To ruin an Omega

Chapter 179: Unsworn

FIA (A few hours ago)

The hallway outside the infirmary felt cooler than the room we’d just left. I sucked in a breath and tried to steady myself. My legs weren’t cooperating the way they should. Each step took more effort than it had any right to.

Ronan’s arm was solid under my hand. I leaned into him more than I wanted to admit. The exhaustion had settled into my bones like lead. Everything ached. My wound throbbed with a dull persistence that made my teeth clench.

Elara walked ahead of us. Her posture was rigid. Alert. Like she expected something to jump out at us from the shadows. Madeline trailed slightly behind. I could feel her presence without looking. It made the space between my shoulder blades itch.

We’d made it maybe ten feet when I heard footsteps behind us. Quick. Purposeful.

I turned. Too fast. The world tilted sideways and I grabbed Ronan’s arm harder. He steadied me without comment.

Madeline had closed the distance. She stood in front of me now. Her hands clasped together at her waist. Her expression was open. Friendly. Everything about her body language screamed harmless.

I didn’t trust it.

“I didn’t get to properly introduce myself.” Her voice was soft. Melodic almost. “I’m Madeline.”

She extended her hand.

I stared at it for a moment. My brain moved through sludge. Everything was taking too long to process. I reached out and took her hand. Her skin was warm. Her grip was gentle.

“Fia,” I said.

“I know who you are.” The words came with a smile. Small. Like we were sharing something.

I released her hand and let mine drop back to my side. “Thank you for helping me.” The words felt heavy in my mouth. “Cian told me you helped heal my wound.”

Madeline shook her head slightly. “It’s no bother.” Her eyes moved to where my hand had been pressed against my side. “It was mostly your energies that paid the price. That’s why you’re so depleted.”

That explained the exhaustion then. The way my body felt wrung out like a wet cloth.

“Just rest,” she continued.

“I will.”

She took a half step back. Like she was about to leave. Then she paused. Her weight shifted forward again.

“Forgive me for being presumptuous.” Her voice dropped lower. More intimate. “But I just wanted to add something.”

Something cold settled in my chest. I knew what was coming before she said it.

“Oh?” I kept my voice neutral. “What?”

“I’m sure you know about the history that Cian and I have.” She folded her hands in front of her again. The picture of demure concern. “But I want to assure you that there’s nothing to fear or worry about.”

The words landed exactly how she’d intended them to. They were supposed to make me feel reassured. Comforted. Like she was doing me a favor by drawing this boundary.

Instead they felt like a test.

“Oh.” I met her eyes. Held her gaze. “I’m not worried.”

For a fraction of a second, something flickered across her face. It was gone before I could fully register it. But I’d seen it. The tiny tightening around her eyes. The way her smile faltered just slightly at the edges.

She’d wanted me to be bothered. She’d expected me to react. To show jealousy or insecurity or fear.

I was all of those things. But my complete lack of concern had thrown her.

She recovered quickly. The smile brightened again. Became wider. More genuine looking.

“That’s great to hear.” Her voice had taken on a cheerful note that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Then she turned and walked away. Her footsteps were quiet against the stone floor. I watched her go until she disappeared around a corner.

Movement caught my attention. I looked down the hallway in the other direction.

There he was. Alpha Aldric.

He was already far down the corridor. His back was to us. He moved with the kind of confidence that came from never doubting your place in the world. His shoulders were set. His stride was measured. He didn’t look back. He didn’t acknowledge me at all.

He has made me the biggest threat in this building and he couldn’t even be bothered to spare me a glance.

I turned to Ronan. The words came out before I could stop them.

“Would you believe me if I told you I have a feeling he is responsible for making sure Madeline ended up right back here?”

Ronan’s expression didn’t change. He guided me forward gently and started walking again.

“I do find Madeline being here odd,” he said after a moment. His voice was careful. Measured. “And honestly, her willingness to help Cian makes her look like a divine saint given how things ended between them.”

I waited. There was more coming. I could feel it.

“But Madeline could never have a vile thought regarding Cian.”

The words settled between us. They were meant to be reassuring. To put my suspicions to rest.

Instead they made something tighten in my chest.

