Chapter 5: I can't swim.

I woke up the next morning with the sheets tangled around my legs and the memory of Reynolds’s cock on the side of my face, was vivid in my head.

The sunlight poured through the tall windows of the guest room.

For a few seconds I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, replaying every second of the bathroom disaster.

The way the towel had fallen. The solid heat of him against my cheek. The way he’d gone completely still while I scrambled away.

I groaned and dragged myself out of bed to the bathroom.

I stripped off my sleep clothes, turned the shower on hot, and stepped under the spray.

Water cascaded over my shoulders and down my back.

I closed my eyes and tried to focus on washing my hair, but my mind betrayed me and drifted back to what happened yesterday.

I could still feel the weight of him on my face. The way the head of his cock had nudged against my jaw when I fell.

My stomach flipped, between my legs, an ache started to build.

I bit my lip and pressed my thighs together, but the memory only became more vivid. The water running down his chest. The heavy muscles of his thighs under my hands when I pushed away.

My hand slid down my stomach before I could stop it.

My fingers brushed over my clit. A soft gasp escaped my lips. I leaned my forehead against the cool tile and circled slowly, my hips twitching, the image of Reynolds standing naked and dripping filling my head.

What if I hadn’t run? What if I’d stayed on my knees? What if he’d tangled those big hands in my hair and—

“Girl, we are going shopping today!”

Mira’s voice interrupted through the moment. I jerked my hand away so fast I nearly slipped.

She was right outside the glass shower door. “Be quick and come downstairs. Breakfast is ready. Dad’s already at the table.”

I swallowed hard, my heart hammering. “Okay. Two minutes.”

The door to my room clicked shut a second later.

I stood under the water with my face burning, the ache between my legs still there, and forced myself to finish washing without touching myself again.

When I was done, I stepped out, dried off, and pulled on a simple white sundress and sandals.

I left the room and headed downstairs.

The dining table was near the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. Mira was already there, scrolling on her phone and picking at a plate of fruit.

Reynolds sat at the head of the table in a black button-down with the sleeves rolled up, a cup of black coffee in one hand and a tablet in the other. Morning light caught the sharp line of his jaw.

I slid into the empty chair across from Mira.

“Good morning, Mr. Ashworth,” I said quietly.

He glanced up. Those golden-hazel eyes met mine for half a second.

He gave a single, short nod and returned to his tablet.

I reached for the plate of scrambled eggs and toast that had been left for me, but my appetite was suddenly gone.

Every time I looked in his direction I remembered the exact feel of his cock against my face.

My cheeks heated. I stared hard at my plate and tried not to stare at him.

Mira’s voice cut in. “Why are your cheeks red?”

I nearly dropped my fork. “I’m just feeling hot.”

She raised an eyebrow but didn’t push any further. The dining remained silent as we finished breakfast.

The second I set my fork down, Mira stood and grabbed my wrist.

“Come on. We’re leaving. Shopping will take forever if we don’t start now.”

I barely had time to grab my bag before she was pulling me toward the elevator.

The next several hours blurred into walking into boutiques, fitting rooms, and Mira holding things up against me while I stood there like a mannequin.

She dragged me from store to store, piling bags into my arms, declaring that I needed actual clothes for the summer. I hated shopping. Most girls liked it but to me, there was no fun in it.

By the third store my feet hurt. By the fifth I was counting down the minutes until we could leave.

Mira, of course, was lost in the moment.

“Try this one. No, not that color…this one. God, Agnes, stand up straight. You look like you’re about to apologize for existing.”

I tried on whatever she handed me and nodded whenever she asked if I liked something.

Truthfully I barely registered the clothes. My mind kept drifting back to the dining table, to the way Reynolds had nodded at me like I was just another pack member. And sadly I was.

By the time Mira finally declared we were done, the clock on my phone read 4:02 p.m.

“Perfect timing,” she said as the driver loaded the bags into the SUV. “Party starts in less than an hour. We need to change the second we get home.”

I responded with a simple nod.

She climbed into the back seat and so did I.

The ride back was quiet. I stared out the window and tried not to think about the emerald-green bikini waiting in my room.

The penthouse smelled like alcohol when we stepped out of the elevator.

The music already played faintly, coming from the direction of the rooftop pool deck. Mira shoved a bag into my arms and pointed down the hall.

“Go change. Come meet me when you're done.”

I nodded and disappeared into my room. The matching set was still in the black box on the dresser.

I stripped out of the sundress, stepped into the high-waisted bottoms, and fastened the deep neckline top.

The emerald green made my eyes look brighter. It also left very little to the imagination.

I pulled the white cover-up on for some sense of security, ran a brush through my curls, and forced myself to leave the room before I could talk myself out of going at all.

I tugged at Mira’s door. But it was locked.

I knocked once. “Mira? I’m ready.”

Her voice drifted from inside her room, her voice slightly breathless. “I’m with Liam. You can go have some fun. I’ll join later.”

Of course she was. He was her boyfriend after all.

I stood there for a second, then turned and made my way toward the stairs that led up to the rooftop pool.

The closer I got, the louder the music became. When I pushed open the glass doors, the deck was already packed. It was filled with pack members and city friends scattered around.

I stayed near the entrance for a while, suddenly very aware that I didn’t know anyone well enough to walk up and start a conversation. Mira was my only real friend, and she was currently occupied.

A group of girls near the deep end noticed me.

Victoria Cross was at the center of them, a girl that hated me just because of my existence.

She said something to the others. They laughed. Then the whole group started walking toward me.

I straightened my spine and tried to look like I belonged.

Victoria stopped a few feet away, looking me up and down with open disdain. “Well, look who actually showed up. The charity case.”

One of the other girls smirked. “Didn’t think Omegas were allowed at real pack parties.”

“She’s only here because Mira feels sorry for her,” Victoria continued, her voice sweet and poisonous. “Isn’t that right, Agnes? You’re just the little orphan Mira keeps around so she can feel like a good person.”

Heat crawled up my neck. I kept my voice steady. “I’m not bothering anyone.”

“You’re bothering the view,” another girl said.

Victoria stepped closer. “You know what you are? A worthless Omega who doesn’t know her place. You walk around like someone actually wants you here. Newsflash, no one does. Not even Mira.”

I opened my mouth to answer, but Victoria’s hand shot out and shoved me hard in the chest.

I stumbled backward. My heel slipped on the wet edge of the pool.

The world tilted

I fell into the water, the cold water seeping into my bones.

I sank fast, the water dragging me down. My feet kicked.

I struggled, coming up for half a second, gasping, then went under again.

Water filled my nose and mouth. My lungs burned.

I kicked harder, forcing my head up one more time, choking, my vision blurring.

“Somebody help. I can’t swim.”