Page 11 of Stella

She cocked her head. “Things?”

I blushed. “I thought I was supposed to compromise to be able to make a pack function. But in the end, it was me doing most of the compromising and my alphas getting their way.”

Meredith sighed. “They didn’t like how everyone commented on how they treated me. If they weren’t sensitive enough.”

“That’s on them, not you.” I shook my head. “You’ll beat yourself up over every fight. You’re the well-adjusted one for thinking about what you could have done better. If they aren’t doing the same thing, that’s their fault.”

Meredith sighed, and she sounded so heartbroken. I couldn’t take away her pain, but I could share some things with her.

“My family owns Cosmic Bonds. My old pack hated how I worked with my family every day. They wanted me to quit my job, stay home all the time.”

Meredith nodded. “They didn’t like me being close to my brother and his pack.”

“Staying home so I could be at their beck and call felt like some weird version of sexual sadism. I love my job, and I love my family. I wasn’t going to cut ties because they felt threatened.”

Meredith touched my arm. “That’s not fair to ask.”

“It’s not. So it hurt, but I’m also relieved because now I don’t have to have that same fight, over and over. It would have worn me down in a few years.”

Meredith’s shoulders tensed up. “It hurts, but how they broke up with me hurts more. It’s like they wanted to hurt me.”

“I think they did.” I shrugged. I was passing out advice to a near stranger, but after seeing hundreds of packs go through Cosmic Bonds, I’d heard all sorts of stories. “Your family is powerful enough to have made it quiet.”

“They have someone else,” her voice dropped. “They wanted to make sure everyone knewshewas their omega now.”

“Which is not a healthy start to a pack,” I said viciously. “I wish them the best of luck with that.”

Meredith laughed.

“You don’t need those assholes,” I said. “It’s embarrassing, but you’re adorable. No one thinks it’s your fault.”

“Everyone wants to tell me how sorry they are.” She frowned. “I’m this object of pity.”

I winced. “Sorry if I…”

“No, you’re wonderful. Commiserating is different.”

“I don’t pity you, but I’ve been in those shoes, and they aren’t fun.” I stood up and held out my hand. Busybody mode activated. “Come on. There’s an amazing ice cream stand a mile or so up the road. You need some stat.”

She perked up at the mention of food. We walked back to my car, and I drove her up the road. I got the ice cream since she didn’t want anyone to see her blotchy face, and I drove us back to the beach.

I looked appreciatively at my Rocky Road ice cream sundae before attacking it. Meredith had gone for the classic pick-me-up: vanilla with sprinkles.

“Can I ask you about your agency?” Meredith looked at me out of the corner of her eye. “It’s too soon for me, but I’m curious.”

“Sure.” I fished around for another marshmallow. There was never enough.

“How does the matching…work?”

“Personality tests, psychology, and the healing power of crystals.” I side eyed her. “You should come anyway. You need some relaxation. The mud baths and sauna are to die for.”

“Oooo.”

“A spa day is exactly what you need after that bullshit those losers pulled.” I found another marshmallow.

She perked up. “That sounds like heaven. If it’s not too much trouble.”

“Trouble?” I raised an eyebrow. “I’ll drag you there myself. You deserve some pampering.”

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