Page 108 of Pack Darling, Part Two

“Then…”

The full-color memory blazes through my head, lighting my skull on fire.

It started with Renee.

Then her friends. Other trainers.

They liked having a pet alpha who couldn’t do anything but submit.

I point to the side door.

I remember.

Lilah’s sweet pink upper lip twisted in the ugliest sneer. Grey eyes that were supposed to be filled with stars were suddenly thunderstorms.

I disgust her.

She’s just like them.

Bad, cruel, painful omegas.

Because Lilah saw and she knew that I was broken. A failed alpha, long before my awakening. “You were there. You saw.”

“No. The last time I saw you, you gave me a muffin.” She speaks so carefully, pronouncing every word. “Jett… What do you think I saw?”

“Renee,” I repeat.

What I’m saying finally hits home.

Horror widens Lilah Darling’s eyes.

Finally.

Now we can end this clean.

TWENTY

LILAH

A sinkhole opens in my stomach. It’s big, and it’s dank, and I think this one’s so deep, I’m never escaping.

Because holy fuck.

The first time I saw grown-up JJ, I thought demon.

He was so achingly gorgeous and so full of hate. It took me a while to match him to the dark-haired boy in my memories who fed me treats and smiled so sweet.

Tonight’s Jett is just a shell.

His shoulders are a little too pinched and his scent a little too weak, like he’s fading to nothing.

And I’m ill, because I finally understand why.

All the pieces that never made sense connect in a sickening click.

Most OCC trainers are betas. The rare omegas are old birds like Eleanor who’ve already raised families and have knowledge to share.

Except Renee. She just wanted attention.

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