I’d never deserved to have lights as bright as Talia or Violet in my life, because being near me only dimmed them. I had to pause in the entry hall to angrily rub the beginnings of tears from my eyes.
I was a curse on everyone I loved.
My mother had always said so, and I kept proving her right.
“West?” Violet’s voice hit me like a punch to the gut.
Hastily rubbing my eyes, I cleared my throat and tried not to fucking sniffle. If she saw that I’d been crying in the goddamn hallways, she’d try to comfort me. I didn’t deserve it.
When I turned to face her, I saw in her gentle expression that she already knew.
I did my best to brush it off anyway.
“Yeah? Need something?”
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with a sigh. “We should talk.”
There was so much talking to do, and fuck, did I ever want to avoid that. “Sorry, but later. I’m searching for Talia.”
“She’s on the roof with Mira,” Violet said. “And she’s doing well enough to wait thirty minutes. Come with me.”
“Um, I don’t think?—”
“Come with me,” Violet repeated more firmly.
I slumped. Yeah, I was defeated. There was no telling my little sister no when she decided she wanted something.
And this conversation was long overdue.
I trailed after her, hoping I’d be able to fall far enough behind that I would lose her. She didn’t let that happen, and the path to where we were going was branded into my mind anyway.
We headed outside and down winding paths through the garden, until we reached a long bench near the brick wall that kept the Omega Haven Residence completely closed off from the world outside.
We’d had a hundred chats here. Every time I visited, we would come out and sit on opposite sides of the bench, alternating between looking at each other and watching the birds enjoy the well-kept garden.
She sat on her end of the bench. I sat on mine. There was a chill in the windy air.
“Why haven’t you come to visit?”
She didn’t waste time before cutting to the chase.
I cleared my throat. “Been busy.”
“That’s a lie.”
“No, I had a lot going on with the club—Mercer was trying to make an impression so Grave would pass over control to him, and then there was some shady shit going on…”
I couldn’t look her in the eye. She would see my dishonesty if I did.
Violet shook her head. “Don’t treat me like an idiot, West. You’ve been busy with club business since we met, and it never stopped you from spending time with me. Why did you really stop coming here?”
My heart throbbed uncomfortably. I owed her an explanation.
“I’m like a curse for you, Vi,” I muttered. “When I’m in your life, it gets worse.”
“What the hell are you talking about? You saved me.”
“Saved you?” Guilt formed a roiling pit in my stomach. “Under my watch, you were attacked by those fucking animals. I dragged you here in the aftermath, kicking and screaming, and left you with a bunch of strangers.”
