe, or second door leading to a luxurious bathroom. The entirety of Nia’s room could’ve fit into my bathroom, and if it did, I would’ve demanded a decorator.
Crammed into the tiny space was nothing but a small, twin-sized bed that reeked from years of use, a single rickety chair, a trunk I was sure Nia brought from home, and a small sink and mirror attached to the wall.
That was it.
I looked around the place trying to think of ways it was different than a jail cell, and came up with nothing.
Nia shuffled inside and quietly changed out of her frond dress while I just stood there feeling less than useless.
“Can I get you anything?” I heard myself say. “Water, food, better blankets or pillows?”
Her back to me, Nia just shook her head.
“Okay... well...” I backed away. “I’ll leave you in peace.”
“Don’t,” she said so softly only a wolf could hear her. “Don’t leave.”
I stopped. Of course I did. “Okay, I won’t, but... Nia, you should be with friends right now. People who love you. Not me—”
“Why did you come?” Her back was still to me as she pulled on her cardigan and drew it tight around her. “Why did you come, Daciana?”
I frowned. “Why? Because I heard you. I heard you call for help.”
“If you heard me, everyone else in that room heard me. Why did you come running when no one else did?”
I scoffed remembering my short role as a pinata. “To be fair to those bastards, they were a bit preoccupied at the time. They weren’t paying attention to—”
“But you were,” she sliced in. “You were paying attention. Why?”
My furrows deepened staring at her back. “Nia, I don’t understand what you’re asking me.”
“Yes, you do,” she rasped. Nia climbed into her bed and pulled the covers almost to her forehead. She still didn’t look at me. “I asked for help, and you were there in seconds. All of you were. But when the guys burst in, they were surprised at what they saw. You weren’t.
“You knew about Mason. How?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” I picked at my itchy makeshift dress. “I didn’t know about Mason, except that he’s a disgusting pig, and you don’t strike me as the type to go for that. Also, someone in a consenting situation doesn’t scream for help”—Nia visibly flinched—“so no, I wasn’t surprised by what I burst in on.”
“But you were listening for me—”
“My wolf was listening for you,” I corrected. “She heard you were in trouble and raced to help before the thought formed in my conscious mind. For some reason, she likes you. No idea why, but you’ve met my fates, she’s got terrible taste.”