Page 171 of Bliss & Her Idols

“No need to be so formal. Mrs. Idol makes me feel old. Call me Una.”

“Una,” Cricket repeats, giving her a shy smile.

Una pats his hand, smiling warmly. “Good boy.”

Torin watches the exchange in surprise.

Cricket is doing better on our charm offensive, than the rest of us.

“Now, everybody start eating,” Una commands. “Torin, make sure that your Omegas get enough. They must be starving, after you left that horrible island in such a rush.”

“I can help myself.” I grab my fork and snag a sausage.

I deposit one onto Cricket’s plate and then another onto my own plate. The fat sausages smell of sage.

When I bite into the juicy sausage, I can’t hold back the moan.

I devour it in three bites. “Wow, that’s amazing.”

Una looks pleased. “My Beta is in charge of the kitchens here. They pride themselves on both the fresh ingredients, which are grown on the grounds, and their cooking.”

“Impressive.”

“He’s also in charge of the pack’s clothing.” Una wrinkles her nose. “Rory, why didn’t you tell me that they were still only dressed in those ridiculous costumes?”

Instinctively, I clasp my hand over the bodice of my dress.

It may be stained and torn but it’s still the outfit that Jin chose to match his own.

It’s a piece of his soul.

Rory stills.

He swallows. “I didn’t… I’m sorry…”

“That’s two mistakes,” Devin chimes, thrilled. “Report to our study this evening for discipline.”

I expect Una to tell Devin to go fuck himself. But she doesn’t. She merely pets Rory’s curls.

I glance between this dysfunctional family.

Torin is still not eating, despite the fact that the twins have piled his plate along with their own with bacon. The twins are busy stuffing their faces.

Confused, I glance at Torin. He appears focused on the tabletop.

They’re brothers and sisters. Yet there’s a strict hierarchy here.

The sisters are at the top.

The twins are their lieutenants beneath them.

Rory, as the adopted brother, is without doubt at the bottom. I hate that he’s clearly serving the family, but nothing he does appears good enough for them.

As significantly the youngest, Torin is partly overlooked, gaslit, and bullied.

Una passes a buttered croissant onto Rory’s plate, as if it’s compensation for the punishment that he’s going to receive later. Then she tilts her head and assesses Cricket and me.

“I’ll have my Beta and Omega look through their clothes for things that should fit you. They’ll send them over later. Torin, for God’s sake, dress properly next time you’re invited to breakfast. Your old suits are still in your room.”

---