Because if Madeline couldn’t have vile thoughts about Cian, that left one person completely open. One person vulnerable to whatever plans she might have.

Me.

Fresh stabbings and new attacks. That was what I was open for.

“Something happened.” The words came out quieter than I intended. “You know.”

Ronan looked down at me. “What?”

“Back at the party.” I swallowed. My throat felt dry. “Aldric said something. Something he wasn’t supposed to know. Something I told you back at the sentinel training ground. Away from most of the Sentinels.”

Ronan’s steps slowed. Just slightly. “What are you getting at?”

I caught it then. The brief flash in his eyes. Tension. There and gone in a heartbeat.

“It’s like he has eyes everywhere.” I forced myself to keep walking. To act normal. “When he said it, it felt like my phone was bugged. Or like someone with keen ears must have been listening to us.”

“You think there are more spies?”

“Is it not possible?”

Ronan was quiet for a long moment. We’d reached my door. He helped me stop without making it obvious that I needed the help.

“Most of them were killed,” he said finally. “All of them were after they retook their oaths to this pack and its Alpha. Perhaps you read deeply into it because it was something he said.”

Perhaps.

The word sat in my mouth. I didn’t voice it. Just nodded once.

“Perhaps,” I finally agreed.

He opened my door for me. I stepped inside and the familiar space wrapped around me. My bed looked impossibly inviting. Every muscle in my body screamed for me to collapse into it.

I turned back to face him. “Thank you.”

“This is my job.” His expression softened. “I still have my eyes out for Aldric. So just be at ease.”

Something in my chest loosened. Just a fraction. “Thank you.”

He nodded and started to turn away.

“Wait.”

He stopped and then looked back at me.

“Can I get an omega here?” I gestured vaguely at myself. “I feel mostly sore and I can’t run a bath myself. Cian said he would get one but his mother is probably priority now.” I managed a small laugh.

Ronan’s mouth quirked up at the corner. “Of course.”

“Thank you.”

He left. The door clicked shut behind him.

I stood there for a long moment. Just breathing. Just existing in the silence.

Then I sighed. Long and heavy. Let all the air leave my lungs in one go.

I would be damned if I didn’t read deeply into this.

The thought crystallized in my mind with perfect clarity. Sharp edges but it was just as undeniable.

Ronan was the one who conducted the weeding of the traitors. He’d overseen the whole operation. Made sure every spy was found. Made sure they all took their oaths again.

But he sure as hell hadn’t taken one himself. He was the conductor after all.

I moved to the bed and sat down carefully. My body protested every movement. I ignored it.

I didn’t believe in coincidences. Never had. And this whole situation was screaming alarm bells at me. Loud enough to make my ears ring.

There was something off about Ronan.

Unlike Cian, I didn’t have the privilege of turning that part of my brain off. I didn’t have years of friendship and trust built up. I didn’t have memories of growing up together. Of training together. Of bleeding beside each other.

I barely knew him.

But I did know something for sure.

Ronan was shady as hell.

A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.

“Come in,” I called.

An omega entered. Young. Her eyes downcast. She carried towels and what looked like bath oils.

“Beta Ronan sent me,” she said quietly. “To help you with a bath.”

“Thank you.”

She moved past me toward the bathroom. I heard water start running. The sound was soothing in a way I hadn’t expected.

I pushed myself to standing. Every muscle protested. I made my way slowly toward the bathroom.

The omega had her back to me. She was testing the water temperature with her hand.

“Is there anything specific you’d like?” she asked without turning.

“Just hot,” I said. “As hot as I can stand.”

She nodded.

I watched her work. Watched the steam start to rise from the tub. Watched her add oils that made the air smell like lavender and something else. Something earthy.

My mind kept circling back to the same thoughts.

Ronan. A traitor?

The omega straightened. “It’s ready.”

“Thank you.” I managed a smile. “You can go. I can manage from here.”

She hesitated. “Are you sure? Beta Ronan said to help you.”

“I’m sure.”

She was about to leave when I finally got a breakthrough in my mind.

“Wait,” I said instead.

She stopped.

“Can you help me get someone?”

“Who?” She asked.

“Garrett. Sentinel Garrett.”