“Can you just... talk to me?” she asked.
“‘Course. I’ll tell you all about some of Conrad’s lucky breaks, how about that?”
She managed a small laugh and agreed, and I launched into a set of tales worthy of an author, for how much I embellished them
I buzzed Violet to let me onto the Omega Haven Residence property after the taxi dropped me off beside the imposing frontgate. As I sprinted down the winding garden pathways to the front desk, I registered how much things had changed.
The gardens were different colours. Last time I’d been here, it had been spring—everything in full bloom. Now there were only muted shades of green and brown, the property was still damp from the recent rains, and a thin layer of frost dusted the grass.
They’d even repaved one of the pathways. It was wider and smoother than the old cobblestone I was used to.
It was a reminder that I was a terrible brother. Violet hadn’t had a visit from me in ages, and she deserved better.
The glass door was locked, but Violet saw me pulling on the handle. She came over and pushed it open for me, letting me into the warm floral-scented lobby.
“Where’s Talia?” I demanded.
“Take a breath. Not going to be much help to her like that,” Violet said.
She retreated a few steps away from me. She looked... good. Healthy. Nothing like the shell of a person she’d been when I’d first dropped her off here, pleading for them to help her recover from the hell she’d been through.
Every time I’d visited, she’d had more life to her. More energy to her smile and her steps. More colour to her skin and shine to her hair.
It had never been like this, though.
She was worried, of course, her lips tucked into a frown.
But beneath the concerns of the moment, she was... relaxed.
Shit. I hadn’t seen her relaxed since before the incident.
That’s what months without seeing me had helped her accomplish. Maybe I’d been right to stay away after all. Coming here today could set her back by months or years...
“Sorry, Vi,” I whispered. “It was better when I didn’t visit, I know. Talia needed me, and I just thought... Thank you, for making sure they knew how to care for her.”
Violet crossed her arms over her chest. “Better when you didn’t visit? What the hell are you talking about, West?”
“You’ve improved so much.”
“And I would have improved faster if I’d had my brother’s goddamn support,” she snapped. Then, she sighed. “Clearly, we have to talk, but that can wait until later. They’re checking over Talia’s wounds and getting her settled into a nesting room. You’ll have to check in with Dr. Jalisco before they let you in. I would hug you, but she wouldn’t appreciate my scent on you, especially because I doubt she knows you have a sister.”
I blinked dumbly at her.
She wanted... to hug me? She’d wanted my support? What support? I’d only ever made her condition worse. I was so sure of that, despite my packmates trying to insist that she would want to see me.
My chest tightened uncomfortably.
Glaring at me, Violet made a grand sweeping gesture to the staircase. “Second floor. Third door on the right is the nesting room lobby.”
“Violet...”
“After, dumbass. Go get your omega.”
I couldn’t say no to that. Taking the stairs two at a time, I raced through the heritage building, ignoring all the soft, antique finishings. The door to the nesting room lobby creaked when I shoved at it, spilling me out into a small group of nurses and doctors.
All eyes turned to me.
“I’m here for Talia. She was just brought in. Violet said she would be getting settled into a nesting room?”
