16. Silver

sixteen

Silver

Two and a half years ago

J enny sits down beside me and studies me. "Does your sister know?"

"Know what?"

"Know about the people who hurt you?"

I inhale sharply, focusing on her. Rage dripping off me, a warning in the air.

"I'm not going to tell her, Silver."

I shake my head. "No, Onyx will never know."

"If you ever want to talk about it, we can get you help. I can listen."

I nod numbly as she stands up, puts a hand on my shoulder, and walks away.

One year ago

I toss back the brandy.

"Jenny."

She looks at me and smiles. "Yes, Silver."

"He said that I was beautiful. He said that I was perfect. Then he hit me."

Jenny listens while I speak and keeps my glass topped up as the darkness absorbs a story I've never told before.

Present Day

I answered the door. I didn't think anything of it. Who thinks before they open the door?

Every single cell in my body wishes I hadn't.

I don't know how to do this. All I know is that I've stolen what was hers. And she's here and obviously wants them back. The bonds light up inside me as the guys respond to my distress. I try to shut down my feelings, but it's impossible.

The woman standing in the doorway is gorgeous. She's got a mane of blond hair that's got a copper tone to it. She has a figure like an hourglass, and she's dressed in expensive designer clothes. Brandy Masters is flawless. I feel like a little girl playing dress up.

The words I said to West last night come back to haunt me.

She walks into the house, pushing past me like she owns it, and I get a sinking suspicion that this is going to go badly. If she manages to succeed here, she will own it all.

I glance over my shoulder, looking for one of the pack to appear, and, like magic, there is Ian. His face goes hard. There's no shock there, just a blank, untouchable mask.

My stomach clenches painfully. He doesn't come to me; he doesn't touch me. Ian pretends I'm not even here.

"Well, I knew this day would come." His voice is ice chips of disdain.

Did he? He knew? A well of hurt opens up inside me. So, this was expected?

"Brandy, what the fuck are you doing here?"

His tone is cold. Horribly cold. I hope he never speaks to me like that.

"Oh, Ian, I made a huge mistake. I've come to make up with you." Her tone is cheerful, happy, and light. She puts her bag down and walks towards him with her arms outstretched.

Ian nods his head. "I see, I see."

"They were so mean to me, and they threatened me. I couldn't get away, but I escaped, you see." Her voice is a simpering tone that makes me want to growl.

"When they lost all their money and bankrupted themselves?" Ian asks with a smile.

"Yes! No! It's not like that," Brandy shouts, folds her arms over her chest, and glares at him. "I knew you'd be pouty."

Her shout draws the others. Ross hangs back, glaring from the other side of the room. West and Quint advance like a pair of circling sharks. The anger bubbling inside them is enough to give me satisfaction that she's not welcome here.

She's not welcome here. That thought floors me. They want me, not their scent match. Me!

She hasn't even clued in yet. I almost feel sorry for her.

Brandy throws herself at Ian, clinging to his arm. My rage is instant and wild. I step forward, snarling, and she snaps her head towards me. Her eyes sweep up and down my body, widening when she realises who I am.

"Oh, you! Silver? It is Silver, isn't it? I've heard of you." Brandy lets go of Ian and stalks towards me. I hold my ground, refusing to let go of my position near the pack. I swallow nervously. The old me might have fought, but that me who'd been in a refuge doesn't have that confidence anymore. "You're the omega that used to cry rape."

The protective instincts suddenly reverse, and I find myself backing away from the glamorous omega. Please, don't say it. Please, not here, not now. Not to them. Please, not to them.

I flinch violently. "I never cried-"

"Oh, yes, the one who wanted it so bad, and then after it happened, you tried to report that poor pack, and no one believed you, not even your own father."

I step back, giving ground as she rips open wounds I'd buried. She advances, following me, chasing me, violating me again and again. My eyes flick to Ian, to the shock on his face, and my shame rips through me, tearing my happiness into shreds and scattering it on the wind. They won't believe me. No one ever does.

"You don't deserve a pack. You deserve nothing. You're the scraps left behind, the rubbish, the unwanted trash. They talk, you see, my old pack. They all know who used to visit when your sister went to work." Brandy's lips stretch wide, and all I can see is the crimson colour and white teeth.

My eyes are stretched too wide. Fear is slamming into my chest with each beat of my heart, with memories that make me want to run. I feel like the skin is peeling back. Exposing all the rot inside me. Everything that was destroyed is on display to the people I love most, and I can't look at them. I can't.

How could they love me after this?

"And the Omega Meet, trying to hide from him. Trying to snag Treyfield Pack for yourself, only to be outsmarted by your very own sister." Brandy throws her head back and laughs.

"What's she talking about?" Ross asks softly. I can scent their distress in the air.

I did that. I made them ashamed and hurt. I…I ruin everything.

I open my mouth, but no words come out. What can I say? How can I tell them the truth when no one ever believes it's the truth?

I'm cursed. I'm broken and ruined and cursed.

There's no way to withstand the pity, the shame, the confusion, and I can't answer the questions they need me to. They are better off without me.

Agony rips through me, worse than anything anyone else has ever done to me. I tasted happiness. It will have to last me a lifetime. People like me don't live lives like this. People like me don't get amazing packs. We destroy them.

I whirl and sprint through the front door, racing away. The fear, the pain, the happiness that's turned to poison gives me the wings to escape.