To ruin an Omega

Chapter 295: Stranger in stranger places

HAZEL

The car rolled to a stop in front of the estate and my breath caught in my throat.

Lily of the Valley’s main house sprawled before us like something out of a fever dream. It was perfectly cut stone, stained glass and full of architectural ambition. It made SilverCreek look like a cottage. The sheer size of it pressed down on me. This was where I would live now. This massive monument to wealth and power that belonged to people who mostly probably didn’t want me here.

The door opened. A sentinel stood there, his hand extended to help me out. I took it because that was what fucking proper Lunas did. My heels hit the gravel drive and I straightened my spine.

Delta climbed out from the front. Her eyes were huge as she stared up at the building. I didn’t blame her.

Movement drew my attention to the entrance. The front doors opened and someone walked out.

Lysander.

My stomach did this stupid flip thing that I hated. He looked good. Too good in his dark trousers and white shirt that fit him perfectly. His hair was neat. His posture was relaxed but somehow still commanding.

And his face was completely blank when he looked at me.

I smiled anyway. It was the brightest and warmest I could handle. Everything a bride-to-be should be when seeing her future husband. “Hello.”

He didn’t return the smile. His gaze slid past me to the car behind me. To my grandparents.

“Alpha Dimitri. Luna Pauline. Welcome to Lily of the Valley.”

Grandmother stepped out of the car with Grandfather following. She gave Lysander a pleasant nod. “Thank you for having us, Alpha Lysander.”

“Please, come inside. My father isn’t around. But we have refreshments prepared and rooms ready if you’d like to stay the night.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Grandfather spoke for the first time since we’d gotten in the car. His voice was gruff and as dismissive. “We’re just here to drop her off.”

Her. Not Hazel. Not my granddaughter. Just ’her’.

Lysander nodded like that was perfectly reasonable. “Of course. I understand you must be busy.”

Grandmother smiled at him. The kind of smile she never gave me. It was warm and almost affectionate. “You’re very gracious. We appreciate you taking Hazel in like this.”

Taking me in. Like I was some stray being offered shelter instead of the bride entering her future home.

“It’s no trouble at all,” Lysander said. His tone was polite. Perfectly courteous. He still hadn’t looked at me.

The sentinels were already unloading my luggage from the boot. Bag after bag appeared. There was still something jarring about seeing my entire life packed into leather cases and designer bags.

“Well then.” Grandmother Pauline turned to me. She placed a hand on my shoulder. It was brief and it felt impersonal. “Behave yourself, Hazel. Make us, and if not us, make yourself proud. You have lost enough.”

“I will.”

Grandfather grunted something that might have been goodbye. But he was already heading back to the car before I could even decipher it.

Grandmother followed. Neither of them hugged me. Neither of them said they’d miss me or that they’d visit soon or anything that resembled actual family affection.

They just left.

Lysander stood beside me and watched them go. He even waved. This small gesture of farewell that looked so genuine it made my chest tight.

The car pulled away. Down the long drive. Through the gates. And just like that they were gone.

I was alone. Well, not alone. Delta stood behind me like a shadow. But alone in every way that mattered.

“Omegas.”

Lysander’s voice cut through my thoughts. Several Omegas appeared from the house. They moved quickly and efficiently towards my luggage.

“Take these to the guest wing. The blue room.”

The blue room? What the heck was that? Because the guest room or the fuck-ass blue room didn’t sound like his room. It probably wasn’t even anywhere near his room. What he saw me as was a guest.

The Omegas bowed and started gathering my bags. They struggled a bit with the weight but none of them deemed it smart to carry it two at a time. It was pathetic to watch.

I turned to Delta. “Help them. And use this time to get familiar with the layout. Find out where the kitchens are, where the servant quarters are, all of it.”

Delta nodded and hurried over to grab a bag.

That left me standing there in the drive with Lysander. It was just the two of us. The silence stretched out between us like a living thing.

He turned to me finally. His eyes met mine and there was nothing in them. No warmth. No curiosity. Nothing.

“Would you like a tour of the estate?” He finally broke the silence and that thawed something in me.

E for effort at least.

I smiled. “Yes. That would be lovely.”

He nodded and gestured to someone behind me. I turned to see a sentinel approaching. He was young and eager looking. His face was open and friendly too.

“This is a sentinel. He knows every corner of this estate. Every room, every hallway, every piece of artwork and the stories behind them. He’ll show you around.”

I stared at Lysander. Then at the sentinel. Then back at Lysander.

“I… I… thought you would give me the tour.”

“I have business to attend to.” His tone was flat. Matter of fact.

Something hot flared in my chest. Anger maybe. Or humiliation. I couldn’t tell the difference anymore.

“Do you not want him?”

“That is not what I said.” I kept my voice light and peasant. “I’m sure this Sentinel will be wonderful.”

“You don’t have to pretend here. You can tell him you’re not interested if you’d prefer.” Lysander nodded toward the sentinel. “He was excited to help though. It would break his heart a bit.”

The Sentinel shifted on his feet. His face went slightly red.

“No, no. Like I said. It’s not a problem at all.” I forced another smile. This one hurt my face. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Good.” Lysander started to turn away.

“But maybe we could talk after? When I’m done with the tour?”

He paused and looked back at me. Something flickered across his face. Amusement maybe.

“We can talk now if you want.”

Now? In front of the sentinel? In front of any servant who might be watching from the windows? That wasn’t private. Neither was it intimate. It resembled nothing an engaged couple should be.

My throat felt tight. I could feel him doing this on purpose. Making me small. Making me uncomfortable. Establishing exactly where I stood in this hierarchy.

Nowhere.

“I know you feel cornered.” The words came out before I could stop them. “This marriage. Me being here already when you still have a month left to deal with the ending of your bachelor life. I’m invading your space.”

“It’s not like I didn’t agree to this.” He shrugged with one shoulder in a casual manner. “It’s fine. It’s just an arranged marriage. Not the end of the world.”

“The look on your face sort of tells me it feels like the end of the world.”

His jaw tightened. Just slightly. “Forgive me for not looking like I’m madly in love with you. Because I’m not.”

The words hit like a slap.

I nodded, keeping my face composed. “You made that very clear. I know where your heart lies.”

Fia.

“It doesn’t bother me one bit.”

He actually laughed. This low chuckle that made my skin prickle. “Really? Because I see how hard you’re squeezing your hands.”

I looked down. My hands were clenched so tight my knuckles had gone white. I hadn’t even noticed.