Page 62 of The Rust in Her Hair

"How many siblings do you have?"

"There are five of us in total." She pops the marshmallow in her mouth. "And I'm the only girl. Thank god I presented as an alpha," she grumbles. "Four brothers and no backup, an omega never would've made it out of that house alive." She says it dryly, but there's something fond under it. "It's a miracle I survived."

I laugh, and Renata leans back in her chair, studying me with easy curiosity.

"So," she draws the word out, "how long are you visiting?"

Her gaze drops as she asks it, sliding over the black shirt swallowing my shoulders. One eyebrow arches, and a slow smile curls at her mouth as she cuts her eyes to Owen. She clearly knows it’s his.

"Cute shirt," she adds, all innocence, her voice doing something that is the opposite of innocent.

Owen turns a shade of pink. "She needed something to sleep in, Ren."

"I didn't say a word." She lifts her hands, delighted with herself.

I can't help the smile that tugs at my mouth. There's something about Renata, an easy, sparkling warmth that fills the whole room, that makes me want to lean toward her. I've known her all of five minutes and I already like her.

"I'm only staying a few days," I say. "Just until I get on my⁠—"

"A few days?" Owen interrupts, his smile drops so fast it's almost funny, except for the way his eyes go to me, worried all over again. "And then, what, where would you, I mean." He stops and takes a breath, regrouping. "You don’t have to leave. Where would you go?"

"I'll figure something out," I say. "I mean, there are places for this. Right? Omega shelters, transitional housing, that kind of thing,” I say it lightly, like I've got it handled, but the truth is I have no clue what I’m actually going to do next. "I'll find a bed somewhere then I’ll sort out the rest."

Renata snorts so hard she nearly chokes on a chocolate puff.

"Yeah, that's not happening." She smirks, shaking her head. "No way in hell my brother lets an omega walk out of his house and check herself into one of those places. He'd sooner move you into his own bed."

I blink at her. "Why not?"

But neither one of them answer. They both go quiet, and something passes between them across the table, a look I can't read.

"Why wouldn't he let me stay at a shelter?" I ask again. "What's wrong with them?"

"They aren't…safe," Owen finally says. "Not for someone like you." He turns his chair toward me instead, his voice going soft and certain. "That's why you're not going to one. You're staying here. With us."

"Owen, I can't just⁠—"

"You can." He reaches across the table and lays his warm hand over mine. My heart trips right over itself. "You're not a burden, Lyra. Nobody here thinks that. So stop looking for a reason to leave."

I stare at our hands. At his long fingers slipping around mine as if they belonged there.

"Promise me, Lyra." He waits until I look up. "Promise me you won't run off. No slipping out in the middle of the night, no disappearing to some shelter without telling anyone. If you decide to go, please talk to me first."

I open my mouth to argue. I mean, I've got a dozen reasons ready. They don’t need to deal with my father, his rage, or all the ways I'll ruin their lives just by being here.

But Owen’s hand is so warm over mine, and Renata's watching me with those kind dark eyes, and for the first time in longer than I can remember, someone actually wants me in the room.

"Okay," I whisper. "I promise."

Too Much

Adrian

Iride in the back of Nico's company truck with my head against the window. The world blurs past me, but I don’t focus on any of it.

I can't stop thinking about Lyra.

That sweet, stunning omega has consumed my every thought.