I’d wanted to stay, hopeful he would wake up soon, but Mira had appeared with our doctor in tow. He needed to be checked over, and having his omega in the room with him might influence his vitals.
That sounded like a lie to get me to the Omega Haven cafeteria, but as a nurse I knew it was true. It may not apply since I wasn’t technically his bondmate, but he did treat me like I was.
My skin itched being away from him, but everyone had promised I could head right back after eating. West had even rushed ahead to plate up food for me so we didn’t have to wait an extra second.
Mercer remained by my side, his arm wrapped around my shoulders to keep me close. I wore my frumpy, borrowed clothes like an additional shield, hiding me from prying eyes.
Even entering the cafeteria, I didn’t feel put on the spot. No one here stared too long, despite the bandage on my neck and the alpha at my side.
The room was a large space hosting long antique-looking wood tables with both bench and chair seating. Around the edges were small circular tables with chairs, most of them occupied by omegas with laptops or papers spread out in front of them, along with pastries and coffee.
A painting of the sun setting over a mountain range took up the entirety of the far wall. It was more of a mural than a painting. From what I could tell, it was painted directly onto the wall, with golden trim placed around it to look like a frame.
Along with the glassed-off food service area, staffed by three women in white aprons, there were tiered displays of pastries and various dispensers holding juice and coffee. It was easy to tell which were the most popular pastries, because those tiers were picked clean.
I scanned the space for West, finding him seated on a bench at one of the long tables, across from a woman with silver hair and a wide grin.
That must be Violet.
They didn’t look much alike, but that might be entirely because of their drastically different dispositions.
West was grumpy and stone-faced, always looking like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. Violet was bright and excitable—at least from my first impression.
Mercer placed his hand on the small of my back, leading me over to where our plates of food waited.
“Kyra is going to be performing at a bar in Seamouth next month.” Violet was animatedly gesturing with her hands when we got within earshot. “She invited me, and Dr. Jalisco thinks it’ll be good to try going out.”
“A bar?” West grunted. “That’s too risky.”
Violet’s hands dropped to her lap, her smile flickering. “Why do you say that?”
“What if something upsets you?”
“I’ll have people there with me, and I’ve learned a lot of coping mechanisms. We’ve gone on excursions before. Nothing quite like a bar on a weekend, but other crowded places.”
“I just don’t think?—”
“I don’t think you have the right to make me doubt myself after you abandoned me for half a year.”
Violet snapped at West so abruptly, I almost felt sorry for him. I would have, if I didn’t agree with her.
“She has a point, West,” I said.
Their attention swung to me. Mercer gestured for me to slide down the bench first, and I sat with my thigh pressed against West’s. When Mercer wedged himself onto the bench seat on my other side, I felt both of their warmth.
They’d made me an alpha sandwich to go with my grilled cheese lunch.
I smiled hesitantly at Violet, and she beamed back.
“I’m Violet, West’s half-sister,” she said. “It’s nice to meet you, Talia.”
I inhaled, and the first breath was like stepping into a bakery. Her scent was freshly baked almond cookies, warm and comforting. It reminded me of how I felt when I was near my sisters and mother. A sense of solidarity, and a hint of protection.
I liked her immediately.
Especially because she’d told West off in no uncertain terms.
“I wish I’d known he had a sister before I got here.” I side-eyed West.
