Page 1 of Violet

CHAPTER

ONE

Violet

“Vi! Vi! Did you see Queen Bee’s latest Stitch? O.M.G!”

My fourteen-year-old sister Rue runs into the living room, long dark hair streaming behind her, waving her phone.

“Mom’s going to have a cow if you run in the house.” I look around anxiously, making sure our mother isn’t in eye-shot, but I don’t see her.

“Mom won’t, Vi!” Rue slams her hands on her hips as she lies, bouncing with exuberance in the sunshine streaming through the window. Rue is light to the darkness and noise to the silence, which often drives people batty. Like Mom.

“Let me see.” I take the phone and pressplay. The mysterious Queen Bee, identity and voice disguised, talksabout diamonds, the Luxe, rich things, and the start of the Season.

My Season.

But I don’t care about those things. Not like most Omegas in their Mating Season do. I’m just trying to survive it and hopefully end it with a mark on my neck and a respectable mate.

“The Monarch’s throwing the balls this year, so, what?” I say. “It’s life as usual.”

“She’s looking for the Season’s star, Vi. And it’s your first Mating Season!” Rue looks up at me, eyes wide. “It could be you. Maybe you could do one of your dances!”

She pirouettes.

“Rue, stop.” I pack up my book. “You know that I’m not good enough for that. Besides, I quit a long time ago.”

I had heard Mom talking about cutting costs, and dancing came up. So I dropped out.

“Do you think, when you mate, he’ll have a handsome Alpha brother?” Rue asks, flopping down on the window seat where I’d been sitting. Outside, Mom’s garden is in full bloom, a living masterpiece. “I think I’d like that. Then we could be together!”

Rue melts my heart. She’s innocence personified and sunshine brought to life. Even though she’s oblivious to the real stressors in life.

“Maybe I won’t meet anyone. Maybe I won’t be courted.”

She looks at me in disbelief. “But…you’reViolet. So pretty. And talented. My sister.”

I almost laugh.

I’m not like Dahlia, gifted brilliant musician with anaffinity for math. I’m not like the artistic Marigold. Nor am I quick-witted and fiery like Iris, who’s going to be a renowned writer, I just know it.

It should be Heath, the eldest, in this Season, but Dad’s death and five Omega girls has him weighed down. He’s head of the family, and I’m the eldest girl, so this year’s Season falls to me. It’s up to me to be perfect and make it successful.

Of course I’d rather hide away. But I have to secure our place in society, and make sure the Gardener Omegas have a smooth path in and are seen as special catches.

“C’mon, we need to get chores done,” I say.

“Chores, Vi, are boring.” She sighs heavily. “Are you joining Heath in beingboring? Although his friend he was on the phone with sounded dreamy. He wouldn’t turn his phone, so I couldn’t see his face.”

“It was probably one of Dad’s friends—old, fat, and balding. Maybe that one guy who looks like he’s about to drool.”

She shrieks with laughter.

I worry about Heath. At twenty-five, he’s changed from a dashing young man, full of life and bad jokes, to someone suddenly decades older, wearing his mantle heavily.

We both carry burdens.

I’ll find a mate, ease those burdens of his, open pathways for my sisters. No matter how my stomach eats at me.

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