Page 94 of Daughter of Garnet

We don't have knots when we're with other Alphas, Betas, or Omegas we aren't scent-sensitive to. I wish the first time I grew a knot I was inside her, but this serves me right, honestly.

I'm going to have to figure out how to earn her forgiveness. I didn't mean anything bad by withholding that we were scent matches. I just knew that if I told her as soon as I found out, she'd deny that she was an Omega altogether, so I wanted to give her a chance to learn to trust me, to confide her designation in me, and then I'd tell her we were scent matches. I had pictured it as a beautiful moment, maybe with some candles or on a nice date, not when she's in the throes of a heat spike and in pain.

She's not in full-blown heat. If she were, I don't think she would've been able to turn me away.

The sounds of pleasure from behind the door reach a fever pitch and then are replaced by panting breaths and sweet murmured words.

I don't know when they fall asleep, but I'm still here, sitting on the floor with my back against the door. Her scent is starting to fade, but I still don't trust anyone not to come near.

Fuck, I'm exhausted.

If I take a light nap, I'll still be able to protect them and keep anyone from coming into the room. I would need to be out of here before they wake up, though. I doubt Zoe will take kindly to finding me waiting outside her door.

My body is heavy with exhaustion, and I'm still wearing last night's clothes as I park myself in my usual spot in the dining hall. The cup of tea warms my hands, and my plate is heavy with sweets. I don't have much to do today, but I need the sugar and caffeine if I'm going to function at all.

A plate hits the table in front of me, and I wince at the sound.

Viv sits down, oblivious to the pounding headache I'm nursing. "How was your Friday night?"

"Long," I mutter, ripping a piece of a chocolate danish. "Yours?"

"Well, I couldn't convince Zoe to come out with me, not that I blame her or anything, so I just had a chill night in to read." She cuts into her omelet and shoves the bite into her mouth, talking around it. "You okay? You look like shit, not gonna lie."

"Didn't sleep much, is all."

Does my sister know about Zoe's designation? It's hard to believe that she doesn't, with how close they are, but I don't want to be the one to spill the beans if Zoe is still keeping it a secret from her.

Though I should probably be the one to tell her we're scent matches, right? I don't need her to be pissed at me, too, if Zoe tells her first.

But how do I figure out if she knows? Zoe will hate me even more if I reveal her secret to Viv.

Who am I kidding? She's going to be pissed regardless.

"Have you noticed any… changes with Zoe lately?"

My sister's back goes rigid. "No. No changes. What changes?"

I have always been able to read Viv like a book. We may not be twins, but she's still my other half. None of my friends growing up were close to their sisters like I am. Viv is my best friend.

That closeness is why I'm almost convinced she knows. Not enough to say it outright, but I think I can probe her a little more and get confirmation.

"She seems different. And the Hierophant seemed very interested in her."

"I mean, she's an interesting person." Viv's cheeks turn bright red, and I know I've got her.

"Yeah. But she's different, right?"

Viv locks eyes with me, and there is a knowing glint in them. "Yeah, she is."

"Almost like she's got something to hide. Something big."

The silence stretches between us. Viv breaks first, smacking her hands on the table and nearly crawling across it to crowd me. "What do you know?"

"What do you know?"

She slaps the table again. "Do you know?"

"I know. Do you?"