His hands bracketed my thighs, and he leaned in, nose nearly brushing mine. I froze.
“They tell you that because having a pack ensures you’re cared for,” he said. “Betas, alphas… even omegas to a degree. We all feel your needs. Betas feel it the strongest—it’s what we do.”
His thumb traced along my jaw.
“Violet, you’re starving. Do you know that?”
I looked down at my stomach, confused. Ihadbeen hungry at breakfast. But the feeling had vanished. I thought it was just the pancakes.
Breakfast looked gross,I signed.No offense.
“None taken. But that doesn’t answer my question.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re so hungry my stomach hurts. Did you know that?”
I shook my head, ashamed.
“Do you know why you don’t feel it?”
Another slow shake.
He lifted my chin again, voice gentler this time.
“Because your bond is starting to rot.”
I went still.
“You’re near Vinny. Your body wants the bond. But you’re not giving in. So your body is conserving energy to protect the baby. Omegas without a pack will goweekswithout eating. They’ll starve. That’s just one way bond rot kills.”
Starve to death.
“This isn’t to scare you, Muñequita,” he whispered. “It’s the truth. Your body was built to survivewitha pack, not in spite of one. And Vinny… he’s rough, but he’s agoodalpha.”
I knew that. In my soul, I knew it.
My hands trembled in my lap.
“Sweet girl,” Benji murmured, forehead resting against mine, “where did you come from that made it so hard to trust him?”
I looked away, blinking hard.
I wanted to tell him. To explain everything. But how do you describe being trainednotto trust? Being touched without consent and told it was love? How do you say you were marked byLogan Stellarand that if this pack ever found out, they’d never look at you the same?
My hands stayed limp in my lap.
“You don’t have to tell me,” Benji whispered. “Not today. Not ever. But someone broke something sacred in you. And it’s hard to heal when you're missing pieces of yourself. I just want to help you.”
A soft sob broke free before I could stop it.
He wrapped me in his arms and lifted me gently from the counter, cradling me like the act alone could glue me back together.
“You’re not broken,” he whispered into my hair, “and I promise you–Vinny, Serena, Skye, and I–we’re all here tostay.”
Iwantedto believe him. Gods, I did. But some things were easier said than done.
I buried my face in his neck, breathing in the comfort of chai and warmth, trying to replace old memories with something real.
“I know you’re scared of letting him close,” Benji said, “that’s why I had him sleep with your bunny.”