To ruin an Omega

Chapter 332: New perspective

FIA

“What—”

I clamped my hand over his mouth before the word could echo down the corridor. His eyes went wide, shock bleeding through the surprise.

“If you won’t be quiet, we can’t talk here anymore,” I hissed.

I grabbed his hand to pull him somewhere more private, but he yanked it back. The movement was sharp enough that I stumbled half a step.

“My mother knows?” he said.

It might have sounded like a question. But I knew damn well that wasn’t a question.

I swallowed. I hated this. Hated that I had to throw the Grand Luna under anything, even if it was to save myself from a different truth. “Yes. She knows.”

“And she told you to keep it from me.”

“She implored me to keep it from you,” I corrected, though the distinction felt paper-thin.

He scoffed. The sound was bitter and disbelieving. “And you agreed to it.”

“Yes.”

“What?” He stared at me like I had grown a second head. “Why?”

I paused. The words sat heavy on my tongue before I let them out. “Before your new perspective today, you didn’t look like you could take it.”

His jaw tightened.

“She said it,” I continued. “I agreed. I agreed even harder when you implied it at the pool. Cian, I could see you breaking and to thrust that into you, it didn’t seem fair.”

“This is my pack.” His voice rose slightly, frustration cracking through. “I’m Alpha. I’m supposed to know everything in and out. At least I’m supposed to try to. And you didn’t think I should know that…” He stopped. Took a breath. “That Valentine was responsible for your accident?”

He combed both hands through his hair, gripping the strands like he needed something to hold onto. “I need to talk to my mother. This is insane.”

I put my hand over his chest. His heart was pounding so hard I could feel it hammering against my palm. “This is why we kept it from you. You’re about to do it again. Blow hot.”

“Because this changes my plan entirely.” He looked around, checking the empty corridor, then leaned in close. His voice dropped to a whisper. “I was going to help Valentine if he took my hand. Madeline has done a lot of horrible shit. But I understand her. I understood why she did what she did at the end of the day even if I hated her and her fucking guts for it. This… This however means she lied to me. Even with everything she spilled. She must have known her father tried to kill you. She didn’t mention that. She didn’t fucking think to mention it.”

I wondered… Did the girl even know?

Still, I couldn’t fight her case. There were more important things to think about.

He took a deep breath. It shuddered on the way out.

“Aldric is so obsessed with taking you out, he’s using his witch hand now,” he said. “This has to be cut as quickly as possible. No matter which enemy gets the short end of the stick.”

Guilt twisted in my chest. “I’m sorry for keeping secrets.”

“It’s fine.” The words came too quick to be entirely true. “Just… just let’s not keep secrets from each other again. Got it?”

I wanted to nod. I wanted to agree. But instead I heard myself ask, “Can you even handle more?”

He blinked. “What?”

“What I just revealed alone had your blood rushing again.”

“Of course I can handle more.” He straightened, squaring his shoulders like he could physically brace himself. “Is there more?”

The vision sat on the tip of my tongue. Aldric’s hand doing the deed. The pool of blood red. The way his eyes had looked in those final moments.

But his eyes were already glazed now. His heart still beat too fast beneath my hand. The only reason he hadn’t imploded completely was because I had pulled him back from the edge. One mention of Valentine and he already looked like he was rewriting his entire strategy in his head.

If I gave him another secret right when he was just starting to compartmentalize this one, it would be disastrous.

I shook my head. “No. Nothing else.”

The lie tasted sour.

I wasn’t even sure he believed it. But he let it go and that had to count.

“Good.” He reached up and placed a kiss on my forehead. The gesture was gentle and automatic. “Just enjoy the day. Pretend like everything is normal. Maybe even keep my mother company. I’ll do well to keep my play entertaining and you will be right there just as the curtain of this madness closes.”

Then he turned and walked away.

I watched his back disappear down the corridor. Watched the way his shoulders stayed tense even as he tried to move with that easy confidence he wore like armor.

The guilt sat heavier than before.

