Page 66 of Talk About… History

“Coffee?” Arden offered. He had a way of seeming to be at ease no matter where he was. Even now he seemed like he’d always belonged here.

Honestly, I wasn’t tired this morning. I’d slept amazing and didn’t need the caffeine boost.

Cohen seemed to sense my reluctance. “We also have tea, check the cabinet next to the fridge.”

“That sounds nice,” I admitted, heading for it, then feeling immediately overwhelmed at the selection. “Holy hell, how much tea can one beta drink?”

Cohen chuckled. “I like variety. If you want something gentle and sweet, try the pomegranate green tea. A splash of honey and it’s fantastic.”

“Perfect,” I said, spotting that one and taking one of the tea bags out. Arden was already pouring a mug of hot water from the electric kettle and bringing it over.

“Sugar and honey are on the island,” Cohen tacked on.

I sat down at the island, letting the tea color the water a pretty red before adding in a spoonful of honey.

“Can I help at all?” I asked, but both men shook their heads.

“We’ve got it today,” Cohen reassured me. “Next time, I’ll let you help.”

“You guys like to spoil me,” I joked.“This is the second time anyone has ever cooked for me outside of my mama or a restaurant. Cohen was the first.”

They both froze, looking at me like I was an alien before they caught themselves.

“What about heats?”

I shrugged. “Doubt they cooked, probably ordered something in but I don’t remember anything from my heats.”

“Excuse me?” Arden said, his hands gripping the counter tight enough a soft crack broke the silence. Maybe my brain was sluggish from sleep but I couldn’t figure out where their frustration was coming from this time. “Avery, please tell me that you know blacking out during heat isn’t normal?”

My eyes burned and I looked down, trying not to throw up.

“No, I didn’t. I suppressed before my exes, and the doctor told me that it was normal when I asked.”

Yet another stupid thing they had convinced me was normal, another part of myself that they stole away. They had dismissed it so quickly that I just assumed it was fact, explained away by suppressed heats… I should have known better.

“We need to tell your lawyer this as well and I can update the legal team at the Network,” Arden said gently. “The fact they willfully used their influence and power to alter biology is disgusting.”

Cohen turned off the stove and came to my side, pulling me in for a hug that broke my resolve. Tears coursed down my cheeks and a broken sob escaped.

“I can’t believe I was so stupid.”

“No, you weren’t. They used your trust against you and that’s no one’s fault but theirs,” Cohen reassured me, his hand brushing over my hair as he held me. “They’re garbage alphas, that’s not on you.”

Arden moved closer as well, finally realizing his anger wasn’t making my pain disappear. Instead, he ran a hand along my back, offering his own reassurances.

“He’s right. We’re treating you how omegas are meant to be treated. Those assholes never once deserved or appreciated you and it's their loss. We can’t change the past, but we can make sure you feel protected and loved from here on out. If you let us.”

Leave it to my blunt alpha to add the last line, spoken with a gentle kindness but also letting me know he can see I’m holding a part of myself back.

“This is too much sadness for this early. What happened?” Ford said as he stumbled in, hair sticking up in every direction and clothes rumpled. He clearly slept deep.

“Rough night?” Arden asked drily, ignoring his comment.

Ford blinked at him before focusing on me. “What’s wrong?”

“Apparently, her ex doctor had her blacking out during heats with her exes, she didn’t realize it was normal to be semi-coherent and remember what happened,” Cohen summarized.

I could have protested, he gave me a moment to stop him, but I didn’t.

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