Page 150 of Knot Happening Again

Then I spot her.

Ophelia sits on the edge of the roof, her legs dangling over the side. Her long, raven hair whips around her in the wind, and even from here, I can see the tension in her shoulders.

"There," I whisper to Troy, pointing.

He nods, relief washing over his face. We approach slowly, not wanting to startle her.

Inwardly, I'm panicking.

What the hell is she doing up here?

"Ophelia?" I call out softly when we're a few feet away.

She doesn't turn around, but her back stiffens. "Go away," she says, her hoarse voice barely audible over the wind.

Troy and I exchange a glance. He nods, gesturing for me to take the lead. I swallow hard and take another step forward.

"We're not going anywhere," I say, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I'm not your problem," Ophelia spits, her words sharp as broken glass. "That reporter was right. Those betas were right. I'm nothing but a liability to you all."

My brow furrows. "What betas? What are you talking about?"

She doesn't answer, just hunches her shoulders and turns away. The wind whips her hair around her face, hiding her expression.

I take another cautious step forward, my hands raised in a placating gesture. "Ophelia, please. Talk to us."

Troy moves up beside me, his voice low and urgent. "Come home with us, Effy. We can figure this out together."

She lets out a harsh laugh. "Home? I don't belong with you. I don't belong with any of you."

"That's not true," Troy insists, inching closer. "We're a family."

“Family.” Ophelia's voice cracks bitterly on the word. "Your families will never approve of me. I'll bring you nothing but shame, just like I did to my own."

Troy's face hardens. "That's bullshit, and even if it wasn't, fuck our families if they don’t accept you."

I nod in agreement, but Ophelia doesn't seem convinced. She stands though, and I tense, ready to lunge forward if she loses her balance.

"You don't understand," she whispers, her voice barely audible over the wind. "I'm damaged goods. I'll never be good enough for any of you."

My heart clenches at her words. I want to wrap her in my arms, to shield her from the cruel world that's made her feel this way.

I pull out my phone, quickly tapping out a message to Rhys.

Found her. Roof. Come quick.

Troy takes another step forward, his hand outstretched. "Effy, please. Let us help you."

She turns to look at us then, her blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears. For a moment, I see a flicker of something—hope, maybe—in her gaze. But there’s something else, too.

Is she sick?

Before I can even begin to figure out what it is, her eyes roll back and she starts to slump forward.

“Ophelia, stop!” Troy bellows in an alpha bark that sends a jolt through even me. Ophelia freezes, like her body is responding to his command even though she's losing consciousness.

It buys him just enough time.

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