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Lennart cannot meet my eyes, not for the entire trip from Gabriel’s chambers to the Larsen wing.
I try to excuse his behavior, telling myself that being a Beta makes the situation exponentially worse for him. His inability to inhale my scent, deconstruct its layers, and inspect each note for clues of what was done to me in the last forty-eight hours forces his imagination to run amok, unconstrained by any boundaries.
It doesn’t help that the four guards his father sent to escort us are all Alphas. The knowledge thattheycan speculate with some accuracy on the nature of what occurred fills the heavy silence as we step down the stone corridors.
And there’s the fact that my newfound sensitivity to scents isn’t going anywhere. I half thought that it was a product of being temporarily in a unfamiliar setting, but I find myself able to easily pick up traces that just a few days ago would have been impossible. From the taller Alpha in the group, there is the lingering note of a female Omega on her clothes, as if they were handled by her partner. The older man smells as though he shares quarters with a large family of mixed designations. And Lennart…
“Lennart,” I murmur in the elevator, an attempt at communicating with him as his father’s guards stand behind us.
“Not now,” he bites out angrily, staring straight ahead.
I wonder who, exactly, his rage is directed at.
For the first time ever, I have an opportunity to analyze his Beta scent, which is profoundlyfine. Not bad by any means, but difficult to muster any feeling over. It’s ever been an issue, since I couldn’t tease apart subtle smells, but now that my nose is working overtime, all I can think about is how deliciouslyperfectGabriel smelled, and?—
Don’t compare him to Gabriel, I order myself.
There was no sign of him as Bastian and his soldiers escorted me outside. When Gabriel offered for me to stay, he was probably just playing some kind of mind game. Drawing a comparison between Lennart and Gabriel is pointless, but if I must, I should just focus on one simple truth: Lennart would never force another man’s mate to do whatever it is that happened last night.
The fact that Gabriel didn’thavetoforce me—that I enjoyed it, that I asked for most aspects of it—is beyond the point. I will feel guilty aboutthatfor the rest of my natural life.
The moment we step into Lennart’s quarters, I turn to him, feeling a surge of indignation toward this man who swore to love me and protect me forever, no matter what, during our mating ceremony not forty-eight hours ago.
This man who is showing very little concern for my well-being.
After I was taken against my will.
To settle a score betweenhisfather and the general.
Not only has Lennart not asked me if I’m injured, he also looks actively upset at me, as though he’s the real victim of the past two days. “Are youangryat me?” I ask.
He purses his lips. “I came to take you back, last night.”
“I heard. But I?—”
“Was sleeping, yes.” He seems to be looking anywhere but at me. “That was not a wise choice, Sofia. My father was enraged. It made it look like you actuallywantedto be there, with that monster.”
My eyebrow lifts. I fold my arms to my chest. “Lennart,” I say calmly, “I am going to pretend that you didn’t just blame me for having been taken by an enemy of your family. Would you like to start again?”
His laugh is incredulous. “Start again? Do you understand the position you put us in? You made us look like we have no power when facing the general. We used to be the greatest House in the stronghold, and now the other nobles are actively siding with the military over us. My father is going to?—”
“Why don’t you talk less about your father and start by asking me how I feel?”
His eyes widen.
When he finally meets my gaze, I take a step forward, letting my rage boil out of me. “I was given no choice but to spend two nights with a man I barely know, and you are concerned about your family’sreputationover my safety? You didn’t even ask if I was hurt. I could be bleeding, or traumatized, or in need of medical attention, but you wouldn’t even know that because you care so little about me that?—”
“Sof! You’re here!” A flurry of movement bursts into the room, and then a pair of strong arms press me into a soft body.
“Lara,” I say, nearly inhaling a mouthful of her hair and returning her hug.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I…” It feels like I’m meeting her for the first time. Her scent is beautiful, flowery, and zesty. Indisputably Alpha.
All these years of being friends, and I cannot fathom how I missed it.
“Let me take care of you.” She pulls back with a smile. Her hand tugs mine, coaxing me toward the door. “You need a bath. A real one—no sonic. You’ll feel cleaner that way.”