I wiped at my eyes. My fingers came away wet. I hadn’t even realized I was crying.

***

The infirmary was quiet when I pushed through the door. Maren stood near one of the beds, organizing supplies with the kind of methodical focus that meant she was either very busy or very much not thinking about something else. Thorne on the other hand was deeper in the room, his back to me.

“Fia.” Maren looked up. Her greeting was warm but her eyes searched my face.

Elder Thorne turned. “Good morning.”

“Can I get another hazmat suit?” The words came out steadier than I felt. “I need to get to work.”

Thorne’s expression tightened. He didn’t say anything. He probably thought some reflection would made me change my mind. If anything, it hardened my resolve. After the longest second ever, he just sighed and headed deeper into the infirmary where the supplies were kept.

Maren stared at me.

I tapped my foot against the floor, doing my best to ignore her. But her gaze didn’t waver. It pressed against me like a physical weight.

“Damn,” I said finally. “You know you can just say it, Maren. It’s not like it’s going to change my mind anyway.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“I can read the room. I know Thorne has spilled to you and he wants to convince you to appeal to my morality. But my mind is set. This is the way to go.”

Maren set down the bandages she’d been holding. “It can’t be the way to go.”

I turned to face her properly. “Do you know one of the reasons why Omegas are so hated? Aside from the fact that people love having dominion over another living form they deem lesser than them?”

She held my gaze. “The long and sad history of assisting coups and power changes.”

“Exactly.” I took a step closer. “Poison has always had its use. I’m sure even you know how Omegas are treated. Then and now. Nothing much has changed. I would know. If it’s bad enough that they can gang up to help an opposition take you out because of the promise of better treatment, then you know that person had it coming.”

I gestured vaguely in the direction of the wing where Aldric’s quarters sat. “Look at that man. Think about that evil man and tell me he doesn’t deserve the karma he’s about to get.”

Maren walked closer. She glanced back at Thorne, who was still occupied, then lowered her voice. “I’m not like Thorne. I understand your views and why this needs to be done. But why does it have to be you?”

I frowned. “What?”

“I know I’m about to sound cruel and callous.” She kept her voice quiet, careful. “But discovery is still a thing. And as much as you and I and a few more have seen Aldric for what he is, he’s still beloved. Even with the royal werewolf family. An Omega who rose quickly up the ranks and a beloved Alpha who has done nothing wrong ever…” She paused. “Do you see what I’m painting?”

The implication hit me cold and sharp. “What would you suggest then?”

“Someone loyal can do it for you.”

I recoiled. The suggestion made my stomach turn. “You would have me dispose of a life because it’s deemed lesser than mine?”

“Now more than ever, yes.” Maren didn’t flinch. She met my disgust head-on. “You’re different. The blood you have flowing in your veins is no Omega. I saw what you did. You’re a healer. Nothing like me or Thorne. Or even Elder Moira. So yes. Those lives are lesser than yours.”

“No.”

The word came out harder than I meant it. I shook my head, trying to dislodge the very idea from the air between us.

“And besides,” I continued, “I want to do this myself. I’ve touched Aldric’s madness and I know how deep it runs. I’m more than willing to fall just as deep if not deeper.” I looked her in the eye. “Plenty of people can’t do this. Plus he has spies and allies around. This is a sword I have to fall on.”

Thorne returned with the hazmat suit folded over his arm. He held it out without a word.

I took it. The material was cool and slick under my fingers.

“I’m grateful you two care,” I said, looking between them. “You have no idea how relieving it is. But like I said, my mind is made up.”

Maren’s expression didn’t change. She just watched me with that same steady, searching look.

Thorne looked tired but since Maren has failed. He knew he didn’t have a shot anymore.

I tucked the suit under my arm and sighed.

Maren spoke again. “Be careful, Fia.”

I have her a curt smile. “I will.”

The lie was getting easier every time I told it.

Then I turned back to Thorne. “Where is the mourning moon? I need to begin.”